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3DO

The 3DO Interactive Multiplayer (most commonly referred to as 'the 3DO') was a line of video game consoles released in 1993 and 1994 by Panasonic, Sanyo and Goldstar. The consoles were manufactured according to specifications created by The 3DO Company, and were originally designed by Dave Needle and RJ Mical of New Technology Group. The system was conceived by entrepreneur and EA Games founder Trip Hawkins.

Despite a highly-promoted launch and a host of cutting-edge technologies, the system's high price ($699.95 USD at release) and an over-saturated console market brought 'the 3DO' to a speedy demise.

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The consoles had very advanced hardware features at the time: an ARM60 32-bit RISC CPU, two custom video co-processors, a custom 16-bit DSP and a custom math coprocessor. They also featured 2 megabytes of DRAM, 1 megabyte of VRAM, and a double speed CD-ROM drive for main storage, Up to 8 controllers could be daisy-chained on the system at once. In addition to special 3DO software, the system was able to play audio CDs (including support for CD+G), view Photo CDs, and Video CDs with an add-on MPEG video card (released in Japan only). However, few titles utilized the console's full potential.

A noteable feature of the console is that it is one of few CD-based consoles that feature neither regional lockout nor copy protection, scoring it points amongst import gamers and software pirates alike, though reports have suggested that the Goldstar model isn't particularly durable when used for either of those purposes.

It was often said that the 3DO software library exhibited many of the worst aspects of home video gaming at the time. This was the dawn of CD-ROM gaming, so cutscenes of pixelated video footage dominated many titles at the expense of good gameplay. The most well-recieved titles were commonly ports of games from other systems, such as Alone in the Dark, Myst, Out of This World, and Star Control II.

Other notable titles include Need for Speed, Jurassic Park Interactive, Crash N' Burn, Slayer, Killing Time, and the first console port of Super Street Fighter II Turbo, which exceeded the original with its CD-quality audio. Game series that started on 3DO by Electronic Arts, Studio 3DO and Crystal Dynamics established themselves on other 32-bit consoles.

In addition to the consoles, a 3DO Blaster ISA peripheral card for PCs which offered all the features of the home console was manufactured by Creative Technology.

The 3DO Company also designed a next-generation console called the M2, which was to use a PowerPC 602 processor, but the company abandoned the console business and sold the technology to Matsushita who never brought the system to the market.

By the early 1990s, the video game market had become overcrowded. Philips, Sega, Nintendo, Commodore, SNK, and Atari each had a video game system on the market. By 1995, most of these systems had fallen out of the loop and were discontinued. Nintendo's SNES and Sega's Mega Drive/Genesis were the most successful systems. Many consider the final blow to be the overwhelming popularity and affordability of the Sony PlayStation, which not only forced out other CD-based systems like the CD-i, but also laid Sega's Saturn to rest by the end of 1998.

Despite heavy promoting on the YTV variety show It's Alive, and the potential expandability behind the 3DO Interactive Multiplayer, third-party support was lacking, and the 3DO system was discontinued in 1995. The 3DO Company then became a software publisher, producing such games as the Army Men franchise, until it filed for bankruptcy and liquidated its assets in 2003.

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Cannon Fodder

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£18.00
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£18.00

Don't wait 'til you see the whites of their eyes. don't kid yourself it will be over by Christmas. don't try to shut out the screams. and don't forget to wash your hands afterwards.

Crash N Burn

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£14.00
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It's 2044 AD. Just after the big one. Anybody who didn't fry knows the rules. He who blows 'em away first wins. Speed-shift against six psychos like a punker and a skin head, talkin lotsa trash. The only way to shut 'em up is to blow 'em up. In the Deathdrome Tournament - thirty kill or die races planet wide. In Rally Challenge six different grit-laced circuits. Oh ya - the tracsks are mined too!

Burning Soldier

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You are the ace pilot of Earth Defence Force. The blood-chilling battle you will experience aboard Strike Fighter, EDF's state of the art fighter unit will be one of the most challenging missions you have ever known.

Brain Dead 13

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This is the big box version.
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A hilarious ground-breaking interactive adventure that sets the new standard in animated cartoon action! Deep in the bowels of the sinister castle, evil is brewing. As Lance, the worlds hippest computer repair guru you're called to the mysterious castle of the disembodied brain, Dr. Nero Neurosis. You learn of the Doctor's master plan. There's no turning back now! Race through the evil playground of the demented Doctor's twisted castle and battle the ultimate mishaps of science: Moose, Vivi and Fritz, the half-human half-pet of Dr. Neurosis.

Blade Force

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£10.00
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Blast off into a futuristic world of exciting three dimensional cities and take aim at your opponents with your arsenal of deadly weapons. Deploy six different directional modes as you zoom through the skies of Meggagrid. Each level contains over 1,000 screen images.

BC Racers

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BC Racers - it's pre-hysterical. Cool n' crazy Cliff Ace is getting in some quality time with his cave-babe Roxy as they speed n' smash their way on a dino-powered dirtbike through 32 howlin' heats in a madcap 3D cartoon race e against a hard rock host of rocky racers!

Ballz

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£12.00
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Three times more special moves per character than your flat 2D fighting games! Nine hilarious and vicious characters. Eight killer bosses. Each character has the ability to morph into any other character.

Battlesport

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£12.00
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Players climb into a high tech tank, grab a ball and compete to put points on the scoreboard. Hyper fast arcade action that's only available on the 3DO system. Play one or two player matches, or go head to turret against a series of aggressive computer opponents, each with their own explosive game plans.

Another World

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A futuristic adventure - now available for modern day viewing on the 3DO. The 3DO's graphics system brings game play to your fingertips with exceptional picture quality and a quicker more dynamic pacing. Interactive sound effects and a stunning musical score brought to you by respected Hollywood artists fully engage the 3DO's vibrant sound processing system. Thousands of simultaneous colours create a realistic picture quality to completely immerse you in the alien landscape.

Alone in the Dark 2 Big Box

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£20.00
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Once more Edward Carnby is involved in a mysterious and supernatural investigation. A little girl named Grace Saunders has been kidnapped by One Eyed Jack, the infamous gangster. And once more, Carnby is alone. alone in the dark!

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