Arcadia 2001
An Arcadia 2001
ManufacturerEmerson Radio
TypeHome video game console
GenerationSecond generation
Release dateMay 1982 (May 1982)[1]
Lifespan18 months
Introductory priceUS$99
Discontinued1984
MediaROM cartridge
CPUSignetics 2650
Memory1 KB RAM
DisplayTV; 128 × 208 / 128 × 104, 8 Colours
GraphicsSignetics 2637 UVI
Sound2 channels (Beeper and Noise)
Controller input2 x Intellivision-style controller (12 button keypad and 'fire' buttons on the sides)
Power12 volt

The Arcadia 2001 is a second-generation 8-bit home video game console released by Emerson Radio in May 1982 for a price of US$ 99,[2] several months before 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 has two headphone jacks on the far left and right sides of the back.

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 can be applied to the controller's keypads. The console itself has five buttons: Power, Start, Reset, Option, and Select.

There are at least three different 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

Arcadia 2001 motherboard
  • 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)

Console variants and clones

Many variants and clones of the Arcadia 2001 have been released by various companies in different countries. These systems are mostly compatible with each other. In 1982, the Bandai Arcadia was released only in Japan. Four exclusive games were released for the system.

Name Manufacturer Country Compatibility family Image
Advision Home ArcadeAdvisionFranceEmerson console
ArcadiaBandaiJapanEmerson consoleBandai Arcadia 2001
Arcadia 2001EmersonUnited StatesEmerson console
CosmosTele-ComputerSpainEmerson console
DynavisionMorning-Sun CommerceJapanMPT-03 console
EducatunknownIsraelMPT-03 console
EkuseraP.I.C.JapanMPT-03 console
Hanimex MPT-03HanimexFranceMPT-03 console
HMG-2650HanimexGermany
Canada
Australia		Emerson console
Home Arcade CentreHanimexUnited KingdomEmerson console
Intelligent Game MPT-03Intelligent GameUnited States
Canada		MPT-03 console
Intercord XL 2000 SystemIntercordGermanyEmerson console
Intervision 2001IntervisionSwitzerland FinlandOrmatu console
ITMC MPT-03ITMCFranceMPT-03 console
Leisure VisionLeisure-DynamicsCanadaEmerson console
LeonardoGiG ElectronicsItalyEmerson console
Home Entertainment Centre Ch-50Inno-HitItalyOrmatu console
Ormatu 2001Ormatu Electronics BVNetherlandsOrmatu console
Palladium Video-Computer-GameNeckermannGermanyPalladium console
Polybrain Video Computer GamePolybrainGermanyPalladium console
Poppy MPT-03 Tele Computer SpielPoppyGermanyMPT-03 console
Prestige Video Computer Game MPT-03PrestigeFranceMPT-03 console
Robdajet MPT-03RobdajetSwitzerlandMPT-03 console
Rowtron 2000RowtronUnited KingdomMPT-03 console
Schmid TVG-2000SchmidGermanyEmerson console
Sheen Home Video Centre 2001SheenAustraliaOrmatu console
Soundic MPT-03SoundicFinland
Singapore		MPT-03 console
Tedelex Home ArcadeTedelexSouth AfricaEmerson console
Mr. Altus Das Tele-Gehirn Color (German for tele brain)[5][6][7]HGS ElectronicGermanyPalladium console
Tele-FeverTchiboGermanyEmerson console
Tempest MPT-03TempestAustraliaMPT-03 console
Tobby MPT-03Tobby?MPT-03 console
Trakton Computer Video GameTraktonAustraliaPalladium console
Tryom Video Game CenterTryomUnited StatesMPT-03 console
Tunix Home ArcadeMonaco LeisureNew ZealandEmerson console
UVI Compu-GameOrbit ElectronicsNew ZealandOrbit console
Video MasterGrandstandNew ZealandOrbit console

Bandai Arcadia

Bandai Arcadia
ManufacturerBandai
TypeVideo game console
GenerationSecond generation
Release date1982
MediaROM cartridge
CPUSignetics 2650 @ 3.58 MHz
PredecessorBandai Super Vision 8000
SuccessorBandai RX-78

In 1982, the Bandai Arcadia, a variant of the Emerson Arcadia 2001, was licensed and distributed to Japan by Bandai for a price of 19,800 yen.[2] There were four Japan-exclusive games released by Bandai.

