website/content/museum/mattel-electronics-aquarius.md

title, categories, types, origins, years, cpus, params

title	categories	types	origins	years	cpus	params
Mattel Electronics Aquarius	Computers	Home Computer	U.S.A.	1983	Zilog Z80A	name company company_name specs tabs photos adverts hardware emulators links comments related oc_id source Aquarius /companies/mattel-electronics Mattel Electronics label value NAME Aquarius label value MANUFACTURER Mattel Electronics label value TYPE Home Computer label value ORIGIN U.S.A. label value YEAR 1983 label value BUILT IN LANGUAGE Specific Microsoft Basic interpreter label value KEYBOARD Rubber type. 49 keys label value CPU Zilog Z80A label value SPEED 3.5 mHz label value RAM 4 KB (up to 32 KB), 1,7 KB free for user label value ROM 8 KB label value TEXT MODES 40 chars x 25 lines label value GRAPHIC MODES 80 x 72 / 320 x 192 dots label value COLORS 16 label value SOUND 1 voice (3 voices with the Mini-Expander) label value SIZE / WEIGHT 34,5 (W) x 15 (D) x 5,5 (H) cm. label value I/O PORTS Tape, Printer, Bus label value POWER SUPPLY External power supply (12v) label value PERIPHERALS Thermic printer and plotter (1200 bauds), Tape-recorder (600 bauds), Mini-expander addon, RAM expansions (4 KB, 16 KB and 32 KB), Master expansion module & disk-drives (vaporware), Home Computer System label value PRICE £49.95 (Radofin version 1984) photos adverts hardware emulators links title subtitle text image AQUARIUS null title subtitle text image COMPLETE SET-UP This is quite a complete Aquarius set-up. Pictured here are : the Aquarius computer, the 16k memory expansion pack, the expander unit, the thermal printer, the data recorder and many software and documentation. null title subtitle text image DIVE INTO THE AQUARIUS **(1)** Dedicated connector for Mattel printers.\ **(2)** Dedicated connector for optional Mattel devices.\ **(3)** Z 80 microprocessor running at 3,5 Mhz.\ **(4)** Cassette recorder DIN connector.\ **(5)** This circuit forces game cartridge manufacturers to obtain Mattel agreement.\ **(6)** Video management chipset.\ **(7)** Modulator for T.V. aerial signals.\ **(8)** This ROM chip holds the specific Microsoft Basic interpreter.\ **(9)** These two chips hold the 4 Kb. RAM (1.7 Kb. available for user).\ **(10)** Power plug. Power is supplied by an external transformer.\ **(11)** T.V. video output connector.\ **(12)** Rubber keyboard. The keys layout is not conventional, particularly the space bar position. null title subtitle text image BOX null title subtitle text image BOX - BACK null title subtitle text image BOX - BACK #2 null title subtitle text image BOX #2 This package included an Aquarius computer, the Mini-Expander extension, and game cartridges. null title subtitle text image BOX #2 - FRONT null title subtitle text image BOX #2 - BACK null title subtitle text image BOX #2 - BACK null title subtitle text image BOX DETAIL null title subtitle text image UK ADVERT, OCT. 1983 From Personal Computer World magazine.\ Advert says:\ This is an entirely new computer system. It was designed with both eyes fixed firmly on the future. So that whatever shape the future takes, we'll be able to fit it into the system. Just as simply as the peripherals and software already available fit into the system. That way, the system will grow with you. And you'll never get left behind. Based around the Z80A microprocessor, and utilising Microsoft BASIC, Aquarius has 8K ROM and 4K RAM resident within its console. It is able to provide up to 16 colours and resolution of 320 x 192, and generates its sound directly through the television's speakers. With twin cartridge ports, the mini-expander allows simultaneous use of additional RAM and software cartrldges. Twin disc game hand controls are included and the unit provides two additional sound channels. The 16K RAM cartridge plugs into either the console or the mini-expander, increasing Aquarius's RAM capacity to 20K. With the ability to reproduce the entire graphic and character set of Aquarius at 80 characters a second, the printer's 40 column output allows transcription of the complete monitor image. Using standard audio cassettes, the data recorder provides storage for programs and information, and allows the use of cassette based software. Incorporating a digital tape counter and transmission indicator, it operates sequential searching. A large number of games, designed to take advantage of Aquarius's sophisticated colour and sound capabilities, are available on cartridges that plug into the console either direct, or through the mini-expander. Cassette based games can be used via the data recorder. A wide range of preprogrammed cartridges is available, including the LOGO teaching program and practical home data systems like FILEFORM and the spreadsheet calculator package FINFORM. null title subtitle text image UK ADVERT (1984) Thanks to Tony Mattson for this picture null title subtitle text image PROMOTIONAL PICTURE found on the system box null title subtitle text image FROM MATTEL ELECTRONICS null title subtitle text image RECORDER AND BOX null title subtitle text image BOX null title subtitle text image FROM MATTEL ELECTRONICS This device supplies 2 cartridges ports (which makes it possible to plug a RAM expansion cartridge and a program cartridge at the same time), two paddles and an enhanced sound chip (two supplementary voices). Promotional text on the box says:\ - Accepts memory cartridge to expand memory to 20 KB!\ - 2 separate ports: allows you to use a memory cartridge at the same time with a game or program cartridge!\ - Includes 2 hand controllers: 16 position disc and 6 action buttons!