This article needs additional citations for verification .(July 2019) |
Manufacturer | Mattel Electronics |
---|---|
Type | Home computer |
Release date | June 1983 |
Introductory price | 160 US$ (today $490) |
Discontinued | October 1983 |
Media | Cassette tape, ROM Cartridge |
Operating system | Microsoft BASIC |
CPU | Zilog Z80A @ 3.5 MHz |
Memory | 4KB RAM (expandable to 36KB), 8KB ROM |
Display | 80x72 semigraphics in 16 colors (40x24 character text, 8x8 pixel font) |
Graphics | TEA1002 colour encoder |
Sound | One voice |
Input | Keyboard |
Predecessor | Intellivision |
Successor | Aquarius II, Aquarius+ |
Aquarius is a home computer designed by Radofin and released by Mattel Electronics in 1983. Based on the Zilog Z80 microprocessor, the system has a rubber chiclet keyboard, 4K of RAM, and a subset of Microsoft BASIC in ROM. It connects to a television set for audiovisual output, and uses a cassette tape recorder for secondary data storage. A limited number of peripherals, such as a 40-column thermal printer, a 4-color printer/plotter, and a 300 baud modem, were released. The Aquarius was discontinued in October 1983, only a few months after it was launched. [1]
Looking to compete in the home computer market, Mattel Electronics turned to Radofin, the Hong Kong based manufacturer of their Intellivision consoles. [2] [3] Radofin had designed two computer systems. Internally they were known as "Checkers" and the more sophisticated "Chess". Mattel contracted for these to become the Aquarius and Aquarius II, respectively. [4]
Aquarius was announced in 1982 and finally released in June 1983, at a price of $160. Production ceased four months later because of poor sales. Mattel paid Radofin to take back the marketing rights. Four other companies: CEZAR Industries, CRIMAC, New Era Incentives, and Bentley Industries also marketed the unit and accessories.
The Aquarius was often bundled with the Mini-Expander peripheral, which added game pads, an additional cartridge port for memory expansion, and the General Instrument AY-3-8910 sound chip. Other peripherals were the Data recorder, 40 column thermal printer, 4K and 16K RAM carts. Less common first party peripherals include a 300 baud cartridge modem, 32k RAM cart, 4 color plotter, and Quick Disk drive.
Although less expensive than the TI-99/4A and VIC-20, the Aquarius had comparatively weak graphics and limited memory. [5] Internally, Mattel programmers adopted Bob Del Principe's mock slogan, "Aquarius -a system for the seventies". [6] Of the 32 software titles Mattel announced for the unit, only 21 were released, most of which were ports of Intellivision games. Because of the hardware limitations of the Aquarius, the quality of many games suffered. There was such a lack of programmable graphics that Mattel added a special character set (see Character set section), so the games could at least use semigraphics.
As a magazine of the time put it, "The Aquarius suffered one of the shortest lifespans of any computer—it was discontinued by Mattel almost as soon as it hit store shelves, a victim of the 1983 home computer price wars." [7] [1]
A few emulators for the system exist, along with modern homebrew games. [8] [9]
Just after the release of the Aquarius, Mattel announced plans for the Aquarius II, and there is evidence that the Aquarius II reached the market in small numbers under the Radofin brand, [4] [10] but was also not a commercial success. Technically identical to the previous version, the Aquarius II comes with a 16 KB RAM extension, mechanical keyboard and Extended Basic. [4]
Despite its relatively short time on the market, Mattel Electronics and Radofin managed to have most of the announced peripherals available within a month or so of the release of the system. Some products never materialized beyond prototype phase, and some were available only in specific markets. Beginning in 2016, new user-designed peripherals began to show up, mostly on eBay or on vintage computer forums such as AtariAge.
