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The Video Game Console Library - RCA Studio II

RCA Studio II logo RCA Studio II RCA Studio II logo

  DW FACTS by Dark Watcher
Page content, development and design by Marriott_Guy
Developer Manufacturer Release Date Country(s) Initial Price Model Number Game Releases Overall Rating
RCA RCA August, 1976 USA $150 USD 18 V 100 17 N\A
Ratings Reviews Pictures\Video Specs Games\Emulation Models Clones Links
RCA Studio II
Ratings
Consoles are rated based upon the available technology at the time of its release.  Ratings based upon a 10 point scale (10 being excellent\very rare).
Console Design (appearance, functionality) N\A
Console Durability (sturdy or frail and fragile) N\A
Controllers (design, response, feel, use) N\A
Graphics (graphical capability and presentation) N\A
Audio (sound, music, speech, effects) N\A
Media (game media format, design, durability) N\A
Packaging (appeal, durability of packaging) N\A
Game Library (quality, quantity of game library) N\A
Innovations (technological industrial strides) N\A
Gamer Value (good investment for the gamer?) N\A
Collector Value (good collector investment?) N\A
Games Rarity (general availability of games) N\A
Console Rarity (general availability of a system) N\A
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Reviews

RCA Studio II

DW FACTS
 - by Dark Watcher

RCA could not let the fact that they let the Odyssey slip through there fingers (Ralph Baer the designer of Odyssey approached RCA with the deal first), and into the hands of there TV rival Magnavox. RCA Studio II was their answer to the Magnavox Odyssey. Released in 1976 a few months after the release of the Fairchild Channel F, it would have been the first programmable console (Fairchild beat them to the release gate).

The console was doomed from the start. The lack of a color display and control paddles made the unit old and dated. With only 8 games released, the Studio II suffered the same fate as Channel F. Overshadowed and rendered obsolete by the Atari VCS / 2600.

FACT: The RCA Studio II actually had 13 games. Five games were built into the machine. This console was also one of the first to allow 16 directional control (why?).

Research has proven that RCA Studio II should have been a color console. A few games were designed for color, but the video output of the console was black & white. The research appears to have been proven true with a clone released in the UK called Sheen M1200. The Sheen M1200 was released in 1978, and produced PAL color with RCA Studio II games. Japan also made a color producing clone called the VISICOM Video Computer System. The lack of color on the RCA Studio II's release proves that the system was rushed to the market. Either that or RCA was looking for a cheaper way to manufacture the consoles.


  HANDS ON REVIEW
 

Coming soon...
 

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Pictures & Video

Various picture\video media for this console.  Click pictures to enlarge.
RCA Studio II - Front

RCA Studio II - Front		 RCA Studio II RCA Studio II - Back

RCA Studio II - Back
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Specs

For the hardware enthusiasts out there - all the detail you\we love.
 Processor Type  Processor Speed  Other Processor Information RAM \ Video RAM
RCA COSMAC 1802 1.78 MHz None 2.5 KB \ None

Screen Resolution

Color Palette

Polygons \ Sprites

 Audio
64 x 128 (max) Black & White N\A  Single channel Buzzer (internal)

Media Format

Media Capacity

Games Released

Other Supported Formats
Cartridge Unknown 17 (5 built in the system) None

Internal Storage

External\Removable Storage

Game Controllers

Other Game \ Peripheral Devices
None None Keypad (10 keys per) None
Controller Ports Network Ports

Other Ports

Audio \ Video
None (built in the system) None None RCA \ power supply switchbox

Power Supply

Other Outputs

 Other Details \ Notes
9 V DC None None
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Games & Emulation

Games screen shots and\videos released for this system.  Click pictures to enlarge.
Speedway Game Footage
Video courtesy of Umma6umma. 		RCA Studio II - System and Games


System and Games (picture credits unknown)		 Squash Game Footage
Video courtesy of Umma6umma.
Third Party Emulators
Program Website Description

M.E.S.S.

http://www.mess.org/

 Multi-Emulator Super System is a DOS based emulator capable of running many systems including this one. It has a Windows based GUI, and should be usable by most PC systems
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Models

Additional authorized releases for this console. 
No additional models were released for this system.
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Clones

Non-licensed releases (clones).  Click pictures to enlarge.
Hanimex MPT-02
Released : 1977
Manufacturer : Hanimex

 

 Toshiba Visicom
Released : 1978
Manufacturer : Toshiba

Toshiba Visicom
 Sheen M1200
Released : 1977
Manufacturer : Sheen

 
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Links

Highly recommended additional sites\resources for this system.
Name Website Description
     
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Page last updated 06-Feb-2010

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