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The Emerson Arcadia 2001 F.A.Q.
Version A.04 - July 1998
Creator & Maintainer: Sly D.C.
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O.K.,Here's the legal stuff:
Copyright (c) 1998, Sylvain De Chantal
All rights reserved. This document may be copied, in whole or in part,
by any means provided the copyright and contributors sections remain
intact and no fee is charged for the information. Contributors
retain the copyright to their individual contributions.
The data contained here in is provided for informational purposes only.
No warranty is made with regards to the accuracy of some informations.
------------------------------------------------------------------------
Additional contributions IS welcome! (TOO REALLY BADLY needed!!)
Please mail additional information,
opinions, and comments to : mailto --> "slydc@hotmail.com"
or --> "slydc@videotron.ca"
Where to get this F.A.Q.:
Try - GameFaqs.Com at "http://www.gamefaqs.com/"
- my Home Page at "http://slydc.encomix.es/index.htm"
- Digital Press "http://www.digitpress.com/"
- Game Sages "http://www.segasages.com/"
or sometimes on the newsgroup "rec.games.video.classic"
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Welcome to the Arcadia 2001 F.A.Q.
TABLE OF CONTENTS
-------------------
0.0) New Infos
1.0) The Emerson Arcadia 2001
1.5) Arcadia 2001 Emulator
2.0) Arcadia 2001 specs(not complete!)
3.0) The Arcadia in other Countrys
3.5) Arcadia 2001 Review
4.0) CARTRIDGE LIST (not complete!)
4.5) Collectors List
5.0) Credits
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0.0) New Infos
--------------
** Huge news!! Paul Robson is making a Arcadia 2001 emulator ! See all
the details !! And he given me many more specs inputs too. **
** And finally, i deceided to do the section for all collectors around
the world called the "Collectors List". Join In !!! **
** Micheal Davidson sent info about another clone system called the
"Video Master", plus sent an article in a UK magazine. **
** Please come visit my little Arcadia 2001 Museum, it will be growing
when i'll find more time and more stuff to add to the Museum. If
anybody can contribute, i will be very gratefull, Thanks !
Web adress: "http://slydc.encomix.es/arc-2001.htm" **
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1.0) The Emerson Arcadia 2001:
------------------------------
The Emerson Arcadia 2001 was released in 1982 by Emerson Radio Corp.
This game system only lived for 2 years as it went down with the Crash.
It's cartridge library never expanded over 35 carts or so. The graphics
look like it's been cross-over with the Odyssey 2 and the Intellivision,
even it's controllers looks like the Intellivison with the exception of
a joystick that you can screw-it in or out in the middle of the disc.
Carts came out in two sizes, short ones like the Atari 2600 and long
ones like as long as a Xonox cart(and not double-sided). Many people
wonders why two sizes ? Anybody knows ???
It also has two outputs(or inputs) earphones jacks types on the back
of the unit, on the far left and far right sides. What the HECK or HELL
are these for? Please read the Arcadia 2001 Review, it's there !!
Emerson threatened to sue Aracadia (makers of the 2600 Supercharger)
over the use of the name, so they made change to avoid potential legal
troubles by changing their name to Starpath.
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1.5) Arcadia 2001 Emulator
--------------------------
GREAT NEWS readers!! Paul Robson just released his Arcadia 2001 emulator
with 11 games in different zips. As of july the 19th, this emulator has
7-8 games that you can play. You can download this emulator at his homepage
at: "http://users.aol.com/mk14emu/arcadia.htm"
This just in: Paul Robson has released the Beta 4 version with SOUNDS!!
Here's what else:
- palette emulated with about 70-80% accuracy
- full controller available for player 1
- support for 320x200 video mode added.
- DAR instruction fixed, scores now work
- 128x104 screen resolution supported.
- & the usual miscellaneous bug fixes etc.
And please don't be a lamer and bother asking non-logical question to the
author, he's trying his best and he's done allready a great job!! And if
anybody has many rom images for the Arcadia 2001, please notify Paul and
send him the roms so he can improve the emulator even more. Thanks!
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2.0) Arcadia 2001 specs:
------------------------
I hope this will help some people out there because i scraped my Leisure
-Vision in the name of INFORMATION. When i was trying to open the system,
all the FRAGGIN screws are so cheaply made that they all broke in their
slots, so by trying to cut around carefully the screws, one of them had
a bungle of wires just beside of it and since i didn't know, the bungle
untangle with the cutter and pull apart 5 wires. Eventually since it's
the only one system i have, i don't know where the hell their connected.
