The world of retrocomputers and video games is a real treasure trove of fascinating stories, and one of the events that allows you to discover these hidden stories is Varese Retrocomputing. In the 2023 edition, we had the privilege of immersing ourselves in the Italian epic of video games, with particular attention paid to the history of Cabel Electronic, an Italian company that has left a mark on the sector. In addition, we will also talk about the Mesaton from the firm Mesa 2. We talk about it in the video interview with Andrea Contato of RetroEdicola Videoludica.
Cabel: Italian video game consoles
Cabel Electronic is a name that may not be familiar to everyone, but between 1977 and 1983, this Bergamo-based company produced seven different consoles and helped define the video game industry in Italy. Among the consoles produced by Cabel, there are the Lem 2000, the Universal Game Computer, the Telegame and the Sirius.
Mesaton: an Italian prototype
Among the hidden gems at Varese Retrocomputing 2023, there is the Mesaton, a console prototype produced in Milan by Mesa 2. This fascinating example of Italian engineering has an even more intriguing history behind it. The product was made clandestinely, in the back room, without the knowledge of the main financier of Mesa SPA. Despite the artisanal production, the Mesaton has reached a production of 1400 pieces, a tangible sign of the appetite of Italians for video game consoles.
Curiously, the Mesaton and the Universal Game Computer, despite their apparent external differences, share the same Philips technology.
Books and Documentation: Cabel and more
Andrea Contato, expert collector and author, brought with him a precious collection of books dedicated to the history of Italian video games. Among these, the book dedicated to Cabel stands out, which traces the epic of the company from its beginnings until its closure in 2001. This reading offers a complete immersion in the history of a company that marked a golden era of video games in Italy.
There is also the biography of Richard Garriott, the creator of the famous series of games "Ultima". This book is available in English and Italian.
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Varese Retrocomputing 2023 was an extraordinary opportunity to discover the rich history of retrocomputers and video games. If you want to continue exploring the world of retrocomputers and vintage electronics, subscribe to the YouTube channel @ValorosoIT.