10 Amazing Sharp X68000 Facts

[@mr.y.mysterious.video1]

When Amiga owners at the time described how fantastic they thought Amiga arcade conversions were, it’s like they were actually describing this computer

[@ENFDO]

I still own an Amiga 500 since 1990 and back then nobody knew this computer even existed. And yes, the wow factor was the same as u describe. In fact, x68000 was more like a pc powerstation at 3000 uss bucks and amiga 500 was a powerstone for design and music for less than 900uss that was a lot a money back then. So the comparison is pretty unfair. If any japanese developer would programmed for amiga 500 the history could be completely different, cuz euro developers was completely awfull except a few. In raw power Amiga 500 was the most advanced domestic personal computed in american and european market.

[@simonabbott6332]

Don't forget that the X68000 also had, not just, midi support but it could be connected to the Roland MT-32 and even General Midi for different in-game music.

[@junsato8929]

I can tell as I was a teenager in Japan and lived the age. X68k was an antithesis to PC-98, the beige office computer. The lower end boy toy market was taken by the MSX, a Zilog Z80-based, connect-to-TV solution like Atari. So, that left X68k with the engineer's wet dream market, allowing the blue-sky, money-no-object designs. That, unfortunately, foreclosed any possibilities of selling it outside the culture, the people, the "bubble economy" of the time. I mean, it costed two grown man's paychecks to get a system whereas PC-98 was priced like a PC and MSX like a toy. Sharp had some business cases for it, as mentioned by the video, for it functioned as a workstation to develop game arcade games, and then turn around and release the same code as X68k games, a win-win between Sharp and domestic arcade game makers. That, again, confined them to Japan. What really did them in in the end was not just the advent of modern PCs, but also the arcade market moving on to more experience-oriented stuff, like Dance Dance Revolution. No way you can turn around and sell it as an X68k game on the little screen and a keyboard, nor is it particularly advantageous to develop it with X68k. So, the business model for X68k being the arcade dev didn't survive the test of time.

[@Zarnubius]

god DAMN they knew how to make computers look mystically cool and stoicly powerful back then. That magic spark is completely gone from us now. Absolute golden age of hardware aesthetics.

[@NesNyt]

Wow sharp has like 18 layers of parralax scrolling going on. Impressive. I never realized how many NES games i fell in love with as a kid had come out on other consoles. I wish i heard the term MSX or x68000 in the 80s

[@lsdowdle]

An X68000 core is available for the MiSTer FPGA and seems to work reasonably well... and given all the other fantastic cores the MiSTer has to offer it seems like a no brainer... considering finding a used X68000 in working order and shipped to the US would most likely cost considerably more.

[@clifffton]

Saw one at VCF Midwest last weekend. There was a ton of cool stuff and the X68000 was clearly near the top of the heap.

[@elmariachi5133]

I know the X68000 mostly from playing JumpingFlash(2), which is the Playstation 1 remake of Cartographer's Seal on the X68000. There also was some rare mentioning of the X68000 in late 80s game magazines, but not a lot info info ever.It for sure is an fascinating machine, the main reason being it was one pinnacle of it's time, sadly only in Japan. I think for the Japanese it must have been like the Amiga in Europe - one system that declassed anything existing by a decade and stood unmatched three times longer than any other system before and after, because of it's immensely innovative design. These systems will obviously remain unmatched forever, as today there's only a mere iterative progress in IT, since in regards of research and development such technologies have already surpassed the sweetspot of their 'investment vs. ROI curve many years, ago.

[@ClaudRodr]

I own a big collection of Japanese hardware from that era and have a Sharp X68000 XVI Red Zone (can run at 24MHz) and it is mind boggling how ahead of the Atari and the Amiga it was (also have these systems). Price wise yes it cost more but Japan was a different place all together at the time with a very strong economy. Even though the machine did cost like 3-4K USD it was not the same as 3-4K in the US due to their much stronger economy/disposable income/buying power. The OSs were also impressive like SX-Windows. The machine to this day is a joy to use and still my all time favourite computer.

