3DO is a video gaming hardware format created by The 3DO Company and developed by Trip Hawkins, the founder of Electronic Arts. The technical details were originally designed by Dave Needle and RJ Mical of New Technology Group. These specifications were licensed by other companies, and most of the hardware was sold as home video game consoles under the name Interactive Multiplayer. Panasonic made the first models in 1993, and later versions were produced by GoldStar, Sanyo, Creative Labs, and Samsung Electronics.

The system used a 32-bit ARM60 processor and a special graphics chip. At first, it was promoted as a multimedia device, but this changed within a year to focus only on video games. Although the launch was highly publicized, including being named Time magazine's "1993 Product of the Year," the high cost compared to other consoles, a market flooded with similar products, and mixed customer feedback limited its success. It was not as successful as competing consoles from Sega and Sony, and production ended by 1996. In 1997, The 3DO Company sold its "Opera" hardware to Samsung, and one year later, it sold its M2 hardware to Panasonic.

History

Trip Hawkins, who started Electronic Arts, came up with the idea for the 3DO format. While working at Electronic Arts, he became frustrated with the difficulty of creating software that worked on different platforms that could not communicate with each other. He was inspired to create his own platform after remembering a cartoon he saw at Apple Computer. The cartoon showed two vultures on a branch, with one suggesting the other kill something instead of waiting for food. Hawkins formed a team at Electronic Arts to work on the platform. However, when the platform was separated from Electronic Arts to become The 3DO Company on September 12, 1991, no one was willing to lead it. Hawkins gave up his role as chief executive of Electronic Arts to oversee the company himself while staying as its chairman. The name "3DO" was short for "three-dimensional optics" and also played on the words "audio" and "video." The goal of The 3DO Company was to create a new standard for video games and entertainment using CDs. This standard would be made by different companies, and 3DO would earn money from each console sold and each game produced. For game publishers, the low $3 fee per game was better than the higher fees paid to Nintendo and Sega for their consoles. The 3DO hardware was designed by Dave Needle and RJ Mical, who also created the Atari Lynx. They began designing it on a restaurant napkin in 1989. Trip Hawkins knew Needle and Mical and believed their design matched his ideas, so he decided to work with them instead of starting over. The company showed a prototype at the Winter Consumer Electronics Show in January 1993. Attendees were impressed by the console's graphics, which were considered much better than those of other consoles and computers at the time.

The 3DO Company did not have the resources to make consoles, so it allowed other companies to produce them. Trip Hawkins said they talked to many electronics makers, but their main targets were Sony and Matsushita (now Panasonic), the largest consumer electronics companies in the world. Sony was already working on its own console, the PlayStation, and chose to continue with that instead of joining 3DO. According to former Sega CEO Tom Kalinske, Sega seriously considered working with 3DO but decided against it because of cost concerns. Matsushita agreed to partner with 3DO to support its investment in MCA Inc., which owned Universal Pictures. Matsushita launched the 3DO with its Panasonic FZ-1 model in 1993. Later, Goldstar (now LG) and Sanyo also made the 3DO. Companies like Samsung, Toshiba, and AT&T obtained the hardware license but never sold 3DO units. AT&T even built prototype units and showed them at the January 1994 Consumer Electronics Show.

Licensing the hardware to independent manufacturers made the system very expensive. These companies had to make a profit on the hardware itself, unlike major game console makers like Sega and Sony, who sold their systems at a loss and relied on software sales to make money. The 3DO was priced at $699, much higher than competing systems, and aimed at high-end users and early adopters. Hawkins said the price was $599, not the higher amounts often reported. He later explained that while the suggested retail price was $699, not all stores sold it at that price. Later models from Goldstar, Sanyo, and Panasonic were cheaper to make and sold for less. For example, the Goldstar model launched at $399. After six months, the price of the FZ-1 dropped to $499.

