The following is a translation of an article that appeared in the Sept/Oct 2017 issue of Taiwanese retro gaming magazine, Retro Game Time (舊遊戲時代). The article was also reproduced in three parts for Liberty Times in 2019.
I translated this article because information on Bit Corp is limited, especially from the Taiwanese viewpoint of someone who was there at the time. A big thanks to the original author 神楽坂雯麗 (@WenLi), who has written extensively about the Taiwanese gaming scene in the 1980s.
The translated version below adds some extra headings and bullets to adapt the article for English and reading on the web. Cover image by Dave Flynn.
For more information on Gamate check out the Bit Corp Gamate Review on YouTube, and also the Gamate section of 12bit.club by taizou.
Forgotten Legends of the Games Console Industry #
Retro Game Time Sept/Oct 2017 issue.
Written By 神楽坂雯麗. Translated to English by Dave Flynn
Taiwan’s first video game console #
What comes to mind when you think of “Taiwan’s first video game console”?
Maybe one of the countless Atari 2600 or Nintendo Famicom clones? Or possibly the unfortunate, and short-lived, embarrassment that was the Super A’Can?
Unfortunately, the history surrounding the Pong-era of the 1970s is unclear. It’s difficult to say who made what, and when, and this will likely remain a mystery for some time. However, based on the information currently available, Bit Corporation is widely regarded as the first Taiwanese game console manufacturer to move beyond mere cloning and bootlegs, and create an original console and games that would be successfully sold worldwide.
Bit Corp and the Atari 2600 years #
Bit Corp was established in 1980 and, like many Taiwanese manufacturers of the time, got its start by cloning European and American home computers and games consoles such as the Atari 2600. After launching its first console, an Atari 2600 clone called “Bingo”, Bit Corp released two cartridge-based home computers, the BIT-60 and the BIT-90. While these machines were popular in Taiwan, the main market for them was always abroad. Even today, you can still find talk of these home computer consoles on Western discussion forums.
The BIT-60 and BIT-90 were considered home computers that also included game console functionality. The BIT-60 was based on the Atari 2600, while the BIT-90 was a ColecoVision clone. Like other home computers of the time, both machines had an integrated keyboard and connected to a TV for use as a display. Expansion ports were included for future add-ons.
Later, the BIT-60 was redesigned without the keyboard and became the Creator 30 (創造者30), with a form factor that was inspired by the design of Nintendo’s Famicom. This was the start of the Creator line of consoles, which would become influential among Taiwanese gamers.
The BIT-90 remains one of the very few Taiwanese manufactured ColecoVision clones, as the ColecoVision was not a popular gaming platform in Taiwan, making it an interesting footnote in gaming history.
Bit Corp starts creating original works #
In 1980, Bit Corporation invested in developing original Atari 2600 games, a move that differentiated it from other clone manufacturers. Some of the most well-known titles include:
- Open Sesame! and
- Bobby is Going Home
- Mr Postman
In 1983 Bit Corp released 8 games for the Atari 2600, all sold abroad featuring copyright notices on the labels that they were original Bit Corp works.
The games were made in Taiwan and sent far and wide, eventually reaching American and European markets, and leaving a mark on foreign game players. This influence can be seen by the number of translations of Bit Corp’s Wikipedia page, which lists English, German, Spanish and Italian among the available languages.
Back in Taiwan, Bit Corporation was still reproducing popular American and European games in switchable multi-carts that were bundled with consoles. By modern standards this practice is unethical, but in the wild west that was the 80s console market this growth strategy is somewhat understandable.
Bit Corp’s strategy was to focus on cheap multi-carts in Taiwan, and sell the more expensive single-game titles abroad. This approach was alluded to at the time in a media interview with a Bit Corporation employee. (Dave: I cannot find reference to this interview)
An American and Japanese hybrid #
Before the release of Nintendo’s Famicom, Bit Corp had already managed to clone nearly all of the major American and Japanese consoles.
After the BIT-30, Bit Corp launched the Creator 50 - a 2-in-1 hybrid console that was a combination of the Sega SG-1000 and ColecoVision. Compared to other Taiwanese clone makers at the time, who were still busy making Atari 2600 clones, Bit Corporation was one of a kind. This was especially notable given Bit Corp’s early start developing original games in-house.
The Creator 50, which was sold as the Dina 2-in-One abroad, has recently caught the attention of retro gamers in the West due to the rarity of being one of the only ColecoVision clones.
