Circa 1974-75 - The World's largest and heaviest console: The Video Action I at RR Auction (and VA II in comparison).

[mclemore]

I was searching for information about the Video Action units and this thread came up.  I collect a lot of 'Atari' but also like other games and in particular like very early unique console and coin-op machines (and pre-video game coin-op, but that's another story).

 

In searching I found an earlier thread here which mentioned the VA II pong clone: https://forums.atariage.com/topic/305824-home-pong-console-before-ataris-in-1975/?_fromLogin=1

 

There are a few pages online that already discuss the VA II home unit, and no mention of a VA I home unit other than a brief mention on one page that one likely originally existed. However, it turns out there was a VA I unit released first... quite possible the first or one of the first console releases after the Magnavox Odyssey.  A VA II is 2x the size of a PS5 (in cubic inches) and the VA I is nearly 3x (and about 24 pounds in weight!). Both were likely created from left over boards originally intended for coin-op machines.

 

I'm posted a pretty extensive comparison of the 2 units on a thread on the KLOV/ Arcade-Museum.com forums (I run the site so I'm usually found over there): 

 

https://forums.arcade-museum.com/threads/ultra-rare-video-action-i-home-console-discovered-and-at-auction-and-info-on-both-va-i-and-va-ii.541083/

 

And a VA I unit is coming up for sale tomorrow at RR Auction:

 

https://www.rrauction.com/auctions/lot-detail/349043606984273-video-action-i-gaming-console-with-original-box-universal-research-laboratories/?cat=0

 

 

  

 

 

Edited August 22 by mclemore

[akator]

That's pretty cool.  Look at how sturdy that is with a solid top and melamine surface.  I guess that also makes it the first true home version of an arcade control panel?

[mclemore]

The Video Action I brought $3,750 including buyer's premium.