Supervision by Watara

Credit: Evan Amos
Console Name: Supervision
Alternate Named(s): QuickShot Supervision
Travell-Mate
Travellmate
Hartung SV-100
Electrolab
泰可BOY (Tiger Boy)
Magnum Supervision
Release Date: 1992
Original Price: $49.95 U.S.
Number of Games Cartridges: 66 games on 69 cartridges
Display: 160×160 pixel resolution, 4 shades of grey
 

History
Very little is known the true origin of this console. Some speculate that it was in fact an upgraded version of the Game Master by Hartung as it used nearly identical cartridges and the Game Master was distributed by Watara in some countries.  In any case, the Supervision was created to be a cheap alternative to the Nintendo Game Boy. Both the Hartung and Game Master and the Bit Corporation Gamate had tried to take on the Game Boy but failed to the task. The Game Master, which was at least backed by Watara  was way under power when compared to the Game Boy which led Watara to create a device more in line with the Game Boy specification.

Release
Released in 1992, a whole 3 years after the release of the Game Boy, the SuperVision was retailing for $49.95, around 40$ cheaper than the Game Boy. As for the Game Master and Gamate, the system was mostly distributed in Europe and Asia, although it was also distributed in North America and Argentina.  Watara had partnered with various game developers to help grow the SuperVision library quickly. The initial sale numbers were good. Watara even released a TV link add on and started to work on a Color version of the system.

Demise
In the end, the Supervision was just not successful enough to survive against the Game Boy. All plans for a color version was cancelled and the system just ceased to be produced.

Games
The games sold by Hartung were in boxes where the other distributor would instead use blister packs.

 

Technical Specifications

CPU 8-bit 65C02 processor, running at 4 MHz
Graphics Screen: 61 mm × 61 mm (2.37 inches × 2.37 inches), 160 × 160 pixels, 4 greys LCD.
There was no hardware video acceleration, graphics had to be drawn by software to a framebuffer.
Audio
  • 2 Tonal and 1 Noise Channel plus additional audio DMA stereo output channel.
  • Built-in speaker and headphone jack with stereo earphones included.
Power 4 × AA batteries or 6V AC/DC adapter
Cartridges Yes. 40-pin cartridge port
Communication
  • Two Player Link using DE-9 connector.
  • TV adapter

 

 

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