The Super Cassette Vision is a third-generation home console released by Epoch Co. in Japan in 1984.
Spec Table
| Spec | Value |
|---|---|
| Maker | Epoch Co. |
| Type | Home console |
| Generation | 3rd generation |
| Release Date | Japan: 1984; Europe: 1984 |
| Launch Price | Not documented |
| Units Sold | 300,000 |
| Media | ROM cartridge |
| CPU | NEC µPD7801G 8-bit microcontroller @ 4 MHz |
| Predecessor / Successor | Cassette Vision / None |
History
Epoch released the Super Cassette Vision in Japan in 1984, positioning it as a direct replacement for the original Cassette Vision, which had dominated roughly 70% of the Japanese home console market only a few years earlier. That earlier dominance collapsed quickly once Nintendo’s Family Computer arrived in July 1983 with arcade-quality conversions like Donkey Kong, a leap in fidelity the older Cassette Vision hardware simply could not match. Epoch’s answer was a genuinely upgraded machine: an NEC µPD7801G microcontroller running at 4 MHz, 4 KB of video RAM, and a 16-color display capable of showing 128 monochrome sprites at once, a considerable jump over its predecessor’s capabilities.
Despite the hardware improvement, the Super Cassette Vision entered a market already reshaped by the Famicom’s early lead and further crowded by Sega’s SG-1000, released the same week as the Famicom. Epoch’s library grew to roughly 30 released titles, including arcade ports such as Mappy and Pole Position II alongside original games like Dragon Ball and Doraemon, but the console never regained the commanding market share Epoch had briefly held with its first system. It stands among the shorter-lived entries of the third console generation.
In 1985, Epoch tried to widen its audience with the Super Lady Cassette Vision, a pink-cased variant marketed toward young female players and bundled with the game Milky Princess. The repackaging did not change the console’s trajectory, and the variant is remembered today mainly as a curiosity of 1980s console marketing rather than a commercial turning point. At least three developed titles, including Black Hole and Super Derby, never saw release before Epoch wound down the line.
By 1987, Epoch had sold approximately 300,000 Super Cassette Vision units and exited the home console business entirely, turning its attention to other toy and electronics lines. The system’s brief European run, distributed in France under the Yeno brand, brought a further handful of localized titles to market but did little to extend the console’s commercial life. Its short, roughly three-year run makes it one of the more obscure consoles of the mid-1980s home console boom, remembered chiefly by Japanese hardware collectors.
Library Highlights
The Super Cassette Vision’s small library leaned heavily on arcade conversions and licensed characters, giving the console a handful of recognizable titles despite its short commercial run.
- Boulder Dash
- Mappy
- Pole Position II
- Dragon Ball
- Doraemon
- Milky Princess
- Black Hole
- Super Derby
Variants
Epoch released one notable hardware variant, the Super Lady Cassette Vision, in 1985. It reused the same internal hardware as the standard model but shipped in pink casing with gendered marketing aimed at young female consumers, bundled with the exclusive title Milky Princess. The variant failed to find a commercial audience and was Epoch’s only attempt to re-brand the system for a different market segment. See the full Epoch manufacturer hub for the company’s other console releases.
Collector Value
The Super Cassette Vision is scarce outside Japan, and its limited production run of roughly 300,000 units means complete, working examples turn up far less often than better-known 1980s consoles. Loose consoles and cartridges occasionally surface through Japanese import sellers, but boxed units with manuals intact command a real premium among collectors of obscure hardware. Because the system never had an official North American release, most listings come from Japanese or French (Yeno-branded) stock, so buyers should expect import shipping costs and non-English cartridge labeling as the norm rather than the exception.
Buying Guide
Because the Super Cassette Vision was never sold in North America, always confirm a seller is including the correct Japanese or Yeno-branded power supply and RF cable, since substitutes are hard to find and voltage mismatches can damage the console. Check the cartridge slot’s connector pins for corrosion or wear before buying, and ask whether the unit has been tested with a game rather than simply powered on. Given how few of these consoles were made, expect to pay import shipping and be patient waiting for listings to appear.
FAQs
When did the Super Cassette Vision come out?
The Super Cassette Vision launched in Japan in 1984, with a European release the same year under the Yeno brand in France.
How many units did the Super Cassette Vision sell?
The Super Cassette Vision sold approximately 300,000 units before Epoch discontinued it and exited the console market in 1987.
What CPU does the Super Cassette Vision use?
It uses an NEC µPD7801G 8-bit microcontroller running at 4 MHz.
What console came before the Super Cassette Vision?
The Super Cassette Vision succeeded Epoch’s original Cassette Vision, which had briefly dominated the Japanese home console market before losing ground to newer competitors.
Was there a variant of the Super Cassette Vision?
Yes. Epoch released the Super Lady Cassette Vision in 1985, a pink-cased edition marketed to young female consumers and bundled with the game Milky Princess, though it did not sell well.
Sources
Facts on this page last verified 2026-07-15.