Hawkins believed the 3DO system could become a widely used standard, like the VHS video format, with many companies promoting it together instead of competing with their own technologies. He thought this would make it easier for companies to compete than trying to attract developers to individual formats. Hawkins noted that this would be difficult for Atari and Sony. He also believed that NEC's failure to make its TurboGrafx system successful, despite being larger than Sony, showed how hard it was for new companies to enter the console market. He thought Sony might have had a better chance if it had partnered with others. Other systems, like the Atari Jaguar and Philips CD-i, were seen as less advanced and not real competitors. Both 3DO and Philips aimed to sell about one million units in 1994 and 1995.

Hawkins claimed the console could support HDTV and be used for a set-top box. He believed the platform would appeal to cable companies looking to offer digital interactive services, with broadcasts paired with digital information and eventually leading to video-on-demand services. A trial of this system was planned with US West in Omaha, Nebraska, for the autumn of 1994.

The 3DO platform launched in October 1993 and received a lot of media attention as part of the "multimedia wave" in technology. Games like Return Fire, Road Rash, FIFA International Soccer, and Jurassic Park Interactive were planned for launch but were delayed until mid-1994 because developers struggled with the advanced hardware. The 3DO Company kept updating the console hardware up until its release, causing some third-party games to miss the launch date by less than a month. The only 3DO software available at launch was the third-party game Crash 'N Burn. Panasonic did not produce enough consoles for the launch, so most stores only had one or two units. By mid-November, the 3DO had sold 30,000 units.

The system was released in Japan in March 1994 with six games. The Japanese launch was somewhat successful, with 70,000 units sent to 10,000 stores. However, sales dropped quickly, and by 1995, the system was known in Japan for hosting adult content.

In January 1994, Computer Gaming World predicted that 3DO would see a lot of new software support in the next year, unlike the Atari Jaguar and Pioneer LaserActive. The magazine said that if 3DO's partners could get enough consoles and games on the market, it could become the main entry-level device for interactive gaming and possibly the ideal "plug-and-play" solution for people tired of dealing with unreliable computer hardware.

Licensed systems

The 3DO system was made by several companies, but the Panasonic versions are the most well-known and widely used.

• Panasonic FZ-1 R·E·A·L 3DO Interactive Multiplayer (Japan, Asia, North America, and Europe) – This was the first 3DO system. It originally cost $699.99 in the U.S., which is about $1,521 in today’s money, and ¥79,800 in Japan, which is about ¥90,209 or $596 in today’s money. The price was later lowered to $399.99 in the U.S., or about $869 today, in the fall of 1994.
• Panasonic FZ-10 R·E·A·L 3DO Interactive Multiplayer (Japan, North America, and Europe) – Released on November 11, 1994, this model was smaller and lighter than the FZ-1. It replaced the FZ-1 and had a top-loading CD tray, an internal memory manager, and a smaller, lighter controller without a headphone connector.
• Panasonic N-1005 3DO CD Changer "ROBO" (Japan only) – A custom version of the FZ-1 with a five-disc CD drive.
• GoldStar GDO-101 Alive 3DO Interactive Multiplayer (South Korea) – Released in mid-1994, this model looked similar to the Panasonic FZ-1.
• GoldStar GDO-101M 3DO Interactive Multiplayer (North America and Europe) – A version of the GDO-101 made for foreign markets.
• GoldStar GDO-202 3DO Interactive Multiplayer (Korea and Europe) – An updated version of the GDO-101 with a CD-ROM drive similar to the FZ-1.
• GoldStar GDO-203 3DO Alive II (South Korea only) – Released in late 1995, this model had a centered, top-loading CD tray but was later discontinued.
• Sanyo IMP-21J TRY 3DO Interactive Multiplayer (Japan only) – Released in March 1995, this model had a CD tray with a pickup head that resembled a laptop optical drive. It was made in limited numbers and later discontinued.
• Creative 3DO Blaster – A PC expansion card that allowed compatible Windows-based computers to play 3DO games using a double-speed CD-ROM drive and a controller.
• Arcade – American Laser Games used 3DO-based hardware for several arcade games.
• DMB-800 – Made only for the Korean market after Samsung bought the Opera hardware in 1997, this device could run 3DO software, play VCDs, and perform karaoke.