Name | Product Type | Year | Creator | Notes |
---|---|---|---|---|
Mini Expander | System expander | 1983 | Mattel/Radofin | Included two Hand Controllers, with slots for RAM and ROM cartridges. Difficult to find outside of North America |
Data Recorder | Serial storage device | 1983 | Mattel/Radofin | Included data cable and sample software cassette |
Thermal Printer | Serial printer | 1983 | Mattel/Radofin | Included printer cable and roll of thermal paper |
Color Printer | Serial plotter | 1984 | Mattel/Radofin | Included printer cable, roll of paper, and spare pens. Unit was a rebrand of a similar Tandy/RS printer |
Modem | Cartridge-based 300 Baud Modem | 1984 | Mattel/Radofin | Included phone cables and software on cassette |
4k RAM | RAM cartridge | 1983 | Mattel/Radofin | Expanded available RAM to about 6k |
Quick Disk | Disk-based storage | 1984? | Mattel/Radofin? | Released only as a prototype unit [11] |
32k RAM | RAM cartridge | 2015 | Jay Snellen, III | Expanded available RAM to about 34k |
Micro Expander | System Expander | 2016 | Bruce Abbot | Included 32k RAM, custom ROM with USB BASIC, USB interface, AY-3-8910 PSG, and 3.5mm audio out |
Aquarius MX | System Expander | 2022 | Harrington, Mack, Kaylor, et al. | Included 32k RAM, custom ROM with MX BASIC 2.0, USB interface, AY-3-8910 PSG, and DB9 hand controller ports [12] |
The Aquarius manual did not contain details of any of the ports available. The cassette port, although using the same 5-Pin DIN 41524 connector as the TRS-80, did not have the same pin out and thus was incompatible with readily available cables for the TRS-80, even though they physically fit the sockets on both the computer and cassette player. The Aquarius branded cassette deck came with the appropriate cable. [13]
The cassette port a 5-pin female DIN 41524 connector
Pin | Function Aquarius | Function TRS-80 |
---|---|---|
1 | MIC | REMote |
2 | Common Ground | Common Ground |
3 | EAR | REMote |
4 | Not used | EAR |
5 | Not used | MIC |
The MIC and EAR connections from the Aquarius each go to the tip/center of one of the two mini-plugs being attached to the recorder; Ground goes to the base/outside of both mini-plugs. [13]
The printer interface is a mini-stereo socket with 3 lines, the same as on the Mattel Entertainment Computer System. The Aquarius printers came with their own cables. The interface conforms to RS-232 serial signal standards (+12VDC/-12VDC), with the knowledge of the pinout it is possible to interface printers with a corresponding RS-232 interface. [13] The serial is fixed to 1200 baud 8N2 and provided both carriage return and line feed commands to the printer, thus the printer needed to be set to not auto feed with carriage return. [13]
Pin out for the connector on the Aquarius:
Aquarius | Function |
---|---|
Tip | Data Out (TxD) |
Ring | Printer Busy/Ready (DSR) |
Sleeve | Ground (GND) |
Typical serial printers had DB-25 interfaces; some had DE-9 interfaces; and, some Radio Shack (RS) printers had round 4-pin female DIN connector serial interfaces (with the pin sockets numbered left-to-right: 4, 3, 2, 1). The proper cable for connecting such a printer is as follows: [13]
MINI-STEREO PLUG DB-25 DE-9 RS FUNCTION
Tip/Center of Plug Pin 3 Pin 2 Pin 4 Data to Printer Middle of Plug Pin 20 Pin 4 Pin 2 Printer Busy/Ready Base/Outside Pin 7 Pin 5 Pin 3 Signal Ground
The following table shows the Mattel Aquarius character set. [14] [15] [16] Each character is shown with a potential Unicode equivalent if available.
0 | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 | A | B | C | D | E | F | |
0x | £ | ½ | ¼ | ¾ | ÷ | © | → | ← | ↑ | ↓ | ↗ | ↙ | ↘ | ↖ | | |
1x | | | | | | | | | | | ▗ | ▝ | ▖ | ▘ | ▚ | ▄ |
2x | SP | ! | " | # | $ | % | & | ' | ( | ) | * | + | , | - | . | / |
3x | 0 | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 | : | ; | < | = | > | ? |
4x | @ | A | B | C | D | E | F | G | H | I | J | K | L | M | N | O |
5x | P | Q | R | S | T | U | V | W | X | Y | Z | [ | \ | ] | ^ | _ |
6x | ` | a | b | c | d | e | f | g | h | i | j | k | l | m | n | o |
