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History of video games/Platforms/Merlin

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  • Merlin playing a game of Magic Square.
    Merlin playing a game of Magic Square.

History[edit | edit source]

The Beverly Common in historic Beverly, Massachusetts. Parker Brothers had moved their headquarters to Beverly, Massachusetts in 1977 - right before the launch of the Merlin.[1]

Development[edit | edit source]

The Merlin was developed by former NASA employee Dr. Bob Doyle and his astrophysicist wife Dr. Holly Doyle in the 1970's.[2][3][4] In 1977 Bob Doyle was working on an electronic tic tac toe game, but was told by a marketing employee to make something that wasn't boring.[5] The case was designed by Arthur Venditti, who had also named the Nerf Ball.[5][6]

Speaking to Washington Post reporter Tom Zito in 1978, Robert Doyle lamented not having long term storage for the Merlin due to the limitations of technology at the time.[7] Doyle also hoped to use voice activated technology in the future.[7] Reporter Tom Zito himself would later work on the Control Vision console.[8]

Launch[edit | edit source]

The Merlin was launched by Parker Brothers in 1978.[3] The Merlin cost $25 dollars[9] or $35 dollars.[10] In 1979 the Merlin continued to sell well.[11]

In 1982 the Master Merlin was launched.[12] In 1996 the screen based system Merlin, the 10th quest was released.[13] A smaller, more power efficient Merlin was released in 2004.[14]

Technology[edit | edit source]

The Merlin is powered by a 4 bit Texas Instruments TMS1100 processor.[5][15][16] When ordered in bulk, the TMS1000 was inexpensive, and cost around $2.[17]

The Merlin has 48 bytes of RAM and two kilobytes of ROM.[7][5]

System Gallery[edit | edit source]

  • A 1978 Merlin Electronic Wizard.
    A 1978 Merlin Electronic Wizard.
  • A 1982 Master Merlin.
    A 1982 Master Merlin.
  • A Commemorative Gold Merlin mounted on a plaque.
    A Commemorative Gold Merlin mounted on a plaque.
  • A TMS1100 microcontroller in a Merlin. Red display LEDs can be seen.
    A TMS1100 microcontroller in a Merlin. Red display LEDs can be seen.

External Resources[edit | edit source]

Wikipedia has related information at Merlin (console)

Wikimedia Commons has media related to: Merlin (game)

References[edit | edit source]

  1. ↑ Forman, Ethan. "Brokers look to reposition former Parker Brothers building". Salem News. Retrieved 2 December 2020.
  2. ↑ Datamation. Technical Publishing Company. Retrieved 3 December 2020.
  3. ↑ a b "Handheld video game:Merlin: The Electronic Wizard - Parker Brothers". Google Arts & Culture. Retrieved 11 November 2020.
  4. ↑ Thompson, Jacqueline. Future Rich: The People, Companies, and Industries Creating America's Next Fortunes. W. Morrow. ISBN 978-0-688-04039-0. Retrieved 3 December 2020.
  5. ↑ a b c d "Xconomy: Bob Doyle and the Magic of Merlin, the First Mobile Game - Page 2 of 2". Xconomy. 28 February 2014. Retrieved 12 November 2020.
  6. ↑ "Obituary of Arthur Venditti Conway, Cahill-Brodeur Funeral Homes". ccbfuneral.com. Retrieved 12 November 2020.
  7. ↑ a b c Zito, Tom (19 December 1978). "Wired-Up Wizards". Washington Post. Retrieved 12 November 2020.
  8. ↑ Noble, Barbara Presley (20 December 1992). "At Work; Here's a Switch -- Keep the Job (Published 1992)". The New York Times. Retrieved 12 November 2020.
  9. ↑ "Interview: Ben Herman, former SNK Playmore USA president". Retrieved 20 November 2020.
  10. ↑ The Washingtonian. Washington Magazine, Incorporated. Retrieved 3 December 2020.
  11. ↑ New Products and Processes. Newsweek, Incorporated. Retrieved 3 December 2020.
  12. ↑ Muir, John Kenneth (2 September 2016). "The Electronic Wizard: Remembering MERLIN (Parker Bros; 1978)". Flashbak. Retrieved 12 November 2020.
  13. ↑ "Parker Brothers Merlin, The 10th Quest". www.handheldmuseum.com. Retrieved 12 November 2020.
  14. ↑ S, Scott. "Milton Bradley's Merlin:The Electronic Wizard". Retrieved 12 November 2020.
  15. ↑ "Dave From EEVBlog Takes A Look At The Merlin Game From 1978!". Xadara. 7 August 2018. Retrieved 12 November 2020.
  16. ↑ "The TMS1000: The First Commercially Available Microcontroller". Hackaday. 18 February 2020. Retrieved 12 November 2020.
  17. ↑ "The Chip Collection - STATE OF THE ART - Smithsonian Institution". smithsonianchips.si.edu. Retrieved 12 November 2020.
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