Hardware

The original version of the console, called the FZ-1, was officially named the 3DO REAL Interactive Multiplayer. At the time of its release, the console had advanced hardware: an ARM60 32-bit RISC CPU, a custom graphics processor with a math co-processor, and a custom 16-bit DSP with a 20-bit ALU. It also had 2 megabytes (MB) of DRAM, 1 MB of VRAM, and a double-speed CD-ROM drive for main CD+Gs or Photo CDs (and Video CDs with an add-on MPEG video module). The 3DO included the first light synthesizer in a game console, which turned CD music into a colorful visual display.

The 3DO used a special file system called Opera for its software on optical discs. Unlike many other CD-based consoles, the 3DO did not use regional lockout or copy protection, making it easier to use illegal copies or homebrew software. However, some Japanese games could not be played on non-Japanese 3DO consoles because they used a special kanji font not included in the English version of the console’s software. Games with compatibility issues included Sword and Sorcery (released in English as Lucienne's Quest), Twinkle Knights, and a demo version of Alone in the Dark.

The 3DO had a 32-bit RISC CPU running at 12.5 MHz (ARM60), using the VY86C060-20FC or VY86C06020FC-2 chip (which normally runs at 20 MHz). It supported resolutions of 640×480 (interpolated) or 320×240 (actual) at 60 Hz for NTSC versions, and 768×576 (interpolated) or 384×288 (actual) at 50 Hz for PAL versions, with either 16-bit palettized color (from 24-bit) or 24-bit truecolor. The console had a dual pixel engine (CEL engine) capable of producing 9–16 million pixels per second (36–64 megapixels per second interpolated), with support for distortion, scaling, rotation, and texture mapping. A custom math co-processor was located inside the MADAM component.

The 3DO had a 50 MHz bus capable of transferring 200 MB/s (50 million words per second), 36 DMA channels, 2 MB of main RAM, 1 MB of VRAM, 2 expansion ports, and 32 KB SRAM. It supported 16-bit stereo sound, stereo CDDA playback, a 44.1 kHz sampling rate, and 4-channel Dolby Surround sound. A custom 16-bit DSP with 16-bit I/O and registers but a 20-bit ALU and accumulator was embedded in the CLIO chip. The DSP had 13 DMA channels for digital input, which could be sampled and distorted.

The 3DO had a double-speed CD-ROM drive with a 300 kB/s data transfer rate and a 32 KB RAM buffer. It used a multitasking 32-bit operating system. The console had an RF switch for older TVs without direct video inputs, composite RCA ports for standard video and audio connections, and an S-Video port for better picture quality on advanced televisions.

All 3DO consoles had built-in power supplies. Some models, like the Panasonic 3DO FZ-1, Sanyo TRY 3DO, and Goldstar 3DO, had hardwired power cords, while others, like the Panasonic 3DO FZ-10, used an IEC 60320 C7 "figure 8" power cord. North American models operated on AC 120 V, 60 Hz, 30 W.

Most 3DO systems came with a standard controller, A/V cables, and a power cable. The 3DO controllers were unique because the console had only one controller port, and controllers could be connected together via a port on each controller, allowing up to eight controllers to be linked. All 3DO controllers were compatible with one another.

Standard 3DO controllers included a headphone jack and volume control for silent play, a feature found on the Panasonic FZ-1 and GoldStar (LG) models. Third-party companies like Logitech produced additional controllers. World International Trading Corporation also released an adapter for using Super NES controllers with the 3DO.

The only light gun for the 3DO was the Gamegun, made by American Laser Games. Despite this, 10 games supported light gun play, including arcade ports from American Laser Games (like Mad Dog McCree) and titles from Virgin Interactive and Digital Pictures. The Gamegun had the same design as the Sega CD version, an orange "Old West" revolver. Some Gameguns had a controller port for connecting two guns for two-player gameplay, supported by many American Laser Games titles.

