Obscure and/or failed game consoles

[Nixon]

I was reading about the Dragon's Lair arcade game when I stumbled across this:
The Halcyon! (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Halcyon_(console))

More on this amazing gem. (http://technabob.com/blog/2008/01/26/rare-rdi-halcyon-laserdisc-console-up-for-auction/)

Have any of you ever seen one of these? It's sad and hilarious that it retailed for $2500 back in 1985.

[Riotsword]

RDI Video Systems claimed that the system would be entirely voice-activated, and would have an artificial intelligence on par with HAL from 2001: A Space Odyssey.

:lol

Well, I guess they had to try to convince people to lay down 2 and a half large on their crummy gaming system.

[Chuck]

I still have an Atari Jaguar. It's not obscure but it sure failed.

[Ωbright]

HOLY CRAP...that thing had TWO games for it. :|

How much were they, 500 bucks apiece?

[Perversion]

In b4 Obi posts pics of his Vectrex.

[gray]

N-GAGE!



not obscure, but pretty failed

[Translucid]

It's hilarious how incomprehensible that system sounds when it is talking, considering that's all that it was designed for.

[SirTMagus]

http://www.cdfreaks.com/userimages/sony_playstation_3_60gb_game_consol.jpg


:mora

[Perversion]

In b4 a Jeroak diatribe.



I actually think the PS3 is the best system since the Dreamcast, personally.

[Red Dragon]

Only because you refuse to get a basic PC.

[The_Real_Crunk]

A friends of mine had a Sega CD.

[marcus]

In b4 a Jeroak diatribe.



I actually think the PS3 is the best system since the Dreamcast, personally.

too bad no one knows how to make games for it

[Nixon]

Wow, yet another lame PS3 joke. How predictable can you guys get? Instead of taking the easy way out, how about you actually add something interesting to this topic instead of just re-hashing the same crappy fanboy jokes?

[Chuck]

:wii
INNOVATION!

Wait. What'd you say, Nix? I wasn't listening.

[RPGD]

I don't know if this counts, but one time I found a bizarre bootleg console that looked like a computer keyboard with controller ports to accommodate really cheap-looking controllers that felt like they were completely empty. I'm not even sure if it could connect to a TV.

It had a poor drawing of a Pikachu and Raichu fighting on the box.

Also I had a Panasonic 3D0 once. My favorite game on it was Putt Putt Joins the Parade. That s*** was tight.

[Red Dragon]

Again, not obscure but certainly failed, I had a Sega Genesis with 32X.

It was a pain to play with though

[marcus]

Wow, yet another lame PS3 joke. How predictable can you guys get? Instead of taking the easy way out, how about you actually add something interesting to this topic instead of just re-hashing the same crappy fanboy jokes?

haha you're defending the ps3. oh lol.

as far as failures go, we can't make a topic without our buddy virtual boy! i'd also like to point out that most console accessories fail hard due to lack of support (nintendo superscope, the powerglove, R.O.B., sony eyetoy). sega's lack of focus killed them when they decided to make the sega cd, 32x, saturn, and dreamcast. they tried so hard to beat the current competition that they failed to make a console that would stand the 5-6 year console life time. sega's consoles were obsolete the moment they hit the stores.

while it's not as bad as the halcyon, panasonic's 3DO was straight up garbage. They advertised it as a home arcade but featured SNES graphics with added sound. The 3DO's aborted successor was used in the CDi which some of us may remember as being the home console Nintendo (for whatever reason) tried to support.

Hotel Mario
The two crappy Zelda games
*insert vomit here*

The only good thing to come from the 3DO was the source code for Urquan Masters.

[Dreamknight]

Not only did I have a Sega CD but I also ate up the FMV game fad. Sewer Shark, Road Avenger, Dracula Unleashed; all were reckoned!

Oh, I also had this thing that tried to teach me math:

http://www.retonthenet.co.uk/ekmps/shops/retonthenet/images/dsc03060.jpg

[Tintenfisch]

http://www.elioncho.com/wp-content/uploads/virtualboy.jpg


Failure on stilts.

[RPGD]

I just remembered; I had an Atari Lynx at some point. The only game I had for it was Rampage. It was fun, but it kept crapping out batteries.

[Ωbright]

In b4 Obi posts pics of his Vectrex.

OK OK, geez. Yes, I do actually have one of these:
http://www.old-computers.com/MUSEUM/photos/mb_vectrex_1s.jpg

[Caciss]

I had a Virtual Boy.

Also, I can't rep Nixon because I already repped her recently I guess, but yeah, listen to her you idiots.

[Kefka Jr.]

The Nomad as a concept was awesome, and I actually remember playing Sonic 3 & Knuckles on it a lot. Though with both games in there at once, it was about as portable as actually walking around and holding a Genesis.

And THAT was a ****ing battery eater, too! Six double AA batteries! And you had to unscrew the back every time! After the second time I just played it from the power outlet.

[marcus]

OK OK, geez. Yes, I do actually have one of these:
http://www.old-computers.com/MUSEUM/photos/mb_vectrex_1s.jpg

i bought that thing at sakuracon last year.

cutting edgeeee

[Nixon]

I was a member of the neo geo fan club (I got their newsletter for a while) although I never actually owned a neo geo.

