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{{short description|ROM cartridge medium for MSX computer software}}
{{Refimprove|date=December 2013}}
{{Refimprove|date=December 2013}}


[[File:Mitsubishi Kirigamine BeeCard.jpg|thumb|128-[[kilobit]] BeeCard [[telephone card]] manufactured by [[Mitsubishi Plastics]].]]
[[File:Mitsubishi Kirigamine BeeCard.jpg|thumb|128-[[kilobit]] Bee Card [[telephone card]] manufactured by [[Mitsubishi Plastics]]]]


A {{nihongo|'''Bee Card'''|ビーカード|Bī Kādo}} is a [[ROM cartridge]] developed by [[Hudson Soft]] as a [[software]] distribution medium for [[MSX]] computers. Bee Cards are approximately the size of a credit card, but thicker. Compared to most game cartridges, the Bee Card is small and compact. Because of the card's size, [[Atari Corporation]] also adopted it for the [[Atari Portfolio]], a [[handheld PC]] released in 1989.
A '''Bee Card''' (ビーカード, ''Bī Kādo'') is a [[ROM cartridge]] developed by [[Hudson Soft]] as a [[software]] distribution medium for [[MSX]] computers. Bee Cards are approximately the size of a credit card but thicker. Compared to most game cartridges, the Bee Card is small and compact. Bee Cards were released in Japan and Europe but not North America because the MSX was unsuccessful. However, [[Atari Corporation]] adopted the Bee Card for the [[Atari Portfolio]],<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://archive.org/details/atari-magazine-fr-s2-18|title=Atari Magazine (France, 2e série) 18|date=December 13, 1990|via=Internet Archive}}</ref> a [[handheld PC]] released in 1989 in North America. Some Korg Synthesizers and workstations also used Bee Cards as external storage of user content like sound programs or song data. Even though these systems all use Bee Cards, they are incompatible.


Only a small number of MSX software titles were published on Bee Card. In order to accept a Bee Card, the cartridge slot of the MSX had to be fitted with a removable adapter: the Hudson Soft BeePack. The first mass-produced Bee Cards, however, were [[EEPROM]] [[telephone card]]s manufactured by [[Mitsubishi Plastics]]; these were first sold in Japan in 1985.<ref>{{US patent|D305886}}</ref> The [[trade name]]s ''Bee Card'' and ''Bee Pack'' derive from Hudson Soft's corporate [[logo]], which features a cartoon [[bee]].
Only a few MSX software titles were published on Bee Card: six in Japan and only two in Europe and Italy. To accept a Bee Card, the cartridge slot of the MSX had to be fitted with a removable adapter: the Hudson Soft BeePack. The first mass-produced Bee Cards, however, were [[EEPROM]] [[Telephone card|telephone cards]] manufactured by [[Mitsubishi Plastics]]; these were first sold in Japan in 1985.<ref>{{US patent|D305886}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|url=http://archive.org/details/basic-1985-07|title=マイコン BASIC 1985 07|via=Internet Archive}}</ref> The [[Trade name|trade names]] ''Bee Card'' and ''Bee Pack'' derive from Hudson Soft's corporate [[logo]], which features a cartoon [[bee]].


==MSX software published on Bee Card==
==MSX software published on Bee Card==
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| ''Baseball Craze'' || BC-M1, BC-M1E || Hudson Soft || 1985
| ''Baseball Craze'' || BC-M1, BC-M1E || Hudson Soft || 1985
|-
|-
| ''[[Star Force]]'' || BC-M2 || [[Tehkan]] || 1985
| ''[[Star Force]]'' (exclusive to Japan) || BC-M2 || [[Tehkan]] || 1985
|-
|-
| ''[[Jet Set Willy]]'' || BC-M3 || Hudson Soft || 1985
| ''[[Jet Set Willy]]'' || BC-M3 || Hudson Soft || 1985
|-
|-
| T-Plan || BC-M4 || Hudson Soft || 1984
| ''T-Plan'' (exclusive to Italy) || BC-M4 || [[Toshiba]] || 1984
|-
|-
| ''[[Pooyan]]'' || BC-M5 || [[Konami]] || 1985
| ''[[Pooyan]]'' (exclusive to Japan) || BC-M5 || [[Konami]] || 1985
|-
|-
| ''[[Bomberman (1983 video game)|Bomberman]]'' || BC-M7 || Hudson Soft / [[SoftBank|Japanese Softbank]] || 1986
| ''Buggy Jump'' (exclusive to Japan, unreleased) || BC-M6 || Hudson Soft || 1986
|-
|-
| ''[[Star Soldier (video game)|Star Soldier]]'' || BC-M8 || Hudson Soft || 1986
| ''[[Bomberman (1983 video game)|Bomber Man Special]]'' (exclusive to Japan) || BC-M7 || Hudson Soft / [[SoftBank|Japanese Softbank]] || 1986
|-
|-
| ''Champion Takahashi's Adventure Island'' || BC-M9 || Hudson Soft || 1986
| ''[[Star Soldier (video game)|Star Soldier]]'' (exclusive to Japan) || BC-M8 || Hudson Soft || 1986
|-
|-
| ''[[Adventure Island (video game)|Master Takahashi's Adventure Island]]'' (Japan-exclusive) || BC-M9 || Hudson Soft || 1986
| Magical Computer Music || {{dunno}} || Sony || 1985
|-
|-
| Videotel || 128-8 5509 || {{dunno}} || {{dunno}}
| ''Videotel'' (exclusive to Italy) || 128-8 5509 || Micro Technology B.V. || {{dunno}}
|-
| E-Piano III || {{dunno}} || {{dunno}} || {{dunno}}
|}
|}


