Video game hardware failures List of commercial failures in video gaming

1 video game hardware failures

1.1 3do interactive multiplayer
1.2 amstrad gx4000 , amstrad cpc+ range
1.3 apple bandai pippin
1.4 atari 5200
1.5 atari 7800
1.6 atari jaguar
1.7 atari lynx
1.8 bally astrocade
1.9 commodore 64 games system
1.10 commodore cdtv
1.11 digiblast
1.12 dreamcast
1.13 fairchild channel f
1.14 fm towns , fm towns marty
1.15 gizmondo
1.16 hyperscan
1.17 neo geo cd
1.18 neo geo pocket , pocket color
1.19 nintendo 64dd
1.20 n-gage
1.21 nuon
1.22 ouya
1.23 pc-fx
1.24 philips cd-i
1.25 pioneer laseractive
1.26 psx (dvr)
1.27 32x
1.28 genesis nomad
1.29 sega saturn
1.30 udraw gametablet
1.31 vectrex
1.32 virtual boy
1.33 wii u

video game hardware failures

a commercial failure video game hardware platform defined system either fails become adopted significant portion of gaming marketplace or fails win significant mindshare of target audience, , may characterized poor international sales , general financial unviability of development or support.

3do interactive multiplayer


the goldstar 3do interactive multiplayer

co-designed r. j. mical , team behind amiga, , marketed electronic arts founder trip hawkins, multimedia machine released in 1993 marketed family entertainment device , not video game console. though supported vast library of games including many exceptional third party releases, refusal reduce pricing until end of product s life (699.95 usd @ release) hampered sales. success of subsequent next generation systems led platform s demise , company s exit hardware market. exit included 3do company s sale of platform s successor, m2, investor matsushita.

amstrad gx4000 , amstrad cpc+ range

in 1990, amstrad attempted enter console gaming market hardware based on successful amstrad cpc range capable of playing cartridge-based games improved graphics , sound. comprised amstrad cpc+ computers, including same features existing cpcs, , dedicated gx4000 console. however, few months later mega drive, much-anticipated 16-bit console, released in europe, , gx4000 s aging 8-bit technology proved unable compete. many of games direct ports of existing cpc games (available more cheaply on tape or disc) few if graphical improvements. fewer thirty games released on cartridge, , gx4000 s failure ended amstrad s involvement in gaming industry. cpc+ range fared little better, 8-bit computers had been superseded priced 16-bit machines such amiga, though software hacks make advanced console graphics , sound accessible users.

apple bandai pippin


the bandai pippin (atmark player) , wireless controller

pippin game console designed apple computer , produced bandai (now bandai namco) in mid-1990s based around powerpc 603e processor , mac os. featured 4x cd-rom drive , video output connect standard television monitor. apple intended license technology third parties; however, 2 companies signed on, bandai , katz media, while pippin license release product market bandai s. time bandai pippin released (1995 in japan, 1996 in united states), market dominated nintendo 64 , playstation. bandai pippin cost us$599 on launch, more expensive competition. total sales around 30,000 units.

atari 5200

the atari 5200 created successor highly successful atari 2600. reasons console s poor reception include of games enhanced versions of played on predecessor , awkward controller design. console sold little on million units. when discontinued, predecessor marketed several more years. failure of atari 5200 marked beginning of atari s fall in console business.

atari 7800

successor atari 5200, , backwards compatible atari 2600, system failed despite getting mixed reviews critics, , due graphic design , sound, failed same amount of attention competitors, nintendo entertainment system , sega master system.

atari jaguar

released atari corporation in 1993, 64-bit system more powerful contemporaries, genesis , super nes (hence math slogan); however, sales hurt lack of software , number of crippling business practices on part of atari senior management. controller criticized being big , unwieldy, baffling number of buttons. system never attained critical mass in market before release of playstation , sega saturn, , without strong leadership drive recovery, failed , brought company down it. rob bricken of topless robot described jaguar unfortunate system, beleaguered software droughts, rushed releases, , lot of terrible, terrible games.

