|
|
||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
|
||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
|
||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
![]() |
|
|||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
![]() |
||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Reviews | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
|
|
The world was undergoing "Pong Madness". It seemed only natural that developers would create advancements to the original AY-3-8500 chip to incorporate color and even more games. This explains the amount of pong systems since each machine contained a different chip. However things were handled different in some areas particularly in Europe. Europe did not see the release of Intellivision and Atari 2600 till the early 1980s. This allowed Pong to have a longer success. Rather then creating a new machine for each new chip, developers took the General Instruments popular line of chips and slapped them into cartridges. These carts were not like ROM carts used in later systems. They simply housed a specific General Instruments processor chip with pin outs to interface with a console. These were the PC-50X line of cartridges. With the PC-50X cartridges available, console manufacturers were able to produce a machine that could play several games, and market them at a low cost. The units were made in Hong Kong, and were marketed by Creatronic, Hanimex, ITMC, Rollet, GrandStand , Soundic and lord knows how many other manufacturers. The initial model SD-050 varied in terms of outward appearance (colors, etc), manufacturers names, and slight modifications. However each unit had the same overall design with two detachable controllers, and 10 buttons located on the top of the machine. These 10 buttons, which clearly identify a PC-50X based console, were used to select the different games available on each cart. The SD-050 model only produced black and white video color. New models such as the SD-070 and SD-090 appeared and sold well into the 80's since the units were far cheaper then the newer consoles making waves in the US and Japan. These newer models played the same carts, but added additional settings, sound, and SECAM color (4 colors). There were far too many PC-50X cart accepting consoles, and it is difficult to list them all. However here are a few listed below. |
|||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
|
The Arcadia 2001 is not necessarily a bad looking machine. The sturdy, brown plastic housing has a nice accent of wood grain trimming (which was very popular at that time). The console sports a very clean user interface, located in the front and center of the unit. Soft, rounded, gold colored buttons provide easy access to the main systems functions (Reset, Select, Option, Start). The square shaped Power button that flanks these buttons to the right does not really quite fit into the scheme - almost as if this was an afterthought of the chassis design team. The two, non-detachable keypads (Intellivision-type clone) rest in cradles to the left and right, though do not truly fit visually into the design of the console (maybe another afterthought). The Arcadia 2001 does sport one of the longest video RF cables I have seen - 12' long. The plug for the 12 Volt external power supply and a Channel 3/4 switch adorn the back side of this system. There are two (2) screw 'holes' on the back as well. I have no idea what these are used for.
Underneath the hood, the Arcadia 2001 was powered by Signetics 2650 CPU running at 3.58 MHz which produced games in 8 colors and at a screen resolution of 208 x 108. The best way to describe games for the Arcadia 2001 is to think of an Atari 2600 release and inject it with a heavy does of steroids. The Arcadia 2001 was a more powerful machine that the console it was intended to dethrone, but Emerson lacked a critical component for success in the console wars - third party support. |
|
|||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
|
A number of popular games were developed for the Arcadia 2001, including Pacman, Galaxian and Defender. Atari successfully sued Emerson, and other companies, claiming they had exclusive rights to these game franchises. These games never saw the light of day and resulted in a waste of a great deal of capital. This left Emerson scrambling for suitor(s) to develop game software. With the Atari 5200 and the Coleco Colecovision about to be released, both being superior systems, development for the Arcadia 2001 was non existent. A total of 35 games (most arcade clones) were released for this system. Surprising, this console was manufactured and released in many different countries outside of the USA. All are basically the same, but differ in one significant way - cartridge size. Games are not necessarily compatible with all systems. Development for the Arcadia 2001 ceased about one year after its debut. Unable to compete with technologically superior consoles that were released at virtually the same time (Atari 5200 and Coleco ColecoVision) coupled with the lack of third party software support sealed this system's fate.
Prices seem to fluctuate greatly on this system and appear to be dependant
on the respective model. Though this console was a relative failure and
a mere blip on the radar, it is not that rare and can be easily
obtained. |
![]() |
|||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
![]() |
||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Pictures & Video | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
|
Various picture\video media for this console. Click pictures to enlarge. |
||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Emerson Arcadia 2001 - Front
|
Emerson Arcadia 2001 - General
|
Emerson Arcadia 2001 - Back
|
||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
![]() |
||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Specs | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
|
For the hardware enthusiasts out there - all the detail you\we love. |
||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
|
||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
![]() |
||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Games & Emulation | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
|
Game screen shots and\or videos released for this system. |
||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
|
Tanks A Lot Video Release Date: 1982 Developer: Emerson Radio Corp. Video courtesy of Umma6umma. |
Doraemon Release Date: Unknown Developer: Unknown (home brew?) Video courtesy of Necople. |
Cat Trax Video Release Date: 1982 Developer: Emerson Radio Corp. Video courtesy of Umma6umma. |
||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
|
||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
![]() |
||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Models | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
|
Additional authorized releases for this console. Click pictures to enlarge. |
||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
|
Emerson Arcadia 2001 Country released: USA
|
Advision Home Arcade Country released: France |
Picture courtesy of
Miguel Duran
Bandai Arcadia Country released: Japan
|
||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
|
Schmidt TVG-2000 Country released: Germany
Picture courtesy of Miguel Duran |
Grandstand Video Master Country released: New Zealand
Picture courtesy of Michael Davidson |
Soundic MPT-03 Country released: Europe
Picture courtesy of Silicium.org |
||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
|
GiG Leonardo Country released: Italy |
![]() |
Hanimex HMG-2650 Country released: Germany & Canada
Picture courtesy of Yorum Gander |
||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
|
Prestige MPT-03 Country released: France
Picture courtesy of Miguel Duran |
Rowntron MPT-03 Country released: Unknown Picture courtesy of Miguel Duran |
Poppy MPT-03 Country released: Germany
Picture courtesy of Miguel Duran |
||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
|
Tchibo Tele-Fever Country released: Germany Picture courtesy of Miguel Duran |
Neckermann Palladium Country released: Germany
|
Tunix Home Arcade Country released: New Zealand
Picture courtesy of Michael Davidson |
||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
|
Hanimex MPT-03 Country released: France
|
Intercord 2000XL Country released: Germany
|
Tempest MPT-03 Country released: Australia
|
||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
![]() |
||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Clones | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
|
Non-licensed releases (clones). Click pictures to enlarge. |
||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| No clones were released for this system. | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
![]() |
||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Links | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
|
Highly recommended additional sites\resources for this system. |
||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
|
||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
![]() |
||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
|
visitors since 01-Apr-2008 |
||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
|
Copyright 2008-2009 The Video Game Console Library. This website
and the information contained within it is protected by copyright.
Reproduction of part or all of the |
||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||