The Bandai RX-78 is a Japanese
8-bit
In computer architecture, 8-bit integers or other data units are those that are 8 bits wide (1 octet). Also, 8-bit central processing unit (CPU) and arithmetic logic unit (ALU) architectures are those that are based on registers or data bu ...
microcomputer
A microcomputer is a small, relatively inexpensive computer having a central processing unit (CPU) made out of a microprocessor. The computer also includes memory and input/output (I/O) circuitry together mounted on a printed circuit board (P ...
manufactured by
Bandai
is a Japanese multinational corporation, multinational toy manufacturer and distributor headquartered in Taitō, Taitō, Tokyo. Its international branches, Bandai Namco Toys & Collectables America and Bandai UK, are respectively headquartered ...
.
Its name comes from the
RX-78-2 Gundam
The is a fictional piloted robot (mecha), introduced in 1979 in Yoshiyuki Tomino's and Sunrise (company), Sunrise's anime series ''Mobile Suit Gundam''. In the series, it is a prototype weapon for the Earth Federation when it falls into the hand ...
.
It was released in July 1983,
the RX-78 had a release cost of 59,800
yen
The is the official currency of Japan. It is the third-most traded currency in the foreign exchange market, after the United States dollar and the euro. It is also widely used as a third reserve currency after the US dollar and the euro.
T ...
,
and was sold with a dozen of games and software, including a
BASIC
Basic or BASIC may refer to:
Science and technology
* BASIC, a computer programming language
* Basic (chemistry), having the properties of a base
* Basic access authentication, in HTTP
Entertainment
* Basic (film), ''Basic'' (film), a 2003 film
...
interpreter cartridge featuring a cassette tape interface.
The Bandai RX-78 was primarily a gaming machine, with two joysticks included. Software was available on cartridges or cassettes.
Specifications
The Bandai RX-78 employed a
SHARP LH0080A (
Zilog Z80A clone)
CPU, running a
clock speed
Clock rate or clock speed in computing typically refers to the frequency at which the clock generator of a processor can generate pulses used to synchronize the operations of its components. It is used as an indicator of the processor's ...
of 4.1 MHz.
It shipped with 30 KB of
RAM
Ram, ram, or RAM most commonly refers to:
* A male sheep
* Random-access memory, computer memory
* Ram Trucks, US, since 2009
** List of vehicles named Dodge Ram, trucks and vans
** Ram Pickup, produced by Ram Trucks
Ram, ram, or RAM may also ref ...
and 8KB of ROM.
It had two joystick ports in a proprietary format using 8-pin
DIN connector
The DIN connector is an electrical signal connector that was standardized by the (DIN), the German Institute for Standards, in the mid 1950s, initially with three pins for mono, but when stereo connections and gear appeared in the late 1950s, v ...
s.
The computer can generate 27 colors, created from 3 levels of intensity of each
RGB channel, arranged into
VRAM
Video random-access memory (VRAM) is dedicated computer memory used to store the pixels and other graphics data as a framebuffer to be rendered on a computer monitor. It often uses a different technology than other computer memory, in order to ...
video planes, with a maximum resolution of 192 × 184 pixels, and is capable of displaying 30 × 23 text characters using a 6 × 8 pixel font.
Sound was generated by the
Texas Instruments SN76489 chip, providing 3 voices in four octaves and noise generator.
Software
Software
Software consists of computer programs that instruct the Execution (computing), execution of a computer. Software also includes design documents and specifications.
The history of software is closely tied to the development of digital comput ...
was released on ROM cartridges (''Sen'you Soft Cartridge'') and compact cassettes (''Sen'you Tape Cassette'').
Games
About 20 games for the Bandai RX-78 were released:
*Cannon Ball (Sen'you Soft Cartridge)
*Card World (Sen'you Soft Cartridge)
*Challenge Golf (Sen'you Soft Cartridge)
*Champion Racer (Sen'you Soft Cartridge)
*Combined Fleet
*Donjara (Sen'you Tape Cassette)
*Excite Baseball (Sen'you Soft Cartridge)
*Excite Tennis (Sen'you Soft Cartridge)
*Hamburger Shop (Sen'you Soft Cartridge)
*Fight! Ultraman
*Hitsuji Yaai (Sen'you Tape Cassette)
*Mobile Suit Gundam: Luna Two no Tatakai (Sen'you Soft Cartridge)
*Perfect Mah-jongg (Sen'you Soft Cartridge)
*The Pro-Wrestling (Sen'you Soft Cartridge)
*Rengo Kantai (Sen'you Soft Cartridge)
*Sekigahara (Sen'you Soft Cartridge)
*Sheep
*Space Capsule (Sen'you Tape Cassette)
*Space Enemy (Sen'you Soft Cartridge)
*Super Motocross (Sen'you Soft Cartridge)
*Tatakae! Ultraman (Sen'you Soft Cartridge)
*Yellow Cab (Sen'you Tape Cassette)
*Zero Fighter
*Zerosen (Sen'you Soft Cartridge)
Educational (Education Series)
A smaller number of non-gaming titles were released:
*ABC Tangou Game (Sen'you Soft Cartridge)
*Graphic Sugaku (Sen'you Tape Cassette)
*Keisan Enshuu Drill (Sen'you Tape Cassette)
*Sansu Tsuma Zuki
Applications (Culture Series)
A smaller number of non-gaming titles were released:
*3-Dimension Graphics (Sen'you Soft Cartridge)
*Animation Graphics (Sen'you Soft Cartridge)
*BS BASIC Ver.1.0 (Sen'you Soft Cartridge)
*Creative Graphics (Sen'you Soft Cartridge)
*Healthy Life Plan (Sen'you Tape Cassette)
*Kanji Word Processor
*Music Master (Sen'you Soft Cartridge)
*Z80
Assembler
References
Bandai consoles
Computer-related introductions in 1983
Z80-based home computers
Discontinued video game consoles
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