Difference between revisions of "Dina 2 in one"

Latest revision as of 18:02, 21 March 2016

Dina 2 in one

Manufacturer: Bit Corporation

Variants: Telegames Personal Arcade

Release	Date	RRP	Code
US	1986
US (Telegames Personal Arcade)	1988
TW	198x

The DINA 2 in One, originally known as the Chuang Zao Zhe 50, is a video game console manufactured by Bit Corporation, a Taiwanese electronics company. It is a hybrid console with the ability to play ColecoVision and SG-1000 games. This hybrid was possible due to the fact that the ColecoVision and SG-1000 have nearly identical hardware; the two systems share the same CPU, VDP and sound chip.

History

The DINA was initially released in 1986. The system included a built-in ColecoVision game, Meteoric Shower.

In 1988, American video games company Telegames, supposedly with a license from Coleco, approached Bit Corporation with the proposition of selling the console under their name. Bit Corporation presumably agreed and the console was re-branded the Telegames Personal Arcade. For a period, only the box used the Telegames branding - the unit itself was still labeled as a DINA 2 in one.

It is not known whether Sega was aware that the Telegames Personal Arcade existed. The Telegames Personal Arcade did not openly advertise SG-1000 compatibility as the SG-1000 was never released in North America, and furthermore it was only available via mail order, so it is possible that it slipped by unnoticed.

The Telegames Personal Arcade was sold for US$40 but is now extremely rare, partly because of the small-scale distribution methods employed by Telegames, and partly due to a tornado which swept through Telegames' remaining stock in 1994.

Interestingly, Telegames released a ColecoVision game compilation for Windows in 1996 titled "Telegames Personal Arcade".

System Overview

The design of the DINA seems to be heavily inspired by the SG-1000 II. It uses gamepads similar to the SG-1000 II, with a D-pad and unlabled and buttons. The controllers also slide into the sides of the unit to save space. A numeric keypad exists on the front of the console itself for use with ColecoVision games, as well as a pause button for SG-1000 games. As expected, the pause button does not work with ColecoVision games and the keypad is incompatible with the SG-1000.

The vast majority of both ColecoVision and SG-1000 games are compatible, however there are some exceptions. ColecoVision games which require the keypad for actual gameplay are more difficult to play, and ColecoVision controllers are incompatible with the system. This also means that games which require the ColecoVision's Super Action Controllers or Expansion Module #2 cannot be played. SG-1000 and Master System controllers are compatible, however.

At the rear of the system is an expansion port, which is not compatible with ColecoVision or SG-1000 add-ons, such as the ColecoVision's Expansion Module #1 (which allows for the play of Atari 2600 games) or the SK-1100 keyboard. The system also lacks a switch for when both a ColecoVision and SG-1000 game are inserted. A small leaf switch was placed inside the SG-1000 slot in order for the system to differentiate which slot is being used.

The cheap price also leads to a cheaply made console. The VDP in particular is prone to overheating due to the lack of a heat sink, a required component for TMS9918-series VDPs. It is also a much lighter and smaller unit than either the ColecoVision or SG-1000 and is constructed out of low-quality plastic. The RF output (which is NTSC) is also very prone to interference and is tuned to channel 13 (channels 2-4 are used for RF output in North America); this can be remedied through an AV mod. The controllers are also of poor quality and have short, stiff cords.

Gallery

Chuang Zao Zhe 50, the original Taiwanese release of the DINA 2-in-1
DINA 2 in one console packaged in a Telegames Personal Arcade box
Underside of unit
Cartridge slot (left SG-1000, right ColecoVision)
Keypad for ColecoVision games
Pause button for SG-1000 games
Back of unit
Gamepads

Physical scans

SG-1000, US
Cover

SG-1000,
Cover

SG-1000, TW

Sega SG-1000 Hardware
SG-1000 Variations	SG-1000 \| SG-1000 II \| SC-3000 \| SC-5000 \| Othello Multivision \| Pasocom Gakushuudzukue \| SD-G5 \| Arcade
Add-ons	Super Control Station SF-7000 \| 4 Color Plotter Printer \| Data Recorder SR-1000 \| Sega Keyboard
Game Controllers	Joystick (SJ-200) \| Joystick (SJ-300) \| Joypad (SJ-150) \| SJ-151 \| Handle Controller \| Bike Handle \| Sega Graphic Board \| Pasoko-1000
Misc. Hardware	Card Catcher \| Extension Cable Kit (JC-100) \| SD-80 \| Sega Compact Floppy Disk
Unlicensed Clones	Dina 2 in one \| Fullwis Video Game FR-II‎