atari lynx


the lynx handheld console

released in 1989 in north america , europe; later in japan in 1990 atari corporation, lynx 8 bit handheld game console holds distinction of being world s first handheld electronic game system color lcd. lynx second handheld game system released atari name. system developed epyx handy game. system notable forward-looking features, advanced graphics, , ambidextrous layout. in late 1991, reported atari sales estimates 800,000, atari claimed within expected projections. in comparison, game boy sold 16 million units later year. overall lifetime sales confirmed being in region of 3 million, commercial failure despite positive critical reviews. in 1996, atari corporation collapsed due failures of lynx , jaguar consoles.

bally astrocade

the bally astrocade second generation console created bally. released in 1977 through mail order. due weak sales, bally quit console business. shortly afterward, company purchased rights console, , re-released weak sales again.

commodore 64 games system

released in europe in 1990 , being commodore international s first venture in video game market, c64gs commodore 64 redesigned cartridge-based console. aside hardware issues, console did not attention public, preferred buy cheaper original computer had far more possibilities. also, console appeared 16-bit era starting, left no chance succeed unable compete consoles super nintendo entertainment system , mega drive.

commodore cdtv

the cdtv launched commodore in 1991. in common philips cd-i , 3do, cdtv intended all-in-one home multimedia appliance play games, music, movies, , other interactive content. name short commodore dynamic total vision . hardware based on amiga computer single-speed cd-rom drive rather floppy disk drive, in case designed integrate unobtrusively home entertainment center. however, expected market home multimedia appliances did not materialize, , cdtv discontinued in 1993, having sold 30,000 units. commodore s next attempt @ cd-based console, amiga cd32, considerably more successful.

digiblast

the digiblast portable console launched nikko @ end of 2005 , promised cheap alternative (selling @ approximately $117.86) nintendo ds , playstation portable. cartridges games, cartoon (winx club, spongebob squarepants) episodes, , music videos released on handheld. cartridge mp3 playback , cartridge 1.3-megapixel camera released add-ons. however, there shortage of chips around release date , thereafter resulted in failed launch , loss of consumer interest.

dreamcast

the dreamcast, released globally in 1999, sega s final console before company focused entirely on software. although console successful , management in company improved after harsh lessons learned sega saturn fiasco, console faced stiff competition technically superior playstation 2 despite being in market months ahead. dreamcast sold less saturn, coming in @ 9.13 million units compared saturn s 9.5 million. console s development subject further stress economic recession struck japan shortly after console s release, forcing sega, among other companies, cut costs survive.

fairchild channel f

the fairchild channel f second generation console released in 1976, , first home console unit use interchangeable video game cartridges. when atari 2600, used cartridges, released year later, console overshadowed. 250,000 channel f units sold.

fm towns , fm towns marty

the fm towns , fm towns marty fourth , fifth generation consoles manufactured fujitsu. throughout few years in market, both consoles sold underwhelming 45,000 units.

gizmondo

the gizmondo, handheld gaming device featuring gps , digital camera, released tiger telematics in united kingdom on 19 march 2005. poor promotion, few games (only fourteen ever released), short battery life, small screen, competition cheaper , more reputable nintendo ds, digiblast , psp, , controversy surrounding company, system commercial failure. on 23 january 2006, uk arm of tiger telematics went administration. several high-ranking tiger executives subsequently arrested fraud , other illegal activities related gizmondo. far world s worst selling handheld console in history, , due failure in european , american video game markets, not released in australia or japan. tiger telematics went bankrupt when discontinued in february 2006, 11 months after released.

hyperscan

released in late 2006 mattel, hyperscan company s first video game console since intellivision. used radio frequency identification (rfid) along traditional video game technology. console used udf format cd-roms. games retailed $19.99 , console $69.99 @ launch, @ end of short lifespan, prices of system down $9.99, games $1.99, , booster packs $0.99. system sold in 2 varieties, cube, , 2-player value pack. cube box version version sold in stores. included system, controller, x-men game disc, , 6 x-men cards. 2 player value packs sold online (but may have been liquidated in stores) , included controller , 12 additional x-men cards. system discontinued in 2007 due poor console, game, , card pack sales. featured 1 of ten worst systems ever pc world magazine.

