The Videomaster Olympic Home T.V. Game (model VM3-D) came just after Rally and had only two features added: the possibility to invert the first player to bring a few more games, and a "wobble" effect on the second player to bring more difficulty. When enabled, this one moves up and down by itself. Additionally, manual scoring changed and consisted of two groups of fifteen moulded holes on the system case, on which each player could place a metal ball marking his score. This game was also released in Sweden (at least, an advertisement exists), and a german manual exists (yet no german specimen has been found).


Technically, this game is interesting because it has been improved at least two times.
The earliest version known to exist uses eleven TTL chips of the 74Cxx series (three 74C00N chips and eight 74C02N chips). A second version had the eight 74C02N chips replaced by CD4001E chips, the CMOS equivalents. This change required the use of an additional jumper and two resistors. The reason of this change is obvious: CMOS chips use less power than TTL chips, and operate on a wider range of voltages, hence a longer use of the 9V battery.
The second improvement was made to the plastic case and the box in 1976. The earlier version came in a white carton box (originally closed with adhesive tape, as pictured) with black and red text, and the case had a granular plastic without numbers in the ball holes. The later version (1976) came in a color illustrated box and a nicer non-granular plastic case with numbers moulded into the ball holes.

First box with original adhesive tape mark near 'D' letter.


Close-up: handle and mark of original adhesive tape closing the box before first use.


Earlier version with granular case, and the two metal balls for scoring.


Inside: discrete components (11 chips), all hand assembled.


Second version: nicer case, different ball holes.


Left: User Manual. Right: an early Kellog's promotion (click picture for larger view).
Kellog's picture courtesy of Adrian Scheel.


The system could play six games (more by moving the hole like in Wall Game).
Click picture for larger view.

Sometimes around 1976, Videomaster Olympic had some success in Australia, where it has been copied and renamed Videolympic. As can be seen on the pictures, the plastic case kept the granularity of the original but was intelligently modified. It was made more shiny, and illustrations replaced the scoring holes. Indeed, not many people must have used the metal balls for scoring... The three switches were also mounted on the circuit board,  which was consequently slightly enlarged, thus reducing the number of wires. The battery compartment can also be seen on one picture and is same as the original (the battery is quite hard to insert, but will hardly come off the case).

Videolympic pictures courtesy of Adrian Scheel.
Click the pictures to view them in original size.

---