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Micro Genius
小天才

Company type	Private
Industry	Video games
Founded	Late 1980s
Defunct	1994
Fate	Closed
Headquarters	Taipei, Taiwan
Products	Famiclones (late 1980s–mid 1990s) Video games (1991–1994)

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.

In some countries during the early 1990s, Micro Genius Famicom clones were the most popular game consoles, 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.

Quebec

Micro-Genius versions of Famicom games were a large part of the gaming market in Quebec throughout 1989-1990, with dozens of games selling thousands of copies in flea markets, independent game stores, and video game rental stores. Notably, Micro-Genius' version of Super Mario Bros 3 was sold extensively throughout Quebec for months ahead of its officiel North American NES release. Montreal was described as a major international thoroughfare for Micro-Genius sales, with a network of Taiwanese importers acting as a distribution nexus for Micro-Genius games. This culminated in Nintendo issuing injuctions against 68 retailers, and the Sureté du Québec seizing several tens of thousands of Micro-Genius cassettes in December 1990, as part of a crackdown on the import and sale of illicit Micro-Genius games from Taiwan. As a result of this extensive market history, Micro-Genius games have become a prized collector's item especially in Quebec.

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.
• IQ-502 - sold as Dendy Classic II in Russia and CIS, Pegasus IQ-502 in Poland and Czechia, Video Game GT 3300 in Czechia, Super Bitgame in Argentina and Redstone in Iceland.
• IQ-701 - resembles the international Nintendo Entertainment System. Sold in Indonesia as Spica IQ-701.
• IQ-901 - an early handheld TV game. Sold as MARgame in Italy.
• IQ-1000 - built-in infra-red receiver, comes with one wireless controller and one wired. Sold in Russia and CIS as Bitman 2 and in Indonesia as Spica IQ-1001.
• IQ-2000 - similar to the IQ-1000 but comes with two wireless controllers. Sold in Russia and CIS as Bitman Infra and in India as Samurai IQ-2000.

• IQ-201
• IQ-301
• IQ-501
• Nichi-Man (IQ-501)
• IQ-901
• 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.

See also

• Nintendo
• Nintendo Entertainment System hardware clone

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. 4. Shomei Ltd.
3. "Les cartouches pirates, un fléau de la NES au Canada" [Pirate cartridges, the bane of the NES in Canada]. Noir Magnétique (in French). 2 February 2016. Retrieved 7 November 2023.
4. ^ "Video". www.youtube.com. Archived from the original on 2021-12-22. Retrieved 2020-12-12.
5. "Microgenius IQ 501 - Ultimate Console Database". ultimateconsoledatabase.com. Retrieved 2023-07-23.
6. "Photo". www.oldgames.sk. Retrieved 2020-12-12.
7. "Photo" (PDF). www.oldgames.sk. Retrieved 2020-12-12.
8. "Bitgame". Dos Posibilidades Para la Misma Aventura (12): 4–5.
9. "Dagblaðið Vísir - DV - Jólagjafahandbók (04.12.1991) - Tímarit.is".
10. "Micro Genius IQ 701 - Ultimate Console Database at ultimateconsoledatabase.com". ultimateconsoledatabase.com. Retrieved 2023-07-23.
11. "'Margame'". August 2018.
12. "Micro Genius 901 - Ultimate Console Database at ultimateconsoledatabase.com". ultimateconsoledatabase.com. Retrieved 2023-07-23.
13. ^ "20th Century Video Games".
14. "Micro Genius IQ 1000 - Ultimate Console Database at ultimateconsoledatabase.com". ultimateconsoledatabase.com. Retrieved 2023-07-23.
15. Idea-Tek and TXC Corp.
16. Gluk: Los Juegos del Naranjito
17. Enjoyable Horse Racing << Famicom World
18. Gluk: Los Juegos del Naranjito

External links

• Famicom Clones

• Unlicensed Nintendo Entertainment System hardware clones
• Video game companies of Taiwan
• Companies based in Taipei
• Taiwanese brands