3DO types

[Purge]

I have a Panasonic 3DO, however I don't know too much about the console and the history. Was it an open standard like the CDI? How were multiple companies allowed to manufacture the consoles and what is the difference between them? Thanks in advance ^^;

[Alien Workshop]

The company 3DO developed the hardware, and then sold right to manufacture it to different companies. The companies that signed up to manufacture the 3DO were,

Panasonic
GoldStar
Sanyo
Samsung
AT&T

Out of these companies, only Panasonic, Goldstar, and Sanyo made 3DO systems. Of course, these companies had to pay royalties to 3DO for each system sold.

[Purge]

Were there any advantages to the different types of players for the system? Also did any have Digital Video built into them or did they all need expansions.

[Alien Workshop]

Were there any advantages to the different types of players for the system? Also did any have Digital Video built into them or did they all need expansions.

I think the FZ-10 had the DV built in. The GoldStar model is the cheapest one.

[Purge]

I guess I lucked out XD. I got the FZ-10 free last night :P but I had an FZ-1 when I was a kid... I think it was Star Control 2 that I was hooked on but I could be wrong.. the memories :P

[Nintendomad]

Matsushita(panasonic) made two models: FZ -1 and FZ- 10.

Goldstar made a model, and Sanyo made the TRY model.

All 3do hardware was made to the same standard like the CD-i and the only benefit to having the Sanyo TRY as opposed to an FZ - 1 is that the TRY looks better.Please not that the Sanyo TRy model was only available in Japan.

The 3do has some good software like Super Street Fighter 2 X Grand master challenge and Dr. Hauzer, and magnificent versions of madden and Road Rash for the time.I like the 3do and still play it fairly regularly.Well worth a place in anyone's collection for the few exclusives it had, but try to get the Sanyo TRY model.

[Purge]

other than being a japanese exclusive and cosmetics, does the TRY modle have any advantages over the FZ10 at all?

[Alien Workshop]

other than being a japanese exclusive and cosmetics, does the TRY modle have any advantages over the FZ10 at all?

Nope, the FZ-10 is the best.

[Purge]

Interesting... does the 3DO have any sort of region lockout as well? I recall it being fairly popular in *ahem* love hotels in Japan.

[einbebop44]

Ah yes...the 3D0 was quite popular in Asian markets because it could be used to play porn. :smt043

[Alien Workshop]

Interesting... does the 3DO have any sort of region lockout as well? I recall it being fairly popular in *ahem* love hotels in Japan.

Not that I know of.

[sayin999]

Interesting... does the 3DO have any sort of region lockout as well? I recall it being fairly popular in *ahem* love hotels in Japan.

As far as ive read it has no lock out, however the japanese 3do has a special japanese text chip which some japanese games use, but other then that its region free.

[AntiPasta]

BTW, I'm pretty sure the FZ-10 does not have MPEG built in. Otherwise, there wouldn't have been much point in having a "AV Expansion" port on my Panasonic FZ-10 :-)

(or perhaps the M2?)

[Quakester2000]

Were there any advantages to the different types of players for the system? Also did any have Digital Video built into them or did they all need expansions.

Here is the full list of hardware licences



A: Here is a list of the companies that were 3DO hardware licensees:

Licensee Product Notes
-------- ------- -----
Panasonic = Home Console FZ-1/10 FZ-10 is more streamlined and was also cheaper to make(1)

Panasonic M2 Accelerator Prototype/Cancelled(2)

Sanyo Home Console Released in Japan(3)

Samsung Home Console/w MPEG Cancelled(4)

Goldstar Home Console Available in the US(5)

Creative Labs PC Card PC card for IBM compatibles(6)

Toshiba Portable Cancelled(7)

AT&T Home Console Console plans cancelled(8)

Scientific-Atlanta Set-top cablebox Interactive TV test for US West Cancelled?

Atari Games Coin-op Arcade Game Game(s) made are unknown

Electronic Arts Coin-op Arcade Game Game(s) made are unknown

Amer. Laser Games Coin-op Arcade Game Game(s) made are unknown

--------------------------------

(1) The Panasonic FZ-1 has been released in the US, Japan, Canada, Taiwan, the
UK, and Canada. The UK console is a PAL version. The FZ-10 is a new version
of the FZ-1 available in Japan and the US.

(2) For more information on the M2 Accelerator, see questions 1.12 and 3.15.

(3) The Sanyo 3DO console is available only in Japan.

(4) The Samsung 3DO console was set to include built-in MPEG decoding hardware.

(5) The Goldstar 3DO console was released in the US and Korea at a MSRP of
$399. Goldstar expanded distribution of the 3DO system by making it
available through mass merchandisers and toy stores.

(6) The Creative labs 3DO Blaster was released in the US and parts of Asia.
For more information on the Creative labs PC card, see question 1.5. This card
was discontinued.

(7) Toshiba was interested in developing a car navigation system based around
the 3DO architecture. Those plans have been scrapped.