7x | p | q | r | s | t | u | v | w | x | y | z | { | | | } | ~ | █ |
8x | ▇ | ▏ | | | 🮏 | 🮌 | ▒ | ● | ▂ | ▆ | 🛧 | | | | ▶ | ▲ |
9x | ▁ | ▉ | | | 🮎 | 🮍 | ⬤ | ▎ | ▍ | ▌ | | ✈ | | | ◀ | ▼ |
Ax | NBSP | |||||||||||||||
Bx | ||||||||||||||||
Cx | ◢ | ◣ | | ▊ | ▪ | ♦ | · | | ┼ | | ╱ | | ┴ | ├ | ┐ | └ |
Dx | | | | | ♥ | ♣ | │ | | ╳ | | ╲ | | ┬ | ┤ | ┌ | ┘ |
Ex | ||||||||||||||||
Fx | █ |
Software published for the Aquarius during its commercial life (1983 - 84): [17] [18]
Commercial software | Publisher | Release date |
---|---|---|
Advanced Dungeons & Dragons: Treasure of Tarmin † | Mattel Electronics | 1983 |
Aliens | Add On Electronics | 1983 |
Aquapack 1 (Snake, Breakout, Moon Shuttle) | Apocalypse Software | ???? |
Astrosmash † | Mattel Electronics, Radofin Electronics | 1983 |
Battle Zone | Add On Electronics | 1984 |
Biorhythms † | Mattel Electronics | 1983 |
Bounder | Add On Electronics | 1984 |
Breakout | Add On Electronics | 1984 |
Burger Time † | Mattel Electronics, Radofin Electronics | 1983 |
Chess (Dick Smith Electronics) | Dick Smith Electronics | 1983 |
Chess (Mattel)† | Mattel Electronics | 1983 |
Chuckman | Add On Electronics | 1983 |
D-Fenders | Add On Electronics | 1983 |
Deathrace | Apocalypse Software | ???? |
Demo Cassette (Stalactites, Macho-Man, Torment, Cute Cubes, Alien Quest, Mad Mould) | Radofin Electronics | 1983 |
Diamond Mine | Add On Electronics | 1984 |
Disco Fever | Add On Electronics | 1984 |
Ed-On | Add On Electronics | 1983 |
Extended Microsoft Basic (Mattel)† | Mattel Electronics | 1983 |
FileForm † | Mattel Electronics | 1983 |
FinForm † | Mattel Electronics. Radofin Electronics | 1983 |
First Adventure | Digital Output | 1984 |
Games Pack 1 (Stalactites, Macho-Man, Othello, Mutants) | Add On Electronics | 1983 |
Games Pack 2 (Bounder, Local Bomber, Breakout, Night Driver) | Custom Cables International | 1984 |
Games Pack 3 (Metior, Sheepdog, Mastermind, Depthcharge) | Custom Cables International | 1984 |
Games Pack 4 (Painter, Pontoon, Grand Prix, Alien Storm) | Custom Cables International | 1984 |
GamesTape (Dodge It, Trojan Dragon, Death Trap, Tablets of Hippocrates) | Fawkes Computing | 1984 |
Gamespack 1 (Snake, Masterguess, Symon, Bomber, Hi-Lo) | Processor Software | 1984 |
Gamespack 2 (Collector, Blocked!, Rocket Run, Minefield, Air-Defence) | Processor Software | 1984 |
Ghost Hunter | Dick Smith Electronics | ???? |
Grid Bug | Add On Electronics | 1983 |
Hopper | Microdeal | 1984 |
Invaders | Dick Smith Electronics | 1984 |
Kronos Europea Cassette (Gamble, Gunfight, Mad Mould, Outline) | Radofin Electronics | 1984 |
Logo † | Mattel Electronics | 1983 |
Maths Armada | Dick Smith Electronics | 1984 |
Mazantics | Add On Electronics | 1983 |
Melody Chase † | Mattel Electronics | 1983 |
Millypede | Add On Electronics | 1983 |
Mower Man | Add On Electronics | 1984 |
N-Vaders | Add On Electronics | 1983 |
Night Stalker † | Mattel Electronics, Radofin Electronics | 1983 |
Outpack 1 (Snake, Masterguess, Symon, Bomber, Hi-Lo) | Digital Output | 1984 |
Outpack 2 (Collector, Blocked, Rocket Run, Minefield, Air-Defence) | Digital Output | 1984 |
Outpack 3 (Gunfight, Gambler, Moonlander, Tracker, Nim) | Digital Output | 1984 |
Outpack 4 (Super Slot, Golf, Invasion, Killer Sub, Survival) | Digital Output | 1984 |
Outpack 5 (Timetrap, Gro-Worm, Wampus Gold, Bumpers, Space Shoot) | Digital Output | 1984 |
Pac Mr | Add On Electronics | 1983 |
Pack 1 (Bombardier, Fruit Machine, Hang Man, Alien Descent, Escape) | Mercury House | ???? |
Pack 2 (Dungeon Adventure, U-Boat, Golf, Star Catcher, Moonraker) | Mercury House | ???? |
Phrogger | Add On Electronics | 1984 |
Postman Pot | Add On Electronics | 1984 |
Rally Driver | Micro Mart Software | 1984 |
Read It | Dick Smith Electronics | 1984 |
Scramble | Micro Mart Software | 1984 |
Snafu † | Mattel Electronics, Radofin Electronics | 1983 |
Space Ram | Dick Smith Electronics | 1984 |
Space Speller † | Mattel Electronics | 1983 |
Tracker | Digital Output | ???? |
