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 Post subject: NEC Fish Club - the other Hi-Vision product
PostPosted: 20 Nov 2015, 19:42 
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One item that is really cool, but many just don't know about is the NEC Fish Club. Originally designed for high end establishments like hotels, offices, and restaurants, the gist is a "virtual" fish tank that requires no care, and "swappable" fish.

A 32" widescreen CRT (I believe a Sony model) encased in a industrial looking 'fish tank' design, featuring a 1" inch thick plexiglass tank (in front of the CRT) filled with waters, and a pump to create bubbles giving the Fish Club a lifelike appearance. It was determined that at 32" that was the size where the fish via Hi-Vision video looked lifelike.

The fish were displayed via a Sony HIL-C2NE (NEC branded Hi-Vision player) laserdisc player, and the discs were just under 30 minutes in length, single sided only. The NEC Fish Club could be programmed to turn on/off at pre-programmed times and day, and the player wouldn't auto-reverse with these discs, but would just start over again.

There was an "optional" Hi-Vision player/changer, and I have provided pictures but I have no further information on who built the changer or how many discs it held.

There were over 50 Fish Discs released for this product, and the later ones definitely look better. I have captured video of half a dozen of these, and on small HD screens look convincing, but on larger than 30" screens it starts to not look so good.

I also included brochures and pictures of the NEC Fish Club Jr., which was a 24" standard definition version of the Hi-Vision product. However, instead of laserdiscs, it runs off of PCMCIA cards that hold just over 5 minutes of MPEG-2 video. Only about 1/4 of the releases from the laserdisc version made it to the Jr model. But if you look at the brochure, you can see sidebars showing how the videos are produced. One day I'll get it translated.

The NEC Fish Club full size unit retailed for over $22,000 USD back when it was released, and the Jr. model debuted at over $5,000 USD.

The full size unit can be found on Yahoo Auctions Japan ranging from $100 USD to over $1000 USD. Shipping is what will be the killer, and ironically a friend of mine still has one (Hi-Vision model not for sale).

I still have a Jr. model that I'm going to sell, and there's another Jr. model available with schematics and one brochure I do not have in Phoenix (seller wants $550).

The discs go for anywhere from $50 USD to over $300 USD on Yahoo Auctions Japan. And Nicolas Santini who'm I'm sure you're aware of sells these discs and can get hardware.

Interesting nonetheless

http://we.tl/nfC7LAAsRy
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 Post subject: Re: NEC Fish Club - the other Hi-Vision product
PostPosted: 20 Nov 2015, 22:38 
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I saw that thing in a Jackie Cha movie from the end of the 90s. It was a virtual fish tank so I am sure it must have been this very product. I will get a disc myself. I thought there were only a couple of them
but there were 50 in total ? So a lot of them are not on the database ?
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 Post subject: Re: NEC Fish Club - the other Hi-Vision product
PostPosted: 22 Nov 2015, 22:12 
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confederate wrote:
I saw that thing in a Jackie Cha movie from the end of the 90s. It was a virtual fish tank so I am sure it must have been this very product. I will get a disc myself. I thought there were only a couple of them
but there were 50 in total ? So a lot of them are not on the database ?


Which movie? Now I want to see.

More than 50 were released. These catalogs have all the releases.
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 Post subject: Re: NEC Fish Club - the other Hi-Vision product
PostPosted: 22 Nov 2015, 22:15 
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BTW - there's a NEC Fish Club (Hi-Vision model) on Yahoo Auctions, less than $70 USD (will cost you like $600 USD to ship though):

Here's the general search for NEC Fish auctions in Japan:

http://auctions.search.yahoo.co.jp/search?p=魚八景&auccat=&aq=-1&oq=&ei=UTF-8&tab_ex=commerce
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 Post subject: Re: NEC Fish Club - the other Hi-Vision product
PostPosted: 23 Nov 2015, 03:51 
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@museld: I found the movie !!!

It is Under Control released in 1999.

Just have a look here:



Go to 1:55 minutes !

Maybe I am wrong but it looks like one of those NEC Fish Club devices.

Do you think you could add the missing/remaining NEC Fish Club titles to the database ? I always had a strong feeling that the list was incomplete as it
only mentions Vol. 2, 8 and 13.
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 Post subject: Re: NEC Fish Club - the other Hi-Vision product
PostPosted: 23 Nov 2015, 04:36 
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confederate wrote:
@museld: I found the movie !!!

It is Under Control released in 1999.

Just have a look here:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=afKp2kRFPyU

Go to 1:55 minutes !

Maybe I am wrong but it looks like one of those NEC Fish Club devices.

