Need additional information for a pretty long 3DO article

eki-sanqua · Post by **eki-sanqua** » Wed Jun 01, 2011 9:16 am

Hello everyone at 3DO Zone forums,

I have been reading a number of your posts about the 3DO over the past few months as I was gathered information and reactions about the hardware, software, M2 and so on...

I have been working over the last 2 months on a pretty long article about the 3DO for the online magazine Sanqua (all in french, sorry), using a number of different sources. The article is currently over 20 pages (I will probably try to shorten it up before the end) and covers a number of topics such as:
- the market context pre-3DO
- Trip Hawkins
- NTG before being bought over by 3DO
- business model (and financial problems resulting)
- and a big part on the actual market results from 1993 till 1996.

By the way, I am also a 3DO owner (Panasonic FZ-1) and I played a bunch of games on the system so I do have hands-on experience on the machine.

There are still a number of details I would like to clarify before considering myself satisfied with the article. Here are a few things I am still looking for, but info is hard to come by...

1. Reliable sales figures, in each geography. I have seens lots of things here and there, but even official reports from 3DO and Matsushita differ. Who to trust ? Does anyone have access to good sources ?

2. Reception in Japan. This is something a bit of a mystery to me. The console did not perform so bad in Japan, at least in the beginning, while it had mostly western games on it. And was expensive. Any clue why it had more success there than in its home country ? (I checked wikipedia in japanese and nope, they dont explain anything about that).

3. Insider information. I'll catch anything you guys can share, if there is anyone who worked at 3DO during its golden years. Or even Panasonic / Goldstar, for the matter.

4. M2 debacle: what really happened at Panasonic ? I have seen rumours of a president leaving and being replaced by another who didnt care, but who knows more than just those gossips ?

5. Everyone may be able to help on this one. How did the US video games media react to the 3DO introduction ? As far as I can remember, in France, it was largely ignored by all major french consoles magazines. Similar / different in the US ?

I'll stop here, but I may have other questions.

Hopefully I will hear from some of you - appreciate your help.

Dr.Enceladus · Post by **Dr.Enceladus** » Wed Jun 01, 2011 11:54 am

i will try to find some of my old console gamer mags with the PAL 3DO adds and prices, don't quote me yet, but if my memory serves me correct, the PAL 3DO (Goldstar) was advertized in our Aussie "Hyper" games magazine for around $1400 AUS* - (*with your trade-ins), which meant you had to part with a working Sega MD or SNES and 10 titles with manuals and boxes.

They used a strange sliding price scale when it came to this deal with the Sega Saturn and PS1 trades too.

Then comes Panasonic itself...the West Australian office. Try Phoning them back in the day and ask them about (or someone who knew about) the 3DO product they made and they treated you like a leper.

Post by **3DOKid** » Wed Jun 01, 2011 1:19 pm

I believe the factors for it's success in Japan, were:

- Panasonic. Japanese brand name, with US technology. Japanese do like Japanese stuff right? Nothing more Japanese than Matsushita? 3DO seemed more pliable than say Microsoft/Atari. 3DO tried to work with Japan, perhaps through Panasonic, while Microsoft, for instance, approach was: WE ARE MICROSOFT. WE ARE AMERICAN. YOU ARE NOT AMERICAN. HERE's HOW WE DO THINGS. Which the Japanese can be particularly belligerent about from what I can make out. (Europeans obviously don't get arsey about such things[/cough])

American stuff, as for everyone none-american, is exotic. But if you don't speak English, american stuff is inaccessible. 3DO was American meaning exotic and new, but made Japanese by Panasonic? That's a potent combination done right? (Who in Europe was tempted by NeoGeo for much the same reason?)

- Sega and Nintendo's control of developers (abuse?) was just as prolific there as it was in the West. Lot's of Japanese Developers keen to try something new, with a company relatively easy to work with in regards licensing, new technology, 32Bit-ness, CD technology. 32 Bit was dying, people everywhere were keen for new stuff.

- 3DO courted Capcom, Namco, Genki, Riversoft, Warp.

- 3DO had lot's of puzzle games plus Hello Kitty, Crayon Shin Chan, Doraemon, Ultraman, Samurai Shodown, Street Fighter, were all represented, not just western games. These are big brands out there even today. I love Crayon Shin Chan rice sprinkles on my rice bowls.