neo geo cd

released in japan , europe in 1994 , year later in north america, neo geo cd first unveiled @ 1994 tokyo toy show. 3 versions of neo geo cd released: front-loading version, distributed in japan, 25,000 total units built; top-loading version, marketed worldwide, common model; neo geo cdz, upgraded, faster-loading version, released in japan only. front-loading version original console design, top-loading version developed shortly before neo geo cd launch scaled-down, cheaper alternative model. cdz released on december 29, 1995 japanese market replacement snk s previous efforts (the front loader , top loader ). neo geo cd had met limited success due being plagued slow loading times vary 30 60 seconds between loads, depending on game. although snk s american home entertainment division acknowledged system unable compete 3d-able powerhouse systems of day nintendo s 64, sega s saturn , sony s playstation, snk corporate of japan felt continue maintain profitable sales in japanese home market shortening previous system s load-times. japanese division had produced excess number of single speed units , found modifying these units double speed more expensive had thought, snk opted sell them were, postponing production of double speed model until had sold off stock of single speed units. of march 1997, neo geo cd had sold 570,000 units worldwide. although last known home console released under snk s neo geo line, newly reincarnated snk playmore relaunched neo geo line release of neo geo x in 2012.

neo geo pocket , pocket color

the 2 handheld video game consoles, created snk playmore (formerly snk corporation), released between 1998-99 through markets dominated nintendo. neo geo pocket considered unsuccessful console, succeeded color, full color device allowing system compete more dominant game boy color handheld, , saw western release. though system enjoyed short life, there significant games released on system. after sales start in both u.s. , japan 14 launch titles (a record @ time) subsequent low retail support in u.s., lack of communication third-party developers snk s american management, craze nintendo s pokémon franchise, anticipation of 32-bit game boy advance, strong competition bandai s wonderswan in japan, led sales decline in both regions. meanwhile, snk had been in financial trouble @ least year – company collapsed, , purchased american pachinko manufacturer aruze in january 2000. on june 13, 2000, aruze decided quit north american , european markets, marking end of snk s worldwide operations , discontinuation of neo geo hardware , software there. neo geo pocket color (and other snk/neo geo products) did however, last until 2001 in japan. snk s last video game console, company went bust on october 22, 2001. despite these failures, neo geo pocket , pocket color had been regarded influential systems. featured arcade-style microswitched clicky stick joystick, praised accuracy , being well-suited fighting games. pocket color system s display , 40-hour battery life received. although these last known systems released under snk s neo geo line, newly reincarnated snk playmore relaunched neo geo line release of neo geo x in 2012.

nintendo 64dd


the nintendo 64 (top) , nintendo 64 dd (bottom)

a disk drive add-on , internet appliance nintendo 64, first announced @ 1995 s nintendo shoshinkai game show event (now called nintendo world); however, 64dd delayed until release in japan on december 1, 1999. nintendo, anticipating poor sales, sold 64dd through randnet subscription service rather directly retailers or consumers. result, 64dd supported nintendo short period of time , 9 games released it. 64dd games either canceled entirely, released normal nintendo 64 cartridges, or ported other systems such nintendo s next-generation gamecube. during lifetime, of total of 100k sets, 15,000 sets sold worldwide, while 85,000 sets became scrap.

n-gage

made finnish mobile phone manufacturer nokia, , released in 2003, n-gage small handheld console, designed combine feature-packed mobile/cellular phone handheld games console. system mocked taco-like design, , sales poor system s price dropped $100 within week after release. common complaints included difficulty of swapping games , fact cellphone feature required users hold device sideways (i.e. long edge of system) against cheek. redesigned version, n-gage qd, released eliminate these complaints. however, n-gage brand still suffered poor reputation , qd did not address popular complaint control layout cluttered. n-gage failed reach popularity of game boy advance, nintendo ds, or sony psp. in november 2005, nokia announced failure of product, in light of poor sales (fewer 3 million units sold during platform s three-year run, against projections of 6 million), , while gaming software still being produced series 60 phones, nokia ceased consider gaming corporate priority until 2007, when expected improved screen sizes , quality increase demand. however, nokia s presence in cell phone market eclipsed iphone , later android phones, causing development gravitate them , sealing fate of n-gage brand. in 2012, nokia abandoned development on symbian os base n-gage , transitioned windows phone.

