View source for Arcadia 2001

{{Short description|1982 home video game console}}
{{Use mdy dates|date=August 2025}}
{{Infobox gaming console
| aka = MPT-03/Video Computer Game
| logo = [[File:Emerson Arcadia 2001 Logo.png|250px]]
| image = Emerson-Arcadia-2001.jpg
| caption = An Arcadia 2001
| developer = 
| manufacturer = [[Emerson Radio]]
| family = 
| type = [[Home video game console]]
| generation = [[Second generation of video game consoles|Second generation]]
| release_date = {{Start date and age|1982|05}}<ref>{{cite book |last=Forster |first=Winnie |author-link=Winnie Forster |title=The encyclopedia of consoles, handhelds & home computers 1972 - 2005 |year=2005 |publisher=GAMEPLAN |isbn=3-00-015359-4|pages=57}}</ref>
| lifespan = 18 months
| price = US$99 (equivalent to $341.24 in March 2026)
| discontinued = 1984
| units_sold = 20,000-30,000 (est.)
| units_shipped = 
| media = [[ROM cartridge]]
| os = 
| power = 12 volt
| system_on_chip = 
| cpu = [[Signetics 2650]]
| memory = 1 [[kilobyte|KB]] [[random access memory|RAM]]
| storage = 
| memory_card = 
| display = TV; 128 × 208 / 128 × 104, 8 Colours
| graphics = Signetics 2637 UVI
| sound = 2 channels (Beeper and Noise)
| input = Controllers
| controllers = 2 x [[Intellivision]]-style [[game controller|controller]] (12 button keypad and 'fire' buttons on the sides)
| camera = 
| touchpad = 
| connectivity = 
| platform = 
| online_services = 
| dimensions = 
| weight = 
| top_game = Unknown
| compatibility = 
| predecessor = None
| successor = None
| related = 
| website = <!--{{URL|example.org}}-->
}}

The '''Arcadia 2001''' is a [[Second generation of video game consoles|second-generation]] [[8-bit]] [[home video game console]] released by [[Emerson Radio]] in May 1982 for a price of US$99,<ref name="Watcher reviews" /> several months before the release of [[ColecoVision]]. It was discontinued only 18 months later, with a total of 35 games having been released.<ref name="Watcher reviews">{{cite web|last=Watcher|first=Dark|title=Emerson Arcadia 2001 - DW Facts|url=http://www.videogameconsolelibrary.com/pg80-arcadia.htm#page=reviews|publisher=Video Game Console Library|access-date=6 January 2014}}</ref> Emerson licensed the Arcadia 2001 to Bandai, which released it in Japan.<ref name="Watcher reviews"/> Over 30 [[#Console variants and clones|Arcadia 2001 clones]] exist despite the system being a [[List of commercial failures in video games|commercial failure]].

==Description==
The Arcadia is much smaller than its contemporary competitors and is powered by a standard 12 volt [[AC adapter|power supply]] so it can be used in a boat or a vehicle. It has two [[Phone connector (audio)|headphone jacks]] on the far left and right sides of the back.

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 can be applied to the controller's keypads. The console itself has five buttons: Power, Start, Reset, Option, and Select.

There are at least three different cartridge case styles<ref>{{cite web| url = http://www.obsoletemedia.org/emerson-arcadia-2001/| title = obsoletemedia.org: Emerson Arcadia 2001 (1982 – 1984)}}</ref> and artwork, with variations on each. Emerson-family cartridges come in two different lengths (short and long) of black plastic cases.

