The 3DO Hits America and Japan Awaits

Leading up to its North American launch in October 1993, while the 3DO still had problems (including a much-reduced launch line up due to developers getting to grips with the new hardware), excitement was still growing.

Multimedia was the future, as multiple video games and entertainment magazines were loudly screaming from their pages. News programmes were also talking about a future where a set-top box would be the hub of your entertainment set-up: from TV to movies, sports, videogames, and more. As such, 3DO was ideally placed to be at the forefront of this next wave.

However, as the months played down, it became clear that the launch wasn't going to be everything 3DO needed it to be. Because of the hardware and chips being used, the cost of the console was going to come in at an astronomical $700 (although manufacturers could set their own price, which would see a reduction soon after launch).

There was also only one game available, Crash 'n' Burn from Crystal Dynamics. While it wasn't a terrible game, it was in no way an example of the jaw-dropping graphics gamers had been promised in the months leading up to the launch.

However, Trip Hawkins and his partners were nothing if not savvy marketers, and they kept interest in the system piqued over the holiday period. Sneak peaks and trailers of the games to come looked to show 3DO owners they had made the right choice, as did upcoming accessories like the modem and expandable memory.

And there was also the bonus of a surprise success in an unexpected market...

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