Bandai RX-78

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Bandai RX-78
BANDAI.svg
Manufacturer Bandai
Type Home computer
Generation Third
Release dateJuly 1983 (1983-07)
Introductory price ¥59,800 (Japan) [1]
Media Cartridges, Compact Cassette
Operating system BS-BASIC
CPU SHARP LH0080A (Z80A) @ 4.1 MHz
Memory30KB RAM; 8KB ROM
Graphics192 × 184, 27 colors
SoundSN76489 (3× voices (4 octaves) with 1 noise generator)
Connectivity2× Joystick , 1× RF, 1× RCA, 2× ROM cartridge
Power10W
Predecessor Bandai Arcadia
Successor Playdia

The Bandai RX-78 is a Japanese 8-bit microcomputer manufactured by Bandai. [2] [3] [4] [5] Its name comes from the RX-78-2 Gundam.

Contents

It was released in July 1983, [6] [1] [7] the RX-78 had a release cost of 59,800 yen, [6] [7] and was sold with a dozen of games and software, including a BASIC interpreter cartridge featuring a cassette tape interface. [1] [8]

The Bandai RX-78 was primarily a gaming machine, with two joysticks included. Software was available on cartridges [9] or cassettes.

Specifications

The Bandai RX-78 employed a SHARP LH0080A (Zilog Z80A clone) CPU, running a clock speed of 4.1 MHz. [10] [8] It shipped with 30 KB of RAM and 8KB of ROM. [11] [8] It had two joystick ports in a proprietary format [12] using 8-pin DIN connectors.

The computer can generate 27 colors, created from 3 levels of intensity of each RGB channel, arranged into VRAM video planes, [13] with a maximum resolution of 192 × 184 pixels, and is capable of displaying 30 × 23 text characters using a 6 × 8 pixel font. [8] Sound was generated by the Texas Instruments SN76489 chip, providing 3 voices in four octaves and noise generator. [14]

Software

Software was released on ROM cartridges (Sen'you Soft Cartridge) [15] and compact cassettes (Sen'you Tape Cassette).

Games

About 20 games for the Bandai RX-78 were released: [16]

Educational (Education Series)

A smaller number of non-gaming titles were released: [16]

Applications (Culture Series)

A smaller number of non-gaming titles were released: [16]

References

  1. 1 2 3 "Bandai RX-78 Gundam Computer Games Preserved! – Gaming Alexandria". www.gamingalexandria.com.
  2. ↑ "Bandai RX-78 Gundam Computer - Manual and Warranty Card". Internet Archive. July 1983.
  3. ↑ "『パソコン博物館』:２．『高速３次元グラフィック』がキーワードの『ガンダムという名のパソコン』 ： ＲＸ－７８－ＧＵＮＤＡＭ （バンダイ：１９８３）". blog.livedoor.jp. Retrieved 2023-07-05.
  4. ↑ 株式会社インプレス (2019-10-29). "「ガンダム」の名を冠したパーソナルコンピュータ「RX-78 GUNDAM」". AKIBA PC Hotline! (in Japanese). Retrieved 2023-07-05.
  5. 1 2 レトロゲーム専門ニュースサイト, ファミコンのネタ!!. "ガンダムがトラウマになった日、克服した日 【1/3】". famicoms.net (in Japanese). Retrieved 2023-07-05.
  6. 1 2 "Bandai RX-78 Gundam". Computing History. Retrieved 15 May 2022.
  7. 1 2 "RX-78 GUNDAM | henly Museum | MUUSEO 487002". ミューゼオ(MUUSEO) (in Japanese). Retrieved 2023-07-05.
  8. 1 2 3 4 "Bandai RX-78 Gundam Computer - Manual and Warranty Card". Internet Archive. July 1983.
  9. ↑ Blanchard, Jonn (March 7, 2019). "RX-78 Cartridge Information".
  10. ↑ "RX-78 Gundam Bandai Electronics (Japan)". 1000 BiT.
  11. ↑ "Gundam RX-78". OLD-COMPUTERS.COM : The Museum. Archived from the original on 2021-06-15. Retrieved 24 January 2021.
  12. ↑ Blanchard, Jonn (October 15, 2018). "Bandai RX-78 Gundam Personal Computer Joystick Pinout".
  13. ↑ "eRX-78 謎WIPページ". takeda-toshiya.my.coocan.jp.
  14. ↑ "Platform Bandai RX 78 · z88dk/z88dk Wiki". GitHub. 14 December 2022.
  15. ↑ "Bandai Rx 78 Games". Ocean of Games.
  16. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 26 27 28 29 30 31 32 "ＲＸ－７８（ＧＵＮＤＡＭ）". N o s t a l g i a. 2012-03-03. Archived from the original on 2012-03-03. Retrieved 2023-07-05.
  17. ↑ "Champion Racer [0201005] (Bandai RX-78 Gundam)". September 10, 1983 – via Internet Archive.
  18. ↑ "Excite Baseball [0201007] (Bandai RX-78 Gundam)". September 10, 1983 – via Internet Archive.
  19. ↑ "Hamburger Shop [0201011] (Bandai RX-78 Gundam)". September 10, 1983 – via Internet Archive.
  20. ↑ "Tatakae! Ultraman [0201012] (Bandai RX-78 Gundam)". September 10, 1983 – via Internet Archive.
  21. ↑ "Mobile Suit Gundam - Luna Two No Tatakai [0201004] (Bandai RX-78 Gundam)". September 10, 1983 – via Internet Archive.
  22. ↑ "Perfect Mah-Jongg [0201008] (Bandai RX-78 Gundam)". September 10, 1983 – via Internet Archive.
  23. ↑ "The Pro Wrestling [0201013] (Bandai RX-78 Gundam)". September 10, 1983 – via Internet Archive.
  24. ↑ "Sekigahara [0201027] (Bandai RX-78 Gundam)". September 10, 1983 – via Internet Archive.
  25. ↑ "Space Enemy [0201019] (Bandai RX-78 Gundam)". September 10, 1983 – via Internet Archive.
  26. ↑ "Super Motocross [0201024] (Bandai RX-78 Gundam)". September 10, 1983 – via Internet Archive.
  27. ↑ "Graphic Sugaku [0201035] (Bandai RX-78 Gundam)". September 10, 1983 – via Internet Archive.
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