logo Sign In

The Original Trilogy on Video 2000 (V2000)

Author
Time
 (Edited)

‘Okay grandpa, just what is Video 2000?’ - I hear some of you young whippersnappers ask…

 
Video 2000 (also known as V2000, with the tape standard Video Compact Cassette, or VCC) is a consumer videocassette system and analogue recording standard developed by Philips and Grundig to compete with JVC’s VHS and Sony’s Betamax video technologies.

Designed for the PAL color television standard (some models additionally handled SECAM), distribution of Video 2000 products began in 1979 exclusively in Europe, South Africa, and Argentina - and ended in 1988.

Unlike Betamax or VHS, Video 2000 cassettes could be recorded on both sides (like an audio cassette) so doubling the capacity of each cassette, and the tape was entirely covered when the cassette was outside the machine to protect it.

 
 

 

The Original Trilogy on V2000…

Continuing on with some of the more obscure and oft-forgotten formats that the Original Trilogy saw releases for… a long time ago… on CED, on VHD, on Betamax, on VCD, on Super 8, and on Video8 formats…

The V2000.

^ As the superb Techmoan put it so succinctly: “the format that finished third in a two-horse race”.
 

Back in a time where video players were prohibitively expensive for many - and also built like they could rise up and take over the planet in true Skynet style - given the sheer size, heft and build-quality of many a bulky machine in the late 70’s early 80’s… the VHS format eventually won out, unfortunately. The superior Betamax lost the battle of the videotape formats - and the even rarer V2000 is a format that many people today have likely never even heard of.
 

On the Star Wars front… there is some online formation for a release of Star Wars (1977) on V2000, and some scarce information for the V2000 release for Empire Strikes Back…

Yet given a complete lack of information online about such a release for ROTJ - even on some of the more detailed and knowledgable Star Wars collector / releases sites - coupled with the slow failing of V2000 format by the early-mid 1980’s… I just assumed both Star Wars and Empire Strikes Back saw V2000 releases just in the nick of time… whilst Return Of The Jedi was just too late to the party to see such a release. 😦

Or was it…

 

On a search for any information on a possible V2000 release of ROTJ… I eventually came across this old & expired Dutch marketplace advert - which does seem to clearly indicate Return Of The Jedi - on the Video2000 format…

https://www.marktplaats.nl/a/verzamelen/star-wars/m1646880663-star-wars-return-of-the-jedi-video-2000.html

(just a shame the featured image in the advert is so small and inconclusive)

 

Digging a little deeper into the search (a long, arduous, and perilous Indiana Jones style adventure / typing words into google)

I then found this online advert at todocolleccion for a Spanish V2000 set of the Original Trilogy - including Return of The Jedi:-
 

^ A surprise to be sure 😉

 

Then OT•com member benduwan confirmed that there was also a Return of The Jedi release on V2000 - in Germany - and very kindly sent me some information and images for his copy of it:-

 

So Return Of The Jedi was released on Video2000 after all - and was readily available in Europe (or at least in both Spain and Germany).

Hopefully there is even more information about this release out there online somewhere - and possibly about any other European or UK / English language releases…

If anyone has any more information as to the Original Trilogy releases on V2000 - especially for Empire Strikes Back and Return Of The Jedi please let us know - or post it up in here. 👍

 
 

A Spanish language poster for a CBS/Fox Video release for Return Of The Jedi:-

(this poster may not be for the Video 2000 format itself - yet it is similar to the image used for the V2000 cover art as seen above)

 

 

As can be seen by visiting projectcclarke’s quality website, there were also Video 2000 Star Wars releases for…

The Making Of Star Wars - www.starwarshomevideo.com/2020/04/the-making-of-star-wars-uk-1982-v2000.html

and for

Caravan Of Courage - www.starwarshomevideo.com/2020/02/caravan-of-courage-ewok-adventure-uk.html

 
 

V2000 Cover Art for the Original Trilogy releases…

 

^ image from http://www.starwarshomevideo.com/2018/11/star-wars-uk-video-2000-v2000-1983.html

 

^ image of a rental copy from http://www.starwarshomevideo.com/2020/01/star-wars-uk-v2000-1982-rental.html

 

^ image from http://www.videocollector.co.uk/empire-strikes-back-the/46257

 

^ images from benduwan’s German V2000 copy of Return Of The Jedi

 
 

^ image from www.starwarshomevideo.com/2020/04/the-making-of-star-wars-uk-1982-v2000.html

 

^ image from www.starwarshomevideo.com/2020/02/caravan-of-courage-ewok-adventure-uk.html

 

 

A couple of informative videos on the Video 2000 releases for the Original Trilogy…

 

From the Star Wars Home Video Library #302​: Early ANH UK Releases on VHS, Beta, and V2000’:-

www.youtube.com/watch?v=UUo3_sDX-rU - a 10 minute video from the Nathan Butler youtube channel

