Changes
Jump to navigation
Jump to search
Created page with "video|right|300px right|300px <p style="margin-top:0.4em;margin-bottom:0.5em;line-height:19.1875px;color:rgb(0,0,0);font-family:sans..."
[[File:Placeholder|video|right|300px]] [[File:Placeholder|right|300px]]
<p style="margin-top:0.4em;margin-bottom:0.5em;line-height:19.1875px;color:rgb(0,0,0);font-family:sans-serif;text-align:start;">The '''GX4000''' was [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Amstrad Amstrad]'s short-lived attempt to enter the [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Video_game_console games console] market. The console was released in Europe in 1990 and was an upgraded design based on the then still-popular [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Amstrad_CPC CPC] technology. The GX4000 shared hardware architecture with Amstrad's [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Amstrad_CPC#The_plus_range CPC Plus] computer line, which were released concurrently, this allowed the system to be compatible with the majority of CPC Plus software.</p>
<span style="color:rgb(0,0,0);font-family:sans-serif;line-height:19.1875px;text-align:start;">The GX4000 was both Amstrad's first and only attempt at entering the console market. Although offering enhanced graphics capabilities, it failed to gain popularity in the market, and was quickly discontinued, selling 15,000 units in total.</span>
=Amstrad GX4000=
<p style="font-size:13px;">The GX4000 is a game console based on a 6128 Plus without a floppy controller or keyboard (although it is actually possible to modify one, add a floppy controller and a keyboard and use it as a Plus). It was delivered with two game paddles (as the ones delivered with the Plus models) and Burnin' Rubber on [http://www.cpcwiki.eu/index.php/GX4000_cartridge cartridge] (without BASIC).</p>
<p style="margin-top:0.4em;margin-bottom:0.5em;font-size:13px;">The GX4000 was [http://www.cpcwiki.eu/index.php/Amstrad Amstrad]'s attempt to gain some share in the home game console market, then dominated by the likes of Nintendo and Sega. Like others before it, and like others after it, it failed abysmally in its goal. Despite the fact that the hardware was decent (after all the CPC+ series were some of the very best 8-bit computers ever designed), it was a case of 'too little, too late'. Lack of CPC+ specific software, lack of marketing effort and bad timing meant that Amstrad's adventure in the home market was about to end.</p>
==Technical specifications==
*CPU: 8/16-bit [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Zilog Zilog] Z80A at 4 MHz<sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-GX4000_at_Old_Computers_2-3" style="line-height:1em;unicode-bidi:-webkit-isolate;">[http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Amstrad_GX4000#cite_note-GX4000_at_Old_Computers-2 [2]]</sup>
*ASIC: Support for sprites, soft scrolling, programmable interrupts, DMA Sound<sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-Arnold_V_Specifications_13-0" style="line-height:1em;unicode-bidi:-webkit-isolate;">[http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Amstrad_GX4000#cite_note-Arnold_V_Specifications-13 [13]]</sup>
<p style="line-height:19.1875px;color:rgb(0,0,0);font-family:sans-serif;text-align:start;">'''Resolution'''<sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-Arnold_V_Specifications_13-1" style="line-height:1em;unicode-bidi:-webkit-isolate;">[http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Amstrad_GX4000#cite_note-Arnold_V_Specifications-13 [13]]</sup></p>
*Mode 0: 160x200 pixels with 16 colours
*Mode 1: 320x200 pixels with 4 colours
*Mode 2: 640x200 pixels with 2 colours
<p style="line-height:19.1875px;color:rgb(0,0,0);font-family:sans-serif;text-align:start;">'''Colour'''<sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-GX4000_at_Old_Computers_2-4" style="line-height:1em;unicode-bidi:-webkit-isolate;">[http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Amstrad_GX4000#cite_note-GX4000_at_Old_Computers-2 [2]]</sup></p>
*Depth: 12-bit RGB
*Colours available: 4096
*Maximum colours onscreen: 32 (16 for background, 15 for sprites, 1 for border)
<p style="line-height:19.1875px;color:rgb(0,0,0);font-family:sans-serif;text-align:start;">Maximum onscreen colour counts can be increased in all Modes through the use of interrupts.</p>
