The 3DO interactive Multiplayer system was one of the first dedicated CD-ROM based game systems. Launched in 1993, at a price point of $699.99, it was intended as a standard from which various manufacturers and developers could work from. The 3DO company did not manufacture the game units, instead they licensed out the idea for a small fee in royalties.
Ahead of its time, it boasted a CD-ROM drive (capable of playing games and photo and music CDs) as well as powerful 3D graphics capabilities. The system could be used as a CD player, and had standard AV outputs including component and S-video. Among other innovations were controllers that could be daisy chained together (physically linked together through a connector port on the back of each controller), and a built in game save ROM.
Some reviewers state that the 3DO was only slightly less powerful than the Sony Playstation, a system that came out two years later. In this, the 3DO was definitely ahead of its time.
The 3DO system sold a significant number of units, but never gained enough traction to compete with the main players at the time (which included SNES and the Sega Genesis). The high cost of the system made it out of the price range of most of its potential audience.
Over 130 games for the 3DO were produced. At the time, Full Motion Video (FMV) was considered the latest advance in video games. There are a good number of FMV games available for the 3DO, many of them fairly cheesy. Towards the end of the system's life cycle, a number of adult themed games were produced, making it one of the few major consoles to feature adult oriented content.
But FMV were not all the games produced for the system. The 3DO also featured numerous 3D based FPS's, space based shooters, racers and a few fighting games.
Sadly, the system faired poorly in the market and was canceled in 1996. The 3DO Company went on to become a software publisher.
The system:
The FZ-1 is the first version of the 3DO Interactive Multiplayer that Panasonic produced. Physically, it bears a very close resemblance to the alternate Goldstar model, the main physical diferance being the embossed Panasonic logo on the top. I've read that the Panasonic FZ-1 is preferable over the Goldstar model because it has fewer compatability issue with certain games.
Both units are fairly heavy. The later FZ-10 used a top loading tray similair to the Playstation. The original FZ-1 form factor is nicer in some regards because one is able to stack other equipment/consoles on top of it, a bonus when space is limited.
The FZ-1 features a front loading CD Tray and standard AV outputs (meaning that standard AV cables may be used.) This includes standard an RF connection, Composite video, stereo and, unusual for the time, S-video. S-video is extremely nice to have as it was the best display standard available at the time and has the cleanest image. Unlike the updated "slim" version in the FZ-10, the FZ-1 requires the use of a program CD to access the system's game save rom. In this the FZ-10 is superior as it's a lot less tedious to delete save files, and used units these days will often be sold without the needed CD.
The Games:
The 3DO has a fairly small library of games compared to other systems, though the games cover the full range of genres from RPG, FPS and space shooters to fighting and racing games. A number of games such as Star Control II and The Need For Speed are especially memorable. The 3DO was also the platform for the only strategy based tie-in game for the movie Jurassic Park entitled Jurassic Park Interactive and the 3DO version of the infamous Night Trap is considered by some to be the best available. Overall, a good number of the 3DO's games are entertaining and ahead of their time, though there's some garbage on the system (Plumbers Don't Wear Ties).
Many developers went out of their way to use the CD capabilities of the 3DO and as the result, the system's games often boast CD quality music. Street Fighter 2 Turbo is an example of this. The music in the 3DO port is actually better than in the arcade version. This sets it apart from the systems it competed against early in its life cycle.
In addition, a good number of games use Full Motion Video cut scenes or high quality pre-rendered animations, both available due to the additional space allowed on a CD. Along the same lines, a good number of the games feature FMV gameplay, but this type of game covers only a small portion of the game library.
PROS:
* AV connections use standard cables including S-video.
* Native S-video support makes this system display better on modern flat panel TVs than many of its contemporaries.
CONS:
* Limited game collection (about 140 games), many of them mediocre or worse.
* Small consumer base makes games harder to find now.
* Controllers could be better.
* Many 3DO games were ported to other systems after the 3DO's demise.
BOTTOM LINE:
The 3DO is a good system, but the limited catalog of games makes it less desirable to the average gamer. An interesting footnote in gaming history, it's likely to appeal only to the vintage gaming enthusiast. It certainly lacks the legs of the NES, Genesis or SNES.
