Epoch Game Pocket Computer

Epoch Game Pocket Computer
An Epoch Game Pocket Computer
DeveloperEpoch Co.
ManufacturerEpoch Co.
TypeHandheld game console
GenerationSecond generation
Released1984; 42 years ago (1984)
Introductory price
¥12,800
MediaROM cartridge
CPUNEC μPD78C06 @ 6 MHz
Memory2 KB
DisplayMonochrome, 75 × 64 pixels
Sound1 sound channel
Controller input
8-way joypad
Power4 AA batteries

The Epoch Game Pocket Computer, also known as the Game Pokekon (Japanese: ゲームポケコン, Hepburn: Gēmupokekon), is a second-generation handheld game console released by Epoch Co. in Japan in 1984 for ¥12,800. It is also known as Pokekon.

The system was a commercial failure in Japan. It was considered expensive for a handheld device at the time, with a price point close to the Famicom. As a result, only 7 games were made for it. A puzzle game and a paint program were built into the system. It was powered by 4 AA batteries, and screen's contrast could be adjusted by the user. Input and output controls included four buttons, an 8-way joypad, a contrast dial, and a sound on-off switch.

Technical specifications

Games

There were a total of 7 different games released for the system.

2 were built into the system. The Built-in Functions (本体内蔵機能, Hontai naizō kinō) cartridge included with the system only serves as instructions and to occupy the cartridge slot, containing no game data, as it doesn't need to be inserted into the system to play the games;

The other 5 were released separately for 2,980 Japanese yen each, excluding Pocket Computer Mahjong which was 3,800 yen;

See also

References

  1. 1 2 ASCII (February 1985). "Data Log". LOGiN Magazine (ログイン). p. 166. Retrieved 2022-12-20.
  2. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 "Game Pocket Computer by Epoch – The Video Game Kraken". videogamekraken. Retrieved 2020-06-14.
  3. 1 2 3 "Epoch Game Pocket Computer". Binarium. Archived from the original on 2020-06-14. Retrieved 2020-06-14.
  4. ↑ Koyama, Yusuke (2023-06-02). "Chapter 13: Console Games (4) Market Reversal by Handheld Game Consoles". History of the Japanese Video Game Industry. Springer Nature. pp. 205-221 (205-6). ISBN 978-981-99-1342-8.
  5. 1 2 3 4 "1984 Game Pocket Computer and Cartridges". Miniarcade.com.
  6. 1 2 3 4 "Epoch Game Pocket Computer". www.handheldmuseum.com.
  7. 1 2 3 "Chris Covell's Epoch Game Pocket Computer page". chrismcovell.com. Retrieved 2020-07-31.