VTech Laser 2001 & CreatiVision

1982 - 2nd generation system

The VTech Laser 2001 and CreatiVision are both home video game consoles developed and produced by the Hong Kong-based company VTech. The Laser 2001 was released in 1983, as a budget alternative to the Atari 2600 and Commodore 64. It was marketed as a "multimedia console" because it could play video games, as well as educational software and even function as a basic home computer. It featured a built-in keyboard and a tape drive for storage. The Laser 2001 was quite popular in Europe and Australia, but less successful in North America. The CreatiVision, released in 1981, was VTech's first home video game console. It was similar in design to the Laser 2001, but with a more limited set of features. It also had a built-in keyboard and tape drive for storage, and was also marketed as a "multimedia console" with the capability to play video games and educational software. The CreatiVision was mostly sold in Europe and Asia. Both consoles had a library of games and educational software that could be purchased separately on cassette tapes. The library of games was not as extensive as other consoles of the time, but the games that were available were generally well-received. Both consoles were discontinued due to the arrival of more advanced consoles such as the Nintendo Entertainment System and Sega Master System, which were more successful in the market. Some popular games for the VTech Laser 2001 and CreatiVision include: "Laser 2001": A game that was included with the console and was a clone of the Atari 2600 game "Asteroids." It was a simple but fun arcade-style game where players control a spaceship and must destroy incoming asteroids. "Math Adventure": An educational game that taught math concepts through gameplay. It was popular among parents and educators for its ability to make learning math fun. "Music Construction Set": A game that allowed players to create their own music using a virtual keyboard. It was praised for its ease of use and its ability to help players learn about music theory. "Basic Programming": An educational game that taught players how to program in the Basic language. It was praised for its ability to make learning programming concepts accessible to a wide range of players. "Laser Chess": A chess game that was praised for its accurate AI and its ability to teach players how to play chess. "Fun with Words": An educational game that taught players vocabulary, grammar and spelling. "Fun with Numbers": An educational game that aimed to teach children basic arithmetic and problem-solving skills. These are some of the most notable games for the VTech Laser 2001 and CreatiVision, but there are many other games available for the system that were educational and entertaining.