Tron: Deadly Discs † | Mattel Electronics, Radofin Electronics | 1983 |
Utopia † | Mattel Electronics, Radofin Electronics | 1983 |
Zero In † | Mattel Electronics | 1983 |
Zorgon's Kingdom | Romik Software | 1984 |
Homebrew software developed for the Aquarius: [19]
Homebrew games | Publisher/Developer | Release date |
---|---|---|
AlphaMix | Oasis | |
Aquariworm | Cronosoft / Roy Templeman | 2020 |
Bomb Catcher II | Cronosoft / Roy Templeman | 2021 |
Astro Covoy | Cronosoft / Roy Templeman | 2024 |
Crossword Computer | Oasis | |
Doomsday Defender | Cronosoft / Roy Templeman | 2022 |
Electric Organ | Oasis | |
Fall of the Eastern Blocks | Leinen, Jason J. | 1999 |
Flying | Oasis | |
Football | D.A. Spencer | |
Fruit Machine | D.A. Spencer | |
Gunnery | Oasis | |
Mastercode | Oasis | |
Pontoon | D.A. Spencer | |
Rollerball | D.A. Spencer | |
Sketch | Oasis | |
Ski | D.A. Spencer | |
Solitaire | Oasis | |
Space Collision | D.A. Spencer | |
Spacepits | D.A. Spencer | |
Strikeforce | D.A. Spencer | |
Symmetry | Oasis | |
Turmoil 2022 | 8-Bit Milli Games | 2022 [19] |
Warp Factor | Cronosoft / Roy Templeman | 2023 |
Grid Trap | Cronosoft / Roy Templeman | 2024 |
Paqu Deluxe | Cronosoft / Roy Templeman | 2024 |
10 Liner - Invader | Roy Templeman | 2019 |
10 Liner - Cave Navigator | Roy Templeman | 2021 |
10 Liner - Attack of the ROM Robots | Roy Templeman | 2022 |
10 Liner - AstroRun | Roy Templeman | 2023 |
10 Liner - Paqu | Roy Templeman | 2024 |
The Intellivision is a home video game console released by Mattel Electronics in 1979. Development began in 1977, the same year as the launch of its main competitor, the Atari 2600. In 1984, Mattel sold its video game assets to a former Mattel Electronics executive and investors, eventually becoming INTV Corporation. Game development ran from 1978 to 1990, when the Intellivision was discontinued. From 1980 to 1983, more than 3.75 million consoles were sold. As per Intellivision Entertainment the final tally through 1990 is somewhere between 4.5 and 5 million consoles sold.
The TRS-80 Micro Computer System is a desktop microcomputer launched in 1977 and sold by Tandy Corporation through their Radio Shack stores. The name is an abbreviation of Tandy Radio Shack, Z80 [microprocessor]. It is one of the earliest mass-produced and mass-marketed retail home computers.
The KIM-1, short for Keyboard Input Monitor, is a small 6502-based single-board computer developed and produced by MOS Technology, Inc. and launched in 1976. It was very successful in that period, due to its low price and easy-access expandability.
The TI-99/4 and TI-99/4A are home computers released by Texas Instruments in 1979 and 1981, respectively. Based on Texas Instruments's own TMS9900 microprocessor originally used in minicomputers, the TI-99/4 was the first 16-bit home computer. The associated TMS9918 video display controller provides color graphics and sprite support which were only comparable with those of the Atari 400 and 800 released a month later. The TI-99 series also initially competed with the Apple II and TRS-80.
The DIN connector is an electrical connector that was standardized by the Deutsches Institut für Normung (DIN), the German Institute for Standards, in the mid 1950s, initially with 3 pins for mono, but when stereo connections and gear appeared in late 1950s, versions with 5 pins or more were launched. The male DIN connectors (plugs) feature a 13.2 mm diameter metal shield with a notch that limits the orientation in which plug and socket can mate. The range of DIN connectors, different only in the configuration of the pins, have been standardized as DIN 41524 / IEC/DIN EN 60130-9 ; DIN 45322 ; DIN 45329 / IEC/DIN EN 60130–9 ; and DIN 45326 / IEC/DIN EN 60130-9.
The TRS-80 MC-10 microcomputer is a lesser-known member of the TRS-80 line of home computers, produced by Tandy Corporation in the early 1980s and sold through their RadioShack chain of electronics stores. It was a low-cost alternative to Tandy's own TRS-80 Color Computer to compete with entry-level machines such as the VIC-20 and Sinclair ZX81.