[@primus711]

I have a few x68000s and x68030 along with fm towns marty and ur ux aios And yes i have tons of amigas which many been trying to get off my hands like a3000t a4000t even Dave haynie a1200 thats doesn't include all the accelerators etc Also have msx turbo r

[@retrogamestudios6688]

Any chance you got a boot disk u can upload online. I been searching for one a while now

[@NesNyt]

The zuiki unit tease from what my brother says being an American stuck in Japan for 20 years was a possible train simulator joystick and a "like" poll to see how people would feel if a mini 68000 became a sale unit. The hardoff he usually goes to outside of akihabara checked out their incoming future releases for sharp/mini consoles and has a mini remake question marked for q3 2024 but it could be for anything from a pocket organizer remake to a x68000 mini. He said sharp was huge into the wizard line of pda/scheduler pocket computers in the 80s/90s and they had like 16k of storage back then but they were monster sellers and they do see remakes of pocket products like those from sharp especially because they really are inquired about and they flip used models frequently. who knows maybe youll turn up to be right. Ill be waiting for the order now link to load lol.....but dont expect usa to get one on store shelves it's not known enough outside the retro realm

[@mrsejanoz523]

That last fact truly was surprising! Here's hoping the rumors end up being true!

[@TheLairdsLair]

It was confirmed just yesterday apparently!

[@mrsejanoz523]

@@TheLairdsLair AWESOME!!!

[@ValentinesEve1996]

@@TheLairdsLair Do you have the source to prove it’s confirmation?

[@TheLairdsLair]

The Zuiki Twitter, which I mentioned/showed in this video - you have to use Google translate though!

[@StraightcheD]

All amazing really, but I just have to comment how kick ass the music in these games are. Love those audio chips as well.

[@10p6]

Nice video. It is amazing that it did not get 3 1/2 inch FDD's until 1992 though.

[@TheLairdsLair]

Yeah, I found that pretty incredible!

[@reagandow850]

Just awesome!! I’ll be importing that X6800 mini the moment it goes on sale. I had just found out about it earlier this week and am excited beyond belief that it may come to fruition.

[@AppliedCryogenics]

It's funny to me that they use King Tut as their spokesmodel, just as the Amiga did. (The Amiga ads used an actual DPaint screenshot though, unlike the poor mock-up in that X68000 commercial.)

[@TheLairdsLair]

As I was saying to somebody else, it seemed to be a running theme as it was used in advertising for the Apple II GS and SAM Coupe too.

[@AppliedCryogenics]

@@TheLairdsLair Oh that's right, I do remember it for Apple IIgs.. But the zeitgeist at that time for me was a "hey we can do it too" ... But I don't know if I would have felt that way about the X68 commercial since they just used a video overlay for their tut rather than the real machine.

[@ridiculous_gaming]

Being a X68000 fan, and the fact that original hardware is rare and pricey, the Sharp mini would be amazing thing to own.

[@TheLairdsLair]

Yeah, I'd love to get one!

[@ValentinesEve1996]

Can’t wait for the X68000Z Limited Edition!! 😃

[@techkev140]

I have had a fascination with the X68000, after having guess what, an Amiga and Atari ST. I think it's a 68K CPU thing. Although I'm not so sure, i had a ZX Spectrum and i find watching Commodore 64 repair vids amazing as i learn about the system, 8-bit Z80 vs 6502. CPU aside i think it is really that additional hardware in the X68000 and what it can do that is of interest. The only Sharp product i ever owned was a portable Hi-Fi with detachable speakers, that served me for over a decade.

[@kildogery]

Sharp was such an innovative company. Shame how they've ended up

[@retro_reflections]

An X68K mini? If that comes to fruition, then sign me right up!

[@TheLairdsLair]

It was confirmed yesterday apparently! Good timing with this video!

[@Pon3TorLord]

As a fan of the 5th and 6th generations of video game consoles, the SharpX68000 is something I know I would enjoy having in my collection. That Castlevania exclusive looks awesome, that's mostly why I want the 68000. Sadly it's out of reach for me with it's rarity and high price point on the second hand market. The Neo Geo isn't as expensive on eBay as this, that's crazy.

[@retrogamestudios6688]

How high are u seeing prices on it

[@retrogamestudios6688]

The sharp X1 must be the reason that the c11911 TV was created because the color matches not because Nintendo needed a TV with the red on it for the famicom or it never was released and they said hey Nintendo we call it all this you want in

[@TheLairdsLair]

Yep, there is a red Sharp X1 that exactly matches it.

