Mattel Aquarius

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Mattel Aquarius
Mattel Aquarius logo.svg
Mattel-Aquarius-Computer-FL.jpg
Manufacturer Mattel Electronics
Type Home computer
Release dateJune 1983 (1983-06)
Introductory price160 US$ (today $490)
DiscontinuedOctober 1983 (1983-10)
Media Cassette tape, ROM Cartridge
Operating system Microsoft BASIC
CPU Zilog Z80A @ 3.5 MHz
Memory4KB RAM (expandable to 36KB), 8KB ROM
Display80x72 semigraphics in 16 colors (40x24 character text, 8x8 pixel font)
Graphics TEA1002 colour encoder
SoundOne voice
Input Keyboard
Predecessor Intellivision
SuccessorAquarius 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]

Contents

Development

The Aquarius with attached expansion block including 4KB RAM expansion and game cartridge inserted, controllers, and tape Data Recorder Mattelaquarius.jpg
The Aquarius with attached expansion block including 4KB RAM expansion and game cartridge inserted, controllers, and tape Data Recorder

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.

Reception

The back of the Aquarius, showing connectors for TV out, an external cassette drive and printer Mattel-Aquarius-Computer-BR.jpg
The back of the Aquarius, showing connectors for TV out, an external cassette drive and printer

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]

Aquarius II

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]

Technical specifications

Motherboard Mattel-Aquarius-Motherboard-FL.jpg
Motherboard

Peripherals

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.

NameProduct TypeYearCreatorNotes
Mini ExpanderSystem expander1983Mattel/RadofinIncluded two Hand Controllers, with slots for RAM and ROM cartridges. Difficult to find outside of North America
Data RecorderSerial storage device1983Mattel/RadofinIncluded data cable and sample software cassette
Thermal PrinterSerial printer1983Mattel/RadofinIncluded printer cable and roll of thermal paper
Color PrinterSerial plotter1984Mattel/RadofinIncluded printer cable, roll of paper, and spare pens. Unit was a rebrand of a similar Tandy/RS printer
ModemCartridge-based 300 Baud Modem1984Mattel/RadofinIncluded phone cables and software on cassette
4k RAMRAM cartridge1983Mattel/RadofinExpanded available RAM to about 6k
Quick DiskDisk-based storage1984?Mattel/Radofin?Released only as a prototype unit [11]
32k RAMRAM cartridge2015Jay Snellen, IIIExpanded available RAM to about 34k
Micro ExpanderSystem Expander2016Bruce AbbotIncluded 32k RAM, custom ROM with USB BASIC, USB interface, AY-3-8910 PSG, and 3.5mm audio out
Aquarius MXSystem Expander2022Harrington, 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]

Interfacing

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

DIN41524 5 Pin Female connector DIN41524-5fp.svg
DIN41524 5 Pin Female connector
PinFunction AquariusFunction TRS-80
1MICREMote
2Common GroundCommon Ground
3EARREMote
4Not usedEAR
5Not usedMIC

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:

AquariusFunction
TipData Out (TxD)
RingPrinter Busy/Ready (DSR)
SleeveGround (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

Character set

The following table shows the Mattel Aquarius character set. [14] [15] [16] Each character is shown with a potential Unicode equivalent if available.