But maybe not all will be lost because one of my friends may have find
another for me, i hope so ! (let there be a god!)
The Arcadia is an 8-bit system. The main processor is a Signetics 2650
CPU and the graphic, sound & paddles processor is a Signetics 2637N.
Both are 40-pins.
Main Processor: Signetics 2650 CPU running at 3.58 Mhz(?)
RAM: 1k
ROM: None...
Colour Video Display: 9 Colours (4 characters,4 sprites, background)
Sound: Single Channel "Beeper"
Hardware Sprites: 4 independent, single colour
Controllers: 2 x 2 way
Keypads: 2 x 12 button
Hardware list:
--------------
1 "74ls04" (hex converter),
1 "74ls86" (quad exclusive or gate),
1 "sn74ls145" (bcd-to-decimal decoder/driver),
1 "74ls00" (quad 2-input nand gate),
1 "74ls258" (quad data selector/multiplexer inverter 3-state outputs)
2 "MCM2114P25" (4K Ram)
1 "MC14069UB" (hex inverter)
1 "CD4066BCN" (cmos quad bilateral switch)
1 "2622N//8218" 14 pins chip (NTSC video sync signals)
1 "8210//2650A N" 40 pins chip (Signetics 2650 CPU)
1 "8218//2637N" 40 pins chip (Signetics 2637N)
The slot is identical to the one used with the APF MP1000/Imagination
Machine, although they are not compatible. Or the same numbers of pins
as a Colecovision (30 pins slot). As for the power supply, it's a 12V.
DC with 0.5 Amps min.
Here's what Anthony Brown sent and said:
I did some research on the chips in the unit, while trying to repair
one several years back. The "82xx" numbers on the chips are probably
date codes, with "82" being the year, and "xx" being the week.
The processor is the Signetics 2650, which is an 8-bit processor
with an odd memory addressing scheme. It can directly access 32K
of memory, but only in 8K banks. I am not sure of the "A" suffix,
although I know a "B" suffix had a couple of pins different from a
regular 2650. The graphics are handled by the Signetics 2637N, which
is capable of handling 4 "objects" (sprites?), has a built-in character
generator ROM, does collision detection, and has an A/D converter with
4 inputs. The 2622 is generates the NTSC video sync signals, and has
a PAL counterpart, the 2621.
I have pinouts and a block diagrams for all of these, and I have
attempted to write a dissasembler for 2650 code, although I have no way
of testing it so far. I *might* attempt to build a cart reader one of
these days, first I need to get out the multimeter and trace the
cartridge port pinout.
There is a disassembler "DASMX" available on the Web which will decode
2650 cartridges. So anybody interested in doing a cartridge dumper ??
This would be extremely usefull for hackers and for any persons who
wants to play with more games with the emulator.
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3.0) The Arcadia in other Countrys:
-----------------------------------
The Arcadia 2001 was released in many other countrys and i don't know
why the reason of a different name in each countries. But at least all
the cartridges for each system are compatible with each others!
The name of the Arcadia 2001 here in Canada is called the "Leisure-
Vision" distributed by Leisure-Dynamics. In Germany, it is called the
"Haminex HMG2650", in France: "Advision Home Arcade", in Italy: the
"Leonardo" and in Germany (another!), it is called the "Schimd TVG2000",
there's even a Clone of the Schmid called the "Tele-Fever" who doesn't
look one bit to the Schmid TVG2000. And in New Zealand, it is called
the "Video Master" made by Grandstand.
The Tele-Fever rather unique, it's main color is black with two con-
trollers (one detacheble). The controllers have a keyboard on the left
side, a joystick in the middle and a red light on the right side. Just
beside of the player 1 controller (on the left) is where is the buttons
(reset, select, option, start & power) to control your game play.
And for a matter of fact, the Arcadia 2001, the Leisure-Vision, the
Haminex HMG2650 and the Schmid TVG2000 looks alike ! But the only
difference of each game system is only the name, that's all !
The Arcadia 2001 came out in Japan but i lost the name...craps !!
but here's a tiny list of carts: Alien Invaders(small cart) #3,
Cat Trax(large cart), Escape Man(large cart) #9, Super Gobbler(large cart)
and #50, which the person who found these can't translate the name.
