Just an Opinion

[e8hffff]

I think the CreatiVision would have been a lot more popular if they had binary execution command in the Basic interpreter. Over the past few day's I've learnt the Finnish Laser version did have a "CALL" command to do that. But it wasn't in the Dick Smith variant. The result is that we were stuck with the cartridges on sale, and basic coded games. It would have also brought validity to the memory expansion add-on.

Possible people could have made their own cartridges, but by the time people started to explore the memory map and abilities the market had too much competition. If only...

[MADrigal]

I believe the CreatiVision was not successful for a number of reasons.
Firstly it never found a distributor in USA and UK.
Secondly all games on cartridge were developed in-house and without official licenses (e.g. Donkey Kong, Pacman).
The BASIC interpreter was quite crap but as you mentioned, the Laser 2001 BASIC interpreter was heaps better. Not only capable of executing machine code, but also to do advanced graphics. Listings and screenshots are available for downloads in the CreatiVEmu site.
You can experience the Laser 2001 on the CreatiVision by using the great homebrew CSL Module that has 16K RAM expansion and the Laser 2001 BASIC

[e8hffff]

The BASIC interpreter was quite crap but as you mentioned, the Laser 2001 BASIC interpreter was heaps better. Not only capable of executing machine code, but also to do advanced graphics. Listings and screenshots are available for downloads in the CreatiVEmu site. You can experience the Laser 2001 on the CreatiVision by using the great homebrew CSL Module that has 16K RAM expansion and the Laser 2001 BASIC

Ok thanks. I personally would have got deep into the coding but I hit the limits with Basic. My mind was hungry and open for knowledge, at the time. I even made games on this system using pokes to get the sound chip to produce white noise for say rocket sounds.. Also using other various tricks, to speed up the interpreter, but it wasn't enough to produce "commercial" grade games. Many a times running out of memory, even with the trick of saving out and clearing memory to squeeze a few extra lines on fresh CLOAD.

[MADrigal]

Yeh I share the same experience with CreatiVision BASIC around 2001. Very limited from every point of view. But at least you could redefine chars and play music quite easily, which not all BASIC interpreters had.

[e8hffff]

Yeh I share the same experience with CreatiVision BASIC around 2001. Very limited from every point of view. But at least you could redefine chars and play music quite easily, which not all BASIC interpreters had.

Exactly. The Basic had some real strong points, like the DATA command, and sprite and character manipulation. I never knew this system was close to the Colecovision.