Whereas there have been loads of iconic gaming consoles through the years, not each system has managed to depart a optimistic mark. Some have been doomed from the beginning, stricken by issues that led a lot of them straight to the landfill (or the return line should you have been fortunate.)We’re 19 of the worst online game consoles ever launched and digging into what went unsuitable with every one.
19. TurboExpress
NEC’s TurboExpress was a conveyable model of the TurboGrafx-16, boasting spectacular know-how for its time. Nevertheless, its excessive worth and quick battery life deterred customers. The pixelation points on its LCD display screen made it troublesome to take pleasure in text-heavy video games, resulting in its downfall regardless of its superior options.
18. Nuon
The Nuon was marketed as a high-end DVD participant with gaming capabilities, however it fell flat with solely eight video games launched, one among which was recalled. The excessive price ticket and lack of compelling content material made it a poor funding for customers, and it died shortly and quietly.
17. Ouya
After a profitable Kickstarter marketing campaign, Ouya promised to revolutionize gaming with its reasonably priced worth and mod-friendly design. Sadly, it lacked good video games, and plenty of of titles it shipped with have been already out there on smartphones. Poor web connectivity from the unit and controller points additionally helped gas its failure, resulting in its discontinuation in 2015.
16. LaserActive
Pioneer’s LaserActive tried to mix laser discs, CDs, and video video games into one system, however its exorbitant worth of $970 was a serious turn-off. The dearth of outstanding unique video games and the necessity for costly add-ons made it a monetary catastrophe, with solely round 10,000 models bought earlier than its discontinuation.
15. TV Boy
Launched shortly after the Nintendo Famicom (the Japanese model of the NES), the TV Boy was outdated earlier than it even hit the market. With solely six video games and no actual options, it did not compete with its extra superior rivals. Poor gross sales led to the corporate by no means releasing one other console.
14. Hyperscan
The Hyperscan was a novel idea that used collectible playing cards to unlock recreation options. Nevertheless, its excessive worth and the randomness of card packs turned customers away. With lengthy load instances and a restricted recreation library, it was discontinued shortly after its launch.
13. RCA Studio II
The RCA Studio II was a black-and-white console that launched in 1977, however it was shortly overshadowed by the Atari 2600. Its outdated know-how and poor gross sales led to layoffs in an try to hold the console afloat – however it was finally discontinued in early 1978 anyway.
12. Soulja Sport
Rapper Soulja Boy’s tried to enter the gaming market with the Soulja Sport (why it was named this when the simple play on the phrases “Soulja Boy” was staring him within the face is anybody’s guess) and was met with speedy backlash. The console was criticized for being a blatant ripoff of present emulators and even led to authorized motion from Nintendo. It was pulled from the market nearly as shortly because it was launched.
11. Tiger Electronics Sport.com
The Sport.com was the primary handheld console to function a touchscreen, however its execution was poor. The small, blurry display screen and unresponsive contact capabilities made it troublesome to play. Regardless of having ports of standard video games, they have been lackluster and solely in black and white, making it a troublesome competitor in opposition to Nintendo.
10. Gizmondo
The vaguely taco-shaped Gizmondo was marketed as a multifunctional system however was stricken by poor gross sales and controversy surrounding the legal histories of a number of executives, together with the CEO. Launched at a excessive worth, it did not seize the market and was discontinued inside a 12 months, promoting fewer than 25,000 models.
9. Motion Max
The Motion Max was a novel console that required a VCR to play its video games, which have been all point-based and lacked a win/lose situation. This odd setup and restricted recreation library led to its fast demise out there.
8. R-Zone
Tiger’s R-Zone was a conveyable console that used a headscarf and controller to venture video games straight into the participant’s eyes. The ridiculous design and lack of pleasing video games led to its failure, with all variations discontinued by 1997.
7. Apple Pippin
The Apple Pippin was an try to create a multimedia platform however did not ship on gaming. Its excessive worth and restricted recreation library led to poor gross sales, with solely round 42,000 models bought earlier than it was discontinued in 1997.
6. 3DO
The 3DO was launched at a staggering worth of $700, however it lacked compelling video games and was shortly overshadowed by extra profitable consoles. Its discontinuation in 1996 marked the top of a short-lived try to interrupt into the gaming market.
5. Atari 5200
Atari’s follow-up to the 2600, the 5200, promised superior graphics however delivered a lackluster library of video games. The poorly designed joystick and market saturation led to its discontinuation in 1984, with gross sales far under expectations.
4. Nokia N-Gage
The Nokia N-Gage was a phone-console hybrid that did not impress attributable to its awkward design and small buttons. The trouble of fixing video games and poor gross sales led to its discontinuation in 2006, leaving it as a laughing inventory within the gaming group.
3. Commodore 64 Sport System
The Commodore 64 was a titan within the early days of PC gaming, however its dwelling console model, launched eight years later, was a flop. With a dated design and a scarcity of appropriate video games because of the absence of a keyboard, it struggled to search out its footing in a market dominated by Nintendo and Sega—solely 220,000 of the 880,000 models bought.
2. Philips CDI
The Philips CDI was meant to be a multimedia participant however did not deal with gaming till it was too late. Its excessive worth and underpowered efficiency within the gaming area led to important monetary losses for Philips, marking it as a notable failure in console historical past.
1. Digital Boy
Nintendo’s Digital Boy promised a revolutionary 3D expertise however delivered a cumbersome design and a painful gaming expertise. With solely 22 video games and poor gross sales, it’s Nintendo’s greatest console failure up to now, and lasted only a 12 months available on the market.
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