ScuzzBlog: Diaries May 2018 Entry 11th May 2018: Post: 1 Panasonic Real 3D0 FZ-1 - Or the Wadda-Cudda Console At the time when consoles were pretty prolific this machine boasted as being the best of the best in 1994-95. Sadly its bubble was kinda burst by the release of the PlayStation but hey. Another one of those consoles that was glass cased in the basement of my local games retailer. I recall the endless looping of Wing Commander and just stood there watching the video quality real person graphics. I have to say it was very very impressive. I was particularly interested in getting this machine for three reasons... Dave Needle, R J Mical [ Amiga designers ] and the very wonderfully talented Trip Hawkins co founder of Electronic Arts. The 3DO Interactive Multiplayer was conceived by Trip Hawkins and with his close friends Dave Needle and R J Mical founded the company The 3DO Company. This company did not have the resources to make the machine but instead licensed the hardware. Panasonic was the company that produced the machine but instead of reducing the actual unit cost by getting games developers to contribute more for the rights to develop the games, they put that burden on to the end price. Therefore it really was a very expensive platform. There is no doubt that this was a winning product. For me if I had bought one of these in the day I just would never have slept. It really is the best of the best. Super smooth, sleek and a joy to use. The games load with little down time and you find yourself lost in the games footage that is so intoxicating. If you like retro gaming but value your time better spent then don't get one of these. This is for me the best of the CD interactive machines. The multiplayer kinda confuses some cus it suggest multiple players. In truth it means it can play different media. The unit hasn't aged a bit and still looks its best. Just magical. Developed by The 3DO Company and made by Panasonic around Oct 1993 Uses the 32-bit RISC CPU ARM60 running at 12.5 MHz with 2 MB RAM Was designed to have the Panasonic FZ-EM256 at the back. What a cool idea to have the headphone jack in the controller plus a volume control. Man was it difficult getting a sharp image with a still camera. The images were always generally moving so a real struggle. I have to say that in closing this little review of the CD interactive machines I found this last experience very pleasant The 3DO was the only machine to give a true arcade style experience playing games.

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Last updated 11/05/2018

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