Website Temporary Closed

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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Scramble Cobra

Submitted by admin on Wed, 20/07/2011 - 15:10
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Box: 
yes
£12.00
Manual: 
yes
£12.00

Only your wits and weapons stand between victory or defeat! Use your Vulcan Cannon, IR Missiles and Bomb to achieve your goals. The Polygon world will come to life as you skim across virtual battlefields. 18,000 polygons per second. Multiple time limited scenarios. CH Flight Stick Pro compatible. Rock n sound track drives you to victory.

Seal of the Pharoah

Submitted by console.passion on Wed, 20/07/2011 - 15:10
in
Notes: 
This is the big box version.
Box: 
yes
£0.00
Manual: 
yes
£0.00

It's a thrilling ride. An exciting sound and 3D graphics adventure. First person perspective screen with smooth movement and dazzling sound effects! Monsters in the machine will attack you! No text - just play it! This game is composed of sound and images only. Messages are all spoken and map and icons can be brought to the screen when necessary, so you can concentrate on the actual game! Mysteries, traps and real-time combat await you in the Egyptian depths!

Shanghai Triple Threat

Submitted by console.passion on Wed, 20/07/2011 - 15:10
in
Notes: 
This is the big box version.
Box: 
yes
£12.00
Manual: 
yes
£12.00

Just when you thought your Shanghai strategy was as solid as the Great Wall of china. it's the ancient fascination with an all new twist. Three captivating new games with enticing new rules, plus classic Shanghai for the purist. If three challenging new games don't completely obsess you, arcade action will. Play each game in a head-to-head tournament against a friend - or race the clock in a series of games. Perfect your strategy under extreme competitive conditions. If skill is your weapon, then time will be your ally.

Return Fire

Submitted by admin on Wed, 20/07/2011 - 15:10
in
Facebook
Feature on Facebook?: 
no
Box: 
yes
£18.00
Manual: 
yes
£18.00

Destroy, Destroy, Destroy! What do you do in Return Fire? You get to play with bombs, tanks, rockets, you know, that type of stuff. What's the goal in Return Fire? Search out and capture your enemy's flag. How do you accomplish this goal? Demolish, Devastate, Desolate. Destroy, Destroy, Destroy! Get it?

Road Rash

Submitted by admin on Wed, 20/07/2011 - 15:10
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Feature on Facebook?: 
no
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yes
£22.00
Manual: 
yes
£22.00

The number 1 racingcombat game for 16bit explodes onto the 3DO in an all-new turbo-charged, slashing, rashing, racing experience! Engage in lawless no holds barred high speed motor cycle street racing through cities, canyons and packs of viscous bikers! Photo-realistic 3D graphics with texture mapping, atmospheric effects and super fast frame rate.

Robinsons Requiem

Submitted by admin on Wed, 20/07/2011 - 15:10
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£0.00

Robinsons Requiem is a survivaladventure simulation set in a startlingly realistic virtual environment, the likes of which have never been seen before. Imprisoned on an alien planet your aim is to escape. If you have to amputate one of your own hands to survive then that's what you must do. Features more than one hundred variables managed in real time; your body temperature, fatigue, stress, pain, disease, gangrene & hallucinations.

Putt Putts Fun Pack

Submitted by console.passion on Wed, 20/07/2011 - 15:10
in
Notes: 
This is the big box version.
Box: 
yes
£18.00
Manual: 
yes
£18.00

Everyone's favourite little car is back, and this time he's playing games. Putt-Putt and your child will be entertained for hours with Checkers, the Cheese King, Remember!, Circus Puzzle Blocks, Tic-Tac-Toe, and Pinball. Four different skill levels allow the games to grow with your child. Practice matching and pattern recognition, sharpen letter and spelling skills, develop logic and spatial relationship abilities, and most important of all, have a lot of fun.

Quarantine

Submitted by console.passion on Wed, 20/07/2011 - 15:10
in
Facebook
Feature on Facebook?: 
no
Notes: 
This is the big box version.
Box: 
yes
£16.00
Manual: 
yes
£16.00

You are Drake Edgewater, a 21st Century cab driver desperate to escape from the Quarantined City of KEMO. You drive a modified '52 Checker 'hovercab' armed with headlight mounted machine guns, roof cannons, missiles, explosives, flame throwers, buzz saws and a bad attitude. Rid the streets, by any means necessary, of assault vehicles, mutant assassins and slow moving pedestrians. It's all in a days work here in KEMO.

Putt Putt Joins the Parade

Submitted by admin on Wed, 20/07/2011 - 15:10
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yes
£10.00
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yes
£10.00

Welcome to cartown! It's time for the first annual Cartown Pet Parade, and Putt-Putt wants to be part of it. But first he needs to find a balloon and a pet, and get a car wash. Discover clues, solve puzzles, and have fun while qualifying Putt-Putt for the parade. Then have a great time in the parade with all the other cars and their pets.

Psychic Detective

Submitted by admin on Wed, 20/07/2011 - 15:10
in
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yes
£18.00
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yes
£18.00

Enter the mind blowing world of psychic detective Eric Fox as you're thrust into the centre of a sinister murder mystery thriller filled with intrigue, violence, kinky power trips and wicked deception. Penetrate the minds of other characters, discovering their weaknesses and experiencing their personal hells!

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