"Full porting" - the term was coined with this machine.
Gadget lovers, you can't miss this. The X1980, which appeared in the 68000s and excited game fans and programmers, is back with the latest technology. "X68000 Z2"This project, undertaken by ZUIKI Co., Ltd.,Crowdfunding will begin on February 2025, 2 at 8 p.m.As a game fanatic, I'm quite excited about this news.
What is X68000?
The X68000 is a 1987-bit personal computer released by Sharp in 16. Boasting a distinctive "Manhattan shape" design and phenomenal graphics and sound performance for the time, it was immensely popular, especially among game fans and programmers.
The biggest attraction of this machine was the extremely high quality of the ports of arcade games. For example, the port of the classic shooter game "Gradius" was of almost the same quality as the arcade version, captivating many fans at the time.
The X68000 was also highly customizable and offered a great environment for programming and sound production, which is why it remains a "dream machine" for PC gamers and developers.
Relationship between the X68000 and home video game consoles (Famicom, Mega Drive, etc.)
The X68000 stood out from the home video game consoles of the time, the Famicom (released in 1983) and the Mega Drive (released in 1988). While the Famicom and Mega Drive were popular among general users as "home video game consoles," the X68000 was a machine that offered high-performance games and development environments as a "high-end personal computer."
For example, the X68000 boasted performance almost equivalent to that of arcade games at the time, and many arcade titles were faithfully ported to it, whereas the graphics and sound of the Famicom and Mega Drive were often simplified due to hardware limitations.
Furthermore, the X68000 also provided an excellent environment for game development, providing an ideal environment for users learning game programming. Professionals in the game industry also used the X68000, and the technologies and ideas that emerged from it influenced later home game consoles.
In other words, the X68000 had a different position from the home game consoles of the time, and also served as a "professional game development machine."
To put it simply, it was like the "NEOGEO," a home version of the arcade game... would that make sense to game enthusiasts at the time?
Unlike today's PS5 and XBOX, it was quite a challenge to play arcade games at home.
After the X68000, there was no complete port of arcade 2D games for a long time, and we had to wait until the release of the Sega Saturn and PlayStation.
Famous titles for the X68000
Speaking of the gems of the X68000 titles,
Street Fighter II' (Dash)
Darius
R-TYPE
Fantasy zone
Genpei Tomaden
Space harrier
Xevius
Galaga '88
Dragon Buster
All of them were apparently of extremely high quality.
I say "yes" because it was so expensive that no one around me had it.
The price at the time the X68000 was released in 1987 was About 369,000 yen(the first model) was very expensive. The X68000 SUPER (1990) that came later was 248,000JPY, X68000 XVI (1991) 228,000JPYAlthough the price gradually dropped, it was still a very expensive machine compared to regular home game consoles, and I had never seen anyone, even adults, own one. It was just something that people aspired to own.
Meanwhile, the prices of contemporary home consoles are as follows:
Famicom / Released in 1983: 14,800 yen
Mega Drive / Released in 1988: 21,000 yen
I had seen R-TYPE (I think) playing at a game store (there were stores like that in front of the train station in those days) a few times, and I felt that it was not something a child should buy, even though I admired it. *It had the same impact as an elementary school kid buying a PC98 at the time. And I had a friend like that.
I can't hide my excitement that such a legendary machine is being revived in the Reiwa era!
What is the X68000 Z2?
The legend returns.
The X68000 Z2 is a new model based on the X68000 SUPER, a model that was previously released by Sharp. It can also be customized to become the X68000 XVI, making it a must-have for fans of the old model.
The points to note in particular are:
✅ "Titanium Black" is the style of the top model
The X68000 Z2 has a luxurious titanium black case. It inherits the traditional "Manhattan Shape" design, but is updated with modern technology. I wonder how heavy it is? I'm sure it won't be a big deal since I'll be using it as a desktop PC.
✅ The body size is approximately 1.5 times larger!
It is about 68000 times larger than the previous "X1.5 Z" and has an improved design. It brings back the power of the X68000 back then to the present day. The design itself is exactly like the old X68000, but the black color makes it look even more manly.
✅ Extensive I/O ports
To keep up with the latest technology, it is equipped with the following ports:
- USB Type A/C
- HDMI
- UART
- MIDI ports (OUT/THRU/IN)
- SCSI port (half pitch 50 pin)
- D-SUB Port
- Nano ITX Port
With greatly improved expandability, it's the ideal setup for retro game enthusiasts and hardware enthusiasts.
What is the retail price of the X68000 Z2?
The price of the basic model of the X68000 Z2 is 59,800 yen (tax included) Custom kits and special edition sets are also available, with the following options:
- X68000 Z SUPER & Z XVI with custom kit: 74,800 yen (tax included)
- X68000 Z SUPER & XVI 2-pack: 129,800 yen (tax included)
- Premium aluminum machined case, set of 2: 680,000 yen (tax included)
This product is exclusive to crowdfunding backers and is not planned for general sale.
X68000 Z2 specs
The basic specs of the X68000 Z2 are as follows:
- CPU:Quad-Core Arm Cortex-A55 2.0GHz
- memory：1GB DDR4 RAM
- storage: SD card slot (for system disk)
- graphic：Mali-G57 GPU
- audio: MIDI port (OUT/THRU/IN), headphone jack
- Input/Output Ports: USB Type A/C, HDMI, UART, SCSI port (half pitch 50 pin), D-SUB port, Nano ITX port
- Communication function: Equipped with Wi-Fi
- 电源:USB Type-C 20V 3.25A (65W)
- Size：H226mm × W97mm × D169mm
- weight: 700g to 900g (depending on model)
By using an ITX board (sold separately), dual booting with Windows is also possible.
What about the crucial software supply?
At this stage, there is no definitive announcement, but the software supply for the X68000 Z2 will maintain the mechanism for running original X68000 software, and the release of new titles and ports is also being considered. Redistribution of classic X68000 software released in the past and indie works by new developers are expected. Depending on the success of the crowdfunding, further official support and software updates may be announced.
Make X68000 fans' dreams come true once again!
The X68000 was not just a computer, it was a "dream machine" for gamers and programmers at the time. The moment when that dream is revived with the latest technology is about to come.
I am personally very excited about this project. As a fan of retro PCs, I can't miss this, and I can't help but feel excited to see what kind of world the X68000 Z2 will show us when combined with modern technology.
The legendary X68000 Z2, why not be a part of history?
The X68000, a coveted model for enthusiasts, was crowdfunded.kibidango project pageSupport will be available from 2pm on February 8th.
![The magic of "fragrant"... How to use "solid perfume" in a chic and fun way for both men and women [Review]](https://mainoriti.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/02/IMG_0065-3-485x273.webp)
