HyperScan
Encyclopedia
HyperScan is a video game console
from Mattel
. It uses Radio Frequency Identification
(RFID) technology along with traditional video game technology. It was marketed toward boys between the ages of five to nine who were not ready for high-end video games in terms of maturity or expense, though ironically the included game was rated T by the ESRB. The console used UDF
format CD-ROMs. The HyperScan has two controller ports, as well as a 13.56 MHz RFID scanner that reads and writes to the "cards" which, in turn, activate features in and save data from the game. Players are able to enhance the abilities of their characters by scanning cards. Games retailed for $19.99 and the console itself for $69.99 at launch, but at the end of its very short lifespan, prices of the system were down to $9.99, the games $1.99, and booster packs $0.99.
The system was sold in two varieties, a cube box, and a 2-player value pack. The cube box version was the version sold in stores. It included the system, controller, an X-Men
game disc, and 6 X-Men cards. Two player value packs were sold online (but may have been liquidated in stores) and included an extra controller and 12 additional X-Men cards.
The system was discontinued in 2007, shortly after its release, and is featured as one of the ten worst systems ever by PC World
magazine.
The RFID tag silicon for the contactless game cards, and the RFID tag and reader designs were provided by Innovision Research and Technology plc, a fabless semiconductor design house
based in the UK which specializes in RFID systems and chip design.
The X-Men game is a fighting game
in which two characters face off against each other in self-contained matches. Marvel Heroes, which includes some X-Men characters, is a side-scroller, adventure quest.
UART, I²C
, SPI etc.
Composite Video Output (SoC supports TFT display, but the HS does not use it)
16 MB SDRAM System Ram
640×480 Native Resolution
65,535 colors (RGB 565 mode)
RFID Scanner (13.56 MHz)
RFID Storage: 96 bytes of user memory + 8 bytes unique ID + 6 bytes of one time programmable memory
Video game console
A video game console is an interactive entertainment computer or customized computer system that produces a video display signal which can be used with a display device to display a video game...
from Mattel
Mattel
Mattel, Inc. is the world's largest toy company based on revenue. The products it produces include Fisher Price, Barbie dolls, Hot Wheels and Matchbox toys, Masters of the Universe, American Girl dolls, board games, and, in the early 1980s, video game consoles. The company's name is derived from...
. It uses Radio Frequency Identification
Radio Frequency Identification
Radio-frequency identification is a technology that uses radio waves to transfer data from an electronic tag, called RFID tag or label, attached to an object, through a reader for the purpose of identifying and tracking the object. Some RFID tags can be read from several meters away and beyond the...
(RFID) technology along with traditional video game technology. It was marketed toward boys between the ages of five to nine who were not ready for high-end video games in terms of maturity or expense, though ironically the included game was rated T by the ESRB. The console used UDF
Universal Disk Format
Universal Disk Format is an implementation of the specification known as ISO/IEC 13346 and ECMA-167 and is an open vendor-neutral file system for computer data storage for a broad range of media. In practice, it has been most widely used for DVDs and newer optical disc formats, supplanting ISO 9660...
format CD-ROMs. The HyperScan has two controller ports, as well as a 13.56 MHz RFID scanner that reads and writes to the "cards" which, in turn, activate features in and save data from the game. Players are able to enhance the abilities of their characters by scanning cards. Games retailed for $19.99 and the console itself for $69.99 at launch, but at the end of its very short lifespan, prices of the system were down to $9.99, the games $1.99, and booster packs $0.99.
The system was sold in two varieties, a cube box, and a 2-player value pack. The cube box version was the version sold in stores. It included the system, controller, an X-Men
X-Men
The X-Men are a superhero team in the . They were created by writer Stan Lee and artist Jack Kirby, and first appeared in The X-Men #1...
game disc, and 6 X-Men cards. Two player value packs were sold online (but may have been liquidated in stores) and included an extra controller and 12 additional X-Men cards.
The system was discontinued in 2007, shortly after its release, and is featured as one of the ten worst systems ever by PC World
PC World (magazine)
PC World is a global computer magazine published monthly by IDG. It offers advice on various aspects of PCs and related items, the Internet, and other personal-technology products and services...
magazine.
The RFID tag silicon for the contactless game cards, and the RFID tag and reader designs were provided by Innovision Research and Technology plc, a fabless semiconductor design house
Fabless semiconductor company
A fabless semiconductor company specializes in the design and sale of hardware devices and semiconductor chips while outsourcing the fabrication or "fab" of the devices to a specialized manufacturer called a semiconductor foundry...
based in the UK which specializes in RFID systems and chip design.
Games
Five games are known to be released for the HyperScan. The released games are X-Men, Ben 10, Interstellar Wrestling League, Marvel Heroes, and Spider-Man. A sixth game called Avatar the Last Airbender was announced and may have been released in small quantities. There was going to be a seventh game called Nick Extreme Sports but it was cancelled.The X-Men game is a fighting game
Fighting game
Fighting game is a video game genre where the player controls an on-screen character and engages in close combat with an opponent. These characters tend to be of equal power and fight matches consisting of several rounds, which take place in an arena. Players must master techniques such as...
in which two characters face off against each other in self-contained matches. Marvel Heroes, which includes some X-Men characters, is a side-scroller, adventure quest.
Homebrew
Recently the HyperScan game system has been experiencing development from ppcasm and another user, Wickeycolumbus. Ppcasm has developed ways to run his own program code on the Hyperscan system and is providing access to the homebrew community. An example of this can be seen via the 'Hello World' demo video released March 7, 2009, by tearsofash.Hardware Specifications
Sunplus SPG290 SoCSystem-on-a-chip
A system on a chip or system on chip is an integrated circuit that integrates all components of a computer or other electronic system into a single chip. It may contain digital, analog, mixed-signal, and often radio-frequency functions—all on a single chip substrate...
UART, I²C
I²C
I²C is a multi-master serial single-ended computer bus invented by Philips that is used to attach low-speed peripherals to a motherboard, embedded system, cellphone, or other electronic device. Since the mid 1990s, several competitors I²C ("i-squared cee" or "i-two cee"; Inter-Integrated Circuit;...
, SPI etc.
Composite Video Output (SoC supports TFT display, but the HS does not use it)
16 MB SDRAM System Ram
640×480 Native Resolution
65,535 colors (RGB 565 mode)
RFID Scanner (13.56 MHz)
RFID Storage: 96 bytes of user memory + 8 bytes unique ID + 6 bytes of one time programmable memory