- Lot's of interactive soft porn. Naked girls in Camera games, naked girls in paper, scissor, stone, games, naked girl Mahjong. There wasn't much naked on Nintendo/Sega. And who doesn't like naked?

Post by **3DOKid** » Wed Jun 01, 2011 1:27 pm

Do we get a mention in the article?

eki-sanqua · Post by **eki-sanqua** » Wed Jun 01, 2011 1:56 pm

3DOKid wrote:Do we get a mention in the article?

Sure, I will definitely credit the ones who answered

Thanks for your answers above by the way.

Concerning the reasons of the success in Japan - sure, there were japanese games, but almost nothing at the launch of the console, while they sold a respectful amount in the first month there. I guess it's the combination of Panasonic and... newness then.

How about the US videogames press attitude towards the console ? Any idea ?

eki-sanqua · Post by **eki-sanqua** » Wed Jun 01, 2011 1:59 pm

By the way I am looking for high res pics of every console model, for illustration. There is almost nothing good I can find on Google pics...

If possible not blurred pics, and with proper lighting

and not in middle of a messy background. If anyone has access to previous manufacturers artworks / pictures, that would be even better.

Post by **3DOKid** » Wed Jun 01, 2011 2:12 pm

eki-sanqua wrote:
3DOKid wrote:Do we get a mention in the article?
Sure, I will definitely credit the ones who answered

Thanks for your answers above by the way.

Concerning the reasons of the success in Japan - sure, there were japanese games, but almost nothing at the launch of the console, while they sold a respectful amount in the first month there. I guess it's the combination of Panasonic and... newness then.

How about the US videogames press attitude towards the console ? Any idea ?

I wasn't thinking of me. I do nothing but for the good of the group: 3DO Zone. A little plug would be nice. We do have some highly prolific French collectors here too. Grand Barbares collection springs to mind. His dedication to Escape from Monster Manor deserves recognition alone

http://3do.cdinteractive.co.uk/viewtopic.php?t=2148

eki-sanqua · Post by **eki-sanqua** » Wed Jun 01, 2011 2:32 pm

Sure, I can do that - provide a direct link to your forums as well at the end of the article for those who want to get involved or want to know more about the machine. that's no problem

Trev · Post by **Trev** » Wed Jun 01, 2011 2:56 pm

I know it will take some digging, but I really do think most of what you'd want/need can already be found here in the forum. There are plenty of good pics already here.

NikeX · Post by **NikeX** » Wed Jun 01, 2011 7:57 pm

What does it say in your article so far?

eki-sanqua wrote:

If possible not blurred pics, and with proper lighting Smile and not in middle of a messy background. If anyone has access to previous manufacturers artworks / pictures, that would be even better.

I think Trev is right:

I know it will take some digging, but I really do think most of what you'd want/need can already be found here in the forum. There are plenty of good pics already here.

I've written an article also, in a german retro mag.

Why don't you start with some rEAlly deeeep digging, I mean something like this:

http://groups.google.com/group/rec.game ... 2?hl=de&q=

http://groups.google.com/group/misc.inv ... 3?hl=de&q=

3DOKid did something clever, he showed us a prototype of a retro 3DO magzine he created. That was interesting.*

* release in 2016

Post by **3DOKid** » Wed Jun 01, 2011 8:18 pm

Small font sarcasm. I like that.*

*Someone hand me my banning stick.

NikeX · Post by **NikeX** » Wed Jun 01, 2011 8:26 pm

Trev · Post by **Trev** » Wed Jun 01, 2011 8:49 pm

3DOKid wrote:Small font sarcasm. I like that.*

*Someone hand me my banning stick.

*Nah, I've grown attached to it

Post by **3DOKid** » Wed Jun 01, 2011 8:51 pm

Is it me, and I'm not a woman, but is she hitting above her weight? I mean him? Her? Nah.

vestcoat · Post by **vestcoat** » Thu Jun 02, 2011 1:12 am

Good read on the launch of the 3DO from the perspective of their PR firm:
http://www.worldcomgroup.com/casestudies/747.cfm

Details on pre-market context, and your questions #3 & #5

Vance · Post by **Vance** » Thu Jun 02, 2011 2:03 am

That's an interesting brief, but I wish it sourced certain information; I strongly suspect it's overplayed in parts to make the firm's portfolio look stronger. Over 100 devs? They were barely up to 100 titles (including demo packs) when it was becoming clear they were a lost cause.

eki-sanqua · Post by **eki-sanqua** » Thu Jun 02, 2011 4:48 am

vestcoat wrote:Good read on the launch of the 3DO from the perspective of their PR firm:
http://www.worldcomgroup.com/casestudies/747.cfm

Details on pre-market context, and your questions #3 & #5

Very good document, thanks a lot! How did you ever find this in the first place ?

