The Tomy Tutor and the state of 1983 home computers

The Tomy Tutor was my first computer, in late 1983. I was seven and we got it at Federated. I've acquired several more since then, but this is the actual one I used and it still works perfectly.

Using a design modeled on the doomed Texas Instruments 99/8, one of several unreleased successors to the TI 99/4A, the Tomy Tutor and its overseas siblings, the Japanese Pyuuta (ぴゅう太) series, promised an easy kid-friendly introduction to computers with a durable case, nice graphics and sound, games on cartridge, and two, count 'em, two internal dialects of BASIC (one on early systems). It had 16K of RAM, though this was entirely tied up in the 9918A video display processor with only 256 bytes of RAM directly addressible by its 2.7MHz TMS 9995 CPU, and of Tomy's promised peripherals only game controllers and a tape deck were ever offered. Still, despite the bowdlerized operating system and bupkis contemporary expansion options, the Tutor was nevertheless one of the first true 16-bit home computers, and as part of the 1983 low-end home system cavalcade, an inexpensive choice as well.

Another thing the Tomy doesn't have much of is history: the story of its development is rather murky, and modern-day Takara Tomy all but disowns it. I don't compulsively collect for many systems, but I do for this one, because it was the first computer we actually had at home. So when a folder with handwritten Tomy marketing notes turned up on eBay, I jumped on it. It turned out to contain proposed names for what would become the Tutor, various test marketing slogans, and even an internal pitch discussing the competition, which I'll reproduce in its entirety as an interesting insider snapshot of the early 1980s U.S. home computer landscape — after we make a quick trip to that scene in its native Japan.

To untangle the history requires us to start somewhat in the middle with the release of the Tutor's direct ancestor, the Japan-only Tomy Pyuuta (ぴゅう太, variously rendered Pyuta or Pyūta). We can use this point in time as an unambiguous reference marker for the absolute latest date development of the Japanese systems could have concluded and the earliest date the process of exporting them (to, at that time, the US and UK) must have begun. More to the point, we also need to dive a little more deeply into the system's development history in order to understand the context in which these documents existed and what's so special about them, so let's begin with that.

The earliest direct reference I've found so far to the Pyuuta in contemporary Japanese computer magazines is this one, from Game Machine #192 dated July 7, 1982. This was at the 1982 Tokyo Toy Show, formerly the Tokyo International Toy Show, in Harumi, Chūō, Tōkyō on June 3 and 4. Tomy, being a major toy manufacturer, was a regular exhibitor.

Multiple systems were on display at the exhibition, some of which we may explore in future essays. The magazine article reads, in part (translations mine, pardon any inaccuracies), "These systems allow you to enjoy a video game simply by inserting a game cartridge. The products at this event featured content significantly more sophisticated and extensive than prior joystick-based systems." They included Bandai demonstrating the Mattel Intellivision (as its Japanese distributor), Tally Enterprise demonstrating the Odyssey^2 (distributing for Philips), Epoch Co. Ltd. with their Cassette Vision system, VTech from Hong Kong with the CreatiVision — and, of course, Tomy and the Pyuuta, which the article refers to as "a graphics-based computer." The photographs show four of those five exhibitor booths, with Tomy's show booth at the top left; the banner over the Tomy booth reads 楽(たの)しいパソコン ("[The] Fun Computer").

This date clearly indicates the Pyuuta's design had to have been finalized sometime in the spring of 1982 in order to start production through Matsushita (Panasonic), who manufactured the Pyuuta and Tutor lines under contract. Although Texas Instruments by then wouldn't have yet entered into their ruinous price war with Commodore, the 99/4A had little or no presence in Japan, and it appears TI found the prospect of additional chip sales both tempting enough and low risk enough to share the design for the in-development 99/8. After all, the Pyuuta had no reason to be an outright clone (and I suspect this was contractually required as well), so even if it came States-side it wouldn't have cannibalized any of TI's market. Moreover, it gave TI a willing volume buyer for the TMS 9995 CPU, intended as their next-generation 9900-series processor to power both the low-end 99/2 and high-end 99/8, and would be the CPU for this system too.

As it turned out, TI need not have worried, because Tomy had a completely different market segment in mind. The name "Pyuuta" comes across in its native language as silly and cheerful, translated almost like "Computer Dude" (Tomy's usage of the 太(た) kanji appears to be largely an affectation), and was calculated to be appealing to kids and young teens. Even Masayuki Uemura, creator of the Nintendo Famicom, observed that "[t]he name was cool! Compared with the 'Family Computer' which just sounded kind of lame." It came as a sturdy plastic system with rubber chiclet keys except for the RT (RETURN) key and space bar which were also hard plastic. The design was intended to be functional but still appealing to their core demographic, and reasonably resistant to mild abuse.