The FZ-1 is a good model though I would say it's a toss-up between this one and the FZ-10. The game save program manager of the Fz-10 is a nice feature, but the FZ-1's form factor gives it a little extra appeal. Since both systems contain much the same hardware, it's mostly the cosmetic differences that purchasers will need to decide on.
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The 3DO Interactive Multiplayer (often called simply 3DO is a video game console originally produced by Panasonic in 1993. The original edition of the console, the FZ-1, was referred to in full as the 3DO REAL Interactive Multiplayer. The console had advanced hardware features at the time: an ARM60 32-bit RISC CPU, two custom video coprocessors, a custom 16-bit DSP and a custom math co-processor. It also featured 2 megabytes (MB) of DRAM, 1 megabyte of VRAMResolution 640×480, 320×240 60 Hz for NTSC version, and 768×576, 384×288 50 Hz for PAL version with either 16 bit palettized color (from 24 bits) or 24 bit true color.Units sol 2 million Media CD-ROM CPU 32-bit 12.5 MHz RISC CPU ARM60 Online services Planned but canceledBest-selling game Return Fire Successor M2 canceled Developer The 3DO Company Manufacturer Panasonic, Sanyo and GoldStar Retail availability NA October 4, 1993
JP March 20, 1994
EU 1994 Discontinued 1996
list of games 3D Atlas
Advanced Dungeons and Dragons Death Keep
Advanced Dungeons and Dragons Slayer
Alone In The Dark
Alone In The Dark 2
Ballz: The Director's Cut
Battle Chess
Battlesport
BC Racers
Blade Force
Blonde Justice
Brain Dead 13
Burning Soldier
Bust-A-Move
Cannon Fodder
Captain Quazar
Carrier: Fortress at Sea
Casper
Club 3DO: Station Invasion
Corpse Killer
Coven
Cowboy Casino
Crash N' Burn
Creature Shock
Crime Patrol
Cyberia
Cyberdillo
D
Demolition Man
Dennis Miller That's News to me.
Digital Dreamware
Dinopark Tycoon
Doom
Dragon's Lair
Dragon Lore
Drug Wars
Endlessly
Escape From Monster Manor
ESPN Beach Volleyball
ESPN Golf
ESPN Golf: Mental Messages
ESPN Interactive Hitting
ESPN Let's Go Skiing
ESPN Let's Play Soccer
ESPN Let's Play Tennis
ESPN Step Aerobics
Family Feud
Fatty Bear's Birthday Surprise
Fatty Bear's Fun Pack
FIFA Soccer
Flashback: The Quest For Identity
Flying Nightmares
Foes Of Ali
Fun 'N Games
Gex
Gridders
Guardian War
Gunslinger Collection
Hell: A Cyberpunk Thriller
Horde
Ice Breaker
Immercenary
Immortal Desires
Incredible Machine
Iron Angel Of The Apocalypse
Iron Angel of the Apocalypse: The Return
Jammit
John Madden Football
Johnny Bazookatone
Jurassic Park Interactive
Killing Time
Kingdom: The Far Reaches
Lemmings
Lost Eden
Lost Files Of Sherlock Holmes
Love Bites
Lucienne's Quest
Mad Dog McCree
Mad Dog II: The Lost Gold
Mathemagics: An Interactive Learning Cube
Mazer
Mega Race
Microcosm
Mind Teazzer
Myst
Need For Speed
Neuro Dancer
Night Trap
Novastorm
Off-World Interceptor
Olympic Soccer
Olympic Summer Games
Out Of This World
PaTaank
Panasonic Demonstration CD
Panasonic Sampler CD
Panzer General
Perfect General
PGA Tour 96
Phoenix 3
Plumbers Don't Wear Ties
PO'ed
Primal Rage
Psychic Detective
Putt Putt Goes To The Moon
Putt Putt Joins The Parade
Putt Putt's Fun Pack
Quarantine
Quarterback Attack
Real Pinball
Return Fire
Return Fire: Maps o'Death
Rise Of The Robots
Road Rash
Robinson's Requiem
Sample This!
