The Milton Bradley Microvision is the first handheld game console with cartridge-based games from 1979. It has some interesting technological features:
The console contains only a screen and buttons; the processor is part of the game cartridges.
The screen has a resolution of 16x16 pixels, which is as small as the tiniest icons on modern computers.
Unfortunately, the screen is not as durable as more modern LCDs, so most Microvision consoles today are non-functional.
@muzej Yep; not sure if mine EVER worked (owned it for prob 18-20y) but it certainly doesn't now.
@muzej you are all about the best consoles today
@muzej We have a few here that are functional. I can promise you, you're missing nothing
@muzej Wonder how hard it'd be to produce more durable replacement screens
Huh. I used to have one of those. I did *not* know about the microprocessor-in-the-cartridge thing, although I could kind of see it as the sort of thing you'd do with OTP microcontrollers.
According to Wikipedia, the first OTP microcontroller was the TMS-1000, which came out in 1974 and ended up being used in a lot of toys. I can see the price hitting the ~$5 price point or below by 1989, so this checks out.
@muzej
I've got one of these with a bunch of carts in a box somewhere.
@ifixcoinops