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Arcadia 2001

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Arcadia 2001
An Arcadia 2001
ManufacturerEmerson Radio
TypeHome video game console
GenerationSecond generation
Release dateMay 1982; 42 years ago (May 1982)[1]
Lifespan18 months
Introductory priceUS$99
Discontinued1984
MediaROM cartridge
CPUSignetics 2650
Memory1 KB RAM
Graphics128 × 208 / 128 × 104, 8 Colours
Controller input2 x Intellivision-style controller (12 button keypad and 'fire' buttons on the sides)
Power12 volt

The Arcadia 2001 is a second-generation 8-bit home video game console released by Emerson Radio in May 1982 for a price of US$ 99,[2] several months before the release of ColecoVision. 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 30 Arcadia 2001 clones exist.

The unrelated Arcadia Corporation, manufacturer of the Atari 2600 Supercharger add-on, was sued by Emerson for trademark infringement. Arcadia Corporation then changed its name to Starpath.[3]

Description

The Arcadia is much smaller than its contemporary competitors and is powered by a standard 12 volt power supply so it can be used in a boat or a vehicle. It has two headphone jacks on the far left and right sides of the back.

The system came with two Intellivision-style controllers with a 12-button keypad and "fire" buttons on the sides. The direction pads have a removable joystick attachment. Most games came with BoPET overlays 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

Arcadia 2001 motherboard
  • Main Processor: Signetics 2650 CPU (some variants run a Signetics 2650A)
  • RAM: 1 KB
  • ROM: None
  • Video display: 128 × 208 / 128 × 104, 8 Colours
  • Video display controller: Signetics 2637 UVI @ 3.58 MHz (NTSC), 3.55 MHz (PAL)
  • Sound: Single Channel "Beeper" + Single Channel "Noise"
  • Hardware Sprites: 4 independent, single color
  • Controllers: 2 × 2 way
  • Keypads: 2 × 12 button (more buttons on some variants)

Console variants and clones

Many variants and clones of the Arcadia 2001 have been released by various companies in different countries. These systems are mostly compatible with each other. In 1982, the Bandai Arcadia was released only in Japan. Four exclusive games were released for the system.

Name Manufacturer Country Compatibility family Image
Advision Home Arcade Advision France Emerson console
Arcadia Bandai Japan Emerson console Bandai Arcadia 2001
Arcadia 2001 Emerson United States Emerson console
Cosmos Tele-Computer Spain Emerson console
Dynavision Morning-Sun Commerce Japan MPT-03 console
Educat unknown Israel MPT-03 console
Ekusera P.I.C. Japan MPT-03 console
Hanimex MPT-03 Hanimex France MPT-03 console
HMG-2650 Hanimex Germany
Canada
Australia		 Emerson console
Home Arcade Centre Hanimex United Kingdom Emerson console
Intelligent Game MPT-03 Intelligent Game United States
Canada		 MPT-03 console
Intercord XL 2000 System Intercord Germany Emerson console
Intervision 2001 Intervision Switzerland Finland Ormatu console
ITMC MPT-03 ITMC France MPT-03 console
Leisure Vision Leisure-Dynamics Canada Emerson console
Leonardo GiG Electronics Italy Emerson console
Home Entertainment Centre Ch-50 Inno-Hit Italy Ormatu console
Ormatu 2001 Ormatu Electronics BV Netherlands Ormatu console
Palladium Video-Computer-Game Neckermann Germany Palladium console
Polybrain Video Computer Game Polybrain Germany Palladium console
Poppy MPT-03 Tele Computer Spiel Poppy Germany MPT-03 console
Prestige Video Computer Game MPT-03 Prestige France MPT-03 console
Robdajet MPT-03 Switzerland MPT-03 console
Rowtron 2000 Rowtron United Kingdom MPT-03 console
Schmid TVG-2000 Schmid Germany Emerson console
Sheen Home Video Centre 2001 Sheen Australia Ormatu console
Soundic MPT-03 Soundic Finland
Singapore[1]		 MPT-03 console
Mr. Altus Das Tele-Gehirn Color (German for tele brain)[5][6][7] HGS Electronic Germany Palladium console
Tele-Fever Tchibo Germany Emerson console
Tempest MPT-03 Tempest Australia MPT-03 console
Tobby MPT-03 Tobby ? MPT-03 console
Trakton Computer Video Game Trakton Australia Palladium console
Tryom Video Game Center Tryom United States MPT-03 console
Tunix Home Arcade Monaco Leisure New Zealand Emerson console
UVI Compu-Game Orbit Electronics New Zealand Orbit console
Video Master Grandstand New Zealand Orbit console

Bandai Arcadia

Bandai Arcadia
ManufacturerBandai
TypeVideo game console
GenerationSecond generation
MediaROM cartridge
CPUSignetics 2650 @ 3.58 MHz
PredecessorBandai Super Vision 8000
SuccessorBandai RX-78

In 1982, the Bandai 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

The Emerson Booth at CES 1982, featuring their Arcadia 2001 system.

After seeing the Arcadia 2001 at the summer 1982 Consumer Electronics Show, Danny Goodman of Creative Computing Video & Arcade Games reported 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 both Intellivision-like disc and joystick functionality "A great idea".[8]

Games

Emerson planned to launch the console with 19 games.[8] Some Arcadia 2001 games are ports of lesser-known arcade games such as Route 16, Jungler, and Jump Bug, which were not available on other home systems.

Emerson actually created many popular arcade titles including Pac-Man, Galaxian and Defender for the Arcadia, but never had them manufactured as Atari started 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 game Space Raiders is a clone of Defender, and Breakaway is a clone of Breakout.[10]

Released games

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 as Clowns on some systems, clone of Exidy's Circus
  • 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
  • Kidou Senshi Gundamu (Japan)
  • Math Logic
  • Missile War
  • Ocean Battle
  • Pleiades
  • RD2 Tank
  • Red Clash
  • Robot Killer (clone of Berzerk)
  • 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

Unreleased games

References

  1. ^ Forster, Winnie (2005). The encyclopedia of consoles, handhelds & home computers 1972 - 2005. GAMEPLAN. p. 57. ISBN 3-00-015359-4.
  2. ^ a b c d Watcher, Dark. "Emerson Arcadia 2001 - DW Facts". Video Game Console Library. Retrieved 6 January 2014.
  3. ^ "The Dot Eaters - Epyx | The Dot Eaters".
  4. ^ "obsoletemedia.org: Emerson Arcadia 2001 (1982 – 1984)".
  5. ^ retroplace. "Mr. Altus Das Telegehirn | Emerson Arcadia 2001". retroplace.com (in German). Retrieved 2020-08-24.
  6. ^ Motoschifo. "Mr. Altus Tele Brain - MAME machine". adb.arcadeitalia.net (in Italian). Retrieved 2020-08-24.
  7. ^ "Mr. Altus Das Tele-Gehirn Color". www.videogameheaven.de. Retrieved 2020-08-24.
  8. ^ a b Goodman, Danny (Spring 1983). "Home Video Games: Video Games Update". Creative Computing Video & Arcade Games. p. 32.
  9. ^ "Arcadia 2001: Frequently Asked Questions". digitpress.com. 2002-06-04. Retrieved 2017-03-01.
  10. ^ Lester, John. "History of Consoles: Arcadia 2001 (1982)". Gamster81. Retrieved 6 January 2014.
  11. ^ "Arcadia 2001 Gaming Guide".
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