== Technical specifications ==
[[File:Emerson-Arcadia-2001-Motherboard-01.jpg|thumb|200px|right|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&nbsp;MHz (PAL)
*Sound: Single Channel "Beeper" + Single Channel "Noise"
*Hardware [[sprite (computer graphics)|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 [[clone (computing)|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, and licensed by Emerson. Four exclusive games were released for the system.
{| class="wikitable sortable"
|-
! Name
! Manufacturer
! Country
! Compatibility family
! Image
|-
|Advision Home Arcade||Advision||{{flagicon|FRA}}||Emerson console||
|-
|2001 ALTOS Home Video Centre||Altos India Limited||{{flagicon|IND}}||Emerson console||[[File:2001 Altos JPEG.jpg|200px|2001 ALTOS]]
|-
|Arcadia||[[Bandai]]||{{flagicon|JPN}}||Emerson console||[[File:Bandai Arcadia 2001 (1982) 2.jpg|200px|Bandai Arcadia 2001]]
|-
|Arcadia 2001||[[Emerson Radio|Emerson]]||{{flagicon|USA}}||Emerson console||[[File:Emerson-Arcadia-2001.jpg|200px]]
|-
|Cosmos||Tele-Computer||{{flagicon|ESP}}||Emerson console||
|-
|Dynavision||Morning-Sun Commerce||{{flagicon|JPN}}||MPT-03 console||
|-
|Educat||unknown||{{flagicon|ISR}}||MPT-03 console||
|-
|Ekusera||P.I.C.||{{flagicon|JPN}}||MPT-03 console||
|-Genie 2000 Video Computer||Genie Electronics||{{flagicon|RUS}}|MPT-03 console
|Hanimex MPT-03||[[Hanimex]]||{{flagicon|FRA}}||MPT-03 console||
|-
|HMG-2650||Hanimex||{{flagicon|DEU}}<br/>{{flagicon|CAN}}<br/>{{flagicon|AUS}}||Emerson console||[[File:Hanimex HMG 2650.jpg|200px]]
|-
|Home Arcade Centre||Hanimex||{{flagicon|GBR}}||Emerson console||
|-
|Intelligent Game MPT-03||Intelligent Game||{{flagicon|USA}}<br/>{{flagicon|CAN}}||MPT-03 console||
|-
|Intercord XL 2000 System||Intercord||{{flagicon|DEU}}||Emerson console||
|-
|Intervision 2001||Intervision||{{flagicon|CHE}} {{flagicon|FIN}}||Ormatu console||[[File:Intervision 2001.jpg|200px]]
|-
|ITMC MPT-03||ITMC||{{flagicon|FRA}}||MPT-03 console||
|-
|[[Leisure Vision]]||Leisure-Dynamics||{{flagicon|CAN}}||Emerson console||
|-
|Leonardo||GiG Electronics||{{flagicon|ITA}}||Emerson console||
|-
|Home Entertainment Centre Ch-50||Inno-Hit||{{flagicon|ITA}}||Ormatu console||
|-
|Ormatu 2001||Ormatu Electronics BV||{{flagicon|NED}}||Ormatu console||[[File:Acradia2001 Ormatu Netherlands Game Console 8 bit.jpg|200px]]
|-
|Palladium Video-Computer-Game || [[Neckermann Versand AG|Neckermann]] || {{flagicon|DEU}} || Palladium console||
|-
|Polybrain Video Computer Game||Polybrain||{{flagicon|DEU}}||Palladium console||
|-
|Poppy MPT-03 Tele Computer Spiel||Poppy||{{flagicon|DEU}}||MPT-03 console||
|-
|Prestige Video Computer Game MPT-03||Prestige||{{flagicon|FRA}}||MPT-03 console||
|-
|Robdajet MPT-03||Robdajet||{{flagicon|CHE}}||MPT-03 console||[[File:Robdajet MPT 03.jpg|200px]]
|-
|Rowtron 2000||Rowtron||{{flagicon|UK}}||MPT-03 console||
|-
|Schmid TVG-2000||[[Schmid]]||{{flagicon|DEU}}||Emerson console||[[File:Schmid TVG 2000.jpg|200px]]
|-
|Sheen Home Video Centre 2001||Sheen||{{flagicon|AUS}}||Ormatu console||
|-
|Soundic MPT-03||Soundic||{{flagicon|FIN}}<br/>{{flagicon|SGP}}[https://eresources.nlb.gov.sg/newspapers/Digitised/Article/straitstimes19820716-1.2.144.1?ST=1&AT=search&k=MPT-03&QT=mpt-03&oref=article]||MPT-03 console|| [[File:Soundic Video Computer Game MPT-03.jpg|200px]]
|-
|Tedelex Home Arcade||Tedelex||{{flagicon|ZA}}||Emerson console||
|-
|Mr. Altus Das Tele-Gehirn Color (German for ''tele brain'')<ref>{{Cite web|last=retroplace|title=Mr. Altus Das Telegehirn {{!}} Emerson Arcadia 2001|url=https://www.retroplace.com/de/spiele/136211--mr-altus-das-telegehirn|access-date=2020-08-24|website=retroplace.com|language=de}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|last=Motoschifo|title=Mr. Altus Tele Brain - MAME machine|url=http://adb.arcadeitalia.net/?mame=mratlus|access-date=2020-08-24|website=adb.arcadeitalia.net|language=it}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|title=Mr. Altus Das Tele-Gehirn Color|url=https://www.videogameheaven.de/hardware/hgs/mraltus/data_mraltus.htm|access-date=2020-08-24|website=www.videogameheaven.de}}</ref>||HGS Electronic||{{flagicon|DEU}}||Palladium console||[[File:HGS Mr. Altus Tele-Gehirn.jpg|200px]]
|-
|[[Tele-Fever]]||[[Tchibo]]||{{flagicon|DEU}}||Emerson console||[[File:Tchibo Tele-Fever.jpg|200px]]
|-
|Tempest MPT-03||Tempest||{{flagicon|AUS}}||MPT-03 console||
|-
|Tobby MPT-03||Tobby||?||MPT-03 console||
|-
|Trakton Computer Video Game||Trakton||{{flagicon|AUS}}||Palladium console||
|-
|Tryom Video Game Center||Tryom||{{flagicon|USA}}||MPT-03 console||
|-
|Tunix Home Arcade||Monaco Leisure||{{flagicon|NZL}}||Emerson console||
|-
|UVI Compu-Game||Orbit Electronics||{{flagicon|NZL}}||Orbit console||
|-
|Video Master||Grandstand||{{flagicon|NZL}}||Orbit console||
|}
[[File:Emerson-Arcadia-2001-Controller-01.jpg|alt=Arcadia 2001 game controller|thumb|The Arcadia 2001's bundled controller, a pad {hole in the center to screw a joystick} and a keypad of 12 buttons]]

