Background/History:
The CreatiVision was introduced in 1981 by VTech, a company now known for its cordless phones and children's electronic learning products. However, "VTech" actually stands for "Video Technology Limited", as the system got its start in video game systems; it's first product was a PONG clone, released in 1977.
The system was a sort of computer/video game hybrid, like several other consoles of the time. It was a console with capabilities fairly close to the ColecoVision, launched the next year. Controllers had a joystick with buttons on the side, but both controllers could be used as a keyboard; each controller had one side of the keyboard. The system could be expanded with a floppy disk drive, cassette player, printer, and BASIC cartridge.
The CreatiVision was manufactured in Hong Kong, but primarily released in European countries. (VTech is headquartered in Stockholm, Sweden) It also made it into various other countries, including South Africa and Japan. Israel got the system as the Educat 2000, and Australia got it as the Dick Smith Wizzard.
When the video game crash of 1984 hit, VTech had the foresight to shift their total focus to the computer market. In 1984, they released a line of computers called the Laser 2001, which were based on CreatiVision hardware and compatible with the games.
The CreatiVision and Laser 2001 were discontinued in 1986.
What Makes It Obscure?
This is one of those systems that's primarily obscure because of age and its release which never reached the US market.
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