Mattel Aquarius
0123456789ABCDEF
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 Mattel Aquarius character 0xA1.png Mattel Aquarius character 0xA2.png Mattel Aquarius character 0xA3.png Mattel Aquarius character 0xA4.png Mattel Aquarius character 0xA5.png Mattel Aquarius character 0xA6.png Mattel Aquarius character 0xA7.png Mattel Aquarius character 0xA8.png Mattel Aquarius character 0xA9.png Mattel Aquarius character 0xAA.png Mattel Aquarius character 0xAB.png Mattel Aquarius character 0xAC.png Mattel Aquarius character 0xAD.png Mattel Aquarius character 0xAE.png Mattel Aquarius character 0xAF.png
Bx Mattel Aquarius character 0xB0.png Mattel Aquarius character 0xB1.png Mattel Aquarius character 0xB2.png Mattel Aquarius character 0xB3.png Mattel Aquarius character 0xB4.png Mattel Aquarius character 0xB5.png Mattel Aquarius character 0xB6.png Mattel Aquarius character 0xB7.png Mattel Aquarius character 0xB8.png Mattel Aquarius character 0xB9.png Mattel Aquarius character 0xBA.png Mattel Aquarius character 0xBB.png Mattel Aquarius character 0xBC.png Mattel Aquarius character 0xBD.png Mattel Aquarius character 0xBE.png Mattel Aquarius character 0xBF.png
Cx 🯨 · 🯬 🯪 🯭
Dx𜷿𜷾🯪𜷽 🯮 🯯 🯫
Ex Mattel Aquarius character 0xE0.png Mattel Aquarius character 0xE1.png Mattel Aquarius character 0xE2.png Mattel Aquarius character 0xE3.png Mattel Aquarius character 0xE4.png Mattel Aquarius character 0xE5.png Mattel Aquarius character 0xE6.png Mattel Aquarius character 0xE7.png Mattel Aquarius character 0xE8.png Mattel Aquarius character 0xE9.png Mattel Aquarius character 0xEA.png Mattel Aquarius character 0xEB.png Mattel Aquarius character 0xEC.png Mattel Aquarius character 0xED.png Mattel Aquarius character 0xEE.png Mattel Aquarius character 0xEF.png
Fx Mattel Aquarius character 0xF0.png Mattel Aquarius character 0xF1.png Mattel Aquarius character 0xF2.png Mattel Aquarius character 0xF3.png Mattel Aquarius character 0xF4.png Mattel Aquarius character 0xF5.png Mattel Aquarius character 0xF6.png Mattel Aquarius character 0xF7.png Mattel Aquarius character 0xF8.png Mattel Aquarius character 0xF9.png Mattel Aquarius character 0xFA.png Mattel Aquarius character 0xFB.png Mattel Aquarius character 0xFC.png Mattel Aquarius character 0xFD.png Mattel Aquarius character 0xFE.png

Software

Software published for the Aquarius during its commercial life (1983 - 84): [17] [18]

