History of video games/Platforms/TV Tennis Electrotennis

Launch
TV Tennis Electrotennis was released by Epoch on September 12th, 1975 at a cost of either ¥19,000 yen or ¥19,500 yen. The TV Tennis Electrotennis was the first Japanese video game console.

Sales figures
Most sales figures for the TV Tennis Electrotennis are in the ballpark of around 10,000, to 20,000 consoles sold.

The German website Gamona even goes so far as to say the console could have sold over three million units, though this source notes that they were unsure of this claim.

Influences
The ability for the TV Tennis Electrotennis to broadcast television signals inspired Famicom and NES designer Masayuki Uemura to consider adding a similar wireless broadcast function to the Famicom, though this was not pursued due to cost.

TV Tennis Electrotennis (テレビテニス) is also known by its affectionate nickname "Pon Tennis" (ポンテニス).

Technology
As the name suggests, the TV Tennis Electrotennis could only play tennis. The system broadcast a television signal over a UHF antenna and ran on batteries so it did not need to be plugged into anything to work.

External Resources

 * Game Medium - TV Tennis Electrotennis page.
 * Super Gaijin Ultra Gamer - TV Tennis Electrotennis page.