\ - adds two more sound channels for more exciting game play! null title subtitle text image BOX null title subtitle text image IN BOX null title subtitle text image BOX Side null title subtitle text image BOX - SIDE null title subtitle text image BOX rear null title subtitle text image MATTEL ELECTRONICS This 300 baud modem had to be connected to the cartridge connector. null title subtitle text image BOX "opens a whole new world of information and communications! Smart enough to be simple!" null title subtitle text image 4K & 16K RAM EXPANSIONS null title subtitle text image 4K RAM CARTRIDGE box null title subtitle text image 16 KB RAM EXPANSION CARTRIDGE null title subtitle text image 4K RAM box - side null title subtitle text image 4K RAM box (rear) null title subtitle text image VALUE PACK The Aquarius Value Pack contained a 4 KB RAM expansion cartridge, Utopia and Snafu software.. null title subtitle text image 16 KB RAM EXPANSION CARTRIDGE Box null title subtitle text image FROM MATTEL ELECTRONICS This is a small thermic printer which can print 80 characters per second onto 40 columns paper. Only Mattel printers can be connected to the Aquarius. null title subtitle text image TOP VIEW null title url platform text AqEmu http://www.classicgaming.com/aqemu/aqemu.htm Windows Aquarius emulator for Windows title url platform text Virtual Aquarius http://www.geocities.com/emucompboy/ Windows Nice emulator by James the Animal Tamer title url text Blue Sky Rangers' site http://www.intellivisionlives.com/ Ancient INTV programmers unveil all the secrets of the Mattel Electronics products ! title url text Mattel Aquarius homecomputer http://www.vdsteenoven.com/aquarius/ History, Tech info, Sotware review & screenshots, Links, etc. title url text Mattel Aquarius Yahoo Group http://groups.yahoo.com/group/mattelaquarius/ A place to discover, chat about, and just get general information on the Mattel Aquarius home computer. author date text TylerE (USA) Sunday 9th December 2012 I got a boxed Aquarius Snafu game for .99c at a thrift store. It wasn''t sealed but it is CIB and the contents are brand new with a little wear on the box itself. I cant find anything for the price of this game in particular so if anyone knows I would appreciate it. author date text Chef (USA) Wednesday 24th October 2012 Here''s Virtual Aquarius http://www.zophar.net/aquarius/virtual-aquarius.html It''s awesome. Turn on the power...*beep*. "BASIC" "Press Return Key To Start". It''s all there, the sounds and everything. If you are playing AD$D, don''t forget to "jump back"! or simply run past the monsters if you don''t want to engage them. I used to play so much that the goal no longer was to kill the Dragon King, but to see how many times you can loop through all 99 levels...avoiding the Dragon King! After a while you were so powerful that a single shot from any weapon would kill him, but it was never quite enough power was it? Inventories like arrow count weren''t displayed but counted out on the speaker for you. A low rapid tapping sound was played after hitting the e.g. "arrow count" key. After a few loops through the entire maze it could last for minutes because you picked up so many arrows, you know because you need thousands of arrows to kill the Dragon King! (rolls eyes) Eventually the Dragon King would randomly be at the bottom of the ladder so you had to fight him. You never knew which level. $sad$ I never had the expansion pack so you could never save the game. I had to leave the power on...I made sure I did not bump the computer power switch or days of running through the mazes would be gone. (the same thing if you were programming, heaven forbid, tens-hundreds of lines of code...gone!) After killing the Dragon King the TV speaker would scream simple sounds at you... Woooooooooo! Woo Woo Woo Woo..! then repeat, displaying a message "You are the new Dragon King!" (if I remember correctly) LOL! The other games were great too. They even "Biorhythms" for the adults to see when they were most compatible or most connected. Bow chicka wow wow! author date text Wayne Styles (UK) Saturday 7th July 2012 Guess what ? My AQUARIUS still works ha ha.\ It rarely comes out of the attic but when it does, I am happy to revisit my early teen fun of BURGER TIME, ADVANCED DUNGEONS AND DRAGONS and TRON DEADLY DISCS. All the cartridges work.. I also keyed in the running man programme in BASIC all those years ago. The AQUARIUS was simple, cheap and fun. And I do have some cassette games such as N-VADERS too, although I have not even attempted a cassette as I recall they took ages top load all those years ago. All my mates in the 80''s took the micky, they had SPECTRUM and COMMODORE 64''s. A vast array of software for those, but I have fond feellings for my AQUARIUS cartridges and love that they still work. I feel a RETRO night coming soon, ADVANCED DUNGEONS AND DRAGONS I can spend hours on. Wayne author date text Chris (USA) Saturday 5th March 2011 I fondly remember many nights wasted in college playing Advanced Dungeons and Dragons on this system. author date text Andy (UK) Sunday 28th November 2010 Does anyone remember typing in the program which played "Once in royal David''s city?" It always erred while playing.... author date text John Gabra (Earth) Tuesday 24th October 2006 There were a couple of programs that came with this computer. One of them was called the running man. After copying the program from the manual, which took me quite a long time as a kid, a man would run across the screen, whooptee! The disk drive was a tape deck. You could play the tapes in a normal tape player and it would sound like a fax machine. author date text Shailendra (Melbourne, Australia) Sunday 14th May 2006 I LOVED this computer when I was a kid. It was the first video game I ever owned. Burgertime was ace! Brings back memories seeing this. You could program in it too, make colours and stuff, came with a list of programs you literally typed and ran. author date text flask (the ground) Tuesday 5th April 2005 the classic 'vapourware' product. all these things that got announced and never delivered! author date text Joe Dyer (USA) Sunday 27th January 2002 Does anybody Know the pinouts of the Mattell Aquarius Din Connection to the tape drive, or know of a source for the cable? /museum/radofin-electronics-limited-aquarius-2 73 url date https://web.archive.org/web/20230530153316/http://www.old-computers.com/museum/computer.asp?c=73 2023-05-30

