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a video games console classic.

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And now, this week's episode.

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 the 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.

Some of the standout games included Star Control 2, a hybrid strategy

game, that mixed RPG, resource management, and arena shooter.

It was a huge game with full voice acting, and an orchestral soundtrack

that really immersed you in it.

Flashback, the unofficial sequel to the groundbreaking Another

World, the visuals and animation

in this were leaps beyond the 16 bit console versions.

Off-World Interceptor, a racing stroke, hunting game set in the future with you

as the bounty hunter, some great graphics that helped show off the 3DO's power.

Super Wing Commander, probably the best version of the space combat

simulator, an any system, and a great forerunner to the incredible Wing

Commander 3, that would appear in 1995.

The Need for Speed,

still my favorite version of the seminal racing game.

This really gives you a feel for the different weight and

handling of different cars.

Playing this in Dolby surround was an incredible experience.

Road Rash - after playing the cartoony version on the Mega

Drive/Genesis and seeing the almost photo-realistic sprites of this game,

it was a huge leap, a violent, but very funny bike racing and fighting game.

The Horde - you play a farmer who has to build his land and property

while fighting off hordes of marauding beasts intent on destroying said land.

Fun, and very hard as the game went on.

Cannon Fodder - you control a squad of little soldiers that you need to guide

safely around enemy infested jungles.

It's a lot more intense than it might appear at first glance.

Way of the Warrior - while the Genesis and the Super Nintendo had Street

Fighter, the 3DO had Way of the Warrior.

Not the greatest game when it comes to gameplay, but it's photo-realistic

graphics made up for this somewhat.

And again, showed what the system could do.

FIFA International Soccer - moving into the 3d space for the first time,

FIFA International Soccer saw great controls and awesome visuals mixed

with incredible surround sound, where the cheering fans would reverberate

around your room, making you feel like you're actually in the stadium.

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't going to sit idly by and news was

already coming out about Sega and Nintendo's next generation of machines.

Not only that, but industry whispers about Sony's imminent entry into

the market was incredibly positive.

And by all counts, they had a very capable machine in their hands.

All of 3DO's competitors were due to release some new consoles at the end

of 1994, essentially giving the company 12 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 launched at the end of 1993, there was already talk

of the 3d or successor, nicknamed the M2.

This would be a 64 bit machine and will be offered as a standalone

unit or an upgrade for existing 3DO users via a motherboard switch.

This new machine would offer unparalleled graphical power as well as computing

speed and network features that would truly take it way beyond what

Sega, Nintendo and Sony had planned.

By providing the games over 1994 and 1995 that gamers wanted, and ensuring

their purchase of a 3DO unit was future-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 juggernaut that was Sony PlayStation, a

stall in 3DO hardware sales, and a financial reckoning for the company.