<p style="margin-top:0.4em;margin-bottom:0.5em;line-height:19.1875px;color:rgb(0,0,0);font-family:sans-serif;text-align:start;">'''Sprites''' <sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-Arnold_V_Specifications_13-2" style="line-height:1em;unicode-bidi:-webkit-isolate;">[http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Amstrad_GX4000#cite_note-Arnold_V_Specifications-13 [13]]</sup></p>
*Number: 16 high resolution sprites per line
*Sizes: 16x16 (each sprite can be magnified 2x or 4x in X and Y)
*Colours: Each sprite can use up to 15 colours
<p style="line-height:19.1875px;color:rgb(0,0,0);font-family:sans-serif;text-align:start;">'''Memory''' <sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-Arnold_V_Specifications_13-3" style="line-height:1em;unicode-bidi:-webkit-isolate;">[http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Amstrad_GX4000#cite_note-Arnold_V_Specifications-13 [13]]</sup></p>
*RAM: 64 kB
*VRam: 16 kB
*[http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Read-only_memory ROM]: 32 kB
<p style="line-height:19.1875px;color:rgb(0,0,0);font-family:sans-serif;text-align:start;">'''Audio'''</p>
*3-channel stereo; [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/General_Instrument_AY-3-8910 AY-3-8912 chip]<sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-GX4000_at_Old_Computers_2-5" style="line-height:1em;unicode-bidi:-webkit-isolate;">[http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Amstrad_GX4000#cite_note-GX4000_at_Old_Computers-2 [2]]</sup>
*DMA
<p style="line-height:19.1875px;color:rgb(0,0,0);font-family:sans-serif;text-align:start;">'''IO'''<sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-GX4000_at_Old_Computers_2-6" style="line-height:1em;unicode-bidi:-webkit-isolate;">[http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Amstrad_GX4000#cite_note-GX4000_at_Old_Computers-2 [2]]</sup></p>
<p style="margin-top:0.4em;margin-bottom:0.5em;line-height:19.1875px;color:rgb(0,0,0);font-family:sans-serif;text-align:start;">Audio output, 2x Digital controller connectors, Analog controller port (IBM standard), Lightgun connector (RJ11), Audio and RGB Video output (8-pin DIN), Power supply socket from external PSU, Power supply socket from monitor.</p>
<p style="margin-top:0.4em;margin-bottom:0.5em;line-height:19.1875px;color:rgb(0,0,0);font-family:sans-serif;text-align:start;">
</p>
===Cartridge Games===
*[http://www.cpcwiki.eu/index.php/Barbarian_2_(_Cartridge_) Barbarian 2]
*[http://www.cpcwiki.eu/index.php/Batman_The_Movie_(_Cartridge_) Batman The Movie]
*[http://www.cpcwiki.eu/index.php/Burnin%27_Rubber Burning Rubber]
*[http://www.cpcwiki.eu/index.php/Chase_HQ_2_(_Cartridge_) Chase HQ 2]
*[http://www.cpcwiki.eu/index.php/Copter_271_(_Cartridge_) Copter 271]
*[http://www.cpcwiki.eu/index.php/Crazy_Cars_2_(_Cartridge_) Crazy Cars 2]
*[http://www.cpcwiki.eu/index.php/Dick_Tracy_(_Cartridge_) Dick Tracy]
*[http://www.cpcwiki.eu/index.php/Enforcer_(With_Phazer)_(_Cartridge_) Enforcer (With Phazer)]
*[http://www.cpcwiki.eu/index.php/Fire_and_Forget_2_(_Cartridge_) Fire and Forget 2]
*[http://www.cpcwiki.eu/index.php/Klax_(_Cartridge_) Klax]
*[http://www.cpcwiki.eu/index.php/Mystical_(_Cartridge_) Mystical]
*[http://www.cpcwiki.eu/index.php/Navy_Seals_(_Cartridge_) Navy Seals]
*[http://www.cpcwiki.eu/index.php/No_Exit_(_Cartridge_) No Exit]
*[http://www.cpcwiki.eu/index.php/Operation_Thunderbolt_(_Cartridge_) Operation Thunderbolt]
*[http://www.cpcwiki.eu/index.php/Pang_(_Cartridge_) Pang]
*[http://www.cpcwiki.eu/index.php/Panza_kickboxing_(_Cartridge_) Panza Kick Boxing]
*[http://www.cpcwiki.eu/index.php/Plotting_(_Cartridge_) Plotting]
*[http://www.cpcwiki.eu/index.php/Pro_Tennis_Tour_(_Cartridge_) Pro Tennis Tour]
*[http://www.cpcwiki.eu/index.php/Robocop_2_(_Cartridge_) Robocop 2]
*[http://www.cpcwiki.eu/index.php/Skeet_Shoot_(With_Phazer)_(_Cartridge_) Skeet Shoot]
*[http://www.cpcwiki.eu/index.php/Super_Pinball_Magic_(_Cartridge_) Super Pinball Magic]
*[http://www.cpcwiki.eu/index.php/Switchblade_(_Cartridge_) Switchblade]
*[http://www.cpcwiki.eu/index.php/Tennis_Cup_2_(_Cartridge_) Tennis Cup 2]
*[http://www.cpcwiki.eu/index.php/Tintin_On_the_Moon_(_Cartridge_) Tintin on the Moon]
