Micro Genius

Micro Genius (Chinese: 小天才; pinyin: Xiǎo Tiān Cái; lit. 'Small Genius') is a brand name used for Famicom clone consoles marketed in several countries around the world, particularly in areas where Nintendo consoles were not readily available, including the Middle East, Southeast Asia, South America, Eastern Europe, South Africa and East Asian countries excluding Japan and South Korea. The name was initially and most famously used by TXC Corporation for its range of Taiwanese-made Famicom clones, software and accessories, but later passed to other companies and remains in use today on rebranded Chinese Famicom clones and LCD games.

Micro Genius
小天才
TypePrivate
IndustryVideo games
FoundedLate 1980s
Defunct1994
FateClosed
Headquarters
Taipei
,
Taiwan
ProductsFamiclones (late 1980s–mid 1990s)
Video games (1991–1994)

In some countries during the early 1990s, Micro Genius Famicom clones were the most popular game consoles,[1] mirroring the popularity enjoyed several years earlier by Nintendo's official Famicom and NES in Japan and North America. However, they rarely reached markets where Nintendo was more recognisable, as they often infringed on Nintendo's patents in those regions.[2]

Consoles and accessories

There are several models of the Micro Genius, but the Micro Genius IQ-501 was particularly popular until the official introduction of competitors like Sega and Nintendo in the regions where it was sold.

The games came in form of 60-pin cartridges, identical to those of the Japanese Famicom, which were inserted from the top into a cartridge port.

A standard Micro Genius console package came with two wired controllers and sometimes a light gun. Some models also used an RF antenna to transmit signals wirelessly to a receiver inserted in the TV. Later incarnations came with IR wireless controllers.

Micro Genius consoles include:

  • IQ-201 - an early model resembling the Famicom, with hard-wired controllers
  • IQ-301 - similar to the IQ-201, with the addition of turbo switches
  • IQ-501 - introduces detachable controllers, sold as Dendy Classic in Russia and CIS, Nichi-Man in Colombia, Samurai Micro Genius in India.[3][4]
  • IQ-502 - sold as Dendy Classic II in Russia and CIS, Pegasus IQ-502 in Poland and Czechia,[5] Video Game GT 3300 in Czechia,[6] Super Bitgame in Argentina[7] and Redstone in Iceland.[8]
  • IQ-701 - resembles the international Nintendo Entertainment System. Sold in Indonesia as Spica IQ-701.[9]
  • IQ-901 - an early handheld TV game. Sold as MARgame in Italy.[10][11]
  • IQ-1000 - built-in infra-red receiver, comes with one wireless controller and one wired. Sold in Russia and CIS as Bitman 2[12] and in Indonesia as Spica IQ-1001.[13]
  • IQ-2000 - similar to the IQ-1000 but comes with two wireless controllers. Sold in Russia and CIS as Bitman Infra[12] and in India as Samurai IQ-2000.[3]
  • IQ-201
    IQ-201
  • IQ-301
    IQ-301
  • IQ-501
    IQ-501
  • Nichi-Man (IQ-501)
    Nichi-Man (IQ-501)
  • IQ-901
    IQ-901
  • Micro Genius cartridges
    Micro Genius cartridges

Accessories for other consoles were also sold under the Micro Genius brand, including lightguns and controllers for the original NES, and wireless controllers for the Mega Drive and SNES.

Games

Most versions of Micro Genius are compatible with Famicom cartridges but require a 72-pin to 60-pin adapter to play NES games, although certain models were produced in both 60-pin Famicom and 72-pin NES versions. It was often sold with cartridges containing multiple games. The 60-pin Famicom versions also generally supported expansion audio chips such as Konami's VRC6 and VRC7 making them a more affordable alternative for those in Europe wanting to play Famicom games with expansion audio without making modifications to the console as long as they don't mind 50 Hz slowdown.

A series of original Micro Genius games, such as Chinese Chess and Thunder Warrior, was produced in both Famicom and NES format, but unlicensed copies of Japanese games remained more popular in the countries where the console was sold.

List of games

On the list, all Idea-Tek games were later re-released by the same TXC/Micro Genius.[14][15]

No. Title Original
release		 Notes
1F-15 City War1990Released by Idea-Tek.
2Puzzle1990Released by Idea-Tek.
3Chinese Chess19911) Also known as Zhōngguó Xiàngqí.
2) In some versions the game is misspelled, credited as "Chinese Chese".
4Creatom1991
5Enjoyable Horse Racing[16]19911) Also known as 1991 Du Ma Racing (1991 Dǔ Mǎ Dàsài).
2) Released by Idea-Tek.
6Mahjong Block19911) Released by Idea-Tek; a Mahjong theme version of Poke Block.
2) The game was also released and published (with the addition of nudity) by Hacker International as AV Dragon Mahjang.
7Poke Block19911) Released by Idea-Tek.
2) In 1992, was re-released by TXC and published by American Video Entertainment as Stakk'M.
8Rad Racket: Deluxe Tennis II1991Released by Idea-Tek.
9Venice Beach Volleyball1991Released by Idea-Tek.
10Xiǎo Mǎ Lì19911) Released by Nei-Hu Electronics and distributed by Idea-Tek.
2) Re-released by TXC as Bingo.
11Policeman1992[17]Game similar to Bonanza Bros. by Sega.
12Strike Wolf1992
13Thunder Warrior19921) Also known as Hōng Tiān Zhìzūn.
2) An adapted version was released by Gluk Video as Gluk: The Thunder Warrior.
143-in-1 Super Gun19933 games in 1: Clowr, Snake Charmer, and Shooter.
15Journey to the West19941) Also known as Western Heaven (Xītiān Qǔjīng).
2) Developed by Chengdu Tai Jing Da Dong Computer Co.

See also

References
  1. Ariff, Syed Umar (15 April 2009). "The un-consoled". Johor Streets. NST Online. Archived from the original on 30 December 2010. Retrieved 19 August 2010.
  2. Radakrishnan, G (1991). "Nintendo takes action against infringers". IP Asia. Shomei Ltd. 4.
  3. "Video". www.youtube.com. Archived from the original on 2021-12-22. Retrieved 2020-12-12.
  4. "Microgenius IQ 501 - Ultimate Console Database". ultimateconsoledatabase.com. Retrieved 2023-07-23.
  5. "Photo". www.oldgames.sk. Retrieved 2020-12-12.
  6. "Photo" (PDF). www.oldgames.sk. Retrieved 2020-12-12.
  7. "Bitgame". Dos Posibilidades Para la Misma Aventura (12): 4–5.
  8. "Dagblaðið Vísir - DV - Jólagjafahandbók (04.12.1991) - Tímarit.is".
  9. "Micro Genius IQ 701 - Ultimate Console Database at ultimateconsoledatabase.com". ultimateconsoledatabase.com. Retrieved 2023-07-23.
  10. "'Margame'". August 2018.
  11. "Micro Genius 901 - Ultimate Console Database at ultimateconsoledatabase.com". ultimateconsoledatabase.com. Retrieved 2023-07-23.
  12. "20th Century Video Games".
  13. "Micro Genius IQ 1000 - Ultimate Console Database at ultimateconsoledatabase.com". ultimateconsoledatabase.com. Retrieved 2023-07-23.
  14. Idea-Tek and TXC Corp.
  15. Gluk: Los Juegos del Naranjito
  16. Enjoyable Horse Racing << Famicom World
  17. Gluk: Los Juegos del Naranjito
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