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10 pcs
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10 pcs | On Request | 1 | On Request | On Request | On Request | On Request | On Request |
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The General Instrument AY-3-8500, also known as the "Ball & Paddle" chip, was a pioneering integrated circuit introduced in 1976 for the consumer video game market. It was the first in the GIMINI series and was instrumental in the development of early video game consoles.
This IC featured six selectable games, including variations of tennis (Pong), hockey, squash, and two shooting games. The AY-3-8500 was available in both PAL (625-line) and NTSC (525-line) versions. While the video output was inherently black-and-white, it could be colorized with the addition of the AY-3-8515 chip. Later revisions, like the AY-3-8550, introduced support for two-axis joystick control.
A minimum number of external components were required to build a functional system, making it an efficient solution for manufacturers. Approximately 5 million AY-3-8500 chips were sold, powering hundreds of different game consoles and establishing General Instrument as a key player in the burgeoning video game industry.
| Qty | Low | High |
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| 1+ | $7.84 | $7.84 |
Estimated market price range - modelled values for guidance only, not live distributor offers.
The AY-3-8500 includes six selectable games: tennis (Pong), hockey (soccer), squash, practice (single-player Pong), and two shooting games.
The AY-3-8500 is available in a 625-line PAL version and a 525-line NTSC version.
The AY-3-8500 outputs black-and-white video, but it can be colorized by using an additional chip, the AY-3-8515.
The AY-3-8500 supports single-axis paddle control. Later versions, like the AY-3-8550, added support for two-axis joystick control.