===Bandai Arcadia===
{{Infobox computing device
| logo = [[File:BANDAI.svg|90px]]
| image = 
| manufacturer = [[Bandai]]
| type = [[Video game console]]
| generation = [[Second generation of video game consoles|Second generation]]
| release_date = 1982
| discontinued = 
| authorlink = 
| isbn = 
| cpu = [[Signetics 2650]] @ 3.58 [[MHz]]
| media = [[ROM cartridge]]
| top_game = 
| predecessor = [[Bandai Super Vision 8000]]
| successor = [[Bandai 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.<ref name="Watcher reviews" />

==Reception==
[[File:1982 Consumer Electronics Show CES Chicago (4507853558) (cropped).jpg|thumb|The Emerson Booth at CES 1982, featuring their Arcadia 2001 system]]
After seeing the Arcadia 2001 at the summer 1982 [[Consumer Electronics Show]], [[Danny Goodman]] of ''[[Creative Computing (magazine)|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".<ref name="goodman1983spring">{{Cite magazine |last=Goodman |first=Danny |author-link=Danny Goodman |date=Spring 1983 |title=Home Video Games: Video Games Update |url=http://www.atarimagazines.com/cva/v1n1/vgupdate.php |magazine=Creative Computing Video & Arcade Games |page=32}}</ref>

==Games==
Emerson planned to launch the console with 19 games.{{r|goodman1983spring}} 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 (1981 video game)|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.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.digitpress.com/the_digs/arcadia/texts/2001-faq.htm |title=Arcadia 2001: Frequently Asked Questions |publisher=digitpress.com|date=2002-06-04 |access-date=2017-03-01}}</ref> 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 (video game)|Breakout]]''.<ref>{{cite web|last=Lester|first=John|title=History of Consoles: Arcadia 2001 (1982)|url=http://gamester81.com/history-of-consoles-arcadia-2001-1982/|publisher=Gamster81|access-date=6 January 2014}}</ref>