The Compukit UK101 microcomputer (1979) is a kit clone of the Ohio Scientific Superboard II single-board computer, with a few enhancements for the UK market - notably replacing the 24×24 screen display with a more useful 48×16 layout working at UK video frequencies. The video output is black and white with 256 semigraphic characters generated by a two kilobyte ROM. It has no bit-mapped graphics capability. The video is output through a UHF modulator, designed to connect to a TV set.
The Commodore 64 home computer used various external peripherals. Due to the backwards compatibility of the Commodore 128, most peripherals would also work on that system. There is also some compatibility with the VIC-20 and Commodore PET.
The CP 400 COLOR was launched in 1984 by Prológica, a Brazilian company which made clone versions of various computers, under the general designation of "CP".
The Memotech MTX500 and MTX512 are a range of 8-bit Zilog Z80A based home computers released by the British company Memotech in 1983 and sold mainly in the UK, France, Germany and Scandinavia. Originally a manufacturer of memory add-ons for Sinclair machines, Memotech developed their own competing computer when it was perceived the expansion pack business would no longer be viable.
A computer port is a hardware piece on a computer where an electrical connector can be plugged to link the device to external devices, such as another computer, a peripheral device or network equipment.This is a non-standard term.
The Entertainment Computer System (ECS) was an add-on peripheral for the Intellivision. It was Mattel Electronics' second attempt at creating a peripheral to upgrade the Intellivision into a home computer, and was rushed into production to appease the Federal Trade Commission after they began fining Mattel for false advertising following consumer complaints about the repeated delays in releasing the originally planned Intellivision Keyboard Component add-on. The ECS includes the Computer Module, Music Synthesizer, and additional hand controllers; each sold separately. Any Intellivision Master Component is compatible and a requirement to use the system. A second requirement is a cartridge plugged into the ECS, although any ECS or Intellivision cartridge will do; pressing anything on the Intellivision hand controllers will then bring up the three-option menu of BASIC, CARTRIDGE or MUSIC.
The PC-6000 series is a series of 8-bit home computers introduced in November 1981 by NEC Home Electronics. There are several models in this series, such as the PC-6001, the PC-6001 MK2 and the PC-6001 MK2 SR. There is also an American version, called the NEC TREK or NEC PC-6001A.
Atari 8-bit computer peripherals include floppy drives, printers, modems, and video game controllers for Atari 8-bit computers, which includes the 400/800, XL, XE, and XEGS.
The VideoBrain Family Computer is an 8-bit home computer manufactured by Umtech Incorporated, starting in 1977. It is based on the Fairchild Semiconductor F8 CPU. It was not a large commercial success and was discontinued from the market less than three years after its initial release. Some of its lack of success has been attributed to the decision to substitute the APL/S programming language over the then-standard BASIC. Due to the high cost of RAM memory, it only contained 1 KB. It had a full-travel keyboard, unlike some early home computers that featured membrane keypads, but with a very non-standard layout. It was designed by David Chung and Albert Yu.
The Dick Smith Super-80 was a Zilog Z80 based kit computer developed as a joint venture between Electronics Australia magazine and Dick Smith Electronics.
Oric was a brand of home computers sold in the 1980s by Tangerine Computer Systems. Tangerine was based in the United Kingdom and sold their computers primarily in Europe. All computers in the Oric line were based on the MOS Technology 6502A microprocessor.
The Serial Input/Output system, universally known as SIO, was a proprietary peripheral bus and related software protocol stacks used on the Atari 8-bit computers to provide most input/output duties for those computers. Unlike most I/O systems of the era, such as RS-232, SIO included a lightweight protocol that allowed multiple devices to be attached to a single daisy-chained port that supported dozens of devices. It also supported plug-and-play operations. SIO's designer, Joe Decuir, credits his work on the system as the basis of USB.
The VG5000μ is a computer created by Philips in 1984. It was manufactured in Le Mans by Radiotechnique (RTS) and marketed under the Philips, Radiola and Schneider brands.
...John Allen, president of The Lisp Company...announcing TLC Logo, which could run on the Mattel Aquarius...Today, the Mattel Aquarius is virtually off the market...
Besides that, the Mini Expander was equipped with the same sound chip (AY-3-8914) as the Intellivision. But that didn't appeal to the programmers: they almost considered it as a punishment to develop a game for the Aquarius. Programmer Bob Del Principe even invented this cynical slogan: 'Aquarius - system for the seventies!'