It's a bird, it's a plane, it's Super Cassette Vision
The Super Cassette Vision, launched by Epoch in 1984, aimed to regain market share but struggled against competitors like the Famicom due to limited audio, poor controller quality, and evolving technology.
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The Super Cassette Vision, launched by Epoch in 1984, aimed to reclaim the company's position in the video game market after the decline of the original Cassette Vision. This console was notable for being the first to advertise RGB output, a significant advancement at the time. It featured a 4MHz NEC μPD7801G CPU and a video system designed in-house, allowing for 128 sprites and various graphics modes. However, its audio capabilities were limited, with only one sound channel, making it less competitive against contemporaries like the Famicom. The console's design included hardwired controllers and a numeric keypad, but the controllers were criticized for their poor quality. The Super Cassette Vision attempted to compete with Nintendo's offerings, particularly in the mahjong genre, with titles like Super Mahjongg, although it struggled to match the graphical and gameplay standards set by the Famicom. Despite some third-party support, including games from Namco, the Super Cassette Vision ultimately failed to gain traction in a rapidly evolving gaming landscape dominated by more advanced systems.
- The Super Cassette Vision was Epoch's attempt to regain market share after the original Cassette Vision's decline.
- It was the first console to advertise RGB output, enhancing its visual capabilities.
- The console featured a single sound channel, limiting its audio performance compared to competitors.
- Despite some third-party support, it struggled to compete with the Famicom and other advanced systems.
- The quality of the controllers was criticized, impacting gameplay experience.
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6 commentsIn 1983 the US console market collapsed because of the many low-quality atari games and not-licenced consoles. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Video_game_crash_of_1983
The NES was released in US test markets as the redesigned NES in October 1985.
It's sad that to even think of competing in the console race is now near impossible.
As the next consoles generations being AI with AI generated graphics, where's the fun in that?
Going digital has made everything cold and sterile. The same is true with mobile devices.
EDIT:
> The term cassette is a contemporary Japanese synonym for ROM cartridge, not to be confused with the magnetic cassette tape format.
Ah, well, that's not at all confusing.
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Fabien Sanglard analyzes the Super Nintendo's video system design, focusing on CRT technology, NTSC specifications, and the balance between technical constraints and creative solutions that defined its graphics capabilities.
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The Bandai TV Jack 5000, released in 1978, predates the Epoch Cassette Vision as Japan's first cartridge-based console, featuring poor-quality controllers and a limited library of four games.
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The Epoch Cassette Vision, launched in 1981, was a pioneering but commercially modest console in Japan, featuring various games, including clones, and struggling with hardware limitations compared to newer systems.
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