Any more info people ??
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3.5) Arcadia 2001 Review:
-------------------------
From: FVAP75A@prodigy.com (Mr. William E. Combs)
Newsgroups: rec.games.video.classic
Subject: Electronic Games -11/82 -Arcadia 2001 Review
Date: 10 Mar 1998 23:00:52 GMT
Subject: Electronic Games - 11/82 - Arcadia 2001 Review
Here is a review from the Nov. 82 issue of the upcoming Emerson Arcadia
2001 system....Enjoy!
Emerson Arcadia 2001 - A Gamer's Evaluation- Henry Cohen
A wise man once said, "Good things come in small packages." Whoever coined
this addage certainly wasn't thinking about Emerson's new Arcadia 2001
videogame system, but the phrase sure fits, anyway.
This unit, which looks something like the Intellivision's baby brother,
has got to be the cutest system around. The carton in which the Arcadia
2001 comes packed, hardly looks big enough to hold a handful of cartridges.
Nonetheless, the console packs the power of a senior programmable video-
game machine. Though it's hard to know if the designers considered it in
this light, the Arcadia owns the distinction of being the world's first
portable videogame system. Besides its diminutive size, always handy in
a take-along, the 2001 is capable of operating off of any 12 volt DC
power source. This includes auto batteries of the type used in boats
and campers, a video power belt or the battery pack of a portable TV.
Just think, once Watchman-size color television becomes a reality,
you'll be able to fit a complete fun factory into a briefcase! Flanking
the central cartridge slot on the Arcadia 2001 console are two
Intellivision look-alike controllers.
Just below the cartridge slot is the on/off switch and buttons for reset,
game select,option select, and start. A "power on" LED completes the
picture. Along the back panel are found conveniently located jacks for two
optional controllers, a 12 volt DC power source, two hard-wired coil
cords (for the built-in controllers and a channel
3/channel 4 selector switch.
The big news about the system, however, is its extremely high memory
capacity. The unit contains 28K of RAM, which makes it the second
(Colecovision has 48K) smartest videogame system around. All this power
is great if it is used properly, but unfortunately the only six games
available for testing at the time of this writing used more than 8K of
memory. The controllers are almost virtual twins of those found on
Intellivision.
There are 12 buttons on the keyboard, two firing buttons (Mattel has four)
and a disk controller. The latter features along-awaited innovation,
screw-in joystick. If you like the disks you've got em, and if you crave
a joystick it's there in the box just waiting for you. Mylar overlays
come with each game, as needed, and both controllers fit neatly into the
console when play is completed, though the cords dangle. One glaring
omission is that the system does not contain circuitry to either blank
the picture after two minutes of non-play or to vary the colors or
intensity of the on-screen image.
When questioned about this lack of TV protection circuitry, Emerson told
EG that it is looking into the situation, but that it feels such protec-
tion isn't needed. Emerson may be right, but the company is going to have
a hard time convincing potential buyers of this. Let's take a closer look
at some of the games: The great American pastime Baseball is done justice
by way of one delightful innovation in the 2001's diamond program. When a
ball is hit to the outfield, a second screen appears which shows an
outline of the outfield and the single player involved. This provides a
much betterchance for the outfielder to catch and field a ball than other
home simulations.
After the player gets the ball, the screen reverts to normal and the coach
can direct the fielder to throw to any baseman including the catcher. With
a full nine-player team represented and control of pitching, hitting and
running, managers can make realistic plays. The game is not quite as
detailed as the award-winning Intellivision cartridge but it is close -
and an excellent baseball game in its own right. It is also easy to learn
and to master, giving it a leg up on most of its competition. This reviewer
liked 2001 Baseball and looks forward to other sports simulations from
this newcomer on the block. Breakaway, the 2001 approach to wall-bashing
is nothing more than adequate. The cartridge is innovative in that it
allows varying of the paddle speed and includes a vertical version of the
game, but the overall effect was unimpressive. As EG tested an early
version of the game and we were told later versions would be much improved,
it isn't worth detailing the problems. Suffice that paddle speed was much
too pokey, the vertical versions had to be played with the joystick moving
diagonally, and overall control was anything but smooth. Judging from the
other games we previewed, we could only wish for the improved version to
come our way.
