Results 1 to 12 of 12

Thread: Epoch Game Pocket Computer video

  1. #1
    Strawberry (Level 2) ccovell's Avatar
    Join Date
    Apr 2007
    Location
    Japan
    Posts
    554
    Thanks Thanks Given 
    0
    Thanks Thanks Received 
    0
    Thanked in
    0 Posts

    Default Epoch Game Pocket Computer video

    Hi, folks. A little heads-up. I put a new video review of Epoch's unusual portable system from 1984 up on YouTube. Check it out:

    http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_o7b_h5G9Uc

    More about this system on my webpage here: http://www.chrismcovell.com/GamePokekon/


  2. #2
    Insert Coin (Level 0) atrionfo's Avatar
    Join Date
    Nov 2007
    Location
    Albuquerque, NM
    Posts
    23
    Thanks Thanks Given 
    0
    Thanks Thanks Received 
    0
    Thanked in
    0 Posts

    Default

    I enjoyed the video console review that you made. I also checked out your webpage. Before today I had never heard of this system. Now I feel as though I want to own and actually try hacking-around with it.

    I especially enjoyed your demo that included basic hacking tools, such as the ability to program using opcode. Old-school, for sure, but FAR better than what was available before your demo.

    (Hey, and I could actually see the Game Pocket Computer's screen!)

    Really nice work!

    Adam

  3. #3
    Insert Coin (Level 0) Dreamstate's Avatar
    Join Date
    Jan 2007
    Location
    Knoxville, TN USA
    Posts
    115
    Thanks Thanks Given 
    0
    Thanks Thanks Received 
    0
    Thanked in
    0 Posts

    Default

    Cool review. Love obscure hand helds!

  4. #4
    ServBot (Level 11) tom's Avatar
    Join Date
    Jul 2002
    Location
    USA & RUSSIA
    Posts
    3,681
    Thanks Thanks Given 
    0
    Thanks Thanks Received 
    2
    Thanked in
    2 Posts

    Default

    I heard of the Epoch pocket computer around 96/97, and I always wanted a boxed one with the 5 games available. Sometimes they pop up on ebay, going for like billion $s.
    Now we need to do the same for the Palmtex, which is even older (1983)

  5. #5
    Pear (Level 6) retroman's Avatar
    Join Date
    Oct 2004
    Location
    MD
    Posts
    1,278
    Thanks Thanks Given 
    0
    Thanks Thanks Received 
    7
    Thanked in
    7 Posts
    Xbox LIVE
    retroman20/retroman21
    PSN
    retroman13

    Default

    i liked the review also..never heard of the system before..thanks for the schooling

  6. #6
    Insert Coin (Level 0) God-Zilla's Avatar
    Join Date
    Jun 2003
    Posts
    69
    Thanks Thanks Given 
    0
    Thanks Thanks Received 
    0
    Thanked in
    0 Posts
    Xbox LIVE
    Dai KaiJu Zilla

    Default

    That is too cool. I always love hearing about systems I never knew about. Was that one Japan only?

  7. #7
    Apple (Level 5) Superman's Avatar
    Join Date
    Feb 2007
    Posts
    1,025
    Thanks Thanks Given 
    0
    Thanks Thanks Received 
    0
    Thanked in
    0 Posts

    Default

    This is certainly one gaming item I had not heard of. A lot of the games look like fun (letter game, block maze, graphics program). Of course, it could be that I'm easily amused!

    Thanks for sharing, but now I have one more item to look for in my travels!

  8. #8
    Insert Coin (Level 0) God-Zilla's Avatar
    Join Date
    Jun 2003
    Posts
    69
    Thanks Thanks Given 
    0
    Thanks Thanks Received 
    0
    Thanked in
    0 Posts
    Xbox LIVE
    Dai KaiJu Zilla

    Default

    So, does anyone know what regions it was sold at retail in? Thanks again for the info!

  9. #9
    Strawberry (Level 2) ccovell's Avatar
    Join Date
    Apr 2007
    Location
    Japan
    Posts
    554
    Thanks Thanks Given 
    0
    Thanks Thanks Received 
    0
    Thanked in
    0 Posts

    Default

    Japan only. As I say at the start of my video.

  10. #10
    Insert Coin (Level 0)
    Join Date
    Jul 2011
    Posts
    22
    Thanks Thanks Given 
    0
    Thanks Thanks Received 
    0
    Thanked in
    0 Posts

    Default

    I bought a boxed Epoch game pocket computer with 3 boxed games about 4 weeks ago from a collector in japan. I just want to say thank you Chris for your wonderfull site on the Game Pocket Computer, it's fantastic and full of great info that I have found most valuable.

  11. #11
    Pretzel (Level 4) rolenta's Avatar
    Join Date
    Jul 2002
    Location
    New Jersey
    Posts
    860
    Thanks Thanks Given 
    0
    Thanks Thanks Received 
    0
    Thanked in
    0 Posts

    Default

    From the 1984 chapter in the 4th edition of Phoenix:

    Epoch didn’t have any competition against the second console that it released in Japan in 1984. The Game Pocket Computer was a handheld device similar to Milton Bradley’s pioneering Microvision. Despite the term handheld, the Game Pocket Computer needed two hands to operate it. The size of a small book, the console was 8.5 inches wide and nearly six inches vertically. Positioned almost in the center of the unit was a 75 x 64 pixel black & white LCD screen, which gave the console far greater resolution than the 16 x 16 screen that the Microvision provided.

    The Game Pocket Computer was the first handheld unit in Japan. Like the Microvision, it was programmable by changing game cartridges. Unfortunately, the system was a failure and disappeared from store shelves not long after it was released. It is unclear why the system failed since stand-alone handheld, and programmable consoles, were popular. The reason might have been because there wasn’t any available software that made people rush out and buy a unit. In addition to a built-in puzzle game and drawing application, only five game cartridges were offered. It would be another five years until another hand-held console would be available. And that one would have a killer application.
    Last edited by rolenta; 02-15-2012 at 08:30 AM.
    Leonard Herman
    The Game Scholar
    Publisher of Historical Videogame Books
    http://www.rolentapress.com
    Phoenix 4 coming in 2014

  12. #12
    Strawberry (Level 2) ccovell's Avatar
    Join Date
    Apr 2007
    Location
    Japan
    Posts
    554
    Thanks Thanks Given 
    0
    Thanks Thanks Received 
    0
    Thanked in
    0 Posts

    Default

    Cool stuff. Now we can use your book as a citation on Wikipedia since they don't accept information from pages in Japanese, nor from my own website...

Similar Threads

  1. Replies: 5
    Last Post: 09-03-2012, 10:36 AM
  2. FS: epoch game pocket computer & Bitcorp Gamate
    By 3rdman in forum Buying and Selling
    Replies: 6
    Last Post: 07-26-2010, 06:53 PM
  3. Replies: 0
    Last Post: 05-02-2010, 07:32 PM
  4. Epoch ElectroTennis (Japan's first video game console)
    By Japan-Games.com in forum Buying and Selling
    Replies: 0
    Last Post: 10-22-2008, 03:03 AM
  5. Pocket Travel Video Game Board Games
    By den68 in forum Classic Gaming
    Replies: 2
    Last Post: 12-20-2002, 11:01 PM

Tags for this Thread

Posting Permissions

  • You may not post new threads
  • You may not post replies
  • You may not post attachments
  • You may not edit your posts
  •