The Super A'can is a home video game console released in 1995 exclusively in Taiwan by Funtech/Dunhuang Technology and People's Republic of China by Sino Wealth Electronic Ltd. It is based around the Motorola 68000 microchip, which is also used in the Sega Genesis and Neo Geo. Twelve games have been confirmed to exist for the system.
Commercial performance The Super A'Can failed because its initial costs were too high for customers. It had no chance to compete with fifth generation video game consoles, such as the PlayStation, the Nintendo 64 and the Sega Saturn, all of which had 3D graphics. The Super A'Can performed poorly enough that it lost its company, Funtech, over $6 million USD. In the end, Funtech destroyed all equipment from production and development of the system, and sold off all remaining systems to the United States as scrap parts.
Technical specifications
CPU Motorola 68000 clocked at 10.738635 MHz Memory 64 Kb Work RAM, 32 Kb Secondary RAM, 128 Kb VRAM, clocked at CPU speed Graphics UMC UM6618 displaying 256 out of a possible 32,768 colors at 320×240 resolution. Max sprite size of 256×256px, up to 40 sprites on line, with 16 or 256 colors per sprite. Supports zooming, rotating, and mosaic effects. Audio UMC UM6619 outputting stereo 16-track PCM Cartridge Max size of 112 Mib, with built-in SRAM of 16-64 KiB Control pad inputsTwo DE-9M (9-pin male D-connectors) on front of console, identical to those of the Sega Genesis/Mega Drive (though not compatible with Genesis/Mega Drive control pads) Controller IC has identical timing to Super Nintendo/Super Famicom with the exception of the Select and Start are swapped. A/V Output RF, composite video/RCA audio. Later models removed the RF output to reduce costs.
Peripherals A CD-ROM attachment (similar to Sega's Mega-CD add-on), and a CPU/Graphics upgrade (similar to Sega's 32X add-on) were planned but unreleased.
List of games Released # Serial number Title AKA title(s) Developer(s) Genre Release year 1 F008 African Adventures 1) Fēizhōu Tànxiǎn 2) Monopoly: Adventure in Africa Panda Entertainment Puzzle 1995 2 F006 C.U.G. 1) Xī Yóujì2) Journey to the Laugh Funtech Platform 1995 3 F001 Formosa Duel Fú Ěr Mó Shā Dà Duìjué AV Artisan Puzzle 1995 4 F002 Sango Fighter Sānguózhì Wǔjiàng Zhēngbà Panda Entertainment Fighting 1995 5 F003 The Son of Evil Xié'è Zhīzǐ Funtech RPG 1995 6 F004 Speedy Dragon 1) Yīnsù Fēilóng2) Sonic Dragon AV Artisan Platform 1995 7 F005 Super Taiwanese Baseball League Chāojí Zhōnghuá Zhí Bàng Liánméng Quan Wei Technology/C&E Sports 1995 8 F011 Boom Zoo 1) Bào Bào Dòngwùyuán2) Explosive Burst Zoo Funtech Action 1996 9 F009 Gambling Lord Dǔ Bà Panda Entertainment/Funtech Mahjong 1996 10 F012 REBEL 1) Pàn Xīng2) Rebel Star Horng Shen Information Co., Ltd RPG 1996 11 F007 Super Dragon Force 1) Chāojí Guāngmíng Zhàn Shǐ2) Super Light Saga: Dragon Force Kingformation Co., Ltd. RPG 1996 12 F010 Magical Pool Mó Bàng Zhuàngqiú Funtech Sports 1996
Unreleased # Title AKA title(s) Developer(s) Genre Notes 1 Journey to the Center of the Earth 地心歷險 Tai Ruan Technology Action RPG ---- 2 Cat Ball Defense Team 貓球防衛隊 AV Artisan Shoot 'em up ---- 3 Birdcage Yard 鳥籠院 Funtech Action ---- 4 Lightning Mobile Unit 雷霆機動隊 Fun Yours Entertainment Shoot 'em up ---- 5 Dinosaur War 恐龍戰記 Funtech Simulation ---- 6 A Q Lian Huan Pao 阿Q連環炮 C&E ETC - Trivia/Game Show? Later released on Sega Genesis 7 Romance of Bōsōzoku 暴走族之戀 Funtech Single-player game ---- 8 Woman Guerrillero 王八妹 AV Artisan Shoot 'em up ---- 9 Hero Saga 英 雄戰記 Dynasty International Information Co. RPG ---- 10 Happy Zoo 快樂動物園 Stone General Computer ETC ---- 11 Demon Island 惡魔島 Jackbean Information Co. Action ----
References
A'can: An ill-fated console from Taiwan (English subtitled). YouTube. October 25, 2017. PakuPakuStory Blog - Super A'can
External links Fan site (via archive.org) Video Game Console Library page Super A'Can games playable for free in the browser at the Internet Archive Console Living Room