Following Trev's comment :
- well, signing up does not mean you are actually going to develop for the system. Maybe a number of developers were in a "wait and see" mode before actually committing to anything. I am not sure if signing up also meant you were going to buy the development toolkit for the console, or just expressing your interest...

eki-sanqua · Post by **eki-sanqua** » Thu Jun 02, 2011 4:52 am

NikeX wrote:
I've written an article also, in a german retro mag.

Do you still have a copy of it ? I can read german.

Why don't you start with some rEAlly deeeep digging, I mean something like this:
http://groups.google.com/group/rec.game ... 2?hl=de&q=

http://groups.google.com/group/misc.inv ... 3?hl=de&q=

Thanks, helpful links as well - I will dig some more info from there.

Dr.Enceladus · Post by **Dr.Enceladus** » Thu Jun 02, 2011 11:57 am

NikeX wrote:

...i don't get it fellas,

...prolly coz i am Aussie and have a crooked sence of humor.

vestcoat · Post by **vestcoat** » Thu Jun 02, 2011 3:34 pm

eki-sanqua wrote:
vestcoat wrote:Good read on the launch of the 3DO from the perspective of their PR firm:
http://www.worldcomgroup.com/casestudies/747.cfm

Details on pre-market context, and your questions #3 & #5
Very good document, thanks a lot! How did you ever find this in the first place ?

Someone posted the link over at the pcenginefx forums at few years ago and for some reason I remembered it.

Dr.Enceladus · Post by **Dr.Enceladus** » Thu Jun 09, 2011 11:17 am

well i was going through my old gaming mags looking for 3DO prices and i found this...which made me laugh, ...hard...so i thought i would share it with you fellows.

Dr.Enceladus · Post by **Dr.Enceladus** » Thu Jun 09, 2011 11:18 am

now do i get banned?

Austin · Post by **Austin** » Thu Jun 09, 2011 11:12 pm

Yeah that should do the trick.

BryWI · Post by **BryWI** » Thu Jun 09, 2011 11:48 pm

lmao. reminds me of

PS you double posted. BANDED!

Post by **3DOKid** » Fri Jun 10, 2011 3:14 am

Dr.Enceladus wrote:well i was going through my old gaming mags looking for 3DO prices and i found this...which made me laugh, ...hard...so i thought i would share it with you fellows.

Made in London? Weird. Now, if someone had said it was French Burka maker looking for new markets...

Post by **3DO Experience** » Fri Jun 10, 2011 3:24 am

I wonder how many of those they sold.

Post by **3DOKid** » Fri Jun 10, 2011 7:06 am

Well, judging by this picture of north London 20 Minutes ago

Quite a few.

Dr.Enceladus · Post by **Dr.Enceladus** » Fri Jun 10, 2011 11:36 am

lol...the Burka's of Boredom...hehe...well, they do look bored.

seriously though 3DOkid, unless you want a fatwah issued against you and your're wonderful site, please do be carefull about taking the piss outta muslims. I am Aussie right, so taking the piss outta me just makes me laugh with you then wanna be your friend. muslims these days simply carn't take a joke.

Dr.Enceladus · Post by **Dr.Enceladus** » Fri Jun 10, 2011 11:51 am

3DO Experience wrote:I wonder how many of those they sold.

just over 13 pounds UK (about 44 AUS dollars) for a peice of black rag and a modified wire coat hanger?? the inventer of this product is a god damned legend in his own lunch box!.

what i wanna know is how many kids got mugged on the train or at the bus stop and had thier game boy stolen using this product

...

Post by **3DOKid** » Fri Jun 10, 2011 1:31 pm

Dr.Enceladus wrote:lol...the Burka's of Boredom...hehe...well, they do look bored.

seriously though 3DOkid, unless you want a fatwah issued against you and your're wonderful site, please do be carefull about taking the piss outta muslims. I am Aussie right, so taking the piss outta me just makes me laugh with you then wanna be your friend. muslims these days simply carn't take a joke.

f**k 'em.