We have no doubt that Emerson can do a much better job than with this
first edition of Breakaway. It really shouldn't have broken away from
Emerson at all. Cat Trax conversely, is not a game for pussycats, but more
of a clever maze-chase. Cat Trax provides three rather than nine lives, as
you manuever your kitty through a maze dodging a trio of hungry dogs. At
the same time, the electronic feline must gobble up pieces of catnip and
an occasional bone. The bone flashes periodically in the middle of the
screen, and if you snatch it, you turn into a dagcatcher's van that enables
you to race through the maze at a very high speed and capture the offending
canines. Onced touched, the dogs are placed in the pound for up to 20
seconds of game time. There's a time clock within the doghouse that lets
you know just how long you have to grab the catnip before the dogs are
released once more. Each time you eat a bone and send the pups to their
just reward, less time is awarded to get the job done. The graphics are
clever, and the game is generally a great deal of fun. It is one of the
few home maze games that offers almost as much fun as the granddaddy of
them all, Pac-Man. Cat Trax is a good game and should keep you purring for
hours at a time.
Sticking within the labyrinth category, there is Jungler. Played in a maze
that closely resembles Cat Trax, Jungler pits a gamer's controlled serpent
against one driven by the computer. Notice that we didn't say snake because
some people just don't like the thought of snakes, much less actually
having one in their home, even if it is electronic. Sticking closely to the
arcade version, Jungler challenges players to postition a serpent so that
its lashing tongue can destroy sections of the rural reptile before the
same is done to you. Normally, you can only consume sections from the
middle and tail of the opposing serpent, but if you pass through the center
of the maze when it is flashing, your head turns color and you can shoot
head to head. The game is a little slow, and the maze is a little broad,
but Jungler is challenging and fun. Its also unique to the system, so if
this Jungler is your coin-op fave, here is the only way to the safari.
The last of the arcade style games, is Space Attack. A combination Galaxian
and Space Invaders, Space Attack pits your horizontal cannon against a
field of attacking aliens that stays in formation and fires at you
relentlessly. An occasional invader comes down one-to-one to keep things
interesting. There are no shields so quick reflexes are key to survival.
One of the problems in Space Attack is that each round starts with the
cannon somewhere off screen to the right. Until you get used to beginning
a round with the joystick pointed dead left, you may think the designers
forgot a key graphic - you cannon. Other than that idiosyncracy, there
is a pronounced slowness to the movement of the cannon we found irksome.
Again this condition may be corrected by the time the final versions hit
the home market. Other than these two small problems, graphics are good
and Space Attack may be considered another reasonable version of several
very familiar space shoot-em-ups. Capture, an electronic version of Reversi
is a delight. In this battle of wits, which can be played against another
opponent or the omputer, the object of the game is to capture and maintain
ownership of the highest number of squares on a grid. You capture a square
by placing your piece next to you opponent's piece, on a line or diagonal
which also contains another of your pieces. In simpler terms you sandwich
your opponents squares with your own pieces. He may then sandwich you in,
sort of like putting hands on a baseball bat until no more room is left,
and the game goes back and forth untill all squares are captured by
someone. The game allows you, through its options, to set time limits,
change difficulty levels or simply represent two human players. It also
keeps a running score and times of each move.
Capture is not a speed and reflex game, but rather an intellectual
challenge. As such, it's first rate and highly enjoyable. We can only
wonder what Space Chess will be like since Emerson is obviously quite
clever, judging by Capture, at producing electronic board-games. That's
the story of the little videogame system that could. At a list price of
$200.00, but with an actual selling price of only half that amount, Arcadia
2001 packs quite a wallop for the buck.
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From "Computer and Video Games" No 8. June 1982...(UK Magazine)
"Keep your eyes open for a new home game centre dedicated to arcade
games. Called the Hanimex Home Arcade Centre it will be on sale at the
end of june. Swindon based Hanimex is lauching its new system with a
total of 17 games cartridges, six of which are version of money-spinning
arcade favourites.
The Home Arcade incorporates the handsets used by the Mattel
Intellivision centre. These differ from the conventional hand
controllers because they come with a circular disc with which you make
your manoeuvres. Others use a joystick device.
Retailing at around 89pounds Home Arcade follows in the footsteps of
Hanimex's other video games centre, the Interton VC4000. According to
Hanimex the new centre is based on a more advanced system than the
Interton.
