Hercules InColor Card

The Hercules InColor Card (GB222) is an IBM PC compatible 8-bit ISA graphics controller card released in April 1987 by Hercules Computer Technology, Inc.^[1][2][3] It supported a fixed hardware palette of 64 colours, with the ability to display 720 × 350 with 16 colours on an EGA monitor and software redefinable fonts.^{[4][5][6][1][2]}

Hercules InColor Card

Release date	April 1987; 37 years ago (April 1987)
Manufactured by	Hercules Computer Technology, Inc.
History
Predecessor	Hercules Graphics Card

Simulated Hercules InColor Card 640 x 350 x 16 graphics resolution and color abilities, corrected for aspect ratio

After the success of the monochrome Hercules Graphics Card (HGC) and Hercules Graphics Card Plus (HGC+) which gained wide developer support, the market was changing with the release of new colour cards which were becoming increasingly affordable. So Hercules released the InColor to compete primarily with IBM's new high-end VGA card, and also with many existing EGA compatible cards on the market.^[7]

The card came with drivers for popular programs like Lotus 1-2-3, AutoCAD, WordPerfect 5.0 or Microsoft Windows.^[7][8] Some compatible games with the card included Karateka, Microsoft Flight Simulator 3.0 and 4, 3-D Helicopter Simulator, RAPCON: Military Air Traffic Control Simulator and Eco Adventures in the Oceans.^[9]

The InColor did not bring the success that Hercules had hoped for, and revenue slowly declined until Hercules was eventually acquired by Guillemot Corporation in October 1999 for $8.5m USD.

See also

• Hercules Graphics Card
• Hercules Graphics Card Plus
• Hercules Network Card Plus

References

1. Brase, Thomas. "Hardware / Hercules Computer Technology, HTC". retrocmp - retro computing. Retrieved 2023-03-01.
2. CBR Staff Writer (March 1987). "PERSONAL GRAPHICS: HERCULES TO BURST INTO 16 COLOURS". Tech Monitor.
3. "HERCULES INCOLOR Trademark - Registration Number 1499309 - Serial Number 73679040 :: Justia Trademarks". trademarks.justia.com. Retrieved 2023-03-01.
4. Elliott, John C. (2012-08-05). "Hercules InColor Card: Notes". from the original on 2016-11-23. Retrieved 2016-11-23. (Pictures and programming information)
5. Wilton, Richard (1987). Programmer's guide to the PC & PS/2 video systems (1st ed.). Microsoft Press. ISBN 1-55615-103-9. (NB. The second edition does no longer discuss the InColor and MCGA cards at detail level.)
6. Brown, Ralf D. (2012-01-21) [2000-07-16]. "Public Files on FTP.CS.CMU.EDU - The x86 Interrupt List aka "Ralf Brown's Interrupt List" (RBIL)". from the original on 2016-06-16. Retrieved 2016-06-16.
7. "Say You Saw It on Modern Electronics - The Hercules InColor Card" (PDF). Modern Electronics. May 1985. p. 67.
8. "Introducing the Hercules InColor Card". PC Magazine. June 9, 1987. p. 314.
9. "Tech-Specs > Video Modes Supported > Hercules InColor". MobyGames. Retrieved 2023-03-01.