Article · Wikipedia archive · Last revised Jul 26, 2026

Tele-Fever

The Tele-Fever is a second-generation home video game console which was released and marketed by German coffee roaster chain Tchibo in 1986 only in Germany for a list price of 99 Deutsche Mark (DM). It is one of the last variants of the Arcadia 2001 home video game console by Emerson Radio and therefore compatible with all software from it.

Last revised
Jul 26, 2026
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Wikipedia ↗
Tele-Fever
A Tele-Fever with cartridge inserted
DeveloperTchibo
ManufacturerTchibo
Product family
Arcadia 2001
TypeHome video game console
GenerationSecond generation
ReleasedGermany: 1986
Availability1986-?
Introductory price
99 Deutsche Mark (DM)
MediaROM cartridges
Graphics9 colors
Sound1 channel
Controller input
1 hardwired joystick-based game controller, 1 is built in the console
Power15 V DC, 600 mA
SuccessorRetro-Mini-Spielekonsole

The Tele-Fever (stylized as tele-fever) is a second-generation home video game console which was released and marketed by German coffee roaster chain Tchibo in 1986 only in Germany for a list price of 99 Deutsche Mark (DM).1234 It is one of the last variants of the Arcadia 2001 home video game console by Emerson Radio and therefore compatible with all software from it.1

The Tele-Fever was only manufactured in very small quantities and is rarely offered today.23 Only a few games were released for the system.2 After a short time, the production was discontinued.3

Technical specifications

  • Platform family: 8 bit2
  • CPU: Signetics 2650 clocked at 3.58 MHz2
  • RAM: 1 kB2
  • ROM: None2
  • Colors: 9 different colors; 4 for characters, 4 for sprites, and 1 for the background2
  • Sound: 1 channel2
  • Input devices: 1 hardwired joystick-based game controller, one is built in the console/12 buttons each2
  • Power: 15 V DC, 600 mA3

Reception

A Tchibo Tele-Fever in the Helsinki Computer and game console museum source ↗

The Tele-Fever was a weak console compared to other available consoles around its release time,5 but very cheap which made it attractive.2 The console was mostly sold as a budget item in Tchibo sections of discounters.6

Some people think the design of the Tele-Fever is quite appealing.3

Legacy

In 2019, Tchibo released another console, the Retro-Mini-Spielekonsole, which is a 8-bit dedicated handheld game console that contains 153 pre-installed retro games and costs €14.99.789 It is basically a clone of Thumbs Up's Retro Arcade Games,10 Monsterzeug's Retro Arcade,11 Radbag's Retro Mini-Spielekonsole,12 ORB's spielesammlung Retro Pocket junior,13 and Karsten International's Arcade Game Portable Console,14 which was also released under the name Retro Pocket Spiele/Retro Pocket Games in Germany in a cooperation with Woolworth.15

Literature

References

References

  1. "Tchibo Tele Fever [BINARIUM]". binarium.de. Retrieved 2020-06-29.
  2. "Tele Fever von Tchibo – Oder wie ein neuer Haarschnitt das Videospielfieber auslöste". Videospielgeschichten (in German). 2012-04-25. Retrieved 2020-06-29.
  3. "Tchibo Tele-Fever". www.heimcomputer.de. Retrieved 2020-06-29.
  4. "Videospielkonsolen - DER SPIEGEL". Der Spiegel. 17 April 2008. Retrieved 2020-08-01.
  5. "Computerspielemuseum - Details". 20 December 2000.
  6. "Tchibo Tele Fieber". 2021-11-26.
  7. Puschak, Kevin (2019-02-17). "Tchibo Retro-Mini-Spielekonsole • Masse statt Klasse". QUICK-SAVE.de (in German). Retrieved 2020-06-30.
  8. nettie67 (2018-12-20). "Retro-Mini-Spielekonsole von Tchibo". Netties Schnueffelecke (in German). Retrieved 2020-07-03.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: numeric names: authors list (link)
  9. "Tchibo Retro-Mini-Spielekonsole". www.richis-lab.de. Retrieved 2020-07-03.
  10. "ORB - Retro Arcade Games - inkl. 153x 8-Bit Spielen". Thumbs Up GmbH (in German). Retrieved 2020-06-30.
  11. "Retro Mini Spielekonsole mit LCD Display". monsterzeug.de (in German). Retrieved 2020-07-03.
  12. "Retro Mini-Spielekonsole". www.radbag.de (in German). Retrieved 2020-07-03.
  13. "spielesammlung Retro Pocket junior 9 cm gold/rot". real.de (in German). Retrieved 2020-08-25.
  14. "Silvergear 153-in-1 hand-held Retro Pocket Games | Karsten International BV". shop.karsten.nl. Retrieved 2020-06-30.
  15. "Karsten International". www.facebook.com. Retrieved 2020-06-30.