@@ Line 2: / Line 2: @@
 | logos=
 | consoleimage=DINA2.jpg
-| imgwidth=320px
+| imgwidth=320
-| name=
+| maker=Bit Corporation
-| maker=Bit Corporation, Telegames
 | variants=Telegames Personal Arcade
 | add-ons=
-| processor=
+| processor= [[Z80]]
-| europe=
+| releases={{releasesSG
-| usa=1988
+| sg_date_us=1986
+| sg_type_us_1=Telegames Personal Arcade
+| sg_date_us_1=1988
+| sg_date_tw=198x
 }}
-The '''Dina 2-in-1''', supposedly originally known as the '''Chuang Zao Zhe 50''', is a video game console manufactured by Bit Corporation, a Taiwanese electronics company. It is a hybrid console with the ability to play ColecoVision and [[SG-1000]] games.
+}}
+The '''DINA 2 in One''', originally known as the '''Chuang Zao Zhe 50''', is a video game console manufactured by Bit Corporation, a Taiwanese electronics company. It is a hybrid console with the ability to play ColecoVision and [[SG-1000]] games. This hybrid was possible due to the fact that the ColecoVision and SG-1000 have nearly identical hardware; the two systems share the same CPU, VDP and sound chip.
 ==History==
-The Dina 2-in-1 ermerged in the mid-1980s. To this day, little is known about the console, but it is said to have been bundled with a Colecovision game, ''Meteoric Shower''.
+The DINA was initially released in 1986. The system included a built-in ColecoVision game, ''Meteoric Shower''.
-It is currently unknown as to whether Bit Corporation were officially licensed to produce this console, however North American video games company, Telegames, supposedly with a license from [[Coleco]], approached Bit Corporation with the proposition of selling the console in the US. Bit Corporation presumably agreed and the console was re-branded the '''Telegames Personal Arcade''', going on sale in this region in 1988. For a period, only the box used the Telegames branding - the unit itself was still labeled as a Dina 2-in-1.
+In 1988, American video games company Telegames, supposedly with a license from [[Coleco]], approached Bit Corporation with the proposition of selling the console under their name. Bit Corporation presumably agreed and the console was re-branded the '''Telegames Personal Arcade'''. For a period, only the box used the Telegames branding - the unit itself was still labeled as a DINA 2 in one.
-At the time, [[Sega]] had chosen not to penetrate the North American video games market, instead selling its SG-1000 consoles in Japan, Australia, New Zealand and parts of Europe through a number of distributors. It is not known whether they were aware that the Telegames Personal Arcade (or the Dina 2-in-1 for that matter) existed. The Telegames Personal Arcade did not openly advertise SG-1000 compatibility as cartridges in North America were rare, and furthermore it was only available via mail order, so it is possible that it slipped by unnoticed.
+It is not known whether [[Sega]] was aware that the Telegames Personal Arcade existed. The Telegames Personal Arcade did not openly advertise SG-1000 compatibility as the SG-1000 was never released in North America, and furthermore it was only available via mail order, so it is possible that it slipped by unnoticed.
-The Telegames Personal Arcade was a cheaper alternative to the Colecovision ($40 USD) but is now extremely rare, partly because of the small-scale distribution methods employed by Telegames, and partly due to a tornado which swept through Telegames' remaining stock in 1994.
+The Telegames Personal Arcade was sold for US$40 but is now extremely rare, partly because of the small-scale distribution methods employed by Telegames, and partly due to a tornado which swept through Telegames' remaining stock in 1994.
-Interestingly Telegames released a Colecovision game compilation for Microsoft Windows in 1996. It is also called "Telegames Personal Arcade".
+Interestingly, Telegames released a ColecoVision game compilation for Windows in 1996 titled "Telegames Personal Arcade".
-==The Unit==
+==System Overview==
-The Dina 2-in-1 is heavily inspired by the [[SG-1000 II]]. It uses gamepads similar to the SG-1000 II, with a D-Pad and unlabled {{1}} and {{2}} buttons. A number pad exists on the front of the console itself for use with Colecovision games, as does a pause button for SG-1000 ones. As expected, the pause button does not work with the Colecovision and the number pad is incompatible with the SG-1000.
