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Hello everyone. We are moving to a new, bigger premises so website ordering will be closed for the next month while we move everything to our new building, reorganise and do a full stock take. We will not be taking any orders or able to reply to any messages during this time. We will be open again at the start of December. Many thanks. Console Passion

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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Wicked 18

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£8.00
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yes
£8.00

Way of the Warrior

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£22.00
Manual: 
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£22.00

The planet's greatest warriors have been assembled in a citadel, high atop the Himalayan Mountains. It is here that only on challenger will survive and have his named etchd with Magical Blood into the Book of Warriors. The tournament will bring together good, evil, mortal and immortal. The outcome will lie in the hands of one. YOU. Find the way noble challenger, find the Way of the Warrior.

Waialae Country Club

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£6.00
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£6.00

The sun is setting slowly over the Waialae Country Club, glittering in the sea. The lush green fairway is in front of you and far away the flag is flapping in the warm breeze. You swing, tee off and watch the golf ball forcing its way over the fantastic island course. Waialae Country Clun True Golf Classics is a first class golf simulation. On one of the worlds most beautiful courses, nestling amongst the picturesque Hawaiian landscape, beginners and professionals may prove their skill. Lets get to your first tee-off!

VR Stalker

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£16.00
Manual: 
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£16.00

The United States has been invaded. Los Angeles and New York have been nuked. The underground resistance has chosen you as one of their elite fighter pilots. Your code name is STALKER. Your mission is simple, 'Take back the United States'. Or is it that simple? From inside a VR-Simulator pod you will attempt to recapture the country state by state. Along the way you will encounter a variety of hostile Enemy Aircraft, Anti-Aircraft Guns, Tanks and a few other surprises!

Twisted the Game Show

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£14.00
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£14.00

Grab your friends and join in the most twisted game show ever to hit the tube. Your host, Twink Fizzdale, has a slick smile and a sense of showmanship that no gameshow fan can resist. And our contestants? That's you and up to three friends. Pick your favourite video contestant and experience the grins and groans of life in a TV game show. Complete with six off-the-wall game show characters in eight different interactive TV contests.

Virtuoso

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£16.00
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£16.00

Life as a Rock & Roll Mega Star in the 21st Century has it's downside. Join our Mega Star as he flees stardom by escaping into the action packed Virtual Reality worlds of Mars, The Haunted House and the Underwater World. Viewed from the third person perspective, each level contains Rock & Roll sound tracks, three levels and twenty-five sub-levels. Real time texture mapped backgrounds and stunning pre-rendered enemies. Numerous enemies to destroy and items to collect on each level.

Tripd

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Box: 
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£18.00
Manual: 
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£18.00

The whole family can play. It's as simple as arranging the alien eggs as they fall. Not just creating tiles, but the creation of super aliens, force you to respond instantly and alter your strategy. Not just points, but strategy. With some quick thinking you can influence your opponents or your own game in an exciting way.

Total Eclipse

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£14.00
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£14.00

OK, listen up. Starbase Bravo's been hit, hard. The Drak-Sai came in lean and mean - their weapon of choice - the Sun Dagger. This is no squirt gun. When they pulled the trigger, Omega Quadrants sun went down. For good. Now the Drak-Sai are threatening Earths sun. You don't need a phsics lesson to figure that one out. You're going back into the Omega Quadrant. The Drak-Sai are waiting. There's a wolfpack behind every mountain. They such up your shield power. Burn 'em and recover you shield strength. get the picture?

Theme Park

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£10.00
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£10.00

Create and design your very own Theme Park and build the highest rollercoaster in the world!! Over twenty-five animated rides to run. Manage shops and concessions. Hire and fire staff. Keep the kids happy or face financial ruin.

Horde

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£15.00
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£15.00

Hordlings are loud, red, ridiculous - and hungry. With a particular taste for villages. Your village! Sizzling with thirty-five minutes of live action digitized video. Belly busting original action strategy mayhem. Mouth watering texture mapped 3D Amazons, Knights and Hordlings. Original finger lickin' good music.

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