==HuCard==
==HuCard==
{{Main|HuCard}}
{{Main|HuCard}}
Hudson Soft later collaborated with [[NEC]] to develop a [[video game console]] called the [[PC Engine]]. The companies elected to use Hudson Soft's slim ROM cartridge technology to distribute PC Engine software. Hudson Soft adapted the design for their needs, and produced the [[HuCard]]. HuCards are slightly thicker than Bee Cards; also, whereas a Bee Card has 32 pins, a HuCard has 38.
Hudson Soft later collaborated with [[NEC]] to develop a new [[video game console]] called [[PC Engine]]. The companies elected to use Hudson Soft's slim ROM cartridge technology to distribute PC Engine software. Hudson Soft adapted the design for their needs and produced the [[HuCard]]. HuCards are slightly thicker than Bee Cards; whereas a Bee Card has 32 pins, a HuCard has 38.


==References==
==References==
{{reflist}}
{{reflist}}


[[Category:1985 introductions]]
[[Category:Computer-related introductions in 1985]]
⚫
[[Category:MSX]]
[[Category:Solid-state computer storage media]]
[[Category:Solid-state computer storage media]]
⚫
[[Category:Konami]]
[[Category:MSX hardware]]

Latest revision as of 14:25, 15 October 2024

128-kilobit Bee Card telephone card manufactured by Mitsubishi Plastics

A Bee Card (ビーカード, Bī Kādo) is a ROM cartridge developed by Hudson Soft as a software distribution medium for MSX computers. Bee Cards are approximately the size of a credit card but thicker. Compared to most game cartridges, the Bee Card is small and compact. Bee Cards were released in Japan and Europe but not North America because the MSX was unsuccessful. However, Atari Corporation adopted the Bee Card for the Atari Portfolio,[1] a handheld PC released in 1989 in North America. Some Korg Synthesizers and workstations also used Bee Cards as external storage of user content like sound programs or song data. Even though these systems all use Bee Cards, they are incompatible.

Only a few MSX software titles were published on Bee Card: six in Japan and only two in Europe and Italy. To accept a Bee Card, the cartridge slot of the MSX had to be fitted with a removable adapter: the Hudson Soft BeePack. The first mass-produced Bee Cards, however, were EEPROM telephone cards manufactured by Mitsubishi Plastics; these were first sold in Japan in 1985.[2][3] The trade names Bee Card and Bee Pack derive from Hudson Soft's corporate logo, which features a cartoon bee.

MSX software published on Bee Card

[edit]

Hudson Soft and other software publishers distributed at least eleven MSX software titles on Bee Card:[4]

Title Catalog number Publisher Year
Baseball Craze BC-M1, BC-M1E Hudson Soft 1985
Star Force (exclusive to Japan) BC-M2 Tehkan 1985
Jet Set Willy BC-M3 Hudson Soft 1985
T-Plan (exclusive to Italy) BC-M4 Toshiba 1984
Pooyan (exclusive to Japan) BC-M5 Konami 1985
Buggy Jump (exclusive to Japan, unreleased) BC-M6 Hudson Soft 1986
Bomber Man Special (exclusive to Japan) BC-M7 Hudson Soft / Japanese Softbank 1986
Star Soldier (exclusive to Japan) BC-M8 Hudson Soft 1986
Master Takahashi's Adventure Island (Japan-exclusive) BC-M9 Hudson Soft 1986
Videotel (exclusive to Italy) 128-8 5509 Micro Technology B.V. ?

HuCard

[edit]
Main article: HuCard

Hudson Soft later collaborated with NEC to develop a new video game console called PC Engine. The companies elected to use Hudson Soft's slim ROM cartridge technology to distribute PC Engine software. Hudson Soft adapted the design for their needs and produced the HuCard. HuCards are slightly thicker than Bee Cards; whereas a Bee Card has 32 pins, a HuCard has 38.

References

[edit]
  1. ^ "Atari Magazine (France, 2e série) 18". December 13, 1990 – via Internet Archive.
  2. ^ U.S. patent D305886
  3. ^ "マイコン BASIC 1985 07" – via Internet Archive.
  4. ^ "BeePack". MSX Resource Center. Retrieved 30 December 2013.
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