# M58816P

> Pong console chip with 15 games

**Wikidata**: [Q116786792](https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q116786792)  
**Source**: https://4ort.xyz/entity/m58816p

## Summary
The M58816P is an integrated circuit model manufactured by Mitsubishi Electric, introduced in 1977. It is a specialized chip designed for use in dedicated Pong-style video game consoles, capable of running 15 distinct games.

## Key Facts
- **Instance Of:** Integrated circuit model
- **Manufacturer:** Mitsubishi Electric
- **Release Date:** 1977
- **Primary Function:** Hardware execution of Pong-style video games
- **Game Capacity:** 15 games
- **Also Known As:** M58815P
- **Classification:** Electronic circuit formed on a small, flat piece of semiconductor material

## FAQs
### Q: What is the primary function of the M58816P?
A: The M58816P serves as a dedicated integrated circuit for video game consoles. It is specifically designed to play Pong-style games, containing the logic for 15 distinct titles.

### Q: Who manufactured the M58816P?
A: The M58816P was manufactured by Mitsubishi Electric, a Japanese multinational electronics company.

### Q: When was the M58816P released?
A: The M58816P was introduced in 1977.

## Why It Matters
The M58816P represents a specific era in the evolution of consumer electronics and video gaming history: the transition from discrete transistor–transistor logic (TTL) circuits to single-chip LSI (Large Scale Integration) solutions. Introduced in 1977, this integrated circuit consolidated the complex logic required for video games into a compact, efficient component. This miniaturization allowed manufacturers to build cheaper, more reliable, and more compact home Pong consoles.

For historians and collectors of retro technology, the M58816P is a significant artifact that illustrates the rapid advancement of semiconductor technology in the late 1970s. By offloading the game logic to a chip capable of handling 15 games, Mitsubishi Electric provided a streamlined solution for console manufacturers during the height of the dedicated home console boom, prior to the dominance of programmable cartridge-based systems.

## Notable For
- Being a dedicated "Pong-on-a-chip" solution.
- Integrating the logic for 15 distinct games into a single component.
- Being a product of Mitsubishi Electric's semiconductor division.
- Serving as a prime example of 1977 integrated circuit technology in consumer gaming.
- Being identified interchangeably with the part number M58815P.

## Body

### Technical Classification
The M58816P is classified as an integrated circuit (IC). As an IC, it is an electronic circuit formed on a small, flat piece of semiconductor material. It falls under the specific subclass of integrated circuit models designed for consumer electronics.

### Specifications and Capabilities
The chip is distinct for its specific application in the first generation of home video game consoles. Unlike general-purpose microprocessors that would later dominate the market, the M58816P was an application-specific integrated circuit.
- **Game Library:** The chip is hardwired to execute 15 games.
- **Genre:** The games provided are variations of "Pong-style" video games, typically involving on-screen paddles and bouncing balls.
- **Alias:** In some contexts or documentation, the chip is referred to by the alias M58815P.

### Manufacturing Context
Produced by **Mitsubishi Electric**, the M58816P entered the market in **1977**. This timeline places it firmly within the period where dedicated home consoles were popular, just before the video game crash of 1977 and the subsequent rise of cartridge-based systems. The chip exemplifies the "General Instrument" era of chip design, where specific chips were created to power the "pong" clones sold by various brands.