The 3DO Games Explosion

With the 3DO now launched in North America and Japan, and a European release on the horizon, it was time for the game developers to stand up and show what the machine could do.

After the stunted launch in North America, where there was only one game available on the day of launch, things were going to be different for Europe, which would benefit the North American and Japanese markets by association.

1994 saw a slew of great games released for the system, and really helped gamers see what all the early fuss had been about. 

With these games in the library, and the promise of an even better 1995 release line-up, it looked like the 3DO was here to stay.

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Episode Transcript

Danny (00:04):
You're listening to Memories of 3DO, a retrospective look at
a video games console classic.
To make sure you get the latest episode,hop on over to 3dopodcast.com/listen and
choose your preferred app to follow on.
And now, this week's episode.
With the 3DO now launched innorth America and Japan and a
European release on the horizon,

(00:25):
it was time for the gamedevelopers to stand up and
show what the machine could do.
After the stunted launch in northAmerica, where there was only one game
available on the day of the launch, thingswere going to be different for Europe,
which would benefit the north Americanand Japanese markets by association.
1994 saw a slew of great gamesreleased for the system, and
really helped gamers see what allthe early fuss had been about.

(00:47):
Some of the standout games includedStar Control 2, a hybrid strategy
game, that mixed RPG, resourcemanagement, and arena shooter.
It was a huge game with full voiceacting, and an orchestral soundtrack
that really immersed you in it.
Flashback, the unofficial sequelto the groundbreaking Another
World, the visuals and animation
in this were leaps beyondthe 16 bit console versions.

(01:09):
Off-World Interceptor, a racing stroke,hunting game set in the future with you
as the bounty hunter, some great graphicsthat helped show off the 3DO's power.
Super Wing Commander, probably thebest version of the space combat
simulator, an any system, and a greatforerunner to the incredible Wing
Commander 3, that would appear in 1995.
The Need for Speed,
still my favorite versionof the seminal racing game.

(01:31):
This really gives you a feelfor the different weight and
handling of different cars.
Playing this in Dolby surroundwas an incredible experience.
Road Rash - after playing thecartoony version on the Mega
Drive/Genesis and seeing the almostphoto-realistic sprites of this game,
it was a huge leap, a violent, but veryfunny bike racing and fighting game.
The Horde - you play a farmer whohas to build his land and property

(01:55):
while fighting off hordes of maraudingbeasts intent on destroying said land.
Fun, and very hard as the game went on.
Cannon Fodder - you control a squad oflittle soldiers that you need to guide
safely around enemy infested jungles.
It's a lot more intense than itmight appear at first glance.
Way of the Warrior - while the Genesisand the Super Nintendo had Street
Fighter, the 3DO had Way of the Warrior.

(02:17):
Not the greatest game when it comesto gameplay, but it's photo-realistic
graphics made up for this somewhat.
And again, showed whatthe system could do.
FIFA International Soccer - movinginto the 3d space for the first time,
FIFA International Soccer saw greatcontrols and awesome visuals mixed
with incredible surround sound, wherethe cheering fans would reverberate
around your room, making you feellike you're actually in the stadium.

(02:41):
With these games in the library,and the promise of an even
better 1995 release lineup,
it looked like the 3DO was here to stay.
Of course its competitors weren'tgoing to sit idly by and news was
already coming out about Sega andNintendo's next generation of machines.
Not only that, but industry whispersabout Sony's imminent entry into
the market was incredibly positive.

(03:01):
And by all counts, they had a verycapable machine in their hands.
All of 3DO's competitors were due torelease some new consoles at the end
of 1994, essentially giving the company12 months to establish themselves.
Games were going to be essential,and it looked like 3DO had delivered
in spades when it came to this.
But that wasn't their only weapon.
Despite the machine only having launchedat the end of 1993, there was already talk

(03:25):
of the 3d or successor, nicknamed the M2.
This would be a 64 bit machine andwill be offered as a standalone
unit or an upgrade for existing3DO users via a motherboard switch.
This new machine would offer unparalleledgraphical power as well as computing
speed and network features thatwould truly take it way beyond what
Sega, Nintendo and Sony had planned.

(03:47):
By providing the games over 1994 and1995 that gamers wanted, and ensuring
their purchase of a 3DO unit wasfuture-proof with the M2, the 3DO
company looked as if it was here to stay.
But newcomer Sony would have other plans.
In next week's episode, the juggernautthat was Sony PlayStation, a
stall in 3DO hardware sales, and afinancial reckoning for the company.