=== Released games ===
There are 55 games known to have been released for the Arcadia 2001 and its clones during the system's lifetime.<ref name="agg">{{cite web |title=Arcadia 2001 Gaming Guide |url=http://amigan.yatho.com/agg/}}</ref>

{{div col|content=
#''3D Attack'' – a Zaxxon clone
#''3D Bowling'' (1982)
#''3D Soccer'' (1982)
#''Alien Invaders'' (1982)
#''American Football''
#''[[Astro Invader]]''
#''Auto Race''
#''Baseball''
#''Basketball''
#''Battle''
#''Blackjack/Poker''
#''Boxing''
#''Brain Quiz'' – AKA ''Math/Logic''
#''Breakaway''
#''Capture'' – a clone of the board game [[Othello]]
#''Cat Trax''
#''Circus'' – also known as ''Clowns'' on some systems, clone of Exidy's ''Circus''
#''Combat''
#''[[Crazy Climber]]''
#''Crazy Gobbler''
#''Dictionary'' – English/German
#''[[Doraemon]]'' (Japan only)
#''Dr. Slump'' (Japan only)
#''Escape''
#''Funky Fish''
#''Golf''
#''Grand Slam Tennis''
#''Hobo''
#''Horse Racing'' (plays similar to the Intellivision game)
#''[[Jump Bug]]''
#''[[Jungler]]''
#''Missile War''
#''[[Mobile Suit Gundam]]'' (Japan only)
#''Monaco Grand Prix'' – AKA ''3D Raceway''
#''Nibblemen'' – AKA ''Super Gobbler'' and ''Devilman the Dot Muncher''
#''Ocean Battle'' – AKA ''Sea Battle''
#''Parashooter''
#''[[Pleiades (video game)|Pleiades]]''
#''R2D Tank''
#''Red Clash''
#''Robot Killer'' (clone of ''[[Berzerk (video game)|Berzerk]]'')
#''[[Route-16]]''
#''Soccer''
#''Space Attack''
#''Space Mission''
#''Space Raiders''
#''Space Squadron''
#''Space Vultures''
#''Spiders''
#''Star Chess'' – AKA ''Video Chess''
#''[[Super Dimension Fortress Macross]]'' (Japan only)
#''Super Bug''
#''Tanks A Lot''
#''The End''
#''[[Turtles (video game)|Turtles]]''/''Turpin''
}}

===Homebrew games===
Three hobbyist-developed games are known to have been made for the system:<ref name="agg"/>
*''[[Frogger]]''
*''JTron''
*''[[Tetris]]''

==References==

{{reflist}}

==External links==
{{Commons category|Arcadia 2001 and clones}}
* [http://www.videogameconsolelibrary.com/pg80-arcadia.htm#page=reviews Video Game Console Library] entry on the Arcadia 2001
* [http://www.thegameconsole.com/emerson-arcadia-2001/ TheGameConsole.com] entry on the Arcadia 2001
* [http://thedoteaters.com/?bitstory=arcadia-2001 The Dot Eaters entry] on the Arcadia 2001
* [https://web.archive.org/web/20071209081611/http://www.old-computers.com/museum/computer.asp?st=2&c=835 www.old-computers.com] Emerson Arcadia 2001 museum entry
* [http://www.old-computers.com/magazine/view.asp?r=2&a=8 www.old-computers.com] Article about Arcadia 2001 and clones
* [https://au.ign.com/wikis/history-of-video-game-consoles/Arcadia_2001 Arcadia 2001 retrospective] at [[IGN]]

{{Bandai Namco Hardware}}
{{Second generation game consoles}}
{{Home video game consoles}}

[[Category:Home video game consoles]]
[[Category:Second-generation video game consoles]]
[[Category:Bandai consoles]]
[[Category:Products introduced in 1982]]
[[Category:Products and services discontinued in 1984]]
[[Category:Discontinued video game consoles]]
[[Category:Computer-related introductions in 1982]]