Arcadia 2001

Arcadia 2001
Emerson Arcadia 2001 video game console
Manufacturer Emerson Radio
Type Home video game console
Generation Second generation
Release date 1982 (1982)[1]
Retail availability 18 months
Discontinued 1984
Media ROM cartridge
CPU Signetics 2650
Memory 1 KB RAM
Graphics 128 × 208 / 128 × 104, 8 Colours
Controller input 2 x Intellivision-style controller (12 button keypad and 'fire' buttons on the sides)
Power 12-volt

Arcadia 2001 is a second-generation 8-bit console released by Emerson Radio in 1982 following 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

Hanimex HMG-2650

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 also has two outputs (or inputs) headphone jacks on the back of the unit, on the far left and far right sides.

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 could be applied to the controller's keypads. The console itself had five buttons: power, start, reset, option, and select.

There are at least three different types of 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

  • 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

Intervision 2001
Name Manufacturer Country Compatibility family
Advision Home ArcadeAdvisionFranceEmerson console
ArcadiaBandaiJapanEmerson console
Arcadia 2001EmersonUnited StatesEmerson console
CosmosTele-ComputerSpainEmerson console
DynavisionMorning-Sun CommerceJapanMPT-03 console
EducatUnknownIsraelMPT-03 console
EkuseraP.I.C.JapanMPT-03 console
Hanimex MPT-03HanimexFranceMPT-03 console
HMG-2650HanimexGermanyEmerson console
Home Arcade CentreHanimexFranceEmerson console
Intelligent Game MPT-03Intelligent GameUnited StatesMPT-03 console
Intercord XL 2000 SystemIntercordGermanyEmerson console
Intervision 2001IntervisionSwitzerlandOrmatu console
ITMC MPT-03ITMCFranceMPT-03 console
Leisure-VisionLeisure-DynamicsCanadaEmerson console
LeonardoGiG ElectronicsItalyEmerson console
Ormatu 2001Ormatu Electronics BVNetherlandsOrmatu console
Palladium Video-Computer-GameNeckermannGermanyPalladium console
Polybrain Video Computer GamePolybrainGermanyPalladium console
Poppy MPT-03 Tele Computer SpielPoppyGermanyMPT-03 console
Prestige Video Computer Game MPT-03PrestigeFranceMPT-03 console
Robdajet MPT-03SwitzerlandMPT-03 console
Rowtron 2000RowtronUnited KingdomMPT-03 console
Schmid TVG-2000SchmidGermanyEmerson console
Sheen Home Video Centre 2001SheenAustraliaOrmatu console
Soundic MPT-03SoundicFinlandMPT-03 console
Tele BrainMr. AltusGermanyPalladium console
Tele-FeverTchiboGermanyEmerson console
Tempest MPT-03TempestAustraliaMPT-03 console
Tobby MPT-03Tobby?MPT-03 console
Trakton Computer Video GameTraktonAustraliaPalladium console
Tryom Video Game CenterTryomUnited StatesMPT-03 console
Tunix Home ArcadeMonaco LeisureNew ZealandEmerson console
UVI Compu-GameOrbit ElectronicsNew ZealandOrbit console
Video MasterGrandstandNew ZealandOrbit console

Bandai Arcadia

Bandai Arcadia
Manufacturer Bandai
Type Video game console
Generation Second generation
Media ROM cartridge
CPU Signetics 2650 @ 3.58 MHz
Predecessor Bandai Super Vision 8000
Successor Bandai RX-78

In 1982 the Bandai Arcadia, a variant of the Emerson Arcadia 2001, was released in Japan by Bandai. There were four Japan-exclusive game releases developed by Bandai which were the only known Arcadia titles written by other companies than UA Ltd.

  • Doraemon
  • Dr. Slump
  • Mobile Soldier Gundam
  • Super Dimension Fortress Macross

Reception

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".[5]

Games

Emerson planned to launch the console with 19 games.[5] 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.[6] 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.[7]

References

  1. ↑ Forster, Winnie (2005). The encyclopedia of consoles, handhelds & home computers 1972 - 2005. GAMEPLAN. p. 57. ISBN 3-00-015359-4.
  2. 1 2 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. 1 2 Goodman, Danny (Spring 1983). "Home Video Games: Video Games Update". Creative Computing Video & Arcade Games. p. 32.
  6. ↑ "Arcadia 2001: Frequently Asked Questions". digitpress.com. 2002-06-04. Retrieved 2017-03-01.
  7. ↑ Lester, John. "History of Consoles: Arcadia 2001 (1982)". Gamster81. Retrieved 6 January 2014.
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