Do you think you could add the missing/remaining NEC Fish Club titles to the database ? I always had a strong feeling that the list was incomplete as it
only mentions Vol. 2, 8 and 13.


Nice find, that is the Hivision Fish Club.

As for database, one of these days when I have more time. This has been more shotgun posting and all the materials I posted I've had digitized for years
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 Post subject: Re: NEC Fish Club - the other Hi-Vision product
PostPosted: 23 Nov 2015, 05:33 
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Thanks. I just accidentally saw it on TV maybe one month ago.

There are other scenes in the movie where you can see the NEC Fish Club in action.

Thanks again for your awesome contributions. I could also submit those titles from the catalogue
but you would be able to add so much more important information such as mint marks etc.
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 Post subject: Re: NEC Fish Club - the other Hi-Vision product
PostPosted: 24 Nov 2015, 11:29 
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For business I worked during the 1995 and 1999 for multiple weeks on the ITU event Telecom Geneva in Switserland.
Also here NEC showed off their Fish Club, especially in 1995 they used the first plasma screens, it was a real whow at that time !

Meanwhile submitted 45 titles of the NEC Fish Club in LDDB :

SH3010-00 NEC Fish Club : Fish Hakkei goldfish 1 Ranchu and seven types of goldfish
SH3011-00 NEC Fish Club : Fish Hakkei goldfish 2 Ranchu
SH3020-00 NEC Fish Club : Fish Hakkei and salt water fish 1 Whipfish other nine
SH3021-00 NEC Fish Club : Fish Hakkei and salt water fish 2 Saltwater fish three
SH3022-00 NEC Fish Club : Fish Hakkei and salt water fish 3 Golden butterfly fish and five other species
SH3024-00 NEC Fish Club : Fish Hakkei and salt water fish 5 Trunkfish six + anemone fish two
SH3025-00 NEC Fish Club : Fish Hakkei and salt water fish 6 Wee Dee Sea Dragon
SH3026-00 NEC Fish Club : Fish Hakkei and salt water fish 7 Anemone fish five
SH3027-00 NEC Fish Club : Fish Hakkei and salt water fish 8 Lion Fish
SH3028-00 NEC Fish Club : Fish Hakkei and salt water fish 9 Three seahorses fellow
SH3029-00 NEC Fish Club : Fish Hakkei and salt water fish 10 Moorish idol
SH3120-00 NEC Fish Club : Fish Hakkei and salt water fish 11 Plotosus lineatus
SH3121-00 NEC Fish Club : Fish Hakkei and salt water fish 12 Shichisenbera other four
SH3122-00 NEC Fish Club : Fish Hakkei and salt water fish 13 Akakukuri other four
SH3123-00 NEC Fish Club : Fish Hakkei and salt water fish 14 Powder Blue Sir John Fish
SH3125-00 NEC Fish Club : Fish Hakkei and salt water fish 15 Nishikiyakko 10 other species
SH3030-00 NEC Fish Club : Fish Eight-river fish 1 Ayu
SH3030-01 NEC Fish Club : Fish Eight-river fish 4 Ayu
SH3031-00 NEC Fish Club : Fish Eight-river fish 2 Amago
SH3031-01 NEC Fish Club : Fish Eight-river fish 5 Amago
SH3032-00 NEC Fish Club : Fish Eight-river fish 3 Char, trout
SH3032-01 NEC Fish Club : Fish Eight-river fish 6 Char, trout
SH3033-00 NEC Fish Club : Fish Eight-river fish 7 Rainbow trout
SH3041-00 NEC Fish Club : Fish Eight-seafood 2 Horse mackerel, rockfish s
SH3042-00 NEC Fish Club : Fish Eight-seafood 3 Red sea bream, prawn
SH3043-00 NEC Fish Club : Fish Eight-seafood 4 Lobster
SH3044-00 NEC Fish Club : Fish Eight-seafood 5 Spear squid
SH3050-00 NEC Fish Club : Fish Eight-Kotobuki 1 Red and white carp (Ginrin Benikoi, golden Platinum)
SH3051-00 NEC Fish Club : Fish Eight-Kotobuki 2 Carp of gold and silver (Bright golden, golden Platinum)
SH3070-00 NEC Fish Club : Fish Hakkei tropical fish 1 Chibeniryu (red arowana)
SH3071-00 NEC Fish Club : Fish Hakkei tropical fish 2 Discus five
SH3072-00 NEC Fish Club : Fish Hakkei tropical fish 3 Piranha Natte Avery
SH3073-00 NEC Fish Club : Fish Hakkei tropical fish 4 Yellow pink tail Kalasin, Silver tetra other
SH3080-00 NEC Fish Club : Fish Hakkei Ogawa 1 American crayfish, Diving beetles beech, Loach
SH3081-00 NEC Fish Club : Fish Hakkei Ogawa 2 Oikawa, catfish
SH3082-00 NEC Fish Club : Fish Hakkei Ogawa 3 Thailand Riku rose bitterling
SH3090-00 NEC Fish Club : Fish Hakkei and lakes 1 Sturgeon
SH3091-00 NEC Fish Club : Fish Hakkei and lakes 2 Rabidokuromisu-Kaerureusu other seven
SH3200-00 NEC Fish Club : Fish Hakkei - Eternal 1 Nautilus
SH3201-00 NEC Fish Club : Fish Hakkei - Eternal 2 Blue Jellyfish
SH3202-00 NEC Fish Club : Fish Hakkei - Eternal 3 Horseshoe crab other four
SH3203-00 NEC Fish Club : Fish Hakkei - Eternal 4 Bichir, Elephant nose
SH3204-00 NEC Fish Club : Fish Hakkei - Eternal 5 Gar four
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 Post subject: Re: NEC Fish Club - the other Hi-Vision product
PostPosted: 29 Jan 2016, 11:29 
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edwin240170 wrote:
Meanwhile submitted 45 titles of the NEC Fish Club in LDDb


