What is the Philips VG5000 computer and does it have any relation to Odyssey²/Videopac?
Philips introduced the VG5000 home computer in late 1984. It was manufactured and distributed in France by the Philips subsidiary Radiotechnique-Compelec (RTC). The Old-Computers.com Museum describes it as a cheap computer, meant for beginners and for students to do schoolwork. It was not especially successful, and ended production in 1986.15 The VG5000 has a tangential relationship to the Odyssey²/Videopac, because a number of Videopac games were recreated for the home computer. Videopac games with near-equivalents on the VG5000 include Air Battle, Turtles, Munchkin, Super Bee, Space Monster, Terrahawks, Helicopter Rescue, Trans American Rally, Norseman, and Backgammon.16 Screenshots demonstrate that VG5000 graphics appear roughly between G7000- and G7400-level in quality.