*[http://www.cpcwiki.eu/index.php/Wild_Streets_(_Cartridge_) Wild Streets]
*[http://www.cpcwiki.eu/index.php/World_Of_Sports_(_Cartridge_) World Of Sports]
<p style="margin-top:0.4em;margin-bottom:0.5em;line-height:19.1875px;color:rgb(0,0,0);font-family:sans-serif;text-align:start;">The '''GX4000''' was [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Amstrad Amstrad]'s short-lived attempt to enter the [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Video_game_console games console] market. The console was released in Europe in 1990 and was an upgraded design based on the then still-popular [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Amstrad_CPC CPC] technology. The GX4000 shared hardware architecture with Amstrad's [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Amstrad_CPC#The_plus_range CPC Plus] computer line, which were released concurrently, this allowed the system to be compatible with the majority of CPC Plus software.</p>
<span style="color:rgb(0,0,0);font-family:sans-serif;line-height:19.1875px;text-align:start;">The GX4000 was both Amstrad's first and only attempt at entering the console market. Although offering enhanced graphics capabilities, it failed to gain popularity in the market, and was quickly discontinued, selling 15,000 units in total.</span>
=Amstrad GX4000=
<p style="font-size:13px;">The GX4000 is a game console based on a 6128 Plus without a floppy controller or keyboard (although it is actually possible to modify one, add a floppy controller and a keyboard and use it as a Plus). It was delivered with two game paddles (as the ones delivered with the Plus models) and Burnin' Rubber on [http://www.cpcwiki.eu/index.php/GX4000_cartridge cartridge] (without BASIC).</p>
<p style="margin-top:0.4em;margin-bottom:0.5em;font-size:13px;">The GX4000 was [http://www.cpcwiki.eu/index.php/Amstrad Amstrad]'s attempt to gain some share in the home game console market, then dominated by the likes of Nintendo and Sega. Like others before it, and like others after it, it failed abysmally in its goal. Despite the fact that the hardware was decent (after all the CPC+ series were some of the very best 8-bit computers ever designed), it was a case of 'too little, too late'. Lack of CPC+ specific software, lack of marketing effort and bad timing meant that Amstrad's adventure in the home market was about to end.</p>
==Technical specifications==
*CPU: 8/16-bit [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Zilog Zilog] Z80A at 4 MHz<sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-GX4000_at_Old_Computers_2-3" style="line-height:1em;unicode-bidi:-webkit-isolate;">[http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Amstrad_GX4000#cite_note-GX4000_at_Old_Computers-2 [2]]</sup>
*ASIC: Support for sprites, soft scrolling, programmable interrupts, DMA Sound<sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-Arnold_V_Specifications_13-0" style="line-height:1em;unicode-bidi:-webkit-isolate;">[http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Amstrad_GX4000#cite_note-Arnold_V_Specifications-13 [13]]</sup>
<p style="line-height:19.1875px;color:rgb(0,0,0);font-family:sans-serif;text-align:start;">'''Resolution'''<sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-Arnold_V_Specifications_13-1" style="line-height:1em;unicode-bidi:-webkit-isolate;">[http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Amstrad_GX4000#cite_note-Arnold_V_Specifications-13 [13]]</sup></p>
*Mode 0: 160x200 pixels with 16 colours
*Mode 1: 320x200 pixels with 4 colours
*Mode 2: 640x200 pixels with 2 colours
<p style="line-height:19.1875px;color:rgb(0,0,0);font-family:sans-serif;text-align:start;">'''Colour'''<sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-GX4000_at_Old_Computers_2-4" style="line-height:1em;unicode-bidi:-webkit-isolate;">[http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Amstrad_GX4000#cite_note-GX4000_at_Old_Computers-2 [2]]</sup></p>
*Depth: 12-bit RGB
*Colours available: 4096
*Maximum colours onscreen: 32 (16 for background, 15 for sprites, 1 for border)
<p style="line-height:19.1875px;color:rgb(0,0,0);font-family:sans-serif;text-align:start;">Maximum onscreen colour counts can be increased in all Modes through the use of interrupts.</p>