Late to Famiclones #
When Nintendo’s Famicom arrived in Taiwan, it dominated the market. Bit Corp didn’t respond until 1987 with the release of the Creator 70 Famicom clone. This is quite late in the world of famiclones.
The Creator 70 resembled a smaller Sega Master System, with controllers modelled on the Sega Mark III. It was the author’s first console, and caused some confusion among their friends due to its appearance compared to the original Famicom. Looking back, the Creator 70 is actually a good effort in terms of design, aside from the nonfunctional player 2 controller-microphone.
For the Creator 100, Bit Corp adopted a design that more closely followed the Famicom. According to an early media interview, this was because consumers trusted iconic Nintendo design, but represented a major step backward from the previously risk-taking Bit Corp designs of earlier consoles. The Creator 100 would be Bit Corp’s final home games console.
Unlicensed Famicom games #
After cloning the Famicom hardware, Bit Corp started to develop original Famicom games. Ignoring Nintendo’s strict licensing policies, Bit Corp released a series of unlicensed Famicom games in high quality cartridge cases to differentiate them from the cheap bootlegs that had already flooded the market.
Bit Corp also resumed production of switched multi-game carts. Due to their higher quality compared to other bootlegs of the time, they have become prized items of retro gaming collectors who appreciate Taiwanese software and hardware.
Gamate takes on Game Boy #
When Nintendo opened the market for handheld gaming with the Game Boy, Bit Corp was ready to try their hand at original hardware. Their first, and last, attempt at in-house console development would not be a home console, but instead a challenger in the handheld space - the ill-fated Gamate.
Unlike the Game Boy that used a portrait design, Gamate used a landscape layout, similar to Sega’s Game Gear. Together with thin cartridges that resembled the design of the HuCards used by NEC’s PC Engine.
Destined to failure #
Bit Corp promoted Gamate heavily, doing interviews and running ads in popular gaming magazines of the time like TV Game Report and Astro TV Games Magazine. The effort was in vain. Following the console’s release, the shortcomings of Gamate were all too evident. After seeing an ad for Gamate, the author bought one, only to be disappointed and return to the Game Boy not long after.
The main reasons for the failure were:
- Gamate games did not control as well as the Japanese games that influenced them, and they were clearly inferior.
- The screen quality could not compare to other handhelds of the time.
- Marketing over-promised.
Looking at the Gamate’s ads, it’s clear to see that Bit Corp put a lot of effort in. Like Nintendo’s Game Boy, and other similar handhelds, Bit Corp also planned a wide range of accessories and games, but in the end these promises proved too difficult to fulfil.
Funtech takes over #
Possibly due to the strain of developing a new console and games while simultaneously marketing it, Bit Corp found itself unable to continue operating. The high cost of cloning the Super Famicom and Mega Drive also made returning to their old business model unfeasible.
Ultimately, Bit Corp was unable to continue manufacturing Gamate and transferred all rights to Funtech (Dunhuang Technology) before disappearing completely from the Taiwanese gaming market. Referring to the Gamate serial numbers, we can see that Funtech continued development of Gamate for a further year before ending production in 1993.
A Taiwanese innovator #
Until 1992, Bit Corp was arguably Taiwan’s most innovative gaming company, and the first to develop original gaming hardware and games and sell them globally.
During the early 90s, as the market turned to Mega Drive and Super Famicom, and players were looking forward to the upcoming 32bit generation, Bit Corp quietly disappeared.
After just 12 years, the company that once held such an important place in the Taiwanese gaming industry quickly faded into obscurity.
A tragic but key part of Taiwan’s gaming history #
The tragic thing is that Bit Corp faced the same challenges as US and Japanese gaming companies of the time, and Bit Corp even had a head start over Nintendo and other competitors.
For example, while Nintendo was still manufacturing “Color TV Game” and low grade pong-like consoles, Bit Corp already had the ability to clone the Atari 2600 and Colecovision, the hottest consoles from the US market. Bit Corp had already created its own original games for the Atari 2600 before Nintendo had even ported its arcade games to the Famicom.
However, while Nintendo quickly found success with the Famicom, Bit Corp quickly found the limits of its abilities and was unable to pull off the move from cloner to original hardware manufacturer.
Even so, Bit Corp remains one of Taiwan’s true “world-class” game hardware and software developers, and an essential part of the history of Taiwanese gaming.