Arcadia 2001

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Arcadia 2001
Emerson Arcadia 2001 Logo.png
Emerson-Arcadia-2001.jpg
An Arcadia 2001
Manufacturer Emerson Radio
Type Home video game console
Generation Second generation
Release dateMay 1982;42 years ago (May 1982) [1]
Lifespan18 months
Introductory priceUS$99
Discontinued1984
Media ROM cartridge
CPU Signetics 2650
Memory1 KB RAM
DisplayTV; 128 × 208 / 128 × 104, 8 Colours
GraphicsSignetics 2637 UVI
Sound2 channels (Beeper and Noise)
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 despite the system being a commercial failure.

Contents

The unrelated Arcadia Corporation, manufacturer of the Supercharger add-on for the Atari 2600, 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 Emerson-Arcadia-2001-Motherboard-01.jpg
Arcadia 2001 motherboard

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.

NameManufacturerCountryCompatibility familyImage
Advision Home ArcadeAdvision Flag of France.svg Emerson console
2001 ALTOS Home Video CentreAltos India Limited Flag of India.svg Emerson console 2001 Altos JPEG.jpg
Arcadia Bandai Flag of Japan.svg Emerson console Bandai Arcadia 2001 (1982) 2.jpg
Arcadia 2001 Emerson Flag of the United States.svg Emerson console Emerson-Arcadia-2001.jpg
CosmosTele-Computer Flag of Spain.svg Emerson console
DynavisionMorning-Sun Commerce Flag of Japan.svg MPT-03 console
Educatunknown Flag of Israel.svg MPT-03 console
EkuseraP.I.C. Flag of Japan.svg MPT-03 console
Hanimex MPT-03 Hanimex Flag of France.svg MPT-03 console
HMG-2650Hanimex Flag of Germany.svg
Flag of Canada (Pantone).svg
Flag of Australia (converted).svg
Emerson console Hanimex HMG 2650.jpg
Home Arcade CentreHanimex Flag of the United Kingdom.svg Emerson console
Intelligent Game MPT-03Intelligent Game Flag of the United States.svg
Flag of Canada (Pantone).svg
MPT-03 console
Intercord XL 2000 SystemIntercord Flag of Germany.svg Emerson console
Intervision 2001Intervision Flag of Switzerland (Pantone).svg Flag of Finland.svg Ormatu console Intervision 2001.jpg
ITMC MPT-03ITMC Flag of France.svg MPT-03 console
Leisure Vision Leisure-Dynamics Flag of Canada (Pantone).svg Emerson console
LeonardoGiG Electronics Flag of Italy.svg Emerson console
Home Entertainment Centre Ch-50Inno-Hit Flag of Italy.svg Ormatu console
Ormatu 2001Ormatu Electronics BV Flag of the Netherlands.svg Ormatu console Acradia2001 Ormatu Netherlands Game Console 8 bit.jpg
Palladium Video-Computer-Game Neckermann Flag of Germany.svg Palladium console
Polybrain Video Computer GamePolybrain Flag of Germany.svg Palladium console
Poppy MPT-03 Tele Computer SpielPoppy Flag of Germany.svg MPT-03 console
Prestige Video Computer Game MPT-03Prestige Flag of France.svg MPT-03 console
Robdajet MPT-03Robdajet Flag of Switzerland (Pantone).svg MPT-03 console
Rowtron 2000Rowtron Flag of the United Kingdom.svg MPT-03 console
Schmid TVG-2000 Schmid Flag of Germany.svg Emerson console Schmid TVG 2000.jpg
Sheen Home Video Centre 2001Sheen Flag of Australia (converted).svg Ormatu console
Soundic MPT-03Soundic Flag of Finland.svg
Flag of Singapore.svg
MPT-03 console Soundic Video Computer Game MPT-03.jpg
Tedelex Home ArcadeTedelex Flag of South Africa.svg Emerson console
Mr. Altus Das Tele-Gehirn Color (German for tele brain) [5] [6] [7] HGS Electronic Flag of Germany.svg Palladium console HGS Mr. Altus Tele-Gehirn.jpg
Tele-Fever Tchibo Flag of Germany.svg Emerson console Tchibo Tele-Fever.jpg
Tempest MPT-03Tempest Flag of Australia (converted).svg MPT-03 console
Tobby MPT-03Tobby?MPT-03 console
Trakton Computer Video GameTrakton Flag of Australia (converted).svg Palladium console
Tryom Video Game CenterTryom Flag of the United States.svg MPT-03 console
Tunix Home ArcadeMonaco Leisure Flag of New Zealand.svg Emerson console
UVI Compu-GameOrbit Electronics Flag of New Zealand.svg Orbit console
Video MasterGrandstand Flag of New Zealand.svg Orbit console

Bandai Arcadia

Bandai Arcadia
BANDAI.svg
Manufacturer Bandai
Type Video game console
Generation Second generation
Release date1982
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 licensed and distributed to Japan by Bandai for a price of 19,800 yen. [2] There were four Japan-exclusive games released by Bandai.

Reception

The Emerson Booth at CES 1982, featuring their Arcadia 2001 system. 1982 Consumer Electronics Show CES Chicago (4507853558) (cropped).jpg
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.

  1. 3D Attack - a Zaxxon clone [11]
  2. 3-D Bowling - a Bowling game released for the Arcadia by Emerson Radio Corp. in 1982.
  3. 3-D Raceway - 3D Raceway
  4. 3-D Soccer - a Soccer game released by Emerson Radio Corp. for the Arcadia in 1982.
  5. Alien Invaders - is a Shoot-'Em-Up game released by Emerson Radio Corp. for the Arcadia in 1982.
  6. Astro Invader
  7. American Football
  8. Baseball
  9. Brain Quiz
  10. Breakaway
  11. Capture
  12. Cat Trax
  13. Circus - Also known as Clowns on some systems, clone of Exidy's Circus
  14. Crazy Gobbler
  15. Crazy Climber
  16. Escape
  17. Funky Fish
  18. Galaxian
  19. Grand Prix 3-D
  20. Grand Slam Tennis
  21. Hobo
  22. Home Squadron
  23. Horse Racing (plays similar to the Intellivision game)
  24. Jump Bug
  25. Jungler
  26. Math Logic
  27. Missile War
  28. Ocean Battle
  29. Pleiades
  30. RD2 Tank
  31. Red Clash
  32. Robot Killer (clone of Berzerk )
  33. Route 16
  34. Soccer
  35. Space Attack
  36. Space Chess
  37. Space Mission
  38. Space Raiders
  39. Space Squadron
  40. Space Vultures
  41. Spiders
  42. Star Chess
  43. Super Bug
  44. Super Gobbler
  45. Tanks A Lot
  46. The End
  47. Turtles /Turpin

Bandai Arcadia Only

See here

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 3 4 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. 1 2 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".