Software for Home Arcade springs initially from a Hanimex team who then
pass it on to an American sub-contractor which designs and writes each
program. The manufacturing process is taking place at the firm's
Swindon factory.
Scheduled for lauch in June are versions of Pheonix, Defender, Crazy
Climber, Pacman, Galactica and Berzerk.
Plans are afoot to continue bringing out new games cartridges for the
new game centre which will be of an equally standard and meet public
demand. Future releases include Centipede, Jungler and Galaga.
At the same time Hanimex will carry on the Interton VC4000."
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4.0) CARTRIDGE LIST: (They all have Overlays)
---------------------------------------------
Name: |Emerson|Schmid|Haminex|Leis-V|Advisn|Leonrd|VideoM|
=====================================================================
3-D Bowling | ?? | C011 | | | | | |
3-D Raceway | -NR- | -NR- | | ?? | | | |
Alien Invaders | 1003 | C008 | | ?? | | |exist |
American Football| ?? | -NR- | | ?? | | | |
Baseball | ?? | -NR- | | 1001 | | | |
Brain Quiz | ?? | C001 | NR.?? | | | | |
Breakaway | ?? | C007 | | | | |exist |
Capture | 1002 | C012 | | | | | |
Cat Trax | 1001 | C017 | NR.24 | | | |exist |
Crazy Gobbler | -NR?- | C002 | | | | | |
Crazy Climber | -NR?- | NR? | | | | |exist |
Escape | 1015 | C015 | | | | |exist |
Funky Fish | ?? | C023 | | | | | |
Galaxian | -NR- | -NR- | -NR- | -NR- | -NR- | -NR- | -NR- |
Grand Slam Tennis| ?? | C022 | | | | | |
Hobo | -NR?- | -NR- | | | | | |
Home Squadron | -NR?- | -NR- | | | | | |
Jump Bug | -NR- | C??? | | ?? | | | |
Jungler | 1023 | C019 | NR.04 | ?? | | | |
Missile War | ?? | C016 | | ?? | | |exist |
Ocean Battle | ?? | C010 | | ?? | | |exist |
Pleiades | ?? | C024 | | | | | |
RD2 Tank | -NR- | C??? | | ?? | | | |
Red Clash | ?? | -NR- | | ?? | | | |
Robot Killer | -NR?- | C004 | | ?? | | | |
Route 16 | -NR- | -NR- | | ?? | | | |
Soccer | 1009 | C013 | | | | |exist |
Space Attack | ?? | C003 | | ?? | | | |
Space Chess | ?? | -NR- | | ?? | | | |
Space Mission | 1019 | C009 | | | | | |
Space Raiders | ?? | C018 | NR.26 | | | | |
Space Squadron | -NR?- | C020 | | | | | |
Space Vultures | ?? | C006 | | | | | |
Spiders | 1024 | C025 | | | | | |
Star Chess | 1006 | C021 | | | | | |
Super Gobbler | -NR?- | C005 | | | | | |
Tanks A Lot | ?? | C014 | | | | | |
The End | -NR- | -NR- | | ?? | | | |
Turtles Turpin | -NR- | -NR- | NR.34 | ?? | | | |
=====================================================================
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4.5) Collectors List:
---------------------
* Sylvain De Chantal (Leisure-Vision)
* Rikard Ljungkvist (Schmid TVG 2000 & Tele-Fever)
* Rayth Orlea (Arcadia 2001)
* Russ Perry Jr (Arcadia 2001)
* Hey ! Don't be shy ! Join the List !
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5.0) Credits
------------
Many thanks to these guys !!! If it wasn't for them & for their info,
this FAQ wouln't exist !!
* Anthony Brown (specs info)
* James Carter (inputs)
* Greg Chance (infos)
* Michael Davidson (Video Master info)
* Dean Dierschow (Arcadia 2001 list)
* Martin Gansel (Schmid list)
* Rikard Ljungkvist (for pics and infos)
* Daniel A. Mazurowski (many infos!!)
* Michael J. Novak Jr. (some inputs)
* Russ Perry Jr (Japanese inputs)
* Paul Robson (for his emulator & specs inputs)
Thanks and see you in the next version !!!
---------------------------------------------------------
Copyright(c)1998, Sylvain De Chantal, "slydc@hotmail.com"
or come visit my homepage at "http://slydc.encomix.es/index.htm"
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