Internally, the Pyuuta system software was notable for its then-sophisticated built-in paint box ("GRAPHIC" mode) and its unusual BASIC subdialect, G-BASIC. G-BASIC used non-standard Japanese katakana keywords (like カケ　kake for PRINT), supported only basic integer math and had extremely poor string handling, but because it had built-in primitives for sound effects, screen manipulation and moving sprites, it could be used to create animations and play simple games with relatively little code. (Oddly G-BASIC ran in two modes on the Pyuuta, but the G-BASIC separate from GRAPHIC mode had no easy way to draw cells, greatly limiting its utility.) Tomy's heavy emphasis on its graphics capabilities — powered by the then-popular TMS 9918A VDP — was such that it was even featured on the computer's title screen.

After the June introduction, most magazines indicate the Pyuuta was available for purchase on or around September of that year. Tomy came up with some inexplicable launch campaigns that tried to have it both ways (it's a toy! it's a computer!). My personal favourite was this very enthusiastic T-Rex saying, "パソコンで、過激(かげき)なオモチャじゃ" which could be translated more or less literally as "Being a computer, it's an extreme toy," or more freely, "It's a computer, so it's a heck of a toy."

Unlike T-Rex, however, this boy seems absolutely disturbed by the thought of a Pyuuta in his home. The top slogan appeared on the Pyuuta's box, in language not unlike contemporary advertising from Toshiba: テレビが遊園地(ゆうえんち)になる。 美術館(びじゅつかん)になる。 図書館(としょかん)になる。 ("Your TV becomes an amusement park. It becomes an art gallery. It becomes a library.")

Notice that in both of these advertisements, the Pyuuta was shown with a set of two disc joy controllers. The controllers were included as part of the standard package and came in the box with every Pyuuta, as well as a cable to connect it to a standard cassette recorder. This will become relevant later. (Spooky foreshadowing!)

Supported by basic peripherals and a small but steady diet of games and Konami arcade ports on cartridge, the Pyuuta became reasonably successful in pre-MSX Japan. Tomy subsequently looked for other markets and the next appears to have been Great Britain, first exhibited at the British Toy & Hobby Fair in Earl's Court, London from January 29 to February 2, 1983. For this purpose Tomy localized the title screen, menu and G-BASIC keywords into English, and used a PAL TV equivalent of the 9918A VDP, but the hardware and presumably the logic board in the exhibition machine were otherwise identical to the Pyuuta. This prototype system was dubbed the Tutor, after Tomy's existing line of play typewriter toys, and its market position broadened to serve as an inexpensive first family computer.

Tomy's partner in the UK was Adam Imports, who had previously imported many of their toys into the country (and, for a time, New Zealand). Adam Imports' principals, however, found G-BASIC uncompetitive against other emerging low-end systems like the ZX Spectrum and the Dragons and requested Tomy upgrade it. To speed development time Tomy went back to Texas Instruments and licensed TI Extended BASIC, which they simplified by turning its characteristic CALL subprograms back into more typical BASIC keywords and stripping out direct memory access with CALL POKE and CALL PEEK entirely. Remnants of this conversion can be seen in Tomy BASIC's token values and RAM scratchpad usage, both of which are nearly identical with TI Extended BASIC, as well as its complete lack of integration with the GRAPHIC-mode paintbox — no sprite support, no high-resolution graphics. This more conventional form of BASIC was loaded into the unit as a separate mode and became the basis of the UK Grandstand Tutor, the rarest of the Tutor variants and one I have yet to physically encounter (this photograph is from Your Computer October 1983).

On the other hand, Tomy had a strong existing presence of its own as a toy company in the United States (through its local subsidiary, then located in Carson, part of greater Los Angeles), and subsequently introduced this upgraded Tutor directly to American shores. The Tutor's American debut was during the Summer CES 1983 from June 5 to June 8, 1983, at McCormick Place in Chicago. That was the year of the low-end home computer explosion, with the Coleco Adam, Mattel Aquarius, Radio Shack MC-10, SpectraVideo SV-318 and SV-328, and VTech VZ200 all appearing there too — but not the TI-99/2, which Texas Instruments abruptly cancelled after the Commodore-TI price war dropped the 99/4A below the 99/2's MSRP, and TI even hastily decided not to demonstrate the 99/8 despite the Tomy Tutor being at the very same show! These wind-up feet, an existing Tomy toy, were rebadged for the occasion as "Tomy's Greatest Feat" (narf narf narf) and given out to attendees. This one is in my memorabilia collection and sits on the shelf.

But before all that, the Tutor had to have a States-side marketing campaign in place — and that's where our documents come in.

