# History of video games/Platforms/Etch-A-Sketch Animator 2000
## History
### Background

Ohio Art is a company based in Bryan, a small community in northwest Ohio. The company had begun to experiement with an electronic Etch-A-Sketch when they released the original Etch-A-Skech animator, a device capable of 12 frames of animations, in 1986. The system retailed for $139.99 and cartridges cost $29.99. It's important to note that the original Etch-A-Sketch animator was essentially a digital version of the analog Etch-A-Sketch, and as purely an art and animation device it did not play games.

### Development

Development of the Etch-A-Sketch Animator 2000 began in 1987. In 1988 Ohio Art received a patent for the original Etch-A-Sketch Animator.

### Launch

The Etch-A-Sketch Animator 2000 launched in 1988.

### Legacy

The Etch-A-Sketch Animator 2000 was not a success and production ended by 1990.
A TV plug and play system, the Etch-A-Sketch ETO was launched in 2004 for $35. The Ohio Art Company would later work on a different system, the K-Magic

## Technology
### Compute

The Etch-A-Sketch Animator was advertised as having "196K memory", as well as having "30 functions".
22 images could be stored in the Etch-A-Sketch Animator 2000, and 99 animation frames using those pictures could be saved. A memory cartridge was available to expand storage.

### Hardware

The Etch-A-Sketch Animator 2000 has a black and white LCD with a resolution of 60 pixels by 40 pixels.
The Etch-A-Sketch Animator 2000 has a touch pad and stylus.
The Etch-A-Sketch Animator 2000 uses six AA batteries.
The system was protected by a styrofoam shell while in its box.
The system was made in the USA with some parts sourced from Hong Kong and Japan.

### Original Etch-A-Sketch Animator Specs

The original Etch-A-Sketch Animator has a 4-bit Sanyo LC6523 microcontroller, two kilobytes of RAM, and an LCD screen with a resolution of 40 by 30 pixels.

## Game Library

Three games were released for the Etch-A-Sketch Animator 2000.
* Putt-Nuts - 18 hole Mini golf game. Has a two player mode.
* Flyby - Flight simulator. Todd Marshall worked on this game.
* Overdrive - Racing game.

## Gallery

* The Etch-A-Sketch Animator 2000
* A racing game cartridge for the Etch-A-Sketch Animator 2000.
* The original 1986 Etch-A-Sketch Animator.

## References

* ↑ "History of Ohio Art Company Metal Lithography Ohio Art Company". Retrieved 16 November 2020.
* ↑ "Disappointing Gifts, 1986 Edition: The Etch A Sketch Animator". TechCrunch. Retrieved 16 November 2020.
* ↑ "Significant dates in Etch A Sketch history". The Blade. Retrieved 16 November 2020.
* 1 2 Magazines, Hearst. Popular Mechanics. Hearst Magazines. p. 27. Retrieved 16 November 2020.
* ↑ Belkin, Lisa (25 December 1986). "FOR ONCE, A CALM TOY SEASON (Published 1986)". The New York Times. https://www.nytimes.com/1986/12/25/business/for-once-a-calm-toy-season.html.
* 1 2 3 4 5 "Etch A Sketch invented by Arthur Granjean in year 1959". targetstudy.com. Retrieved 16 November 2020.
* ↑ "Etch A Sketch!". hlflegal.com. Retrieved 16 November 2020.
* ↑ "Electronic sketching device". 13 December 1985. Retrieved 16 November 2020.
* ↑ "ELECTRIFYING GIFTS & GIZMOS: FOR KIDS, TOYS THAT TEACH" (in en). search.proquest.com (Philadelphia Inquirer). November 24, 1988. https://search.proquest.com/docview/1833082226?pq-origsite=summon. Retrieved 19 November 2020.
* ↑ "A Revival for Makers of Classic Toys (Published 1988)". The New York Times. 9 March 1988. https://www.nytimes.com/1988/03/09/business/a-revival-for-makers-of-classic-toys.html.
* ↑ "History of The Ohio Art Company – FundingUniverse". www.fundinguniverse.com. Retrieved 16 November 2020.
* ↑ Zipern, Andrew (12 August 2004). "NEWS WATCH: TOYS; A Classic Pad Goes Digital, But Is It Shakable? (Published 2004)". The New York Times. Retrieved 16 November 2020.
* ↑ "Etch-A-Sketch Animator ilovethe80s.com". ilovethe80s.com. Retrieved 16 November 2020.
* 1 2 3 4 "A closer look at the Ohio Art Etch A Sketch Animator 2000 Family Entertainment System". Imgur. Retrieved 16 November 2020.
* ↑ "BACK TO THE FUTURE: The Gadget Show closes at - ProQuest". search.proquest.com. Retrieved 19 November 2020.
* ↑ "English: My Etch A Sketch Animator 2000". 21 January 2013. Retrieved 16 November 2020.
* ↑ "Unique Etch A Sketch Animator 2000 Game System Review Gamester 81". Retrieved 16 November 2020.
* ↑ "The Etch A Sketch Animator 2000 Ohio Art Rare-with Box And Original Pen #1936265130". Worthpoint. Retrieved 16 November 2020.
* ↑ "Etch-A-Sketch Animator 2000 and "Overdrive" - Unboxing, Gameplay, & Review". Retrieved 16 November 2020. {{cite web}}: Text "Retro Game Living Room" ignored (help)
* ↑ "Etch-A-Sketch Animator: Demo and Repair". Retrieved 16 November 2020.
* 1 2 "Review and full play through of Putt-Nuts for Etch-A-Sketch Animator 2000". Retrieved 16 November 2020. {{cite web}}: Text "Retro Game Living Room" ignored (help)
* ↑ "Unique Etch A Sketch Animator 2000 Game System Review Gamester 81". Retrieved 16 November 2020.
* ↑ "video game: Flyby - The Ohio Art Company". Google Arts & Culture. Retrieved 16 November 2020.
* ↑ "Atari Compendium". www.ataricompendium.com. Retrieved 16 November 2020.