Grandstand (game manufacturer)

Subsequently, the primitive cartridge-based Grandstand Colour Programmable video game console[18][19] (sold in New Zealand as the Mark III Video Game[19]) and several compatible Grandstand programmable video game cartridges[20] were introduced. These consoles, belonging to the PC-50x Family, were still essentially Pong type affairs, but had a limited selection of cartridges available, each housing a different General Instruments processor chip AY-3-8xxx.[21] This arrangement allowed for some variation in gameplay[18][22] including the implementation of simple racing games featuring Pong-era graphics.[20] However, these systems lack the flexibility found in later ROM cartridge based consoles, and there were never more than a few such processor-based cartridges released.[18][21]

The Grandstand Video Entertainment Computer (Fairchild Channel F variant)

Later, the potentially more versatile[22] ROM Cartridge based Fairchild Channel F was licensed, rebadged and released under the Adman Grandstand label as the Video Entertainment Computer in the UK (pictured). The company sold rebadged SG-1000s in New Zealand.[23]

Astro Wars, Munchman, Caveman, Scramble, Firefox F-7[24] and The Big Game: Soccer[25] amongst others were popular VFD-based tabletop electronic games released by Grandstand in the early 1980s.[6][26][27]

Grandstand also produced LCD-based handheld electronic games such as Mini-Munchman,[28] Scramble,[29] Caveman[30] and Crazy Kong.[31]

In addition Grandstand released 4 different games (6 total including name variations), including BMX Flyer, in the Multicolorlaser 6000 series. Manufactured by Tomy these were licensed for sale in the UK and featured a multi-colored backlit LCD.[32]

A Playtime Light Games console.

The projector-based game system was developed by Hong Kong company Playtime Products, and was released in other regions where it is known as the Light Games Color LCD Projector. It was Playtime's only console to be sold. Fantastiko released the "PROJECTOR MEGA VIDEO GAME Color LCD system" in Italy in 1988, while Grandstand rebranded it as "Light Games LCD Colour Projection System" for the UK, and Hunter Caesar Toys (Defunct in 1996) released it for Australia.[33] It was a tabletop projector based machine with built-in controller, that ran games on small cartridges with LCD windows. Light would be directed through the LCD window and magnified onto a wall. The window was painted with a semi-transparent background and the black LCD display would block the light from passing through. This provided 'big screen' entertainment and was a novelty at the time. The visual design and 'animation' being projected from these game carts were somewhat reminiscent of Nintendo's popular Game & Watch series of electronic handheld game devices that consisted of a segmented LCD display being pre-printed with an overlay. The machine ran from D sized batteries and was available for sale in various parts of Europe including the UK.[34] 13 games were developed for it.[35]

In the mid-late 1980s Grandstand collaborated with Tomy to release the Grandstand Pinball Wizard, a rebranded version of Tomy's popular Tomy Astro Shooter Pinball, an electric wall-plug based pinball machine.

Accessories were also marketed under the Grandstand name, such as the Universal Mains Adaptor.[36]