Sharp X68000
In 1987, while the Japanese computer landscape teemed with diverse machines – MSX, NEC PC-88, PC-98, Fujitsu computers – Sharp took a different direction. The company decided to create an uncompromising computer, even if it meant selling it at a premium price.
The Sharp X68000 displayed its ambitions from first glance. Its dual-tower case, equipped with a retractable handle, evoked high-end Hi-Fi equipment more than a traditional computer. This futuristic aesthetic drew inspiration from the Sharp X1 Twin, which already combined an X1 computer and a PC Engine console. The industrial design reached a milestone here: the computer became an object of desire.
Under this distinctive hood lay precision machinery. The Motorola 68000 processor ran at 10 MHz, supported by 1 MB of RAM expandable to 12 MB and 1 MB of dedicated video memory. These specifications placed the machine in a class of its own. The X68000 displayed 65,536 simultaneous colors and handled up to 128 hardware sprites – figures that made video game developers' mouths water.
The price reflected these capabilities: 369,000 yen, approximately $6,000 in today's dollars. Sharp wasn't targeting the general public but an audience of knowledgeable enthusiasts and professionals. This strategy materialized through the development of tools and libraries specifically designed for game creators. The gamble paid off: the X68000 hosted versions often superior to the arcade originals of Final Fight, Ghouls'n Ghosts, and Street Fighter II.
The Human68k operating system, designed by Hudson Soft, borrowed from MS-DOS while adding its own innovations. Early machines used the VS interface, later replaced by SX-Window on subsequent models. A third interface, Ko-Window, resembled Motif and was developed by third parties.
The X68000's story unfolded over the years through a succession of models. In 1988 came the ACE, followed the next year by the EXPERT which included 2 MB of RAM as standard. The PRO model adopted a conventional PC case to accommodate more expansion slots. 1990 marked the arrival of the SUPER versions, which replaced the SASI interface with SCSI. The XVI of 1991 pushed the processor to 16 MHz, while the Compact XVI of 1992 offered a more compact format with 3.5-inch drives. The series peaked in 1993 with the X68030, powered by a 68030 processor at 25 MHz.
The richness of the X68000 ecosystem remains impressive. MIDI expansion cards allowed connection to synthesizers like the Roland MT-32. The TS-6BGA graphics card combined acceleration and PCM sound. Some accessories now reach heights in terms of rarity, such as the POLYPHON card which integrated FPU, MIDI, PCM, and 8 MB of RAM in a single module. For controls, joysticks included the Cyber Stick for simulations and the surprising XE-1 with its unconventional design.
The creativity of the homebrew community produced remarkable works. Cho Ren Sha 68k, developed by two people in 1995, remains a striking example. This shoot-'em-up displayed 512 simultaneous sprites through advanced multiplexing techniques – a technical feat all the more remarkable as it was programmed primarily in C rather than assembly. This achievement testifies to the quality of the development tools made available.
Yet the X68000 adventure ended in 1993. Sharp had not significantly evolved the video and audio hardware for six years. Facing the rise of PCs equipped with powerful graphics and sound cards, the machine lost its appeal despite its intrinsic qualities. A PowerPC version project was also abandoned. But an unexpected gesture changed everything. In 2000, Sharp, Hudson, and other involved companies released the Human68k operating system, BIOS, and various tools into the public domain. This exceptional decision keeps this system accessible through legal and faithful emulation of the machine.
The X68000 embodies a particular Japanese vision of 1980s personal computing. Where others favored compromise between price and performance, Sharp chose technical excellence and bold design. Its ability to reproduce the arcade experience, exceptional graphics performance, and advanced architecture make it a machine apart. However, power supply reliability issues and its prohibitive price limited its distribution.