Arcadia 2001

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.

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
Graphics128 × 208 / 128 × 104, 8 Colours
Controller input2 x Intellivision-style controller (12 button keypad and 'fire' buttons on the sides)
Power12 volt

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
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 ArcadeAdvisionEmerson console
ArcadiaBandaiEmerson console
Arcadia 2001EmersonEmerson console
CosmosTele-ComputerEmerson console
DynavisionMorning-Sun CommerceMPT-03 console
EducatunknownMPT-03 console
EkuseraP.I.C.MPT-03 console
Hanimex MPT-03HanimexMPT-03 console
HMG-2650Hanimex

Emerson console
Home Arcade CentreHanimexEmerson console
Intelligent Game MPT-03Intelligent Game
MPT-03 console
Intercord XL 2000 SystemIntercordEmerson console
Intervision 2001Intervision Ormatu console
ITMC MPT-03ITMCMPT-03 console
Leisure VisionLeisure-DynamicsEmerson console
LeonardoGiG ElectronicsEmerson console
Home Entertainment Centre Ch-50Inno-Hit?
Ormatu 2001Ormatu Electronics BVOrmatu console
Palladium Video-Computer-GameNeckermannPalladium console
Polybrain Video Computer GamePolybrainPalladium console
Poppy MPT-03 Tele Computer SpielPoppyMPT-03 console
Prestige Video Computer Game MPT-03PrestigeMPT-03 console
Robdajet MPT-03MPT-03 console
Rowtron 2000RowtronMPT-03 console
Schmid TVG-2000SchmidEmerson console
Sheen Home Video Centre 2001SheenOrmatu console
Soundic MPT-03SoundicMPT-03 console
Mr. Altus, Tele Gehirn(tele brain)HGS ElectronicPalladium console
Tele-FeverTchiboEmerson console
Tempest MPT-03TempestMPT-03 console
Tobby MPT-03Tobby?MPT-03 console
Trakton Computer Video GameTraktonPalladium console
Tryom Video Game CenterTryomMPT-03 console
Tunix Home ArcadeMonaco LeisureEmerson console
UVI Compu-GameOrbit ElectronicsOrbit console
Video MasterGrandstandOrbit console

Bandai Arcadia
Bandai Arcadia
ManufacturerBandai
TypeVideo game console
GenerationSecond generation
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 Soldier Gundam
  • Super Dimension Fortress Macross

Reception

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".[5]

Games

Emerson planned to launch the console with 19 games.[5] 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.[6] 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.[7]

List of games

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

  • 3D Attack - a Zaxxon clone[8]
  • 3-D Bowling - a Bowling game released for the Arcadia by Emerson Radio Corp. in 1982.
  • 3-D Raceway - 3D Raceway
  • 3-D Soccer - a Soccer game released by Emerson Radio Corp. for the Arcadia in 1982.
  • Alien Invaders - is a Shoot-'Em-Up game released by Emerson Radio Corp. for the Arcadia in 1982.
  • Astro Invader
  • American Football - is a Football game released by Emerson Radio Corp. for the Arcadia in 1982.
  • Baseball
  • Brain Quiz
  • Breakaway
  • Capture
  • Cat Trax
  • Crazy Gobbler
  • Crazy Climber (unreleased)
  • Escape
  • Funky Fish
  • Galaxian
  • Grand Prix 3-D
  • Grand Slam Tennis
  • Hobo
  • Home Squadron
  • Horse Racing (plays similar to the Intellivision version)
  • Jump Bug
  • Jungler
  • Kidou Senshi Gundamu (only in Japan)
  • Math Logic
  • Missile War
  • Ocean Battle
  • Pleiades
  • RD2 Tank
  • Red Clash
  • Robot Killer (clone of Berzerk)
  • Route 16
  • Soccer
  • Space Attack
  • Space Chess
  • Space Mission
  • Space Raiders
  • Space Squadron
  • Space Vultures
  • Spiders
  • Star Chess
  • Super Bug
  • Super Gobbler
  • Tanks A Lot
  • The End
  • Turtles/Turpin
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References
  1. Forster, Winnie (2005). The encyclopedia of consoles, handhelds & home computers 1972 - 2005. GAMEPLAN. p. 57. ISBN 3-00-015359-4.
  2. 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. Goodman, Danny (Spring 1983). "Home Video Games: Video Games Update". Creative Computing Video & Arcade Games. p. 32.
  6. "Arcadia 2001: Frequently Asked Questions". digitpress.com. 2002-06-04. Retrieved 2017-03-01.
  7. Lester, John. "History of Consoles: Arcadia 2001 (1982)". Gamster81. Retrieved 6 January 2014.
  8. "Arcadia 2001 Gaming Guide".
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