In the 70s, the video game industry was just starting to take shape globally, with projects and consoles trying to capture the imagination of the players in a new and fascinating world. While big names like Atari began to emerge on the international scene, some initiatives were also being developed in Italy. Two of these were the Mesaton and the Universal Game Computer. Andrea Contato talks to us about it, in a conference recorded on the occasion of Varese Retrocomputing 2023.
Mesaton
Mesaton, developed by Mesa 2 spa under the guidance of Alberto Neri, represents one of the first Italian consoles dedicated to the video game. This console was an example of how Italy was trying to carve out its own space in the nascent gaming market. Mesaton used components produced by the Signetics Corporation, a semi -hounding manufacturer, subsequently acquired by Philips.
The beating heart of the Mesaton is the Signetics 2650 chip, an 8-bit CPU designed for use in a variety of applications. This processor, marketed in 1975, although designed 2-3 years earlier, was particularly suitable for its low cost and flexibility, essential characteristics for a video game console. For graphics, the Mesaton relied on the Signetics 2636 chip, a video microcontroller designed specifically to handle sprites and graphics on television screens.
Universal Game Computer
Parallel to Mesaton, another project was taking shape in Italy: the Universal Game Computer. This device, developed by the Electronic Cabel of Curno, in the province of Bergamo, represented another significant example of Italian technological innovation in the field of video games. Although the Universal Game Computer was similar to Mesaton due to conception and purposes, it was distinguished by some characteristics that made it unique.
The Universal Game Computer also used the Signetics chips, however, what really distinguished this console was its presentation and packaging. Cabel Electronic had invested significant resources to make sure that the Universal Game Computer was not only a functional device, but also aesthetically pleasant and easily recognizable for consumers. This aspect, often neglected by the competitors, has allowed the Universal Game Computer to earn a certain notoriety on the market.
The decline
Despite the innovation and ingenuity behind the Mesaton and the Universal Game Computer, their success had an end. The arrival of larger and better financed competitors, such as Commodore with the VIC20 and, subsequently, with the Commodore 64, quickly led to the decline of the Italian consoles. These new devices offered a higher calculation power, a better graphics and, above all, a large catalog of games and software, making it difficult for Mesaton and the Universal Game Computer competing.
Papers
1. Signetics 2650 microprocessor datasheet
2. Signetics 2636 PVI programmable video interface datasheet
Speaker: Andrea Contato
Presenter: Sergio Gervasini
Filming and audio: Fabio Massa (BioMassa) and Mariangela Sapia