Bee Card (game cartridge)
 | This article relies largely or entirely on a single source. (October 2006) |
A BeeCard is a memory card developed by Hudson Soft for use with MSX computers. The name "BeeCard" is derived from Hudson Soft's corporate logo, which features a bee.
Design
BeeCards are the size of a credit card and were used for the commercial distribution of games, mostly by Hudson Soft themselves. The card contains an integrated circuit (IC) that is placed close to the connectors and protected by a thin plastic layer. Compared to the more traditional cartridges used by most early game consoles, the BeeCard is relatively small and compact.
History
The first BeeCards were sold in Japan in 1985 and were manufactured by Mitsubishi Plastics, Inc.[1]
Hudson Soft later developed the HuCard for the NEC PC Engine and SuperGrafx game consoles. HuCards are slightly thicker than BeeCards and contain 38 pins while a BeeCard has only 32.
Uses
The MSX and the Atari Portfolio were the only systems known to have used BeeCards. The MSX required a "BeePack", a special adapter the size of a traditional MSX cartridge which contains a slot on the top into which the BeeCard is placed.
MSX Games released on BeeCard:
- Baseball Craze, BC-M1, Hudson Soft, 1985
- Star Force, BC-M2, Tehkan, 1985
- Jet Set Willy, BC-M3, Hudson Soft, 1985
- T-Plan, BC-M4, unknown publisher
- Pooyan, BC-M5, Konami, 1985
- Bomber Man, BC-M7, Hudson Soft/Japanese Softbank, 1986
- Star Soldier, BC-M8, Hudson Soft, 1986
- Champion Takahashi's Adventure Island, BC-M9, Hudson Soft, 1986
- E-Piano III
References
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