Prinztronic Micro 5500

I have the main unit (CIB).

type Pong game
country UK
year 1977
os ”Pong on a chip”
cpu General Instrument AY-3-8512
graphic TV
colors black & white
sound beeper
ports power, paddle (2)

The Prinztronic Micro 5500 is a fascinating piece of gaming history, specifically representing the ”First Generation” of home video game consoles. Released in the mid-to-late 1970s, it was part of the massive wave of ”Pong” clones that hit the European market.

Here is a detailed breakdown of what makes this machine unique:

1. The Technology: ”Pong-on-a-Chip”

Like many consoles of its era, the Micro 5500 was not a computer with a CPU in the modern sense. Instead, it utilized the General Instrument AY-3-8500 chipset.

• Integrated Design: All the logic for the games, paddle movement, and scoring was contained on a single microchip.

• Hardcoded Games: The games weren’t software; they were physically ”baked” into the silicon.

2. Game Library

The console featured the standard suite of games available on the AY-3-8500 chip. These were usually selected via a rotary dial or a slider on the console:

• Tennis: The classic Pong-style game.

• Football/Soccer: Featured two paddles per player (a goalie and a forward).

• Squash: A solo or two-player variant where you hit the ball against a back wall.

• Practice: A single-player mode for honing your skills.

3. Hardware Design & Features

The Micro 5500 is known for its distinct ”70s futuristic” aesthetic, often featuring a white or cream plastic casing with black and silver accents.

• Detachable Controllers: Unlike the very first Pong machines, the Micro 5500 featured two wired controllers that could be removed from their cradles, allowing players to sit further from the TV.

• Analog Paddles: The controllers used potentiometers (knobs) to move the paddles up and down, providing very precise—though often jittery—control.

• Audio: Sound was usually played through a built-in internal speaker inside the console itself, rather than through the television set.

4. Technical Specifications