Retro Japan Computer Special - Sharp X-1 (Aka. X1) + Games

The X1 was a surprise product released in 1982 which split from the usual Sharp MZ series of computers released by the computer division. It came from Sharp's TV division with several TV integration features and a modern, stylish design that was available in a range of colours. It was especially endeared by shoot'em up fans.

Like most other computers it did not have a BASIC language built into it's ROM. You had to load it into the computer from tape. This did mean that when not using BASIC there was more RAM free to use for other things.

Although it was outsold by NEC's PC-8801 it was regarded as a better machine because when games were released for both computers the X-1 version was usually superior. Later models improved the screen resolution and colours. It also had some cool exclusive titles of it's own as well. It eventually gave way to the Sharps 16-bit X68000 computer.

 SPECIFICATION - Sharp X-1 (1982)

CPU: Z80A @ 4 Mhz
Memory: 6K ROM, 64K RAM, 48K VRAM
Screen Resolution Modes:
320 x 200, 640 x 200, 8 Colours
Sound: Programmable Sound Generator, 3 Channels
OS: CP/M

Here are thirty great games, in alphabetical order, that you can play on the Sharp X-1. If you wish to find out more details about these games I have provided the original Japanese kanji which you can copy and paste in any search engine to get even more results. You can also play these games on a PC using the X-1 emulator found here

American Truck (Telenet 1985)

アメリカントラック

Top down racer. In each stage you have to reach the finish line before you run out of petrol or time. Pick up petrol items whilst avoiding bombs and other vehicles whilst staying on the road.

Aoki Ookami to Shiroki Mejika (Koei 1986)

蒼き狼と白き牝鹿

The first in a series of turn based strategy games set in the Yuan dynasty of China. The first Emporer of which was Genghis Khan. Similar in style to Koei's other strategy series Nobunaga's Ambition. The further three games in the series were released outside of Japan and used the Genghis Khan name in their titles.

Retro Japan Computer Special - Fujitsu Micro 7 (Aka. FM-7) + Games

 The FM-7 was released in 1982 in Japan by Fujitsu as a budget successor to the business style FM-8 (1981).It was very similar to Radio Shacks TRS-80 colour computer being built around the Motorola 6809 CPU. Some TRS-80 games were compatible with the FM-7 and vice versa.

It was sold as a cheaper home computer version of the FM-8 without the bubble memory technology, which never caught on anyway. But it was actually technically better than the FM-8 regarding the sound, upgraded to 3 channels from a beeper, and the CPU speed, increased from 1 to 2Mhz.

The machine was seen as good value for money, being especially noted for the quality and speed of its graphic display which bench marked twice as fast as the higher priced NEC PC-8801.

The release of the FM-77 (1985) was a major breakthrough as it became the first 8-bit computer to break the 8-color barrier and achieve a simultaneous display of 4096 colors. It also came with a built-in Yamaha FM synthesis sound board, providing higher-quality audio.

Although it did not usurp the NEC PC's top spot in the Japanese market it still managed to create a fairly large following, especially amongst computer hobbyist's.

SPECIFICATION - Fujitsu Micro 7 FM7 (1982)

CPU: MBL68B09P @ 2MHz
Co-Processor: MBL68B09P @ 1.2MHz (For graphics and I/O)
Memory: 40+8 = 48 KB ROM, 64+48 = 112 KB RAM
Screen resolution modes:
640 x 200 8 colours
320 x 200 262144 colours (later model FM77AV40 in 1986)
Sound: Programable Sound Generator, 3 channels, 8 octaves
Boot Modes: Fujitsu Disk Basic , OS-9 (Microware), Flex (CP/M like DOS for 68xx CPU)

Here are thirty great games, in alphabetical order, that you can play on the Fujitsu FM-7. If you wish to find out more details about these games I have provided the original Japanese kanji which you can copy and paste in any search engine to get even more results. You can also play these games on a PC using the XM-7 emulator found here

Amnork (ASCII 1987)

アムノーク

Amnork

アムノーク

FM-7 exclusive notable for its advanced 3D graphics engine, which processed 3D polygons at high frame rates for its time.