Samurai Shodown
Scramble Cobra
Seal of the Pharaoh
Sesame Street Numbers
Sewer Shark
Sex
Shadow: War Of Succession
Shanghai: Triple Threat
Shelley Duvall's: It's A Bird's Life
Shock Wave
Shock Wave: Operation Jumpgate Shockwave
Shock Wave 2: Beyond The Gate
Sid Meier's C.P.U. Bach
Slam 'N Jam '95
Slope Style: An nteractive Learning Cube Instruction.
Snow Job
Soccer Kid
Space Ace
Space Hulk: Vengeance of the Blood Angels
Space Pirates
StarBlade
Star Control II
Star Fighter
Star Wars: Rebel Assault
Stellar 7: Draxon's Revenge
Strahl
Super Models Go Wild
Super Street Fighter II Turbo
Super Wing Commander
Supreme Warrior Fighting
Syndicate
The Daedalus Encounter
The Last Bounty Hunter
The Life Stage: Virtual House
The San Diego Zoo
Oceans Below
Space Shuttle
Theme Park
Toon Time In The Classroom
Total Eclipse
Trip'D
True Golf Classics: Pebble Beach Golf Links
True Golf Classics: Waialae Country Club
True Golf Classics: Wicked 18
Twentieth Century Video Almanac
Twisted: The Game Show
Virtual Vivid Sampler
Virtuoso
VR Stalker
Way Of The Warrior
Who Shot Johnny Rock?
Wing Commander III: Heart Of The Tiger
Wolfenstein 3D
Woody Woodpecker 1
Woody Woodpecker 2
Woody Woodpecker 3
World Cup Golf: Hyatt Dorado Beach
Zhadnost: The People's Party
Japanese games.
Achieve Peace: An Almanac For Improving Your Fortune
Aesop's Fables: The Ants and the Grasshoppers Vol. 1
Ai Shogi
AV Girl Mahjong
Bakusito
Battle Pinball
Belzerion
Battery Navi
Bonogurashi
Confrontation: Wax Water game.
Crayon Shin Chan: The Big Magic.
Doctor Hauzer
Dragon Tycoon Edge
Emit Vol. 1
Emit Vol. 2
F1 GP
Flopon the Space Mutant
Fumin's Toy Box
Ghost Hunter Series: The Mask of Black Death
Global Defense
Graduation: Final
Graduation II: Special-Neo Generation
Grand Chef of the Kingdom
Grimm's Fairy Tales Vol. 2: Hansel and Gretel
Grimm's Fairy Tales Vol. 3: Little Red Riding Hood
Hello Kitty Toy Box
J.League Virtual Stadium
Kamachi's Museum
Kerokerokeroppi and the Origami Experts
Macaroni Interactive
Mahjong Enlightenment Sky: Heaven Sent
Marine Tour: Diving Spot Guide
Masters: Harukanaru Augusta 3Sports)| T&E Soft
Mitsumasa Anno's Four Seasons in Pepperon
Miyuki Nakajima
Montana Jones
Monoshiri Freedom School
Moon Cradle
Multimedia Cruising
Murphy's T.V.
Neo Organic Bioform
Nice Body
Nobunaga's Ambition
Oyaji Hunter Mahjong
Paddock Note '95
Penthouse Interactive:Virtual Photo Shoot Vol. 1
Peter Frankle: Tower of Challenge
Pretty Soldier Sailormoon Fighting)| Bandai
Prime Suspect
Princess Maker 2
Puppet Tales
Pyramid Intruder
Romance of the Three Kingdoms IV
Royal Pro Wrestling
Rush'n'Fire Megadas
Shanghai: The Great Wall
Sensu no Tensai
Super Mahjong P. IV
Susono Country Club: Golf Course Multimedia Tour
Takeru
Tarot Card Fortune Teller
Theatre Wars
The Deep Blue Fleet
The Doraemons
The Letter That Overcame ime
The Tower
Together With Nontan: TheStar's Gift
Twinkle Knights
Ultraman Powered
Virtual Cameraman Part 3
Virtual Puppet Reika
Winners Take All
Winning Post
Yu Yu Hakusho
Best Deals for Panasonic 3DO FZ-1 System - Video Game Console
Best system ever created. If you are looking for the best graphics, smoothest gameplay or coolest titles dont buy the 3DO.But if you are looking for a very unique experience, off the wall games, fun games, family games, adult games. Then the 3DO is perfect for you@@
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