[SirTMagus]

This was ****in' awesome:

http://www.neogeoforlife.com/images/ngpc.gif


At least my friends thought Lunar was cool. :V

Oh you thought it was cool too, you disgusting weeaboo.

[Jamos]

God, the Virtual Boy. Do I ever remember that thing. I wonder what I did with it. Not that I would actually play the thing because it gave me an increadible headache every time I played it. Constant red lights... ugh.

too bad no one knows how to make games for it
I'll be sure to tell all my PS3 games that.

[Kefka Jr.]

The Neo Geo Pocket Color was awesome. And it had the first handheld fighter that I could consider playable!

DHa4z6xJ224

[marcus]

Surprisingly the Neo Geo Pocket color is still pretty common. Apparently they printed an ass ton of copies a few years ago and you can get the system bundled with three games for like 20$

[Nixon]

Does anyone here own a wonderswan? If so, is it any good?

[Deeth Irteen]

Gamecast. Rep to anyone who recognizes the name.

[Perversion]

@ Nixon: No, but I've got the DS port of Gunpey...does that count for anything?



Apparently, the Wonderswan versions of FFI and FFII are the best versions you can get, and if I'm not mistaken, either the GBA version or the PSP versions (or probably both) are based on these.

[marcus]

Does anyone here own a wonderswan? If so, is it any good?

If you like Japanese games as it hasn't been released stateside. It's a shame because they supported indie developers. They even released the developers kit publicly which came with a reprogrammable cartridge.

The wonderswan was developed by the original creator of the gameboy to unseat "nintendo" in the handheld war. Ironically (I guess it's ironic) the GBA versions of Final Fantasy 1,2, and 4 are based on the Wonderswan version.

If there's one game to get for the Wonderswan (color), it's Dicing Knight Period. It's kind of like Zelda mixed with a roguelike. Battles are in real time and you can tear down walls to create shortcuts through the level.

I0nAEdMRBK0

Also, Judgement Silversword is pretty fun. Why the hell aren't there more SHMUPS for the handhelds? Makes no sense.

6kkl2UU8SIM

[Chuck]

Speaking of obscure failed consoles, am I the only one who finds themself strangely attracted to the AVGN?

[Perversion]

Apparently, the Wonderswan versions of FFI and FFII are the best versions you can get, and if I'm not mistaken, either the GBA version or the PSP versions (or probably both) are based on these.

Ironically (I guess it's ironic) the GBA versions of Final Fantasy 1,2, and 4 are based on the Wonderswan version.

Heh.



As for Gunpey being titled what it is, it's a tribute to the late creator of the GameBoy and the Wonderswan, who was pretty much exiled from Nintendo for the debacle that was the Virtual Boy. Because of his "exile," he quit and formed the company to create the Wonderswan, which marcus mentioned above.



He died in a random traffic mishap a number of years ago. Got a flat tire riding with a friend, got out to inspect, and was run down by a passing vehicle.



At least his legacy lives on. Gumpei (or Gunpei, depending on which journalist you're talking to) Yokoi is a fairly substantial part of gaming history. And thus ends the history lesson, kiddies!

[SirTMagus]

That shmup looks... like BULLET HELL :V

Speaking of obscure failed consoles, am I the only one who finds themself strangely attracted to the AVGN?

Looks like the dude put on some weight.

[Chuck]

Hm, that might be why.

[orius]

Have any of you ever seen one of these? It's sad and hilarious that it retailed for $2500 back in 1985.

To quote the afore-mentioned AVGN: "What were they thinking?!!?" Really, a $2500 console at the very nadir of console gaming in the West. Real intelligent.

http://www.cdfreaks.com/userimages/sony_playstation_3_60gb_game_consol.jpg


:mora

In b4 a Jeroak diatribe.

That was a low blow.

I am amused. :)

I actually think the PS3 is the best system since the Dreamcast, personally.

Now THERE'S a comment that belongs in this thread. I can hear the howls of fanboy range.

I would not consider PS3 failed or obscure. Well, not yet. Dreamcast can be argued to be a failed console, but it's hardly obscure. Neither probably belong in this thread.



as far as failures go, we can't make a topic without our buddy virtual boy!

Now THAT belongs here. It's not a game console, it's a non-portable headache machine. [/quote]

i'd also like to point out that most console accessories fail hard due to lack of support (nintendo superscope, the powerglove, R.O.B., sony eyetoy).

Kind of a chicken-and-egg thing. Nobody supports them because requiring an add-on means less potential sales. If someone doesn't have the accessory, they can't play the game. Though of course the Power Glove just sucked, and the R.O.B. was basically Nintendo's Trojan Robot to get into the American market.

Speaking of obscure failed consoles, am I the only one who finds themself strangely attracted to the AVGN?

He sounds a lot like me when I'm playing a tough game. Yeah, I curse like that when I'm in a rough spot. Though my swearing is less scat and just more generalized carpet F-bombing. And I make up new swearwords on the spot.

[Jehuty]

My High school friend owned a Turbografx, it actually had some great games.

And Game Gear, good lord that thing chewed through batteries