All added!

http://www.lddb.com/search.php?search=NEC+fish&sort=title,asc

45 + NEC Fish Club: Compilation (1995) [SH3060-00]

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 Post subject: Re: NEC Fish Club - the other Hi-Vision product
PostPosted: 24 Jun 2020, 10:53 
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For the Fish Tank lovers, here comes the 4K BD editions with matching 4K screens inside fake aquarium boxes!

https://sakana-hakkei.com/Main.html

Image

Hi-Vision LD didn't have to fake the aquarium size, the HD screen was already huge :-)

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 Post subject: Re: NEC Fish Club - the other Hi-Vision product
PostPosted: 24 Jun 2020, 12:59 
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If I had the money I might get this. having worked at PetsMart and dealing with fish and other animals. I like something that is virtual than having to take care of. Also in apartment where we can't have animals this would be perfect.
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 Post subject: Re: NEC Fish Club - the other Hi-Vision product
PostPosted: 26 Jun 2020, 08:35 
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yeah this looks really cool. Kinda s**t I'm gonna buy when my dad dies. I'm glad companies are doing cool stuff still sometimes. Everything at the electronics department of your local homestore bores the s**t out of me these days. "100000000000k 40,000 inch!", who gives a f**k? Gimme a virtual f***ing fishtank. With $2000 stands too. f**k it, it's just my dads money..
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 Post subject: Re: NEC Fish Club - the other Hi-Vision product
PostPosted: 26 Jun 2020, 10:32 
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That didn't take long.

Is it a good idea to be (again) referring to parents dying particularly at this time? There could be people having to deal with tragic for them circumstances & they may be coming on here to escape for a while so please show just a little consideration if you have it within you.

We do get it forper - you don't have to keep harping on about your feelings towards your parents on here again surely.
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 Post subject: Re: NEC Fish Club - the other Hi-Vision product
PostPosted: 27 Jun 2020, 13:53 
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Okay but I love the idea of a virtual fish tank. It's a total luxury, even a gimick, but a damn cool one. Like an RC R2D2 beer fridge that comes to you. And heated toilet seats. I'm gonna have all three in my future, remotely located, tiny home. That my dead parents will pay for. Coz I sure as heck can't even buy a shack on my wage.
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 Post subject: Re: NEC Fish Club - the other Hi-Vision product
PostPosted: 27 Jun 2020, 14:11 
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confederate wrote:
I saw that thing in a Jackie Cha movie from the end of the 90s. It was a virtual fish tank so I am sure it must have been this very product. I will get a disc myself. I thought there were only a couple of them
but there were 50 in total ? So a lot of them are not on the database ?


confederate wrote:
@museld: I found the movie !!!

It is Under Control released in 1999.

Just have a look here:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=afKp2kRFPyU

Go to 1:55 minutes !

Maybe I am wrong but it looks like one of those NEC Fish Club devices.




Attachment:
NEC Fish Club - Hi-Vision - Jackie Chan - Under Control   1999 (1).jpg
NEC Fish Club - Hi-Vision - Jackie Chan - Under Control 1999 (1).jpg [ 109.11 KiB | Viewed 5621 times ]


Attachment:
NEC Fish Club - Hi-Vision - Jackie Chan - Under Control   1999 (2).jpg
NEC Fish Club - Hi-Vision - Jackie Chan - Under Control 1999 (2).jpg [ 106.71 KiB | Viewed 5621 times ]
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