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The Video Game Console Library - Amstrad GX4000

Amstrad GX4000
  HANDS ON REVIEW by Marriott_Guy            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
Amstrad Amstrad Feb-90 UK $169 USD GX4000 32 3.5
Ratings Reviews Pictures\Video Specs Games\Emulation Models Clones Links
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) 06
Console Durability (sturdy or frail and fragile) 04
Controllers (design, response, feel, use) 02
Graphics (graphical capability and presentation) 04
Audio (sound, music, speech, effects) 04
Media (game media format, design, durability) 03
Packaging (appeal, durability of packaging) 04
Game Library (quality, quantity of game library) 01
Innovations (technological industrial strides) 01
Gamer Value (good investment for the gamer?) 02
Collector Value (good collector investment?) 06
Games Rarity (general availability of games) 06
Console Rarity (general availability of a system) 04
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Reviews



 

DW FACTS
 - by Dark Watcher

Amstrad's GX4000 was the second UK-developed console to be released on the market. The console retailed at £99 and came with a main adapter, TV lead, two paddle control units and a game called "Burnin' Rubber". It featured a unique case design that looked like a space ship. It was even demonstrated as such on the packaging. Does this mean it was Space Age? Well, no, not really.

Amstrad, seeing the ever increasing money to be made in console video game market, followed in the same footsteps as many other computer companies had. The GX4000 was actually a modified CPC6128+ computer. This allowed The GX4000 to be compatible with a majority of CPC+ computer line software.

Amstrad GX4000 - Pro Tennis Tour

Unfortunately the Amstrad GX4000 did not fare well in this growing market. In a matter of weeks the system could be bought at discounted prices. Popular UK videogame magazines marked the system as "the worst system of the month" as voted by most readers.

The system was distributed in a few European countries. After this console's failure, Amstrad stopped all activity in the computer and videogame field. Around 20+ games were released for the GX4000. The games were made by UK based companies Ocean (became Infogrames UK) and US Gold (became Eidos)

Timing may have been the thing that killed this system. The 8-bit Amstrad GX4000 was released shortly after the newer generation 16-bit Sega MegaDrive.
 


  HANDS ON REVIEW
  - by Marriott_Guy (04-May-08)

The GX4000, released in the UK in 1990 by Amstrad, is definitely one of the most unique looking video game consoles ever released. Amstrad, a popular computer manufacturer, looked to cash in on the lucrative video game console market like many of its peers had attempted to do, some more successful than others. Sporting a very sleek design that resembles the snow speeder in Star Wars, looking underneath the hood of this console reveals anything but space-age technology at the time of its release.

The GX4000 is basically a modified CPC6128+ computer. This enabled the console to be compatible with many existing CPC computer games and applications. The system came packaged with the two controllers (NES style), AV cables and a racing game entitled Burnin' Rubber. Released for commercial sale for $99 (British Pound), this console was moderately priced at its time. With a substantial amount of readily available ports from the CPC, the GX4000 would not have to entirely rely upon new game development but could be subsidized by its sister system(s) for game content/programming. Even with all of these positive measures, the GX4000 was doomed from the beginning.


Amstrad GX4000 - Burnin' Rubber

The GX4000 was powered by an 8 bit Zilog Z80A processor, which could display a color palette of 4096 (impressive at the time for an 8 bit system) and enhanced sound. The drawback - 16 bit processing technology was released by Sega (and shortly thereafter Nintendo) just after the GX4000 hit the store shelves - this sealed this consoles fate. Porting of the inferior CPC games to the GX4000 did not prove to be financially sound and was quickly abandoned. Around 32 games were released for this console and could be found in the bargain bins throughout the UK along with the GX4000 system within months of its initial release.

The GX4000 is an interesting system, but only recommended as a purchase for collectors. Readily available in the UK and abroad through eBay and like services, a CIB (complete in box) system can run you around $50-$100 USD, much less in the UK, but keep in mind that shipping costs can be pricey (around $70 USD from the UK to the USA).
 

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Pictures & Video

Various picture\video media for this console.  Click pictures to enlarge.
Promo GX4000 Video

Video courtesy of retrozoneorg. 		User GX4000 Video

Video courtesy of richgoul. 		Original Television Commercial

Video courtesy of zilogmonkey.
Amstrad GX4000 - Front

 Amstrad GX4000 - Front
 Amstrad GX4000 - General

 Amstrad GX4000 - General
 Amstrad GX4000 - Back

 Amstrad GX4000 - Back
Amstrad GX4000 - Top

 Amstrad GX4000 - Top


Picture courtesy of old-computers.com
Amstrad GX4000 - Side\Back

 Amstrad GX4000 - Side\Back


Picture courtesy of old-computers.com		 Amstrad GX4000 - Bottom

 Amstrad GX4000 - Bottom


Picture courtesy of old-computers.com
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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
8-bit Zilog Z80A 4.0 MHz None 64 KB

Screen Resolution

Color Palette

Polygons \ Sprites

 Audio
160 x 200 to 640 x 200 4,096 (32 on screen) 16 Sprites 3 channel Mono (AY-3-8910 Chip)

Media Format

Media Capacity

Games Released

Other Supported Formats

Cartridge

128-512 KB

 32 None

Internal Storage

External\Removable Storage

Game Controllers

Other Game \ Peripheral Devices

32 KB ROM

None

2 Button control pad w/D-Pad

 None
Controller Ports Network Ports

Other Ports

Audio \ Video

Two (2)

None

Light Gun (RJ11), Analog
Controller Port (IBM)

 Audio & RGB video output (8 pin DIN), Scart connector

Power Supply

Other Outputs

 Other Details \ Notes

External power supply (11 V)

None

None
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Games & Emulation

Games screen shots and\videos released for this system.  Click pictures to enlarge.
Burnin' Rubber Game Footage

 

Video courtesy of SteveBenway.		 Operation Thunderbolt Game Footage

 

Video courtesy of SteveBenway.		 Pro Tennis Tour Game Footage

Video courtesy of SteveBenway.
Third Party Emulators
Program Website Description

WinAPE

http://www.winape.net/

 Windows based Amstrad Plus Emulator. It emulates the CPC 464/664, 6128, the CPC 464+ and 6128+ line of computers. As mentioned the Amstrad GX4000 is a modified 6128+ so you will be able to still enjoy the same games.
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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).
No clones were released for this system.
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Links

Highly recommended additional sites\resources for this system.
Name Website Description
 PCW King  http://www.pcwking.netfirms.com/cartridge.html  GX4000 Games List
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