  • Doraemon
  • Dr. Slump
  • Mobile Suit Gundam
  • Super Dimension Fortress Macross

Reception

The Emerson Booth at CES 1982, featuring their Arcadia 2001 system.

After seeing the Arcadia 2001 at the summer 1982 Consumer Electronics Show, Danny Goodman of Creative Computing Video & Arcade Games reported that its graphics were similar to the Atari 2600's, and that "our overall impression of the game play was favorable for a system in this price range, though no cartridge stands out as being an exciting original creation". He called the controller offering both Intellivision-like disc and joystick functionality "A great idea".[8]

Games

Emerson planned to launch the console with 19 games.[8] Some Arcadia 2001 games are ports of lesser-known arcade games such as Route 16, Jungler, and Jump Bug, which were not available on other home systems.

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.[9] 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.[10]

Released games

There are 47 games known to have been released for the Arcadia 2001 and its clones.

  1. 3D Attack - a Zaxxon clone[11]
  2. 3-D Bowling - a Bowling game released for the Arcadia by Emerson Radio Corp. in 1982.
  3. 3-D Raceway - 3D Raceway
  4. 3-D Soccer - a Soccer game released by Emerson Radio Corp. for the Arcadia in 1982.
  5. Alien Invaders - is a Shoot-'Em-Up game released by Emerson Radio Corp. for the Arcadia in 1982.
  6. Astro Invader
  7. American Football
  8. Baseball
  9. Brain Quiz
  10. Breakaway
  11. Capture
  12. Cat Trax
  13. Circus - Also known as Clowns on some systems, clone of Exidy's Circus
  14. Crazy Gobbler
  15. Crazy Climber
  16. Escape
  17. Funky Fish
  18. Galaxian
  19. Grand Prix 3-D
  20. Grand Slam Tennis
  21. Hobo
  22. Home Squadron
  23. Horse Racing (plays similar to the Intellivision game)
  24. Jump Bug
  25. Jungler
  26. Math Logic
  27. Missile War
  28. Ocean Battle
  29. Pleiades
  30. RD2 Tank
  31. Red Clash
  32. Robot Killer (clone of Berzerk)
  33. Route 16
  34. Soccer
  35. Space Attack
  36. Space Chess
  37. Space Mission
  38. Space Raiders
  39. Space Squadron
  40. Space Vultures
  41. Spiders
  42. Star Chess
  43. Super Bug
  44. Super Gobbler
  45. Tanks A Lot
  46. The End
  47. Turtles/Turpin

Bandai Arcadia Only

See here

Unreleased games

    References

    1. ↑ Forster, Winnie (2005). The encyclopedia of consoles, handhelds & home computers 1972 - 2005. GAMEPLAN. p. 57. ISBN 3-00-015359-4.
    2. 1 2 3 4 Watcher, Dark. "Emerson Arcadia 2001 - DW Facts". Video Game Console Library. Retrieved 6 January 2014.
    3. ↑ "The Dot Eaters - Epyx | The Dot Eaters".
    4. ↑ "obsoletemedia.org: Emerson Arcadia 2001 (1982 – 1984)".
    5. ↑ retroplace. "Mr. Altus Das Telegehirn | Emerson Arcadia 2001". retroplace.com (in German). Retrieved 2020-08-24.
    6. ↑ Motoschifo. "Mr. Altus Tele Brain - MAME machine". adb.arcadeitalia.net (in Italian). Retrieved 2020-08-24.
    7. ↑ "Mr. Altus Das Tele-Gehirn Color". www.videogameheaven.de. Retrieved 2020-08-24.
    8. 1 2 Goodman, Danny (Spring 1983). "Home Video Games: Video Games Update". Creative Computing Video & Arcade Games. p. 32.
    9. ↑ "Arcadia 2001: Frequently Asked Questions". digitpress.com. 2002-06-04. Retrieved 2017-03-01.
    10. ↑ Lester, John. "History of Consoles: Arcadia 2001 (1982)". Gamster81. Retrieved 6 January 2014.
    11. ↑ "Arcadia 2001 Gaming Guide".
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