<p style="margin-top:0.4em;margin-bottom:0.5em;line-height:19.1875px;color:rgb(0,0,0);font-family:sans-serif;text-align:start;">'''Sprites''' <sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-Arnold_V_Specifications_13-2" style="line-height:1em;unicode-bidi:-webkit-isolate;">[http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Amstrad_GX4000#cite_note-Arnold_V_Specifications-13 [13]]</sup></p>
*Number: 16 high resolution sprites per line
*Sizes: 16x16 (each sprite can be magnified 2x or 4x in X and Y)
*Colours: Each sprite can use up to 15 colours
<p style="line-height:19.1875px;color:rgb(0,0,0);font-family:sans-serif;text-align:start;">'''Memory''' <sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-Arnold_V_Specifications_13-3" style="line-height:1em;unicode-bidi:-webkit-isolate;">[http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Amstrad_GX4000#cite_note-Arnold_V_Specifications-13 [13]]</sup></p>
*RAM: 64 kB
*VRam: 16 kB
*[http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Read-only_memory ROM]: 32 kB
<p style="line-height:19.1875px;color:rgb(0,0,0);font-family:sans-serif;text-align:start;">'''Audio'''</p>
*3-channel stereo; [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/General_Instrument_AY-3-8910 AY-3-8912 chip]<sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-GX4000_at_Old_Computers_2-5" style="line-height:1em;unicode-bidi:-webkit-isolate;">[http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Amstrad_GX4000#cite_note-GX4000_at_Old_Computers-2 [2]]</sup>
*DMA
<p style="line-height:19.1875px;color:rgb(0,0,0);font-family:sans-serif;text-align:start;">'''IO'''<sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-GX4000_at_Old_Computers_2-6" style="line-height:1em;unicode-bidi:-webkit-isolate;">[http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Amstrad_GX4000#cite_note-GX4000_at_Old_Computers-2 [2]]</sup></p>
<p style="margin-top:0.4em;margin-bottom:0.5em;line-height:19.1875px;color:rgb(0,0,0);font-family:sans-serif;text-align:start;">Audio output, 2x Digital controller connectors, Analog controller port (IBM standard), Lightgun connector (RJ11), Audio and RGB Video output (8-pin DIN), Power supply socket from external PSU, Power supply socket from monitor.</p>
<p style="margin-top:0.4em;margin-bottom:0.5em;line-height:19.1875px;color:rgb(0,0,0);font-family:sans-serif;text-align:start;">
</p>
===Cartridge Games===
*[http://www.cpcwiki.eu/index.php/Barbarian_2_(_Cartridge_) Barbarian 2]
*[http://www.cpcwiki.eu/index.php/Batman_The_Movie_(_Cartridge_) Batman The Movie]
*[http://www.cpcwiki.eu/index.php/Burnin%27_Rubber Burning Rubber]
*[http://www.cpcwiki.eu/index.php/Chase_HQ_2_(_Cartridge_) Chase HQ 2]
*[http://www.cpcwiki.eu/index.php/Copter_271_(_Cartridge_) Copter 271]
*[http://www.cpcwiki.eu/index.php/Crazy_Cars_2_(_Cartridge_) Crazy Cars 2]
*[http://www.cpcwiki.eu/index.php/Dick_Tracy_(_Cartridge_) Dick Tracy]
*[http://www.cpcwiki.eu/index.php/Enforcer_(With_Phazer)_(_Cartridge_) Enforcer (With Phazer)]
*[http://www.cpcwiki.eu/index.php/Fire_and_Forget_2_(_Cartridge_) Fire and Forget 2]
*[http://www.cpcwiki.eu/index.php/Klax_(_Cartridge_) Klax]
*[http://www.cpcwiki.eu/index.php/Mystical_(_Cartridge_) Mystical]
*[http://www.cpcwiki.eu/index.php/Navy_Seals_(_Cartridge_) Navy Seals]
*[http://www.cpcwiki.eu/index.php/No_Exit_(_Cartridge_) No Exit]
*[http://www.cpcwiki.eu/index.php/Operation_Thunderbolt_(_Cartridge_) Operation Thunderbolt]
*[http://www.cpcwiki.eu/index.php/Pang_(_Cartridge_) Pang]
*[http://www.cpcwiki.eu/index.php/Panza_kickboxing_(_Cartridge_) Panza Kick Boxing]
*[http://www.cpcwiki.eu/index.php/Plotting_(_Cartridge_) Plotting]
*[http://www.cpcwiki.eu/index.php/Pro_Tennis_Tour_(_Cartridge_) Pro Tennis Tour]
*[http://www.cpcwiki.eu/index.php/Robocop_2_(_Cartridge_) Robocop 2]
*[http://www.cpcwiki.eu/index.php/Skeet_Shoot_(With_Phazer)_(_Cartridge_) Skeet Shoot]
*[http://www.cpcwiki.eu/index.php/Super_Pinball_Magic_(_Cartridge_) Super Pinball Magic]
*[http://www.cpcwiki.eu/index.php/Switchblade_(_Cartridge_) Switchblade]
*[http://www.cpcwiki.eu/index.php/Tennis_Cup_2_(_Cartridge_) Tennis Cup 2]
*[http://www.cpcwiki.eu/index.php/Tintin_On_the_Moon_(_Cartridge_) Tintin on the Moon]
*[http://www.cpcwiki.eu/index.php/Wild_Streets_(_Cartridge_) Wild Streets]
*[http://www.cpcwiki.eu/index.php/World_Of_Sports_(_Cartridge_) World Of Sports]
