--- title: Tomy Tutor / Pyuuta categories: - Computers types: - Home Computer origins: - Japan years: - '1983' cpus: - Texas-Instrument TMS 9995NL params: name: Tutor / Pyuuta image: /media/museum/photos/tomy_tutor_system_s1.jpg company: /companies/tomy company_name: Tomy specs: - label: NAME value: Tutor / Pyuuta - label: MANUFACTURER value: Tomy - label: TYPE value: Home Computer - label: ORIGIN value: Japan - label: YEAR value: '1983' - label: BUILT IN LANGUAGE value: |- GBasic + Tomy Basic on later machines\ Integrated software : Tomy Paint (paint program) - label: KEYBOARD value: |- QWERTY, 56 rubber keys\ with a large pink spacebar - label: CPU value: Texas-Instrument TMS 9995NL - label: SPEED value: 2.7 MHz - label: CO-PROCESSOR value: 'Videochip : Texas-Instrument TMS 9918ANL' - label: RAM value: 16 kb (up to 64 kb) - label: VRAM value: 16 kb - label: ROM value: 32 kb (including TOMY Basic, GBASIC, and graphic software) - label: TEXT MODES value: 32 x 24 in 16 colors - label: GRAPHIC MODES value: |- 256 x 192 in 16 colors\ 4 unicolor sprites - label: COLORS value: '16' - label: SOUND value: 3 channels (2 music, 1 noise), 8 octaves - label: SIZE / WEIGHT value: 36 x 24 cm - label: I/O PORTS value: |- Joystick port (9-pin DSUB, but not Atari compatible)\ RF output\ Video composite/Audio outputs\ I/O port\ Cartridge slot\ 5-DIN plug for tape-recorder - label: PRICE value: |- £150 (UK, October 1983)\ $380 (USA, October 1983) tabs: - photos - adverts - hardware - software - emulators - links photos: - title: TOMY PYUUTA subtitle: '' text: Notice that the keyboard is slightly different, even the key spacing ! image: /media/museum/photos/tomy_pyuuta_2.jpg - title: 'TOMY PYUUTA #2' subtitle: '' text: '' image: /media/museum/photos/tomy_pyuuta_3.jpg - title: 'TOMY PYUUTA #3' subtitle: '' text: Notice the different keyboard on this japanese model image: /media/museum/photos/tomy_tutor-jap-model.jpg - title: TOMY TUTOR subtitle: '' text: '' image: /media/museum/photos/tomy_tutor_system_s2.jpg - title: KEYBOARD CLOSE-UP subtitle: '' text: The flat rubber keys have a good feeling but forbid fast typing. image: /media/museum/photos/tomy_tutor_keyboard_s1.jpg - title: SIDES subtitle: '' text: '' image: /media/museum/photos/tomy_tutor_sides_s1.jpg - title: UPSIDE DOWN subtitle: '' text: '' image: /media/museum/photos/tomy_tutor_underneath_s1.jpg - title: REAR CONNECTORS subtitle: '' text: |- From left to right:\ • AC power lead\ • Cover of the expansion connector\ • Joystick connector\ • Tape recorder DIN socket\ • Audio output jack\ • Composite video jack (NTSC or PAL)\ • TV/RF output jack, 2 selectable channels. image: /media/museum/photos/tomy_tutor_backcon_s1.jpg - title: OPENED subtitle: '' text: The main board occupies less than half the case space. It is surrounded by a metal protection against magnetic fields. image: /media/museum/photos/tomy_tutor_opened_s1.jpg - title: MAIN BOARD subtitle: '' text: |- **(1)** TV/RF modulator\ **(2)** TMS9918A Video Display Processor. Has its own 16 KB video memory\ **(3)** 16 KB user's RAM (8 x 4116 chips)\ **(4)** Keyboard connector\ **(5)** Expansion port connector\ **(6)** ROM cartridges connector\ **(7)** 32 KB ROM chips, hold the BASIC interpreter\ **(8)** TMS9995 16-bit processor, an advanced version of the TMS9990 used in the TI 99/4A\ **(9)** 14W switching power supply unit, provides +5V, -5V and +12V\ **(10)** Label of the plastic case maker! Another label is sticked onto the upper shell. image: /media/museum/photos/tomy_tutor_inside_s1.jpg - title: THE TUTOR FAMILY subtitle: '' text: |- The Tomy Tutor, the Tomy Tutor mk2 and the Tomy Tutor Jr game system. Picture courtesy of Junya Kubota image: /media/museum/photos/tomy_tutor_famille.jpg - title: TOMY PYUUTA JR VIDEOGAME SYSTEM subtitle: '' text: '' image: /media/museum/photos/tomy_pyuuta-jr_1.jpg - title: TOMY PYUUTA JR VIDEOGAME SYSTEM BOX subtitle: '' text: '' image: /media/museum/photos/tomy_pyuuta-jr_box_1.jpg - title: TUTOR BOX subtitle: '' text: '' image: /media/museum/photos/tomy_tutor_box_1.jpg - title: PYUUTA BOX subtitle: '' text: '' image: /media/museum/photos/tomy_tutor_box_2.jpg - title: TUTOR MANUAL subtitle: '' text: '' image: /media/museum/photos/tomy_tutor_manual_s1.jpg - title: PYUUTA OPERATION MANUAL subtitle: '' text: '' image: /media/museum/photos/tomy_pyuuta_manual_1.jpg - title: TUTOR CARTRIDGE subtitle: '' text: Thanks to Cameron Kaiser for the picture image: /media/museum/photos/tomy_tutor_cart.gif adverts: - title: JAPANESE ADVERT. subtitle: '' text: Picture courtesy of Junya Kubota image: /media/museum/pubs/tomy_tutor_jappub.jpg - title: JAPANESE ADVERT. subtitle: '' text: Picture courtesy of Junya Kubota image: /media/museum/pubs/tomy_tutor_jappub2.jpg hardware: - title: JOYSTICK subtitle: '' text: |- The Tomy Tutor serial Joystick \[9-pin plug, two fire buttons\] Picture courtesy of Cameron Kaiser image: /media/museum/hardware/tomy_tutor_joysticks.jpg - title: TAPE-RECORDER subtitle: '' text: |- Tomy Tutor Tape recorder \[600 baud interface - 5-pin DIN plug at rear of computer\] Picture courtesy of Cameron Kaiser image: /media/museum/hardware/tomy_tutor_tape.jpg - title: CARTS & CONTROLLERS subtitle: '' text: |- Tomy Tutor, carts and controllers Picture courtesy of Cameron Kaiser image: /media/museum/hardware/tomy_tutor_carts-joysticks.jpg - title: SOME VAPORWARE EXTENSIONS ? subtitle: '' text: |- The vapourware Tomy expansions: \- The 5"1/4 diskdrive\ \- The printer\ \- The big box under the tutor might be the the RAM expansion (+48k)\ \- The little black box before the diskdrive might be the speech synthesizer... These devices seem to have never been released... image: /media/museum/hardware/tomy_tutor_perifs.jpg - title: 'PICTURE #1' subtitle: '' text: This addon is used to play special 3D games. It is connected to the expansion port and then the 3D game cartridge must be inserted in this module cartridge slot. image: /media/museum/hardware/tomy_pyuuta_3daddon_1.jpg - title: INTERFACE CONNECTOR subtitle: '' text: Thanks to Rikard Ljungkvist for this picture image: /media/museum/hardware/tomy_pyuuta_3d-addon_2.jpg - title: CARTRIDGE SLOT subtitle: '' text: Thanks to Rikard Ljungkvist for this picture image: /media/museum/hardware/tomy_pyuuta_3d-addon_3.jpg - title: SIDE subtitle: '' text: Thanks to Rikard Ljungkvist for this picture image: /media/museum/hardware/tomy_pyuuta_3d-addon_4.jpg - title: TAPE-RECORDER PLUG subtitle: '' text: Thanks to Cameron Kaiser for this picture image: /media/museum/hardware/tomy_taperecorder_cable.gif screenshots: - title: BOMBMAN subtitle: Box text: '' image: /media/museum/software/tomy_pyuuta_bombman_box.jpg - title: SOME CARTRIDGES subtitle: '' text: '' image: /media/museum/software/tomy_pyuuta_carts_2.jpg - title: MAHJONG subtitle: Box text: '' image: /media/museum/software/tomy_pyuuta_mahjong_box.jpg - title: SOME GAME ILLUSTRATIONS subtitle: '' text: Pictures courtesy of Junya Kubota image: /media/museum/software/tomy_tutor_games.jpg - title: MORE GAME BOXES subtitle: '' text: '' image: /media/museum/software/tomy_tutor_more-carts.jpg - title: BOX & CARTRIDGE subtitle: '' text: '' image: /media/museum/software/tomy_tutor_ss_frogger_cart-box.jpg - title: CARTRIDGE subtitle: '' text: '' image: /media/museum/software/tomy_tutor_frogger_cart.jpg - title: CARTRIDGE subtitle: '' text: '' image: /media/museum/software/tomy_tutor_jungler_cart.jpg - title: BOX subtitle: '' text: '' image: /media/museum/software/tomy-tutor_jungler_box.jpg - title: CARTRIDGE subtitle: '' text: '' image: /media/museum/software/tomy_tutor_marine-adventure_cart.jpg - title: CARTRIDGE subtitle: '' text: '' image: /media/museum/software/tomy_tutor_mission-attack_cart.jpg - title: BOX subtitle: '' text: |- This game is to be used with 3D addon (see Hardware section) Thanks to Rikard Ljungkvist for this picture image: /media/museum/software/tomy_pyuuta_rescue-copter-3d_box.jpg - title: BOX - BACK subtitle: '' text: '' image: /media/museum/software/tomy_pyuuta_rescue-copter-3d_box_rear.jpg - title: STARTUP SCREEN subtitle: '' text: '' image: /media/museum/software/tomy_tutor_startup_screen.gif - title: JAPANESE STARTUP SCREEN subtitle: '' text: '' image: /media/museum/software/tomy_tutor_pyuta.gif - title: A DRAWING... subtitle: '' text: '' image: /media/museum/software/tomy_tutor_manual.gif - title: POOYAN subtitle: '' text: '' image: /media/museum/software/tomy_tutor_pooyan.gif - title: HYPERSPACE subtitle: '' text: '' image: /media/museum/software/tomy_tutor_hyperspace.gif - title: TOMY PAINT subtitle: '' text: '' image: /media/museum/software/tomy_tutor_tomypaint.gif - title: JAPANESE TOMY PAINT subtitle: '' text: '' image: /media/museum/software/tomy_tutor_tomypaintjap.gif - title: BOMBMAN subtitle: '' text: '' image: /media/museum/software/tomy_tutor_bombman.gif - title: DON PAN subtitle: '' text: '' image: /media/museum/software/tomy_tutor_donpan.gif - title: MONSTER INN subtitle: '' text: '' image: /media/museum/software/tomy_tutor_monsterinn.gif - title: MR DO subtitle: '' text: '' image: /media/museum/software/tomy_tutor_mrdo.gif - title: SCRAMBLE subtitle: '' text: '' image: /media/museum/software/tomy_tutor_scramble1.gif - title: SCRAMBLE subtitle: '' text: '' image: /media/museum/software/tomy_tutor_scramble2.gif - title: TORPEDO TERROR subtitle: '' text: '' image: /media/museum/software/tomy_tutor_torpedo_terror.gif - title: SAURUS LAND subtitle: '' text: '' image: /media/museum/software/tomy_tutor_saurusland.gif - title: CARTRIDGE subtitle: '' text: '' image: /media/museum/software/tomy_tutor_traffic-jam_cart.jpg - title: SCREENSHOT subtitle: '' text: '' image: /media/museum/software/tomy_tutor_trafficjam.gif - title: CARTRIDGE subtitle: '' text: '' image: /media/museum/software/tomy_tutor_triple-command_cart.jpg emulators: - title: ePyuTa url: http://www1.interq.or.jp/t-takeda/ platform: Windows text: TOMY PyuTa / PyuTa Jr. emulator by great TAKEDA Toshiya - title: The Tutty Emulator url: http://retrobits.com/tomy/ platform: Other platform text: For Commodore 64 ! - title: MESS universal emulator url: HTTP://WWW.MESS.ORG platform: Multiplatform text: Also emulates the Tomy Tutor series. links: - title: Japanese site about the Pyuuta url: http://www3.wind.ne.jp/toragiku/kopa/pyuta.htm text: '' - title: The Little Orphan Tomy Tutor url: http://www.floodgap.com/retrobits/tomy/ text: Everything about the Tutor ! - title: TI-99 Forever! url: http://www.ti99.com/ text: This site has a detailed page about the Tomy Tutor - title: Tomy Homepage url: http://www.tomy.com/ text: Official