Arcadia 2001
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Emerson Arcadia 2001 video game console | |
| Manufacturer | Emerson Radio |
|---|---|
| Type | Home video game console |
| Generation | Second generation |
| Release date | 1982[1] |
| Retail availability | 18 months |
| Discontinued | 1984 |
| Media | ROM cartridge |
| CPU | Signetics 2650 |
| Memory | 1 KB RAM |
| Graphics | 128 × 208 / 128 × 104, 8 Colours |
| Controller input | 2 x Intellivision-style controller (12 button keypad and 'fire' buttons on the sides) |
| Power | 12-volt |
Arcadia 2001 is a second-generation 8-bit console released by Emerson Radio in 1982 following 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.
The unrelated Arcadia Corporation, manufacturer of the Atari 2600 Supercharger add-on, 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. This portability feature, however, requires a portable television, which was extremely rare in the early 1980s. It also has two outputs (or inputs) headphone jacks on the back of the unit, on the far left and far right sides.
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 could be applied to the controller's keypads. The console itself had five buttons: power, start, reset, option, and select.
There are at least three different types of cartridge case styles and artwork, with variations on each. Emerson-family carts come in two different lengths (short and long) of black plastic cases.
Technical specifications
- Main Processor: Signetics 2650 CPU
- Some variants run a Signetics 2650A
- RAM: 1 KB
- ROM: None
- Video Display: 128 × 208 / 128 × 104, 8 Colours
- Video Display Controller: Signetics 2637 UVI @ 3.58 MHz (NTSC), 3.55 MHz (PAL)
- Sound: Single Channel "Beeper" + Single Channel "Noise"
- Hardware Sprites: 4 independent, single color
- Controllers: 2 × 2 way
- Keypads: 2 × 12 button (more buttons on some variants)
Releases
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. 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.[4]
| Name | Manufacturer | Country | Compatibility family |
|---|---|---|---|
| Advision Home Arcade | Advision |  | Emerson console |
| Arcadia | Bandai |  | Emerson console |
| Arcadia 2001 | Emerson |  | Emerson console |
| Cosmos | Tele-Computer |  | Emerson console |
| Dynavision | Morning-Sun Commerce | | MPT-03 console |
| Ekusera | P.I.C. | | MPT-03 console |
| Hanimex MPT-03 | Hanimex | | MPT-03 console |
| HMG-2650 | Hanimex |  | Emerson console |
| Home Arcade Centre | Hanimex | | Emerson console |
| Intelligent Game MPT-03 | Intelligent Game | | MPT-03 console |
| Intercord XL 2000 System | Intercord | | Emerson console |
| Intervision 2001 | Intervision |  | Ormatu console |
| ITMC MPT-03 | ITMC | | MPT-03 console |
| Leisure-Vision | Leisure-Dynamics |  | Emerson console |
| Leonardo | GiG Electronics |  | Emerson console |
| Ormatu 2001 | Ormatu Electronics BV |  | Ormatu console |
| Palladium Video-Computer-Game | Neckermann | | Palladium console |
| Polybrain Video Computer Game | Polybrain | | Palladium console |
| Poppy MPT-03 Tele Computer Spiel | Poppy | | MPT-03 console |
| Prestige Video Computer Game MPT-03 | Prestige | | MPT-03 console |
| Robdajet MPT-03 | | MPT-03 console | |
| Rowtron 2000 | Rowtron |  | MPT-03 console |
| Schmid TVG-2000 | Schmid | | Emerson console |
| Sheen Home Video Centre 2001 | Sheen |  | Ormatu console |
| Soundic MPT-03 | Soundic |  | MPT-03 console |
| Tele Brain | Mr. Altus | | Palladium console |
| Tele-Fever | Tchibo | | Emerson console |
| Tempest MPT-03 | Tempest | | MPT-03 console |
| Tobby MPT-03 | Tobby | Tobby | MPT-03 console |
| Trakton Computer Video Game | Trakton | | Palladium console |
| Tryom Video Game Center | Tryom | | MPT-03 console |
| Tunix Home Arcade | Monaco Leisure |  | Emerson console |
| UVI Compu-Game | Orbit Electronics | | Orbit console |
| Video Master | Grandstand | | Orbit console |
Bandai Arcadia
 | |
| Manufacturer | Bandai |
|---|---|
| Type | Video game console |
| Generation | Second generation |
| 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 released in Japan by Bandai. There were four Japan-exclusive game releases developed by Bandai which were the only known Arcadia titles written by other companies than UA Ltd.
- Doraemon
- Dr. Slump
- Mobile Soldier Gundam
- Super Dimension Fortress Macross
Games
Some games for the Arcadia 2001 are ports of lesser-known arcade games such as Route 16, Jungler, and Jump Bug, which were not available on other home systems.
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References
- ↑ Forster, Winnie (2005). The encyclopedia of consoles, handhelds & home computers 1972 - 2005. GAMEPLAN. p. 57. ISBN 3-00-015359-4.
- 1 2 Watcher, Dark. "Emerson Arcadia 2001 - DW Facts". Video Game Console Library. Retrieved 6 January 2014.
- ↑ The Dot Eaters - Epyx | The Dot Eaters
- ↑ Lester, John. "History of Consoles: Arcadia 2001 (1982)". Gamster81. Retrieved 6 January 2014.
External links
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Wikimedia Commons has media related to Arcadia 2001 and clones. |
- The Dot Eaters entry on the Arcadia 2001.
- www.old-computers.com Emerson Arcadia 2001 museum entry.
- www.old-computers.com Article about Arcadia 2001 and "clones".
- MESS wiki Arcadia 2001 documentation and games snapshots