Commercial softwarePublisherRelease date
Advanced Dungeons & Dragons: Treasure of Tarmin Mattel Electronics1983
AliensAdd On Electronics1983
Aquapack 1 (Snake, Breakout, Moon Shuttle)Apocalypse Software????
Astrosmash Mattel Electronics, Radofin Electronics1983
Battle Zone Add On Electronics1984
Biorhythms Mattel Electronics 1983
BounderAdd On Electronics1984
Breakout Add On Electronics1984
Burger Time Mattel Electronics, Radofin Electronics1983
Chess (Dick Smith Electronics) Dick Smith Electronics 1983
Chess (Mattel)†Mattel Electronics1983
ChuckmanAdd On Electronics1983
D-FendersAdd On Electronics1983
DeathraceApocalypse Software????
Demo Cassette (Stalactites, Macho-Man, Torment, Cute Cubes, Alien Quest, Mad Mould)Radofin Electronics1983
Diamond MineAdd On Electronics1984
Disco FeverAdd On Electronics1984
Ed-OnAdd On Electronics1983
Extended Microsoft Basic (Mattel)†Mattel Electronics1983
FileFormMattel Electronics1983
FinFormMattel Electronics. Radofin Electronics1983
First AdventureDigital Output1984
Games Pack 1 (Stalactites, Macho-Man, Othello, Mutants)Add On Electronics1983
Games Pack 2 (Bounder, Local Bomber, Breakout, Night Driver)Custom Cables International1984
Games Pack 3 (Metior, Sheepdog, Mastermind, Depthcharge)Custom Cables International1984
Games Pack 4 (Painter, Pontoon, Grand Prix, Alien Storm)Custom Cables International1984
GamesTape (Dodge It, Trojan Dragon, Death Trap, Tablets of Hippocrates)Fawkes Computing1984
Gamespack 1 (Snake, Masterguess, Symon, Bomber, Hi-Lo)Processor Software1984
Gamespack 2 (Collector, Blocked!, Rocket Run, Minefield, Air-Defence)Processor Software1984
Ghost HunterDick Smith Electronics????
Grid BugAdd On Electronics1983
Hopper Microdeal 1984
InvadersDick Smith Electronics1984
Kronos Europea Cassette (Gamble, Gunfight, Mad Mould, Outline)Radofin Electronics1984
Logo Mattel Electronics1983
Maths ArmadaDick Smith Electronics1984
MazanticsAdd On Electronics1983
Melody ChaseMattel Electronics1983
MillypedeAdd On Electronics1983
Mower ManAdd On Electronics1984
N-VadersAdd On Electronics1983
Night Stalker Mattel Electronics, Radofin Electronics1983
Outpack 1 (Snake, Masterguess, Symon, Bomber, Hi-Lo)Digital Output1984
Outpack 2 (Collector, Blocked, Rocket Run, Minefield, Air-Defence)Digital Output1984
Outpack 3 (Gunfight, Gambler, Moonlander, Tracker, Nim)Digital Output1984
Outpack 4 (Super Slot, Golf, Invasion, Killer Sub, Survival)Digital Output1984
Outpack 5 (Timetrap, Gro-Worm, Wampus Gold, Bumpers, Space Shoot)Digital Output1984
Pac MrAdd On Electronics1983
Pack 1 (Bombardier, Fruit Machine, Hang Man, Alien Descent, Escape)Mercury House????
Pack 2 (Dungeon Adventure, U-Boat, Golf, Star Catcher, Moonraker)Mercury House????
PhroggerAdd On Electronics1984
Postman PotAdd On Electronics1984
Rally DriverMicro Mart Software1984
Read ItDick Smith Electronics1984
ScrambleMicro Mart Software1984
Snafu Mattel Electronics, Radofin Electronics1983
Space RamDick Smith Electronics1984
Space SpellerMattel Electronics1983
TrackerDigital Output????
Tron: Deadly Discs Mattel Electronics, Radofin Electronics1983
Utopia Mattel Electronics, Radofin Electronics1983
Zero InMattel Electronics1983
Zorgon's KingdomRomik Software1984
† ROM Cartridge

Homebrew software developed for the Aquarius: [19]

Homebrew gamesPublisher/DeveloperRelease date
AlphaMixOasis
Aquariworm Cronosoft / Roy Templeman2020
Bomb Catcher IICronosoft / Roy Templeman2021
Astro CovoyCronosoft / Roy Templeman2024
Crossword ComputerOasis
Doomsday DefenderCronosoft / Roy Templeman2022
Electric OrganOasis
Fall of the Eastern BlocksLeinen, Jason J.1999
FlyingOasis
FootballD.A. Spencer
Fruit MachineD.A. Spencer
GunneryOasis
MastercodeOasis
PontoonD.A. Spencer
RollerballD.A. Spencer
SketchOasis
SkiD.A. Spencer
SolitaireOasis
Space CollisionD.A. Spencer
SpacepitsD.A. Spencer
StrikeforceD.A. Spencer
SymmetryOasis
Turmoil 20228-Bit Milli Games2022 [19]
Warp FactorCronosoft / Roy Templeman2023
Grid TrapCronosoft / Roy Templeman2024
Paqu DeluxeCronosoft / Roy Templeman2024
10 Liner - InvaderRoy Templeman2019
10 Liner - Cave NavigatorRoy Templeman2021
10 Liner - Attack of the ROM RobotsRoy Templeman2022
10 Liner - AstroRunRoy Templeman2023
10 Liner - PaquRoy Templeman2024

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References

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