Emerson Radio · 1982–1983 · An estimated 20,000–30,000
A $99 console from 1982 that had ports of Pac-Man, Galaxian and Defender ready to go — and never released them, because Atari's exclusive licences made them a legal risk. It lasted eighteen months.
Emerson Radio released the Arcadia 2001 in May 1982 at $99. Its hardware came from Signetics, using the Signetics 2650 CPU and the 2637 UVI video chip, and it shipped with two Intellivision-style controllers that combined a 12-button keypad with fire buttons on the sides. The price undercut the established consoles, and the hardware was compact and capable for the money. What it lacked was the software players wanted. Emerson developed versions of popular arcade games including Pac-Man, Galaxian and Defender, but never had them manufactured: Atari held exclusive rights to many of those properties and had begun suing competitors that released games covered by its agreements. Without its biggest titles, the Arcadia 2001 launched into the crowded market of 1982 with little to distinguish it, and only 35 games were released for it. The console was discontinued about eighteen months after launch, with estimated sales of 20,000 to 30,000. The design had a much longer life elsewhere: more than 30 clones and variants were produced by manufacturers around the world, and around 55 games are known across the Arcadia and its relatives.