Tomy site...nothing about the Tutor (?) comments: - author: Jay (UK) date: Tuesday 10th August 2021 text: There are still Gamepads being made for these in 2021 if you check at ebay!! Called ''Retro pads for the Tomy Tutor''! Someone still makes hardware for these machines in 2021 ...OMG!??!...O_o! - author: Mark (USA) date: Friday 18th July 2014 text: |- There''s an interesting site about TMS99xx stuff : http://www.avjd51.dsl.pipex.com/ Has quite a lot of stuff on the TI TMS9900/TMS9995 hardware including a breadboard self-build computer based on the TMS9995 Well worth a look ! - author: Robert (England) date: Thursday 26th June 2014 text: |- Hi. Does anyone have schematics, service manuals, detailed pics of PCB etc ?? Thanks - author: byron guerrero (guatemala) date: Wednesday 12th December 2012 text: wow!! my father got me this computer when i was a kid!! i love it!!! you can program in BASIC (at the time i have no idea i will work on computers and still program in BASIC some times). it was fun!! you can draw things!!!, but i can not save anything... i never knew why, good to see it again!! thanks dad for the great gift (R.I.P). - author: byron guerrero (guatemala) date: Wednesday 12th December 2012 text: wow!! my father got me this computer when i was a kid!! i love it!!! you can program in BASIC (at the time i have no idea i will work on computers and still program in BASIC some times). it was fun!! you can draw things!!!, but i can not save anything... i never knew why, good to see it again!! thanks dad for the great gift (R.I.P). - author: Dave (USA) date: Wednesday 28th December 2011 text: This was my first computer as a kid$-the first computer that belonged entirely to ME. I had a couple of games, the joysticks, the built-in painting program, plus BASIC. But i couldn''t save anything, because we never got the cassette drive. Oh well. Fun stuff :) - author: wiley14 (North Carolina, USA) date: Monday 7th December 2009 text: Ahh... the Tomy Tutor. This is what got me interested in computers. My half-brother had one as a kid that his dad bought. Being the little brother with handmedowns, I got my hands on it. We had exactly one cartridge - Hyperspace. That gets old, quick. And i''m not an artist by any stretch. So, I learned BASIC. Didn''t have a tape recorder to save the programs, so I wrote them down and tried my best to keep from powering it off. To this day, I still have the console and somewhere, the manual. I thought about ripping out the CPU to use in another project, but I think after seeing this website, they are kinda rare and I''ll leave it intact. Dunno if it still powers on though... :-) related: - /museum/tomy-tutor-mk-ii oc_id: 337 source: url: https://web.archive.org/web/20230610102717/http://www.old-computers.com/museum/computer.asp?c=337 date: '2023-06-10' --- This computer was partially compatible with the [Texas Instuments TI 99/4A](/museum/texas-instruments-ti-99-4a/). It had almost the same characteristics, except its main CPU (TMS 9995 instead of the TMS 9900 for the TI 99/4A). The two languages (GBASIC and Tomy Basic) were only available in UK and US computers. The Japanese computers didn't have the Tomy Basic (a TI-like Basic), but a "nihongo basic" using japanese characters and words, e.g. "kake" meant "print", "moshi-naraba" meant "if-then". This computer, known under the name Pyuuta in Japan had no really success outside Japan. It was followed by the [Pyuuta Mark 2](/museum/tomy-tutor-mk-ii/) and a game console called Pyuuta Jr one year later.