The Jupiter Ace as a games machine?

The Jupiter Ace was a commercial failure but if history had been different and it had launched earlier, could it have been a success as a 1980s games machine? I go in search of an answer.
Disassembly by Paul Farrow of the original 3D Monster Maze is here: www.fruitcake.plus.com/Sinclai...
3D Monster Maze for the Jupiter Ace is available here: github.com/markgbeckett/jupit...

[@mikeprice2311]

Impressive that you found one with the rivets intact and all the original cables. My dad had one and showed it to me when I was but a wee lad, but I recognise that red stripe on the power cord anywhere. Sadly the machine got chucked out during a house move, something I'm sure he wouldn't have done if he realised how rare they'd become. Nice to see one in action again anyway.

[@michaelturner4457]

The wafer-thin vacuum formed enclosure and plastic rivets looks very similar to the ZX-80.

[@cullmaster7361]

Great Vid. Had seen these advertised in Popular Computing weekly in the early 80’s. Never seen one in the flesh nor seen one working. Thanks 👍🏻

[@wrangleramiga896]

Glad you enjoyed it

[@kevinthorpe8420]

At school I and a friend wrote a credible version of Scramble for the beast. Sadly we "ate" the stack during the game (If you know Forth you'll understand) so you had to reload from tape to start over. I have a massive itch to use forth to this day from this lovely little beast.

[@wrangleramiga896]

Do you still have that game? Would be interesting to try it!

[@vasenkasi4846]

The rubber probably isn't conductive, but the blocks in side the keys are conductive graphite that shorts the PCB meshes.

[@VladislavKusmin]

I've never even heard of this computer. Thanks for the informative video

[@wrangleramiga896]

Glad you liked it!

[@alogie]

Excellent stuff. I'd love to get one of these, but they're very rare and very expensive. Thanks for giving us the next best thing.

[@wrangleramiga896]

Glad you liked it!

[@rog2224]

I saw one in London in 1982 - late October or early November. It felt anachronistic.

[@mirkovragovic]

This computer falls into the category "What were they thinking"😂

[@remaincalm2]

I'm not sure why 2 people who had worked on the ZX81 and Spectrum would create a new computer that isn't as appealing. That doesn't make sense from a business or end user perspective. Perhaps they encountered engineering or investment issues that held them back and they just rushed out what they had hoping they'd raise enough income from sales to make a significantly better mark II. An interesting video, thank you.

[@winstonsmith478]

Wow, only 5000 units sold.

[@anticat900]

I had the later version the 4000 with a better case, with hindsight i should of kept it is worth £1000's now :-(. I think it was ok, better than a zx81 though more of a tool to learn Forth on than anything else.