The Polygame 6 is a dedicated multi-game Pong-style home console from the late 1970s, part of the wave of first-generation gaming systems that brought simple electronic sports entertainment into European living rooms. Featuring multiple built-in games, rotary paddles, on-console switches, and the familiar black-and-white Pong visuals of its era, the Polygame 6 stands as a charming example of early home gaming design.
Though lesser-known compared to brands like Atari or Magnavox, the Polygame 6 is now a nostalgic and collectible piece of the Pong era — representing the affordability and creativity of European manufacturers during the birth of video gaming.
📘 Introduction
Before cartridges, before 8-bit graphics, and long before 3D gaming, the late 1970s were dominated by dedicated Pong consoles. These systems offered a handful of built-in variations of the classic ball-and-paddle formula.
The Polygame 6 belongs to this pioneering generation and provided:
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Six built-in Pong-style games
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Easy plug-and-play setup
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Hardwired paddle controllers
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Family-friendly sports gameplay
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Simple, sturdy construction
It is part of a diverse family of clone, licensed, and OEM systems that defined early home console history.
🎨 Retro Industrial Design
The Polygame 6 features a distinctive vintage look typical of late-’70s European consoles:
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Sleek plastic casing (usually black, silver, or two-tone)
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Integrated control panel with labeled switches
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Two rotary paddle knobs for left/right movement
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Central start/reset buttons
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Built-in speaker or TV-only sound (depending on revision)
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“Polygame 6” branding prominently on the front
Its clean, functional layout reflects the simplicity of first-generation consoles — intuitive to use even today.
🎮 Built-In Games
As the name implies, the Polygame 6 includes six different game modes, all derivatives of the classic Pong formula.
Typical games include:
🏓 Pong Variants
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Tennis — the standard two-player Pong game
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Hockey — two paddles per side, wider goals
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Squash — one- or two-player mode, with the ball bouncing off a wall
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Practice Mode — single-player training
⚽ Sports / Target Modes
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Soccer / Football — multiple goal sizes or obstacles
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Handball / Pelota-style rebound game
Depending on chipset revisions, some Polygame 6 units also include ball speed controls or paddle size adjustments.
⚙️ Hardware & Technology
Like many Pong consoles of the late ’70s, the Polygame 6 is powered by a dedicated game IC, usually from the General Instrument AY-3-8500 series or a compatible European clone chip.
Key Technical Features
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Built-in game logic chip
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Analog rotary potentiometers for paddle control
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On-screen scoring
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Ball speed / angle variation
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Manual game selection switches
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RF output for CRT televisions
Because of the dedicated hardware, gameplay is extremely responsive and low-latency — even by today’s standards.
📺 CRT TV Connection
The Polygame 6 connects directly to older televisions:
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RF output (PAL)
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Requires tuning to channel 3/4 depending on region
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Classic black-and-white graphics
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Authentic scanline appearance
For collectors, using the Polygame 6 with a vintage CRT delivers a wonderfully nostalgic experience.
🛠️ Reliability & Common Issues
With its simple electronics, the Polygame 6 is often still functional today, but time can introduce a few typical problems:
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Jittery or unresponsive paddles (dirty potentiometers)
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Corroded battery compartments (if battery-powered)
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Loose or noisy RF output
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Oxidised solder joints
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Yellowing of plastic casing
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Weak internal speaker (on models that include one)
Fortunately, these issues are easily repairable, making the Polygame 6 a great restoration project for enthusiasts.
🌍 Cultural & Historical Significance
The Polygame 6 represents:
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Europe’s early adoption of home video game technology
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The era where simple Pong machines dominated the market
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A pre-cartridge gaming landscape
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Affordable home entertainment before the rise of Atari and Nintendo
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The creativity of smaller electronics manufacturers of the 1970s
Systems like this one are essential to understanding how gaming spread across households before the programmable console era.
📦 Items Included in This Collection Entry
📜 Conclusion
The Polygame 6 is a wonderfully nostalgic reminder of the roots of home video gaming — simple controls, built-in games, and family-oriented fun. As one of the many European Pong systems of the era, it captures the spirit of early gaming innovation and the beginning of interactive entertainment in the home.
A charming and historically important addition to any retro console collection.