Aspic (Xtalsoft 1986)

アスピック

Aspic

アスピック

Aspic is an RPG that adopts the then common old-school method of combining third-person overworld exploration with first-person dungeon crawling, such as that used by the original Phantasy Star. Battles in the game are set in a separate real-time mode where the player must attack, jump and block the enemy's attacks in order to win. Occasionally, the player can convince an enemy warrior to join them in their quest; when this happens, the now friendly unit fights in the hero's place for a while.

Retro Japan Computer Special - NEC PC-8801 (Aka. PC-88) + Games

The NEC PC-8801 (Aka. PC-88) was released in 1981 in Japan by Nippon Electric Company (NEC) as a successor to the PC-8001 (1979) and PC-6001 (1981).

Initially the computer was sold as a business machine capable of a high-resolution 640x400 monochrome display mode (V1) and N mode to make it compatible with the earlier PC-8001. It wasn't until 1985, when the upgraded PC-8801mkII SR version was released with the V2 graphics mode, that the computer was re-positioned as a home machine. Many more video games became available for the computer at this point. The sound was also upgraded from the internal beeper to the Yamaha YM2203 three channel sound chip.

The PC-8801 had several upgrades all the way up to the PC-8801 MC (1989), which came with a CD-ROM drive, and became Japan's top 8-bit computer, helping to establish NEC as the number one company in the Japanese computer industry for almost two decades. Many popular video game series first appeared on the PC-88, including Dragon Slayer, Snatcher, Thexder and Ys.

SPECIFICATION - PC-8801mkII SR model 30 (1985)

CPU: NEC PD780C-1 @ 4 Mhz (Z80A-compatible) 
Memory: 40+8+24 = 72 KB ROM, 64+48+4 = 116 KB RAM 
Screen resolution modes:
N mode: PC-8000 Series compatible graphic mode 
V1 mode: 640 × 200 8 colors, 640 × 400 2 colors 
V2 mode: 640 × 200 8 out of 512 colors, 640 × 400 2 out of 512 colors 
Sound: beep + YM2203 ( 3 FM channels, 3 SSG ) Mono 
FDD: 2 x 5.25" 2D 
Boot modes: CPM, MS-Dos, and N88-Basic

Here are thirty great games, in alphabetical order, that you can play on the NEC PC-8801. If you wish to find out more details about these games I have provided the original Japanese kanji which you can copy and paste in any search engine to get even more results. You can also play these games on a PC using one of the following emulators found here.

Alpha (SquareSoft 1986) 

アルファ

Alpha

アルファ

Notable for its epic, cyberpunk, space opera narrative, which surprised players at the time with unexpected plot twists.It featured several plot elements that would later carry over to the Final Fantasy series, such as a heroine who suffers from amnesia and a rebellion against a corrupt repressive government.

Battle Gorilla (Xtalsoft 1988)

バトルゴリラ

Battle Gorilla

バトルゴリラ

A top-down action game that plays like a tactical version of Commando. The 'almost' turn-based element of the game means bullets and the various types of enemy units, such as soldiers, tanks, planes and helicopters, only move when you do.

Retro Japan Computer Special - Introduction

This special is a break from the norm for this blog as this is not actually my 'retro' at all, it's somebody else's. I've never touched a Japanese computer in my life but I've become fascinated recently in the details of their history which was something I was completely in the dark about back in the eighties. 

I was only aware of the British machines and a few from America. The most I ever heard about when it came to computers from Japan was something called MSX, which I thought was a Japanese computer which was a similar to a ZX Spectrum.

Like the British Market there were stacks of different computers released in the late 70's and 80's including,.

Toshiba PASOPIA-7

Bandai Gundam RX-78