Arcadia 2001
Manufacturer | Emerson Radio |
---|---|
Type | Home video game console |
Generation | Second generation |
Release date | May 1982[1] |
Lifespan | 18 months |
Introductory price | US$99 |
Discontinued | 1984 |
Media | ROM cartridge |
CPU | Signetics 2650 |
Memory | 1KBRAM |
Display | TV; 128 × 208 / 128 × 104, 8 Colours |
Graphics | Signetics 2637 UVI |
Sound | 2 channels (Beeper and Noise) |
Controller input | 2 xIntellivision-stylecontroller(12 button keypad and 'fire' buttons on the sides) |
Power | 12 volt |
TheArcadia 2001is asecond-generation8-bithome video game consolereleased byEmerson Radioin May 1982 for a price of US$ 99,[2]several months before the release ofColecoVision.It was discontinued only 18 months later, with a total of 35 games having been released.[2]Emerson licensed the Arcadia 2001 to Bandai, which released it in Japan.[2]Over 30Arcadia 2001 clonesexist.
The unrelated Arcadia Corporation, manufacturer of theAtari 2600Superchargeradd-on, was sued by Emerson fortrademark infringement.Arcadia Corporation then changed its name toStarpath.[3]
Description
[edit]The Arcadia is much smaller than its contemporary competitors and is powered by a standard 12 voltpower supplyso it can be used in a boat or a vehicle. It has twoheadphone jackson the far left and right sides of the back.
The system came with twoIntellivision-style controllers with a 12-buttonkeypadand "fire" buttons on the sides. The direction pads have a removable joystick attachment. Most games came withBoPEToverlays that can be applied to the controller's keypads. The console itself has five buttons: Power, Start, Reset, Option, and Select.
There are at least three different cartridge case styles[4]and artwork, with variations on each. Emerson-family cartridges come in two different lengths (short and long) of black plastic cases.
Technical specifications
[edit]- Main Processor:Signetics 2650CPU (some variants run a Signetics 2650A)
- RAM: 1 KB
- ROM: None
- Video display: 128 × 208 / 128 × 104, 8 Colours
- Video display controller:Signetics2637 UVI @ 3.58MHz(NTSC), 3.55 MHz (PAL)
- Sound: Single Channel "Beeper" + Single Channel "Noise"
- HardwareSprites:4 independent, single color
- Controllers: 2 × 2 way
- Keypads: 2 × 12 button (more buttons on some variants)
Console variants and clones
[edit]Many variants andclonesof the Arcadia 2001 have been released by various companies in different countries. These systems are mostly compatible with each other. In 1982, theBandai Arcadiawas released only in Japan. Four exclusive games were released for the system.
Name | Manufacturer | Country | Compatibility family | Image |
---|---|---|---|---|
Advision Home Arcade | Advision | Emerson console | ||
2001 ALTOS Home Video Centre | Altos India Limited | Emerson console | ||
Arcadia | Bandai | Emerson console | ||
Arcadia 2001 | Emerson | Emerson console | ||
Cosmos | Tele-Computer | Emerson console | ||
Dynavision | Morning-Sun Commerce | MPT-03 console | ||
Educat | unknown | MPT-03 console | ||
Ekusera | P.I.C. | MPT-03 console | ||
Hanimex MPT-03 | Hanimex | MPT-03 console | ||
HMG-2650 | Hanimex | Emerson console | ||
Home Arcade Centre | Hanimex | Emerson console | ||
Intelligent Game MPT-03 | Intelligent Game | MPT-03 console | ||
Intercord XL 2000 System | Intercord | Emerson console | ||
Intervision 2001 | Intervision | Ormatu console | ||
ITMC MPT-03 | ITMC | MPT-03 console | ||
Leisure Vision | Leisure-Dynamics | Emerson console | ||
Leonardo | GiG Electronics | Emerson console | ||
Home Entertainment Centre Ch-50 | Inno-Hit | Ormatu console | ||
Ormatu 2001 | Ormatu Electronics BV | Ormatu console | ||
Palladium Video-Computer-Game | Neckermann | Palladium console | ||
Polybrain Video Computer Game | Polybrain | Palladium console | ||
Poppy MPT-03 Tele Computer Spiel | Poppy | MPT-03 console | ||
Prestige Video Computer Game MPT-03 | Prestige | MPT-03 console | ||
Robdajet MPT-03 | Robdajet | MPT-03 console | ||
Rowtron 2000 | Rowtron | MPT-03 console | ||
Schmid TVG-2000 | Schmid | Emerson console | ||
Sheen Home Video Centre 2001 | Sheen | Ormatu console | ||
Soundic MPT-03 | Soundic | [1] |
MPT-03 console | |
Tedelex Home Arcade | Tedelex | Emerson console | ||
Mr. Altus Das Tele-Gehirn Color (German fortele brain)[5][6][7] | HGS Electronic | Palladium console | ||
Tele-Fever | Tchibo | Emerson console | ||
Tempest MPT-03 | Tempest | MPT-03 console | ||
Tobby MPT-03 | Tobby | ? | MPT-03 console | |
Trakton Computer Video Game | Trakton | Palladium console | ||
Tryom Video Game Center | Tryom | MPT-03 console | ||
Tunix Home Arcade | Monaco Leisure | Emerson console | ||
UVI Compu-Game | Orbit Electronics | Orbit console | ||
Video Master | Grandstand | Orbit console |
Bandai Arcadia
[edit]Manufacturer | Bandai |
---|---|
Type | Video game console |
Generation | Second generation |
Release date | 1982 |
Media | ROM cartridge |
CPU | Signetics 2650@ 3.58MHz |
Predecessor | Bandai Super Vision 8000 |
Successor | Bandai RX-78 |
In 1982, theBandai Arcadia,a variant of the Emerson Arcadia 2001, was licensed and distributed to Japan by Bandai for a price of 19,800 yen.[2]There were four Japan-exclusive games released by Bandai.