When the Keyboard Component project was canceled, Mattel searched in a hurry to produce a small and cheap computer. They contacted Radofin Electronics Far East, based in Hong-Kong, who was manufacturing most of the Intellivision products. Radofin had just developped a line of three Z80 based computers. Mattel decided to sell the two first under their brand. The Aquarius 1 and 2 were born.

The Mattel Aquarius used a special version of the Microsoft Basic. When used with Basic, only 1.7 KB remained available.

There were no redefinable characters, but 256 predefined chars were available: 128 ASCII (numerals, upper and lower case alphabet, punctuation, symbols) and 128 graphic patterns. That was the only "graphical" features of the Aquarius !

Unfortunately the specifications were so poor for a 1983 computer, that the Aquarius 1 litteraly bombed. Three months after its release, Mattel decided to cancel the project and to sell back the rights and stocks to Radofin.

Radofin continued to sell Aquarius 1 & 2 under its own name, but without success...

Cool addons were developped for the Aquarius, but never made it to the shelves (apparently). There were a Master Expansion Module equipped with disk-drives and expansion slots for future add-ons. It even offered the CP/M compatibility!

Another sympathetic extension was the Home Computer System Command Console which allowed the Aquarius to directly control up to 255 electric devices. But when the computer was connected to this extension, it couldn't be used for anything else!

There were also a Modem planned and Mattel even announced network services for games and programs downloads...