Sega AI Game Computer

From: Doug Yowza <yowza_at_yowza.com>
Date: Wed Aug 12 02:54:57 1998

I got a chance to play with this mysterious machine tonight. First, the
name is "Sega AI Computer". It was made in late 1986. The manual is in
Japanese, but Geek is universal: 128KB OS, SEGA PROLOG; 256K ROM; 128KB
ROM carts (JIS standard, similar to PCMCIA 1.0); 128K RAM; 64K <some other
kind, maybe video> RAM; V20 (8088) CPU; RF, composite, and RGB outputs;
optional floppy drive; built-in cassette drive; full qwerty/kanji
detachable keyboard; touch pad; cursor pad with left/right buttons.

(I'll have web-pics of it eventually.)

It has several prototype game carts with it, and I could only get a few to
work (most have exposed UV-erasable EPROMs).

So, what do you get when you cross a Prolog-based AI machine with a game
machine? Mind-numbingly dull games! Man, Eliza is exciting compared to
this software. But I still can't get over the concept. I'd be floored if
marketing ever let this thing see the day of light, but the hardware is
definitely production quality. From the software and the general
presentation in the manual, I'd guess they were aiming for the educational
market.

-- Doug
Received on Wed Aug 12 1998 - 02:54:57 BST