(8) The AT&T 3DO was previously planned, and would have optionally included a
modem for networked games and communication. Their 3DO console plans have been
cancelled, along with their 3DO voicespan modem. (AT&T has decided to leave the
videogames market completely).

---------------------------

[Alchy]

iirc, the FZ-1 had the mpeg decoder in it. The FZ-10 was the reduced cost version that came out later.

[Kron]

The FZ-1 didn't have the MPEG decoder, It had an expansion slot on the side for the cart addon.

[Purge]

The FZ-1 didn't have the MPEG decoder, It had an expansion slot on the side for the cart addon.
Yeah, it seems to be there on the FZ-10 too. Any idea where I can pick one of these cards up?

[vanadium]

For the record, the Sanyo TRY system still hits about $50-$100 on Yahoo! Japan, and if you ever find a 3DOBlaster (by Creative) for a decent price, you're damned lucky. I've only found one on eBay and it went for well over $350.00 a year or so ago.

I have a Goldstar that I repaired (the lens wasn't on track) and use from time to time. Good little machine.

[AntiPasta]

For the record, the Sanyo TRY system still hits about $50-$100 on Yahoo! Japan, and if you ever find a 3DOBlaster (by Creative) for a decent price, you're damned lucky. I've only found one on eBay and it went for well over $350.00 a year or so ago.

I have a Goldstar that I repaired (the lens wasn't on track) and use from time to time. Good little machine.

THREE HUNDRED FIFTY DOLLARS?????!?!?!?!

I already told the story a hundred times, but it comes down to me passing up a brand new 3DO blaster for 12 euros, 6 years ago or so :smt030 :smt030 :smt030

[vanadium]

For the record, the Sanyo TRY system still hits about $50-$100 on Yahoo! Japan, and if you ever find a 3DOBlaster (by Creative) for a decent price, you're damned lucky. I've only found one on eBay and it went for well over $350.00 a year or so ago.

I have a Goldstar that I repaired (the lens wasn't on track) and use from time to time. Good little machine.

THREE HUNDRED FIFTY DOLLARS?????!?!?!?!

I already told the story a hundred times, but it comes down to me passing up a brand new 3DO blaster for 12 euros, 6 years ago or so :smt030 :smt030 :smt030

Worse than that, chances are you wouldn't even be able to use the thing with modern computers. :/

I've been looking for years to find one at a sane price, but no dice.

[Zilog Jones]

(5) The Goldstar 3DO console was released in the US and Korea at a MSRP of
$399. Goldstar expanded distribution of the 3DO system by making it
available through mass merchandisers and toy stores.

The Goldstar one was also sold in Europe - I have a Special Reserve catalogue somewhere in the depths of hell (i.e. under my bed) with it for sale. I assume it was a PAL version, as they never sold imports or mods or anything.

(Goldstar are now called LG, in case anyone was wondering who the hell they are)

And that PCI card should work on modern PCs... if you install Win95/98 (you can make a dual boot system with one of them and 2k/XP easily). Unless it used those stupid old propriety Matsushita CD-ROM drives...?

[CraigJ]

Yeah, the Goldstar was localised for Australia as well, as I've got one with an Australian 240v plug attached. Not sure whether it's a PAL or NTSC video output though, as my TV handles either transparently.

I've got the FZ-1, Sanyo and GoldStar and the Sanyo is definitely the best looking, although my Goldstar looks great because it's in the best condition of all of them.

[asnozz]

im going to be ignourant now :-D


any chance of some pictures :smt023 ?

[Purge]

I just rescued an FZ-1 from an untimely death and got it to work. Some picture of it hooked up with my mass of consoles to my 12" TV XD.
http://ciprianispasta.com/~pkgingo/front.jpg
http://ciprianispasta.com/~pkgingo/top.jpg
http://ciprianispasta.com/~pkgingo/stacks.jpg
you can see on the bottom shelf ive got a menacer and various other thing incuding a genesis and sega cd 2 hooked up there if you look right underneath the menacer's handle thats sticking out, you can just barely make out the controller port to it. And if you look carefully behind the DC controller at the left you will see my samba maracas ^^; If you look just to the right of the DC controller you will see the

controller for the 3DO. 3 Buttons, |_|, |>, and 2 shoulder pads on it. Volume controll and headphone jack on the bottom.

[Yceman]

you will see the controller for the 3DO. 3 Buttons, |_|, |>, and 2 shoulder pads on it. Volume controll and headphone jack on the bottom.

I love 3DO's controller. It's such an original and useful concept

[Purge]

just reminded me of merging SNES and a genesis controller actually.

[vanadium]

just reminded me of merging SNES and a genesis controller actually.

That's about what it feels like, actually.

[AntiPasta]

I *hate* the D-pad for playing Street Fighter... though the concept of having headphone jacks on the pad, and the ability of daisy-chaining them, is very original :-)