nuon

the nuon dvd decoding chip vm labs programmable cpu graphics , sound capabilities. idea manufacturer use chip instead of existing mpeg-2 decoder, turning dvd player game console. year after launch 8 games available. 1 game, iron soldier 3, recalled not being compatible systems.

ouya

the ouya android based microconsole released in 2013. though ouya success on kickstarter, product plagued problems beginning. console slow ship , suffered hardware issues. on top of this, console had limited library of games. critical reception ranged lukewarm outright calling console scam . 2 years after release, ouya in dire financial situation , negotiated buyout razer.

pc-fx

the pc-fx japan-exclusive successor pc engine, released nec in late 1994. intended compete super famicom , mega drive, instead wound competing playstation, sega saturn, , nintendo 64. console s 32-bit architecture created in 1992, , 1994 outdated, largely due fact unable create 3d images, instead utilizing architecture relied on jpeg video. pc-fx severely underpowered compared other fifth generation consoles , had low budget marketing campaign, system never managing gain foothold against competition or significant part of marketshare. pc-fx discontinued in 1998 nec focus on providing graphics processing units upcoming sega dreamcast. around time, nec announced had sold 100,000 units library of 62 titles, of dating sims.

philips cd-i


the philips cd-i received heavy criticism lackluster games.

in 1991, electronics company philips entered console gaming business creating compact disc interactive console, better known cd-i. 3do, cd-i marketed not video game console, multimedia console. besides cd-i discs, console capable of playing video cds. launch price $700. intended add-on super nes, deal fell through. nintendo, however, did give philips rights , permission use 5 nintendo characters cd-i games. in 1993, philips released 2 zelda games, link: faces of evil , zelda: wand of gamelon. year later, philips released zelda game, zelda s adventure, , few months later, mario game titled hotel mario. 4 of these nintendo-themed games commonly cited critics being among worst ever made. criticism aimed @ cd-i s controller. although extensively marketed philips, consumer interest remained low. sales began slow 1994, , in 1998, philips announced product had been discontinued. in all, 570,000 units sold, 133 games released.

pioneer laseractive

made pioneer laserdisc corporation in 1993 (a clone produced nec well), laseractive employed trademark laserdiscs medium presenting games , played original laserdisc movies. ld-roms, called, hold 540 mb of data , 60 minutes of analog audio , video. in addition, expansion modules bought allowed laseractive play genesis and/or turbografx-16 games, among other things. poor marketing combined high price tag both console ($969 in 1993) , various modules (e.g., $599 genesis module compared $89 base console , $229 sega cd add-on play cd-rom based games) caused ignored both gaming public , gaming press. less 40 games produced in (at $120 each), of required purchase of 1 of modules, , games built 1 module not used another. laseractive quietly discontinued 1 year later after total sales of 10,000 units.

psx (dvr)

built upon playstation 2, psx enhanced multimedia derivative touted bring convergence living room in 2003 including non-gaming features such dvd recorder, tv tuner, , multi-use hard drive. device considered failure upon japanese release due high price , lack of consumer interest, resulted in cancellation of plans release in rest of world. not unsuccessful attempt sony computer entertainment head ken kutaragi revive ailing consumer electronics division, hurt sony s media convergence plans.

32x

unveiled sega @ june 1994 s consumer electronics show, 32x later described poor man s entry next generation games. product conceived entirely new console sega enterprises , positioned inexpensive alternative gamers 32-bit era, @ suggestion of sega of america research , development head joe miller, console converted add-on existing mega drive/genesis , made more powerful, 2 32-bit central processing unit chips , 3d graphics processor. despite these changes, console failed attract either developers or consumers sega saturn had been announced release next year. in part because of this, , rush 32x market before holiday season in 1994, 32x suffered poor library of titles, including mega drive/genesis ports improvements number of colors appeared on screen. released @ us$159, sega dropped price $99 in few months , cleared remaining inventory @ $19.95. 665,000 units sold.

