Spectravideo SVI-728

The Spectravideo SVI-728 was one of the best-known and best-selling computers based on the MSX standard, and was particularly popular in Finland. MSX computers were part of the home computer boom of the 1980s and competed mainly with computers from Commodore, Atari, and Sinclair. The Spectravideo SVI-728 offered an affordable and versatile alternative that benefited from the compatibility and software availability provided by the MSX standard. The Spectravideo SVI-728 was released in 1984 and was one of the first devices based on the MSX standard. For those who don’t know, the purpose of the MSX standard was to create an ecosystem of compatible home computers that combined hardware and software from multiple manufacturers. Today, PCs represent this mainstream, but even there are differences, for example, whether the computer runs Windows or has a Linux-based operating system such as Ubuntu or Debian installed. MSX computers did not have different operating systems available.

The Spectravideo SVI-728 was manufactured in Taiwan, even though Spectravideo’s headquarters were located in the United States. The design utilized the basic solutions of Spectravideo’s previous computer models, such as the SVI-318 and SVI-328, but was completely adapted to be MSX-compatible. The development of MSX was led by Japanese electronics giant Microsoft in collaboration with ASCII Corporation. The goal of the standard was to provide a compatible platform that would enable the use of software and peripherals on devices from different manufacturers. SpectraVideo’s own design team was responsible for the technical implementation of the SVI-728. The company took advantage of the technologies used in its previous products and adapted them to the MSX requirements.

As mentioned earlier, the SVI-728 was particularly popular in Finland, where it found its way into many homes and schools. Sales figures have not been accurately documented, but the SVI-728 was one of the best-selling MSX computers in Finland, partly due to its good availability and competitive pricing. The Spectravideo SVI-728 was available from several electronics stores, such as the Tekniset chain and local home appliance stores. At the time of its release, the SVI-728 cost around 3000 Finnish marks in 1985 and in 1986 the device was sold with five game modules for 1590 Finnish marks.. This price made it a more affordable option than many of its competitors, such as the Commodore 64, which was more expensive. Spectravideo packages often included additional accessories, such as a cassette drive or game controller, which added to their appeal. Sales were concentrated in Europe, particularly in the Nordic countries, but it was also sold in Japan, where the MSX standard was particularly popular. In the United States, the success of the MSX standard was limited, so the SVI-728 remained a marginal phenomenon there.

The MSX platform had a wide range of software, and the SVI-728 was compatible with all MSX standard software. Some of the most popular games were:

1. Knightmare: An action game in which the player controlled a hero fighting against evil.
2. Metal Gear: A tactical action game that later grew into one of the most significant series in gaming history.
3. Penguin Adventure: A classic platform game in which the player controlled a penguin in different worlds.
4. Kings Valley: A puzzle game that challenged the player to solve complex levels.
5. Yie Ar Kung-Fu: A fighting game that was ahead of its time in its genre.

In addition to games, the MSX standard enabled versatile programming, and the inclusion of the BASIC language made learning programming easy to approach.

Spectravideo SVI-728 in operation at the I love 8-bit® exhibition event in Kokkola city library.