These documents were part of an eBay purchase from Dusty Riach in Orange County, California, the very same person on Storage Wars. They came in a manila folder marked "Tomy" tucked into a Pyuuta manual. Appropriately enough, they came from a storage unit he purchased; Riach explained to me that the previous owner was a Len Vucci.

Vucci appears to have been a very colourful character. One of his early roles was as part of Team Russkit, the first of the professional 1960s slot car racing leagues (Len is here on the far right) that proliferated until the hobby took a downturn around 1970, and many years later he donated his box from Russkit to the Los Angeles Slot Car Museum. In the 1970s Vucci then entered motorcycle journalism as a semi-regular contributor to Cycle World, and later moved into graphic design and marketing. These documents indicate Tomy was one of his accounts.

The documents are primarily dot-matrix printed on tractor-feed paper, plus several pages either done on a typewriter or a daisywheel and some additional handwritten notes from a yellow pad. The handwritten pages make reference to a "Nadler Studio" with a phone number but no area code. A cursory search of the California Secretary of State business archives turns up a Jeff Nadler Studio in Los Angeles, which did exist in the early 1980s and specialized in automotive photography, and Vucci may have leveraged his connections from the motorcycle world to bring him on. (If this is the same Nadler, he tragically died in a fall in 1997.)

The most interesting thing about these documents is that in no place does the name "Tomy Tutor" ever appear. Instead, the computer is largely referenced either as the "TomyOne" or the "Tomy-1." Much of it are individual slogans and bullet points likely intended to inform or be outright added to larger blurbs. The sentences are marked with Cs or Ts, though I don't know what those letters mean.

In a few places, however, he refers to it as the GraphiComp "by Tomy," but again the name "Tutor" is never mentioned, at least not in the documents here.

The handwritten documents also talk briefly about the plans for CES, which Vucci abbreviates to "CE show." He suggests attendees "[i]ntroduce yourself to the Tomy Computer" at an "interactive booth" and proposes separate six-page spreads each for toy vendors and computer sales ("Tomy does for computers what it did for toys."/"The colorful computer that can put you in the black."). The "program" revolved around "heavy TV media, Tomy's reputation, design superiority, child oriented and non-enthusiast oriented" [sic]. Vucci thought there should be a single consumer advertising sheet, a dealer spec sheet, a demo cartridge (which apparently wasn't written yet, because he says to "make recommendations"), a counter top "pop," poster ("TomyOne. It speaks a language everyone understands." — presumably BASIC, but read on), screens, and a box prop. Unfortunately I haven't yet found a picture of Tomy's booth at the CES, so I don't know how closely this hewed to his suggestions.

Two portions are actually formally written. One is two copies of an unfinished blurb purporting to reflect the thoughts of a new computer buyer: "Today, keeping up with the Joneses also means keeping up with computers. And that's real tough for us average types." It gives the price of the "new TOMY home computer" as "well below $300.00" (about $1000 in 2026 dollars depending on the year this was written) with "two controllers, and at least one game cartridge" — though the Tutor was never sold with either, at least apart from store-specific pack-ins.

However, the other document looks complete. This one is rather more interesting and expands on some of these points, so I'll reproduce it here in its entirety.

* * *

THE PRODUCTS

Background

For the prospective first-time computer buyer, making accurate product comparisons is as much a matter of luck and guesswork as effort and understanding. But, due to the extreme proliferation of hardware and software, his purchage possibilities are virtually limitless, constantly changing, and invariably confusing.

Should he or she have the good fortune to be acquainted with a current computer user, the prospective consumer is in a much better position to make an acceptable, though highly biased, purchase decision. But this consumer is, at this time, in a very small minority.

The Competition

The bulk of the entry-level computer market, therefore, is forced to deal with an overwhelming amount of unfamiliar, highly technical information about products which perform essentially the same task: "compute." At the entry level, several computer systems appear to satisfy this comprehensive, though obscure need. They include the Atari 400, the Commodore VIC-20, the Timex/Sinclair 1000, and the Texas Instruments 99/4A.

At less than $100.00 [$335], the Timex/Sinclair offers much performance. Its virtual lack of over-the-counter software, however, limits its appeal to the hobbyist/do-it-yourself type.

The three remaining units offer comparable performance for the entry-level buyer, but must first be equipped with a minimum of peripheral equipment in order to satisfy the "basic" computing needs of entertainment and/or personal recordkeeping, home finances and education.

For each, one or more controllers or joysticks must be purchased before optional game cartridges can normally be utilized. Prices: $10-45.00 [$33-$150].

For sophisticated programs and games, additional memory modules must also be utilized. At 5K, the VIC-20 is equipped with one third the random access memory (RAM) of the others, a notable deficiency. Depending upon capacity, the expense for additional RAM memory [sic] ranges from about $40.00 [$134] upward.