+The design of the DINA seems to be heavily inspired by the [[SG-1000 II]]. It uses gamepads similar to the SG-1000 II, with a D-pad and unlabled {{1}} and {{2}} buttons. The controllers also slide into the sides of the unit to save space. A numeric keypad exists on the front of the console itself for use with ColecoVision games, as well as a pause button for SG-1000 games. As expected, the pause button does not work with ColecoVision games and the keypad is incompatible with the SG-1000.
-The vast majority of both Colecovision and SG-1000 games will boot in a Dina 2-in-1, however there are some consessions. Colecovision games which require the number pad will struggle if SG-1000 controllers are used, however the system does include two [[DE-9]] ports, which means official Colecovision controllers can be used, as can official Sega ones (going up to the [[Sega Mega Drive]]). The system will also refuse to boot if a cartridge occupies both slots at once, as there is no switch to tell it which console should get priority.
+The vast majority of both ColecoVision and SG-1000 games are compatible, however there are some exceptions. ColecoVision games which require the keypad for actual gameplay are more difficult to play, and ColecoVision controllers are incompatible with the system. This also means that games which require the ColecoVision's Super Action Controllers or Expansion Module #2 cannot be played. SG-1000 and [[Sega Master System|Master System]] controllers are compatible, however.
-It is unlikely that the system is compatible with any of the expansions for either console (meaning it cannot play Atari 2600 games, use the Colecovision steering wheel, or be made into a personal computer through the use of an [[SK-1100]] keyboard). There is an expansion port on the back of the console, but at this time nobody knows what it does.
+At the rear of the system is an expansion port, which is not compatible with ColecoVision or SG-1000 add-ons, such as the ColecoVision's Expansion Module #1 (which allows for the play of Atari 2600 games) or the [[SK-1100]] keyboard. The system also lacks a switch for when both a ColecoVision and SG-1000 game are inserted. A small leaf switch was placed inside the SG-1000 slot in order for the system to differentiate which slot is being used.
-The cheap price also leads to a cheaply made console. The graphics chip in particular is prone to overheating and damaging the internals after prolonged use.
+The cheap price also leads to a cheaply made console. The VDP in particular is prone to overheating due to the lack of a heat sink, a required component for [[TMS9918]]-series VDPs. It is also a much lighter and smaller unit than either the ColecoVision or SG-1000 and is constructed out of low-quality plastic. The RF output (which is NTSC) is also very prone to interference and is tuned to channel 13 (channels 2-4 are used for RF output in North America); this can be remedied through an AV mod. The controllers are also of poor quality and have short, stiff cords.
-It is rumoured that the console can output both a PAL and NTSC signal, though this has not been confirmed.
 ==Gallery==
 <gallery>
-File:DINA1.jpg|Dina 2-in-1 console packaged in a Telegames Personal Arcade box
+File:Chuang Zao Zhe 50.jpg|Chuang Zao Zhe 50, the original Taiwanese release of the DINA 2-in-1
+File:DINA1.jpg|DINA 2 in one console packaged in a Telegames Personal Arcade box
 File:DINA3.jpg|Underside of unit
 File:DINA4.jpg|Cartridge slot (left SG-1000, right ColecoVision)
-File:DINA5.jpg|Number pad for ColecoVision games
+File:DINA5.jpg|Keypad for ColecoVision games
 File:DINA6.jpg|Pause button for SG-1000 games
 File:DINA7.jpg|Back of unit
 File:DINA gamepad.jpg|Gamepads
-File:DINA Box Front.jpg|Front of box (Telegames)
-File:DINA Box Back.jpg|Back of box (Telegames)
 </gallery>
+==Physical scans==
+{{Scanbox
+| console=SG-1000
+| region=US
+| front=DINA Box Front.jpg
+| back=DINA Box Back.jpg
+| spinemissing=yes
+| square=yes
+}}{{Scanbox
+| console=SG-1000
+| region=
+| front=Dina2inOne SG1000 Box Front.jpg
+| back=
+| spinemissing=
+| square=yes
+}}{{Scanbox
+| console=SG-1000
+| region=TW
+| front=
+| back=
+| spinemissing=
+| square=yes
+}}
 {{SG1000}}
-[[Category:SG-1000 Hardware]]