genesis nomad

the nomad, handheld game console sega released in north america in october 1995, portable variation of sega s home console, genesis (known mega drive outside of north america). designed mega jet, portable version of home console designed use on airline flights in japan, nomad served succeed game gear , last handheld console released sega. released late in genesis era, nomad had short lifespan. sold exclusively in north america, nomad never officially released worldwide, , employs regional lockout. handheld incompatible several genesis peripherals, including power base converter, sega cd, , sega 32x. release 5 years market span of genesis, existing library of more 500 genesis games. nomad s late release several months after launch of saturn, handheld said have suffered poorly timed launch. sega decided stop focusing on genesis in 1999, several months before release of dreamcast, time nomad being sold @ less third of original price. reception nomad mixed between uniqueness , poor timing market. blake snow of gamepro listed nomad fifth on list of 10 worst-selling handhelds of time, criticizing poor timing market, inadequate advertising, , poor battery life.

sega saturn


the north american model of sega saturn console

the sega saturn successor genesis 32-bit fifth-generation console, released in japan in november 1994 , in western markets mid-1995. console designed competitor sony s playstation, released @ same time. system selling in japan , sega wanting head start on playstation in north america, company decided release system in may instead of september 1995, same time playstation going released in north america. left little time promote product , limited quantities of system available @ retail. sega s release strategy backfired when, shortly after sega s announcement, sony announced price of playstation being $100 less list price saturn. console suffered behind scenes management conflicts , lack of coordination between japanese , north american branches of company, leading saturn released shortly after release of 32x, created distribution , retail problems. end of 1996, playstation had sold 2.9 million units in u.s., more twice 1.2 million units sold saturn. added competition subsequent release of nintendo 64, saturn lost market share in north america , discontinued 1999. lifetime sales estimated @ 9.5 million units worldwide, saturn considered commercial failure. failure of sega s development teams release game in sonic hedgehog series, known in development sonic x-treme, has been considered factor in console s poor performance. impact of failure of saturn carried on sega s next console, dreamcast. however, console gained interest in japan , not officially discontinued until january 4, 2001.

udraw gametablet

the udraw gametablet graphics tablet developed thq use on seventh generation gaming consoles, released wii in late 2010. versions playstation 3 , xbox 360 released in late 2011. thq invested in several games uniquely use tablet, such udraw pictionary. wii version had positive sales, more 1.7 million units sold, prompting introduction of unit other console systems. these units did not share same popularity; 2011 holiday sales in north america fell $100 million below company targets more 1.4 million units left unsold february 2012. thq commented if had not attempted sell these versions of udraw, company have been profitable respective quarter, instead suffered overall $56 million loss. because of failure, thq forced shelve of less-successful franchises, such red faction series. thq file bankruptcy , sell off assets in 2013.

vectrex

this perhaps critically acclaimed failure console. though independent monitor display monochrome visuals, console s vector-based graphics , arcade-style controller analog joystick allowed developers create strong games library faithful conversions of arcade hits , critically praised exclusives. however, release shortly before north american video game crash of 1983 doomed grave.

virtual boy


mario s tennis displayed on virtual boy emulator. red/blue format simulates virtual boy s 3d display. 3d red cyan glasses recommended view image correctly.

this red monochromatic 3-d virtual reality system failed due issues related players getting eye strain, stiff necks, , headaches when trying play it, along console s price , unportability. came out in 1995 , nintendo s first failed console release. gunpei yokoi, designer of platform , person largely credited success of original game boy handheld , metroid series of games, resigned company shortly after virtual boy ceased sales in order start own company, although reasons unrelated console s success. virtual boy included in time 50 worst inventions list published in may 2010.

wii u


the wii u main console hardware , gamepad embedded touchscreen

nintendo s wii u released in november 2012. designed successor wii provide more challenging experience draw core gamers had dismissed wii felt aimed casual gameplay. wii u features wii u gamepad, unit s primary controller had touchscreen allowed dual-screen play similar nintendo ds line, or used remotely play games on gamepad away television screen. while wii u received positive coverage, failed gain significant consumer draw, selling less 14 million units compared wii s 101 million units end of 2016. nintendo executives attributed poor sales of wii u combination of factors. felt messaging of wii u s abilities not clear, leading general perception unit tablet system , not home console. recognized did not manage release schedule games well, nor had significant support third-party publishers , developers, leaving wii u gaps in software releases. nintendo stated had expected sell 100 million wii u units, , over-estimation of sales contributed several financial quarters of losses through 2016. development , marketing of next console, nintendo switch, intended avoid several of pitfalls occurred wii u. wii u discontinued in january 2017.