If the consumer wishes to utilize programs that are not contained in read only memory (ROM) cartridges, a cassette interface and recorder must be used. For the Atari and VIC-20 units, the recorder and interface cost from $60--$75 [sic, $200-$250]. The TI-99/4A, having its own built-in interface, can utilize a normal home cassette recorder/player.

Comparison to TOMY

In comparing the TOMY computer to each of these units, several distinct advantages become apparent. The inclusion of dual controllers eliminates interfacing/availability problems and expense. The built-in interface and included cable makes the addition of a cassette an easily implemented, inexpensive option.

Additionally, the compact, easily understood configuration of the TOMY computer makes it much easier to set up and operate, especially for the novice user. The built-in RF (TV) modulator, cassette interface and power supply eliminate a tangle of wires and boxes.

The TOMY keyboard is less susceptible to damage from spilled liquids than is the VIC-20 or TI. While not considered acceptable to the professional computer user, the TOMY keyboard is far superior to to [sic] Atari's flat membrane unit. Its typewriter key layout is also easier to learn than either the multi-shifted VIC-20 or the smaller non-standard Texas Instruments design.

Conclusion

In operation, TOMY's performance superiority is immediately apparent, especially to the young and/or inexperienced user. Its menu-driven command modes are easily and quickly learned. While not suited for writing and running long, enthusiast-type listings and programs, the fail-safe nature of the TOMY operating system will eliminate system crashes due to inadvertent or improper key inputs.

The powerful TOMY Graphics Language with sprites offers instructional and entertainment values which are unapproached in this computer category. Sprite and graphic capabilities are available in software packages for about $50.00 [$165] and upwards for competing machines. But TGL's high levels of user interaction and immediate reinforcement, however, make the TOMY computer overwhelmingly superior for education, entertainment and as an introduction to the world of computer technology.

* * *

The mention of the Timex Sinclair 1000 (a slightly modified NTSC version of the Sinclair ZX81) dates this document to no earlier than June 1982, and given the Pyuuta didn't first appear in Japan until that month either, the probable date for this document is sometime in the third or fourth quarter of that year. It's noteworthy that this document — which, for the record, may not have ever been Tomy corporate policy — suggests the Tutor should compete directly against the 99/4A despite their obvious corporate partnership. However, doing so would have certainly ignited a political war between the two companies when there was no contemporary second source for the 9995 and 9918A, and to be sure, Tomy never did pit them head to head in any released material I've ever seen. It's also interesting that the Commodore 64 is not mentioned, which would have existed in 1982, though at the time the 64 would not have really been in the same market tier as any of these machines (let alone the poor VIC-20) with its full 64K of RAM, initially higher price, and more sophisticated graphics and sound. Similarly, neither the Atari 800 nor the Apple II would remotely have been perceived as competitors in that segment.

But the most startling thing about this essay is that the described computer does not match the Tutor. The Tutor was never sold with joy controllers (sold separately), nor with a cassette cable (part of the Data Recorder package), but the Pyuuta was. The essay is also conspicuous for the absence of Tomy BASIC: in fact, it mentions no version of BASIC at all, even though it proudly touts its "menu-driven command modes" and "TOMY Graphics Language with sprites," so it seems reasonable to assume that a two-BASIC machine would have gotten prominent mention as well unless it never existed in the first place. As for what the "TOMY Graphics Language with sprites" actually is, the description of "TGL" can only match G-BASIC, as Tomy BASIC does not support sprites and high-resolution graphics, and no other programming language for the Pyuuta-Tutor family was ever officially made available. That again matches the Pyuuta, not the Tutor.

Combined with the total absence of the "Tutor" brand in this stack of material, plus the fact it was even tucked into what I surmise was Len's own Pyuuta manual, I think the most likely conclusion is the document describes an initial plan to bring the Pyuuta directly to the United States with no intervening model. However, because Tomy became aware so many new home computers were also hitting store shelves and many of them nearly simultaneously with the Tutor, my guess is Tomy management chose the UK as a test market first instead to see how well it could compete. This is the point at which the "Tutor" name was finally attached, feedback from the Grandstand Tutor then went into the American Tomy Tutor, and Tomy BASIC was also made available for the Pyuuta family as BASIC-1.

Of course, this all failed miserably for Tomy, even with Sarah Purcell's attempt to hawk the system and a "kick the tires" tryout program that ended in December 1983. Tomy ended up losing so much money on the Tomy Tutor that the promised full peripheral range (including an expansion chassis) was cancelled and Tomy exited the American home computer market in 1984, though for the Japanese systems a small number of new games were still published and some token support remained until 1985.

And that means we'll just have to build some peripherals of our own — more soon. I have not found any contact information for Len Vucci to confirm any of this, but if you know him or are him, please post in the comments or drop me a line at ckaiser at floodgap dawt com.