Fairchild Channel F

The Fairchild Channel F is considered a second-generation video game console. It marked a significant leap from first-generation consoles like the Magnavox Odyssey, which used hardwired games and discrete logic rather than programmable ROM cartridges. Released in 1976, the Channel F introduced several key innovations that defined the second generation, particularly its use of interchangeable, programmable game cartridges and the inclusion of a microprocessor (the Fairchild F8 CPU).

These advancements allowed for greater flexibility and variety in gameplay, as users could purchase new games rather than being limited to built-in options. Its cartridge-based system and programmable hardware set the foundation for future consoles in the second generation, like the Atari 2600, which would further popularize and standardize these features.