Sord M5

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Sord M5
Sord M5 Isolated.png
Sord M5
Developer Sord Computer Corporation
Release dateNovember 1982 (1982-11)
Introductory price¥49,800
£195
₩266,200
Operating system BASIC-F, BASIC-G, BASIC-I
CPU Zilog Z80A @ 3.58MHz
Memory4 KB RAM, 16 KB VRAM
Storage Cartridges, Cassette tape
Display256×192, 16 colours
Graphics TMS9918
Sound SN76489
Connectivity Centronics 16-pin interface

The Sord M5 is a home computer launched by Sord Computer Corporation in 1982. [1] [2] [3] Primarily the Sord M5 competed in the Japanese home computer market. It was also sold as the CGL M5 in the United Kingdom by Computer Games Limited and was reasonably popular in Czechoslovakia, where the M5 stood as one of the first affordable computers available to the general public. [4] Takara also sold models in Japan as the Game M5, and models were also exported to South Korea.

Contents

Original models of the Sord M5 are relatively small by home computing standards, with a built-in keyboard with rubber keys, similar to the ZX Spectrum, which is also sold in many countries such as the United Kingdom itself, Ireland, Spain, the Netherlands, Singapore, Malaysia, Sweden, Norway, Denmark, Canada, New Zealand, Australia, Greece, Turkey, Israel and Hong Kong as the Sord M5 Creative Computer, [5] which included a carrying case for the computer. The specifications of the computer are very similar to the MSX, a computer that likely forced the Sord M5 (along with many similar Japanese computers) out of the market by the mid-1980s.

The CGL M5 was released in the UK with an introductory price of £195, higher than many of the system's competitors including the ZX Spectrum, and VIC-20. Whereas the M5 contained a cartridge slot in an age where most computers were using compact cassettes or floppy disks, the small amount of built-in RAM led to few games being produced for the system. [6]

In South Korea, three electronics companies released different personal computers based on Sord M5. The FC-150 was produced and released by LG, Samsung released the SPC-500, and the TommyCom was manufactured and launched by Koryo Systems. These computers supported the Korean alphabet, Hangul. The system specifications of these computers were identical to the original M5, but they had differently shaped cartridge slots. Cartridges from the Sord M5 or other manufacturers could not be used for these computers directly. LG released some original software including several educational programs and games.

Despite its short production run, the M5 was supported by various big Japanese game developers such as Namco and Konami.

Other models include the M5 Pro and M5 Jr.

Technical specifications

Sord M5 computer and accessories Sord M5 Computer and accessories.jpg
Sord M5 computer and accessories
CGL M5 CGLM5.jpg
CGL M5

Internal hardware [1] [3]

I/O ports and power supply

Language cartridge options

Retail price

Software

There are 42 known games for Sord M5 [8] [9] [10]

TitleAlternative titlePublisher
3D Squash / TouchdownTakara
Adidas Lucky ShootUnknown
ApploonTakara
BaseballTakara
Blackjack / Slot MachineSord
Bosconian Takara
Cowboy / BarricadeTakara
Dig Dug Takara
Dragon AttackSord
Dream ShopperSord
DropsSPC Soft
EskimonTakara
Fruit SearchTakara
Funny MouseSord
Galaga GalaxSord / Takara
Heavy BoxingSord
Jogging / SidewinderTakara
Jong KyouSord
Jumping JackSPC Soft
Last Day Of The Earth / Mini Star TrekSord
Loco-MotionGuttang GottongSord / Takara
Mappy Takara
Moon Patrol Takara
Pit ChaserSord
PooyanKonami
Real TennisTakara
Snaky / Barrier AttackSord
Solar System ForcesTakara
Solar System Forces - Commando TeamTakara
Solar System Forces - Operation MaulTakara
Solar System Forces - Victory of MarsTakara
Step UpSord
Super Cobra Konami
Super Pac-Man Power PacSord / Takara
Tank BattalionSord
Three Circles / Number SearchSord
Up Up BalloonSord
Warp WarpTakara
WheelsCGL
Wonder HoleIrem
WordmazeSord

References

  1. 1 2 "M 5 Sord". www.old-computers.com. Retrieved 2022-10-30.
  2. "Sord M5 Creative Computer - The ultimate source of information". m5.arigato.cz. Retrieved 2022-10-30.
  3. 1 2 Smith, Tony. "Sord drawn: The story of the M5 micro". www.theregister.com. Retrieved 2022-10-30.
  4. "CGL Sord M5 - Computer - Computing History". www.computinghistory.org.uk. Retrieved 2022-10-30.
  5. SORD M5 USER MANUAL
  6. "About - Sord M5 - Games Database". www.gamesdatabase.org. Retrieved 2022-10-30.
  7. Computer & Video Games magazine, December 1983
  8. Computing History
  9. Gaming-History
  10. Seesaawiki