Arcadia 2001.

[Aswald]

Another obscure console, who here ever had one, and/or has one now?

Come to think of it, it did have a few obscure arcade games, such as Jump Bug and Redclash, didn't it? I played those games in England back in 1982, but I never saw them in America.

[ClubNinja]

I actually adore this system. I used to collect avidly for it, but all those rainbow-labelled carts just started taking up precious space, so I got rid of most of them. I still have my console though, and a copy of the multicart (that there are only about 30 or so of out there). Totally underrated and unloved, the Arcadia is really a neat little machine that deserves a play, even if just to say you've played it once. To me, it's incredibly charming. Of course, I say that about the Channel F, too.

[Aswald]

It came out the same year as the ColecoVision and 5200- 1982- didn't it?

[digitalpress]

It came out the same year as the ColecoVision and 5200- 1982- didn't it?

Just about.

http://www.digitpress.com/DP/cmf/listing.cmf?system=29

It's a fine system, with a few really good games. Some of the better ones are hard to find or imports but you can get by with Cat Trax and Jungler :)

[ScottK]

I bought one at a garage sale in 1998. It included the systems complete with box and manuals and 6 complete games (everything for only $20). The games were descent...I remember one being a pac-man rip off. I eventually sold the items seperatly. I have never found or seen one ever since.

[qbertandernie]

i got mine at a garage sale two years back but have not hooked it up yet.

what i find amusing is the ridiculous size of some of the carts. some are twice as long as the atari carts!

[Aswald]

There was a department store back then offering it free with some kind of purchase. I don't remember the details, but the game they showed was a maze game, possibly that "Cat Trax" game mentioned here.

[wufners]

I found mine about 5 months ago at a swap meet for $15. It didn't come with a power supply, tho, and before I could scrounge up an alternative, I was forced to pack my collection away and never got to test it.

None the less, what amuses me about it is you have your normal size carts and then you have these ridiculously looooooooong carts. Same width as the others, just 2x as long. They look kind of funny protruding way out of the system when they're plugged in. I don't know, I guess I was just tickled by it because it's kind of silly looking. That being said, I'm obviously easily amused. Say! The "e" key on my keyboard is fun to push!

eeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeee . . .

[o2william]

I've been interested in this system ever since I passed one up for $5 back in my early, uneducated collecting days. I still haven't bought one, though... it's just so obscure, and I don't know if the fun factor outweighs the money and space considerations. That and the controllers aren't so good.

I only played one once, back when Ward was designing the multicarts ClubNinja mentioned. Honestly the system impressed me a lot more than I thought it would. The import version of Crazy Climber seemed pretty cool.

Ward's not into the hobby nowadays, but I see his old Digital Archaeology site is still hanging around in the bowels of DP:
http://www.digitpress.com/the_digs/arcadia/contents.htm

A MUST-READ site for Arcadia fans. I still marvel at the depth of Ward's research. A lot of it is in the DP Guide too.

[DDCecil]

Back in 1998, a lady my dad knew brought one into our store with an old, worn Atari 2600 box. It came with about 8 complete games. We held onto it for awhile, then decided to put it on ebay. After a couple of days (receiving no bids) I pulled the auction. A few days later, someone who saw the auction, e-mailed me and wanted to buy it and the games for $75. We then sold it to this person. I haven't seen one since, but I do have a couple of Arcadia, Hanimex, and Tunix games.

[digitalpress]

Ward's not into the hobby nowadays, but I see his old Digital Archaeology site is still hanging around in the bowels of DP:
http://www.digitpress.com/the_digs/arcadia/contents.htm

Whoa, almost forgot about that, thanks for pointing it out!

There's so much "stuff" gathered up over the years on this website that I sometimes get lost in it. Just like in real life... a packrat.

I miss Ward!

[rbudrick]

http://www.digitpress.com/forum/viewtopic.php?t=16135

Pretty cool story of how I got mine...

-Rob

[rolenta]

It came out the same year as the ColecoVision and 5200- 1982- didn't it?

I always tell this story every few years when this topic comes up.

In 1982 I was working for a NY-based electronics store called Slavemart, I mean Savemart. When I was hired their stores didn't carry videogames but it was to be my job to bring them in. Unfortunately the company was ruled with an iron thumb by its owner and it didn't mater what I told the front office. When I learned about the Colecovision, I told them that this was a system that we should carry but they dismissed it and said that they were bringing in a better one. That 'better' one turned out to be the Arcadia 2001. Everytime someone came into the store looking specifically for a Colecovision (or any other system) our job was to try and sell them an Arcadia 2001 instead. We never sold one, especially with Crazy Eddie right across the street.

[fishsandwich]

I bought one at a garage sale in 1998. It included the systems complete with box and manuals and 6 complete games (everything for only $20). The games were descent...I remember one being a pac-man rip off. I eventually sold the items seperatly. I have never found or seen one ever since.

Wow! They made Descent for the Arcadia?

I'm sorry... I couldn't help myself... that wasn't very decent of me.


I wish I'd bought one of Ward's multicarts when I had the chance. I think he made one for Astrocade too, but I'm not sure.

He who pauses loses.

Cheers

:D

[Captain Wrong]

I was seriously obsessed with this system for a while. I read all Ward's stuff, joined the Yahoo discussion group, even bought carts. But I never got around to buying a system. Eventually, when I had to sell off a bunch of stuff, the 2001 carts went also and I never got around to picking the interest back up.

[Aswald]

It came out the same year as the ColecoVision and 5200- 1982- didn't it?

I always tell this story every few years when this topic comes up.

In 1982 I was working for a NY-based electronics store called Slavemart, I mean Savemart. When I was hired their stores didn't carry videogames but it was to be my job to bring them in. Unfortunately the company was ruled with an iron thumb by its owner and it didn't mater what I told the front office. When I learned about the Colecovision, I told them that this was a system that we should carry but they dismissed it and said that they were bringing in a better one. That 'better' one turned out to be the Arcadia 2001. Everytime someone came into the store looking specifically for a Colecovision (or any other system) our job was to try and sell them an Arcadia 2001 instead. We never sold one, especially with Crazy Eddie right across the street.


The stuff from which "Dilbert" is made...

[wberdan]

i have a bunch of arcadia clones,and a whole bunch of carts..
i dont have the US made system though, but i have the LeisureVision, and i've never bothered to play it...
i do like how many different clones there are all over the world of this console, so i dig it in that regard-

neat

willie

[j_eits]

i do like how many different clones there are all over the world of this console, so i dig it in that regard-

there are lots of them! back in 1984 there were at least 5 variants sold at the same time in Germany (Hanimex, Intercord, Schmid, Poppy and Palladium) and if you look at the other countries you'll find out that it was sold in nearly every western country under a different name.
in the online rarity guide there are 37 consoles right now, but i'm sure that more will show up.