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Acorn Electron (Stop Press 64i) - MAME machine

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electronsp
Acorn Electron (Stop Press 64i)
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GAME SYSTEM CHD BIOS DEVICE PARENT CLONE MECHANICAL SCREENLESS

Main data
Romset and name:
electronsp Acorn Electron (Stop Press 64i)
Short name:
Acorn Electron
Manufacturer:
Acorn Computers / Slogger
Year:
Genre:
Computer
Category:
Computer / Home System
Serie:
-
Driver source:
acorn/electron.cpp
Language:
-
Similar games:
Input / Controls
Players:
Up to 3 players
Input:
Stick, Keyboard, Mouse
Buttons / keys:
Coins:
0
Cabinet:
-
Free-play:
Not supported
Rankings
Average user rating:
AntoPISA BestGame:
-
MASH All-Time:
-
Video
Display:
640x256@50.080128 Hz, CRT 15kHz
Orientation:
Horizontal
Scrolling:
Unknown
Colors:
-
CPU:
MOS Technology 6502
Audio
Sound:
2 audio channel
Audio chips:
Beep, Cassette, Floppy sound, Speaker
Romset
First release:
Mame 0.217 released on dec-25 2019
Last release:
Mame 0.264 released on mar-26 2024
Clone of:
electron Acorn Electron
Bios:
Not required
Use rom of:
-
Use sample of:
-
Previous romset:
None
New romset:
None
Files
Dump:
GOOD
Required files:
Status
OVERALL:
IMPERFECT
Emulation:
Good
Graphic:
Imperfect
Color:
Good
Sound:
Good
Cocktail:
Good
Protection:
Good
Save state:
Supported
Additional infos
  • History
  • Info
  • Score
  • PCB
  • Commands
  • Init
  • Driver
  • XML
  • Computer published 41 years ago:

    Acorn Electron © 1983 Acorn Computer, Limited.

    The Acorn Electron was a budget version of the BBC Micro educational/home computer.

    TECHNICAL
    CPU: MOS Technology 6502A
    Clock rate: variable. CPU runs at 2 MHz when accessing ROM and 1 MHz or 0.5897 MHz (depending on graphics mode) when accessing RAM due to sharing memory access with the video display circuits. The Electron is widely misquoted as operating at 1.79 MHz after measurements derived from speed testing against the thoroughly 2 MHz BBC Micro for various pieces of 'common software'
    Glue logic: Ferranti Semiconductor Custom ULA
    RAM: 32 kB
    ROM: 32 kB
    Text modes: 20×32, 40×25, 40×32, 80×25, 80×32 (all text output produced by software in graphics modes)
    Graphics modes: 160×256 (4 or 16 colours), 320×256 (2 or 4 colours), 640×256 (2 colours), 320×200 (2 colours — spaced display with two blank horizontal lines following every 8 pixel lines), 640×200 (2 colours — spaced display)
    Colours: 8 colours (TTL combinations of RGB primaries) + 8 flashing versions of the same colours
    Sound: 1 channel of sound, 7 octaves; built-in speaker. Software emulation of noise channel supported
    Dimensions: 16×34×6.5 cm
    I/O ports: Expansion port, tape recorder connector (1200 baud CUTS variation on the Kansas City standard for data encoding, via a 7-pin circular DIN connector), aerial TV connector (RF modulator), composite video and RGB monitor output
    Power supply: External PSU, 18V AC

    TRIVIA
    The Electron was developed during 1983 as a cheap sibling for the BBC Micro with the intention of capturing the low-cost Christmas sales market for that year. Although Acorn were able to shrink substantially the same functionality as the BBC into just one chip, manufacturing problems meant that despite pre orders of 300,000, only 30,000 machines were available for the Christmas period — to the extent that some shops reported eight pre-sales for every delivered machine, there were even press reports of fights in places such as Rumbelows over the slim shipments of machines, as parents could not get an Electron, they turned to other readily available machines such as the ZX Spectrum and Commodore C64.

    Unfortunately for Acorn, in the months after Christmas, the firm was tied to accepting delivery of the remaining pre order machines, and there was a warehouse in Welling-borough with unsold machines piled up to the ceiling.

    This was a blow from which the machine never fully recovered, although games sales for it would ultimately outstrip those of the BBC Micro. Following Olivetti's 1985 cash injection into Acorn the machine was effectively sidelined.

    With hindsight, the machine lacked the RAM (a typical program would need to fit in only around 20 kB once display memory is subtracted) and processing power to take on the prevailing Sinclair ZX Spectrum and Commodore C64. Despite this, several features that would later be associated with BBC Master and Archimedes were first features of Electron expansion units, including ROM cartridge slots and the Advanced Disc Filing System — a hierarchical improvement to the BBC's original Disc Filing System.

    While it may not have been as popular as the Spectrum, Commodore C64 or Amstrad CPC, it did sell in sufficient numbers to ensure that new software was being produced right up until the early 1990s. This meant the Electron had a lifespan not much shorter than those more popular micros and much longer than competitors such as the Oric-1 and Dragon 32.

    STAFF
    Contributors to the development of the Electron: Bob Austin, Harry Barman, Paul Bond, Allen Boothroyd, Ben Bridgewater, John Cox, Chris Curry, Jeremy Dion, Tim Dobson, Joe Dunn, Steve Furber, David Gale, Andrew Gordon, Martyn Gilbert, Lawrence Hardwick, Hermann Hauser, John Herbert, Andy Hopper, Paul Jephcot, Brian Jones, Chris Jordan, Tony Mann, Peter Miller, Trevor Morris, Steve Parsons, Robin Pain, Glyn Phillips, Brian Robertson, Peter Robinson, David Seal, Kim Spence-Jones, Graham Tebby, Jon Thackray, Chris Turner, Hugo Tyson, John Umney, Alex van Someren, Geoff Vincent, Adrian Warner, Robin Williamson, Roger Wilson

    The case was designed by industrial designer: Allen Boothroyd (Cambridge Product Design Ltd.)

    CONTRIBUTE
    Edit this entry: https://www.arcade-history.com/?&page=detail&id=82493&o=2
    Informations provided by © Alexis Bousiges
    Informations provided by Contribute to the translation
  • Informations provided by
    Informations provided by / © Copyright of Fujix
  • Informations provided by
  • Informations provided by
  • Informations provided by Fabricio Coroquer, revisited from the work of
    NOTICE: The short version was discontinued in November 2019
  • Informations provided by Contribute
  • Informations provided by
  • Informations provided by
Dip-switches:
Cheats:
Ports:
Devices refs:
Media options:
RAM options:
Software lists:

If you notice any inaccuracy or error, please report

Data updated on march 26 2024


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Romset:
electronsp
Title:
Acorn Electron
Text:
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Acorn Electron (Stop Press 64i)
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