Wood Panel Tech

Brand: Sears (Manufactured by APF Electronics)

Model Number: 362.997310

I bought this unit, when I was teaching a class on the history of video games. I wanted the students to experience Atari’s PONG, but the ‘real’ version of the game was out of my budget. The Sears Sports Center was cheaper and gets the point across.

It contains 4 games; Tennis (The Classic Pong Style game we all know and love), Hockey, Jokari and a Practice Mode. There a three different modes, one changes angle, one changes the paddle size and the last one changes the ball speed. The unit’s dials are responsive and have stood up against my students (although they are often reminded to be gentle with the ‘ancient’ video game) The entire machine is plastic and has a cheap feeling. The top is stuck on with some great looking wood panel stickers.

Tennis is just classic pong. I could only get the unit working on this Sony Triton TV. The paddles are different colors and in person the background is a grayish blue. It was not woking on a black and white television.

Hockey is almost the same game but it adds a second paddle. One representing a player the other a goalie.

I had no idea what Jokari was before buying this unit. It is some kind of French handball game. The paddles are on the same side of the screen and take turns hitting against a wall.

Practice mode is similar to Jokari but only a single paddle.

Overall this is a great little unit and the games still hold up. Students, 40 or so years later, still had a blast playing pong on this wood paneled console!