 
 

From the Star Wars Home Video Library #374​: TESB UK Cassettes (1984)(includes V2000):-

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NxZROT6Mn3U - a 9 minute video from the Nathan Butler youtube channel

 

 

Reviews & Information:

http://www.starwarshomevideo.com/2018/11/star-wars-uk-video-2000-v2000-1983.html
http://www.starwarshomevideo.com/2020/01/star-wars-uk-v2000-1982-rental.html
http://www.videocollector.co.uk/empire-strikes-back-the/46257
https://holocronvault.com/star-wars-1982
https://holocronvault.com/star-wars-1983
https://holocronvault.com/star-wars-1984
https://holocronvault.com/star-wars-1986

^ though no information for Return Of The Jedi - and only one page for Empire Strikes Back.

 

Wookieepedia blurb (see 1982, 1984, & 1986): https://starwars.fandom.com/wiki/Star_Wars_home_video_releases#1982

 

 

About the Video 2000 format as a whole…

 

Video History: V2000 - The format that came third in a two-horse race’:-

www.youtube.com/watch?v=SeSz6MoX00Q - a 36 minute video from the Techmoan youtube channel

 

Obligatory Wikipedia Page for the Video 2000 format: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Video_2000

‘Museum Of Obsolete Media’ Page for info on the Video 2000 format: https://obsoletemedia.org/video-2000

V2000 PalSite for the Video 2000 format: http://v2000.palsite.com/index.html

Total Rewind Page for the Video 2000 format: http://www.totalrewind.org/v2000.htm

 
 

 
 

As ever, if you see any mistakes or broken links please let us know - or have anything for inclusion to the above info too. 👍
 

Plus, if anyone has any more information for various releases of Return Of The Jedi on the V2000 format please let us know!

A little patience goes a long way on this old-school Rebel base. If you are having issues finding what you are looking for, these will be of some help…

Welcome to the OriginalTrilogy.com | Introduce yourself in here | Useful info within : About : Help : Site Rules : Fan Project Rules : Announcements
How do I do this?’ on the OriginalTrilogy.com; some info & answers + FAQs - includes info on how to search for projects and threads on the OT•com

A Project Index for Star Wars Preservations (Harmy’s Despecialized & 4K77/80/83 etc) : A Project Index for Star Wars Fan Edits (adywan & Hal 9000 etc)

… and take your time to look around this site before posting - to get a feel for this place. Don’t just lazily make yet another thread asking for projects.

Author
Time

thanks for sharing this.
but why is my tape different from others??

Author
Time
 (Edited)

It does look a little different from the other V2000 tape cassettes - though I’ve no idea why mate 😦

Could it be the top of the V2000 cassette is white - and it is difficult to see against the white background, and makes it look a little different?
 

A little patience goes a long way on this old-school Rebel base. If you are having issues finding what you are looking for, these will be of some help…

Welcome to the OriginalTrilogy.com | Introduce yourself in here | Useful info within : About : Help : Site Rules : Fan Project Rules : Announcements
How do I do this?’ on the OriginalTrilogy.com; some info & answers + FAQs - includes info on how to search for projects and threads on the OT•com

A Project Index for Star Wars Preservations (Harmy’s Despecialized & 4K77/80/83 etc) : A Project Index for Star Wars Fan Edits (adywan & Hal 9000 etc)

… and take your time to look around this site before posting - to get a feel for this place. Don’t just lazily make yet another thread asking for projects.

Author
Time

Hi…

I read the post about the v2000 star wars trilogy…

A long time ago I bought some tapes from a video store which was going to stop with their v2000 collection…

I bought some tapes… Gremlin, the James bond collection and… The star wars movies…

Unfortunately I don’t have empire, but the other 2 are still in my collection…

If you want I will send some pics of them…

Oh… I live in the Netherlands and the tapes are with Dutch texts and the movies with Dutch subtitles, but fully English spoken…

Greets

Roy

Author
Time

Alguard said:

Hi…

I read the post about the v2000 star wars trilogy…

A long time ago I bought some tapes from a video store which was going to stop with their v2000 collection…

I bought some tapes… Gremlin, the James bond collection and… The star wars movies…

Unfortunately I don’t have empire, but the other 2 are still in my collection…

If you want I will send some pics of them…

Oh… I live in the Netherlands and the tapes are with Dutch texts and the movies with Dutch subtitles, but fully English spoken…

Greets

Roy

I guess there’s no harm in asking but, would be willing to potential part with your Star Wars Video 2000 tapes? I have been on the hunt for Star Wars on Video 2000 for a long while now, as I am working on project to preserve this form of video format.

May 25, 1977

The day that changed the world

Author
Time

Is Nathan Butler on these boards at all? Been trying to reach him about a question…