Japanese versions of Demolition Man and Corpse Killer retained light gun support, allowing Japanese players to use imported Gameguns. Panasonic and Logitech released a 3DO mouse, with the Panasonic FZ-JM1 and Logitech 3DO mouse being identical except for markings. Fewer than 20 games supported the mouse, with Myst and Lemmings being the most notable. The Panasonic mouse was included with Konami’s Policenauts Limited Edition in Japan.

Home Arcade Systems made a steering wheel for the 3DO, used in racing games like The Need for Speed. The Panasonic FZ-EM256 was a 256 KB Expandable Memory Unit released in Japan in 1994. The Panasonic 3DO Karaoke Mixer allowed users to play music CDs, lower the vocals, and sing with microphones, though it was only sold in limited markets.

Games

Some of the most popular games on the 3DO system were versions of arcade or PC games that other systems at the time could not play, such as Alone in the Dark, Myst, and Star Control II. Other well-liked games included Total Eclipse, Jurassic Park Interactive, Gex, Crash 'N Burn, Slayer, Killing Time, The Need for Speed, Road Rash, and Immercenary. The 3DO version of the arcade game Samurai Shodown was the only version with accurate graphics for a long time, and the 3DO version of Super Street Fighter II Turbo was the first to include high-quality audio from a CD.

The 3DO system was released around the same time as the first modern first-person shooter games. As a result, it had some of the earliest examples of this genre as exclusive titles, including Escape from Monster Manor, Killing Time, and PO'ed, as well as versions of Wolfenstein 3D and Doom.

However, the 3DO system also had some games that were not as successful. It was one of the first CD-ROM-based consoles, and some early games on the system used gameplay styles similar to movies. These games used moving video clips for most of their visuals, which limited how much players could interact with the game. Some games required players to follow a single storyline by responding to timed prompts. Examples of these types of games include Night Trap, D, Mad Dog McCree, and The Daedalus Encounter.

Reception

GamePro reviewed the 3DO and gave it a neutral rating, calling it "thumbs sideways." They noted that the 3DO was the first CD-ROM system to significantly improve graphics, sound, and game design. However, they questioned if it would be replaced by future systems like the Jaguar CD and "Project Reality" (later known as the Nintendo 64). They also mentioned that the system lacked enough games to justify buying it right away, advising gamers to wait for more titles. The 3DO received the title of Worst Console Launch of 1993 from Electronic Gaming Monthly. In May 1995, Famicom Tsūshin scored the 3DO Real console 26 out of 40 in a special review. In late 1995, Next Generation reviewed the 3DO and stated that its early release gave it more users and better games than the newly launched Saturn and PlayStation, making it a possible alternative. However, they doubted if the system could stay competitive long-term due to the upcoming M2 and the superior hardware of the Saturn and PlayStation. They called the 3DO hardware overhyped but still good for its time, especially praising its DMA engine. They gave it 2 out of 5 stars, noting that it had a strong library of games but questioned if being a "good system" was enough for success.

In 2009, IGN ranked the 3DO as its 22nd greatest console of all time, citing its lack of exclusive games and high price. It ranked higher than the Jaguar but lower than the Super NES, Genesis, PlayStation, and Sega Saturn. Yahoo! Games listed the 3DO among the top five worst console launches due to its limited initial game selection and high cost. Gaming retrospectives often criticized the 3DO for having many low-quality interactive movies. Trip Hawkins' business plan for selling the 3DO was criticized by industry experts.

Legacy

The 3DO Company created a next-generation console that was not released because of business and technical problems. The M2 project, which started as an add-on device for the 3DO, was planned to use two PowerPC 602 processors and newer 3D and video technologies. Later, the company stopped making console hardware and sold the M2 technology to Matsushita.

Since 2020, Piko Interactive has owned the 3DO logo and manages licensing for games that work with the system. This allowed Limited Run Games to release The Eye of Typhoon again for the 3DO in 2022, along with the MS-DOS version being used through DOSBox.