Arcadia 2001

Arcadia 2001 is a second-generation 8-bit home video game console released by Emerson Radio in May 1982, 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.

Arcadia 2001
Emerson Arcadia 2001 video game console
ManufacturerEmerson Radio
TypeHome video game console
GenerationSecond generation
Release dateMay 1982 (May 1982)[1]
Lifespan18 months
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 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 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
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
Name Manufacturer Country Compatibility family Image
Advision Home ArcadeAdvisionEmerson console
ArcadiaBandaiEmerson console
Arcadia 2001EmersonEmerson console
CosmosTele-ComputerEmerson console
DynavisionMorning-Sun CommerceMPT-03 console
EducatUnknownMPT-03 console
EkuseraP.I.C.MPT-03 console
Hanimex MPT-03HanimexMPT-03 console
HMG-2650Hanimex

Emerson console
Home Arcade CentreHanimexEmerson console
Intelligent Game MPT-03Intelligent Game
MPT-03 console
Intercord XL 2000 SystemIntercordEmerson console
Intervision 2001Intervision Ormatu console
ITMC MPT-03ITMCMPT-03 console
Leisure-VisionLeisure-DynamicsEmerson console
LeonardoGiG ElectronicsEmerson console
Home Entertainment Centre Ch-50Inno-Hit?
Ormatu 2001Ormatu Electronics BVOrmatu console
Palladium Video-Computer-GameNeckermannPalladium console
Polybrain Video Computer GamePolybrainPalladium console
Poppy MPT-03 Tele Computer SpielPoppyMPT-03 console
Prestige Video Computer Game MPT-03PrestigeMPT-03 console
Robdajet MPT-03MPT-03 console
Rowtron 2000RowtronMPT-03 console
Schmid TVG-2000SchmidEmerson console
Sheen Home Video Centre 2001SheenOrmatu console
Soundic MPT-03SoundicMPT-03 console
Mr. Altus, Tele Gehirn(tele brain)HGS ElectronicPalladium console
Tele-FeverTchibo[5][6]Emerson console
Tempest MPT-03TempestMPT-03 console
Tobby MPT-03Tobby?MPT-03 console
Trakton Computer Video GameTraktonPalladium console
Tryom Video Game CenterTryomMPT-03 console
Tunix Home ArcadeMonaco LeisureEmerson console
UVI Compu-GameOrbit ElectronicsOrbit console
Video MasterGrandstandOrbit 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 released in Japan by Bandai. There were four Japan-exclusive games released by Bandai.

  • 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".[7]

Games

Emerson planned to launch the console with 19 games.[7] 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.[8] 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.[9]

This list contains 47 games.

  • 3D Attack - a Zaxxon clone[10]
  • 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 - is a Football game released by Emerson Radio Corp. for the Arcadia in 1982.
  • Baseball
  • Brain Quiz
  • Breakaway
  • Capture
  • Cat Trax
  • Crazy Gobbler
  • Crazy Climber (unreleased)
  • Escape
  • Funky Fish
  • Galaxian
  • Grand Prix 3-D
  • Grand Slam Tennis
  • Hobo
  • Home Squadron
  • Horse Racing (plays similar to the Intellivision version)
  • Jump Bug
  • Jungler
  • Kidou Senshi Gundamu (only in 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

References
  1. Forster, Winnie (2005). The encyclopedia of consoles, handhelds & home computers 1972 - 2005. GAMEPLAN. p. 57. ISBN 3-00-015359-4.
  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. "Videospielkonsolen - DER SPIEGEL". www.spiegel.de. Retrieved 2020-06-29.
  6. "Tele Fever von Tchibo – Oder wie ein neuer Haarschnitt das Videospielfieber auslöste". Videospielgeschichten (in German). 2012-04-25. Retrieved 2020-06-29.
  7. Goodman, Danny (Spring 1983). "Home Video Games: Video Games Update". Creative Computing Video & Arcade Games. p. 32.
  8. "Arcadia 2001: Frequently Asked Questions". digitpress.com. 2002-06-04. Retrieved 2017-03-01.
  9. Lester, John. "History of Consoles: Arcadia 2001 (1982)". Gamster81. Retrieved 6 January 2014.
  10. "Arcadia 2001 Gaming Guide".
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