[@RussMichaels]

very cool looking computers, even now.... better looking cases than modern PC's

[@robintst]

I think that's what appeals to me about the X68000, it feels like a Genesis/MD on steroids. And it's physical appearance is a fine example of that high tech Japanese industrial design philosophy seen throughout the 80s.

[@dodgykebaab]

Are you telling me that it’s all going on at Sharp?

[@TheLairdsLair]

Most definitely!

[@iwanttocomplain]

I wonder why sales numbers aren't available.

[@kennethcwh1018]

I am a sega fan and I always wonder if mega drive would be even more successful if it got the same power of x68k 😢

[@909crime]

The reason why people like the X68000 is because we are all deeply in love with the computer's design. The games are extra.

[@cellphonesmartphone7496]

This week was anounced the Sharp X68000 Mini from samefolk from gamegear micro

[@TheLairdsLair]

Guessing you didn't watch the whole video . . . . .

[@chrissyboy7047]

Great video mate. New subscriber here also from the UK. I really hope that we can get a mini here without too much hassle or without being ripped off. I never knew about these back in the day but we didnt exactly have internet and magazines only really covered what was actually available. I already have all the other mini consoles apart from PS mini and NeoGeo mini and would love to add one of these to the collection

[@estebanvillalobos2303]

it was a product of the ridiculous japanese bubble economy, essentially a capcom cps1 in workstation format.

[@joejacobsonwales]

A realy dream computer, I remember it being covered in a magazine (I think it was ACE?) and drolling over what it could do.

[@neilthomas6042]

A funky looking computer.

[@retrogamestudios6688]

Just the fact u put rygar first game I know your the best

[@DosGamerMan]

Missed out so much being stuck in South-Africa. Oh well. Thanks for the video.

[@timdaeleman]

I'm a very proud owner of an X68000 ACE. Still looking forward to the mini! What's top down formula 1 racing game at 5:50?

[@TheLairdsLair]

That's Clear Lap

[@retropalooza]

The x1 is over at last gamers that man who represents small manhood with lots of video games without an insurance policy lol

[@turbinegraphics16]

A few years ago I could have brought an X68000 but didn't because I thought all the games were just arcade conversions you could just play on mame, that was a mistake.

[@TheLairdsLair]

Very big mistake!

[@ghostbombl8034]

Some my friends had this system in US in 80s..

[@dazsly]

Nice video 👍 x86000 mini would be great please!

[@zombee38]

Awesome video ...did you emulate or used original hardware? Which emulator if any? Thank you 💖

[@TheLairdsLair]

I wish I could afford real hardware! XM6 is the best emu out there, there is also a plug-in for MAME now too.

[@atomicskull6405]

Thunder Force II wasn't a conversion it was an X68000 original that was converted to the Megadrive.

[@scottythegreat1]

There are a lot of games that were originally developed for the X68000 and moved over to arcades and the Genesis. It wasnt too hard to switch over to another computer/console that used a 68000 processor and a Yamaha sound chip.

[@RetroJack]

Love it - thank you!

[@PeBoVision]

What an amazing 16 bit system. Would have loved to have had it as a option in the West (on this side of the pond, we really only had the ST or Amiga.) Of course it would have made no difference. Windows 95 would end the alternative OS / non-intel systems (except for Apple - although it did see Apple enter it's wholey unimpressive powerPC era) giving any gaming 16 bit machines a short run regardless of technical prowess. You always manage to demonstrate something new in introducing us to something old. Kudos.

[@ridiculous_gaming]

I always viewed the X68000 as the upgraded Amiga, the improvement Amiga owners waited for.

[@akfreed6949]

Unimpressive PowerPC ? It kicked the overrated POS Wintel JUNK . I remember how crappy the Wintel Pentium start was . There's that one infamous clip of some office worker literally DESTROYING a brand new Pentium computer because all it did was crash .

[@scottythegreat1]

Jack Tramiel did a good job of keeping Japanese computers out of North America and Europe, he had been hurt several times by Japanese companies entering his markets here and tried to emulate them as much as possible to keep them in Japan. However, he started losing his grip after he got ousted from Commodore. Either way, Sharp wouldnt have been able to compete with the Amiga or the ST. Sharp had the best graphics and sound, but it was so expensive that most people wouldnt buy it. Europe had such strong ties with Tramiel (and bought his Atari ST), and North America was still slowly recovering from the video game crash of 1983 that it really took until 1987 before people started to trust the industry again combined with a chip shortage at the time, making electronics so expensive that people werent interested in buying an upper level computer (too expensive).