- Doraemon
- Dr. Slump
- Mobile Suit Gundam
- Super Dimension Fortress Macross
Reception
[edit]After seeing the Arcadia 2001 at the summer 1982Consumer Electronics Show,Danny GoodmanofCreative ComputingVideo & Arcade Gamesreported that its graphics were similar to the Atari 2600's, and that "our overall impression of the game play was favorable for a system in this price range, though no cartridge stands out as being an exciting original creation". He called the controller offering bothIntellivision-like disc and joystick functionality "A great idea".[8]
Games
[edit]Emerson planned to launch the console with 19 games.[8]Some Arcadia 2001 games are ports of lesser-known arcade games such asRoute 16,Jungler,andJump Bug,which were not available on other home systems.
Emerson actually created many popular arcade titles includingPac-Man,GalaxianandDefenderfor the Arcadia, but never had them manufactured asAtaristarted to sue its competitor companies for releasing games to which it had exclusive-rights agreements.[9]Early marketing showed popular arcade games, but they were later released as clones. For instance, the Arcadia 2001 gameSpace Raidersis a clone ofDefender,andBreakawayis a clone ofBreakout.[10]
Released games
[edit]There are 47 games known to have been released for the Arcadia 2001 and its clones.
- 3D Attack- a Zaxxon clone[11]
- 3-D Bowling- a Bowling game released for the Arcadia by Emerson Radio Corp. in 1982.
- 3-D Raceway- 3D Raceway
- 3-D Soccer- a Soccer game released by Emerson Radio Corp. for the Arcadia in 1982.
- Alien Invaders- is a Shoot-'Em-Up game released by Emerson Radio Corp. for the Arcadia in 1982.
- Astro Invader
- American Football
- Baseball
- Brain Quiz
- Breakaway
- Capture
- Cat Trax
- Circus- Also known asClownson some systems, clone of Exidy'sCircus
- Crazy Gobbler
- Crazy Climber
- Escape
- Funky Fish
- Galaxian
- Grand Prix 3-D
- Grand Slam Tennis
- Hobo
- Home Squadron
- Horse Racing(plays similar to the Intellivision game)
- Jump Bug
- Jungler
- Math Logic
- Missile War
- Ocean Battle
- Pleiades
- RD2 Tank
- Red Clash
- Robot Killer(clone ofBerzerk)
- Route 16
- Soccer
- Space Attack
- Space Chess
- Space Mission
- Space Raiders
- Space Squadron
- Space Vultures
- Spiders
- Star Chess
- Super Bug
- Super Gobbler
- Tanks A Lot
- The End
- Turtles/Turpin
Bandai Arcadia Only
[edit]Seehere
Unreleased games
[edit]References
[edit]- ^Forster, Winnie(2005).The encyclopedia of consoles, handhelds & home computers 1972 - 2005.GAMEPLAN. p. 57.ISBN3-00-015359-4.
- ^abcdWatcher, Dark."Emerson Arcadia 2001 - DW Facts".Video Game Console Library.Retrieved6 January2014.
- ^"The Dot Eaters - Epyx | The Dot Eaters".
- ^"obsoletemedia.org: Emerson Arcadia 2001 (1982 – 1984)".
- ^retroplace."Mr. Altus Das Telegehirn | Emerson Arcadia 2001".retroplace.com(in German).Retrieved2020-08-24.
- ^Motoschifo."Mr. Altus Tele Brain - MAME machine".adb.arcadeitalia.net(in Italian).Retrieved2020-08-24.
- ^"Mr. Altus Das Tele-Gehirn Color".www.videogameheaven.de.Retrieved2020-08-24.
- ^abGoodman, Danny(Spring 1983)."Home Video Games: Video Games Update".Creative Computing Video & Arcade Games.p. 32.
- ^"Arcadia 2001: Frequently Asked Questions".digitpress.com. 2002-06-04.Retrieved2017-03-01.
- ^Lester, John."History of Consoles: Arcadia 2001 (1982)".Gamster81.Retrieved6 January2014.
- ^"Arcadia 2001 Gaming Guide".
External links
[edit]- Video Game Console Libraryentry on the Arcadia 2001
- TheGameConsole.comentry on the Arcadia 2001
- The Dot Eaters entryon the Arcadia 2001
- www.old-computers.comEmerson Arcadia 2001 museum entry
- www.old-computers.comArticle about Arcadia 2001 and clones
- Arcadia 2001 retrospectiveatIGN