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. 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[4] and artwork, with variations on each. Emerson-family cartridges 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.[5] 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.[6]
| 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 | ? | 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
- ↑ obsoletemedia.org: Emerson Arcadia 2001 (1982 – 1984)
- ↑ "Arcadia 2001: Frequently Asked Questions". digitpress.com. 2002-06-04. Retrieved 2017-03-01.
- ↑ 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.