[@dlfrsilver]

Ekkusu Rokuman Hassen ! :D

[@errollleggo447]

I will always wonder what would have happened to Atari and Commodore sales if they had released this beast outside of Japan with localized languages at a similar price point. Clearly it was superior to the ST and Amiga graphically. There is an emulator kicking around on the internet for it. Edit: Spelling mistake argh!

[@TheLairdsLair]

I don't think there is any way they could have sold it that cheap, it would have just been too costly to really hurt the Amiga/ST. The Archimedes and PC would have probably been its main rivals.

[@FoxbatStargazer]

The Amiga barely went anywhere until it was priced like an ST with the 500. People were never going to pay that much for any home computer.

[@errollleggo447]

@@TheLairdsLair Ouch, $2500-3000 American dollars on release in 1987. Yikes!

[@giornikitop5373]

@@errollleggo447 yeah, the x68000 was never intended to be just a home computer but more like development machine that could also be used for simple home gaming. it was very impressive for its time, but well outside the wallets of average ppl.

[@ShinGoukiSan]

You showed the Capcom CPS 3 instead of the original CPS

[@Jeffrey400]

I want an XVI so bad. :(

[@cellphonesmartphone7496]

Weird is sharp x1 twin with pc-engine built-in the same pc-engine made by nec that made pc-88 and pc-98 . There are NOT a PC-88 or PC-98 with PC-ENGINE built in

[@TheLairdsLair]

Yep, I showed it briefly in the video and was going to talk about it more, but figured it deserved to be covered properly in another video.

[@aibada6594]

Very cool, but do they have exclusive games?

[@TheLairdsLair]

Yeah loads!

[@stemar7x]

Please, what is the name of the game that starts at 17:12?

[@TheLairdsLair]

Arcus Odyssey

[@漢字山田]

X68000Z最近売られてるよ。。😅

[@kurtwinter4422]

Hey Laird. Back in the day, there was a CP/M based Sony workstation in the media department at school, used for titling on video overlays. Ring any bells?

[@TheLairdsLair]

Not sure what that is, I suggest looking on the Old Computers website as you can filter by manufacturer, year, type etc.

[@colinmcdonald2499]

Nice. What was the reason they never sold these in Western markets? Side comment. I recall Apple II GS their 16bit entry also did a lot of marketing with Tutankhamen images. In that case it was a software offering ( I think) .. Maybe something by Broderbund. Very similar to what you showed sharp doing close to the start. Although I am guessing the Sharp was a fair bit more poweful

[@TheLairdsLair]

No idea TBH, that's never been revealed. A lot of companies used that same image, it seemed to be a running theme for home computers. I have seen it used in advertising for the Amiga and SAM Coupe too.

[@giornikitop5373]

high price.

[@scottythegreat1]

@@giornikitop5373 Thats partially accurate. There was little interest in the computer (and video game) industry in the 1980s because of the crash of 1984, so with not enough buyers, there wasnt demand for higher level computers. Most of the Amiga and ST computers were sold in Europe, the C64 kept going in North America. A chip shortage didnt help things either.

[@craigvard1639]

what if Sharp made its console using this technology?

[@TheLairdsLair]

It would have been pretty amazing, but probably too expensive. Very similar to the Neo Geo in many regards.

[@HsienKoMeiLingFormerYANG]

Wouldn’t amazing? What if Nintendo and Sharp work together create new 89’ console.

[@senjourixixavega6131]

A!CASTLEVANIA

[@Archimedes75009]

It's not the most powerful for 3D ... The Archimedes is the winner.

[@gdawwg1125]

so these thigns are basically a amiga copy?

[@TheLairdsLair]

No.

[@ches74]

The Acorn Archimedes is 32bit

[@TheLairdsLair]

Well aware of that, but the A3000 models were still directly competing with the ST and Amiga.

[@quesocoatl21]

Can it play Doom?

[@some_haqr]

Yayy I'm viewer 1000

[@mal-avcisi9783]

which language are this video? but its interessting, wish it would be in english.

[@TheLairdsLair]

All the games are in Japanese, because the the Sharp X68000 is a Japanese system. There is no voiceover and this is an English channel.