5 incredible gaming gadgets that were ahead of their time and never became popular. in vain

This material should start with an unpleasant fact – the modern console market, unfortunately, seems quite boring, and hardware manufacturers are afraid to experiment and create something truly unique.

In my previous article, I examined the most unusual and rare limited editions of consoles, and in the comments I was reminded that there are not just interesting, but really weird variations of gaming devices.

Today we will look at 5 such Frankenstein monsters of the gaming market. We are sure that you had no idea about the existence of most of them.

1. Quince Mega CD. Hybrid of music center and SEGA

SEGA announced not only its bold advertising in the 90s, but also a large number of collaborations and experiments with consumer electronics manufacturers.

One of the most effective results of combining a console with a phone from your living room is the boombox hybrid (Remember the times when CD players and tape recorders were called that?) and Sega Mega Drive.

This device was released by the Japanese company Aiwa. It can play audio CDs, audio cassettes, Sega Mega CDs and Sega Mega Drive cartridges.

The combine consists of two modules: a boombox and a docking station for installing cartridges. These modules are connected using a special cable. The boombox console is equipped with a three-button gamepad. A strange decision, since the regular Sega MD had already been available for several years with a 6-button controller.

Unfortunately, the hybrid was not a bestseller. It was released in small quantities in 1994 and cost more than a new PlayStation. Naturally, with such characteristics at the time of release, the device was not very interesting to buyers, because the logic is simple: “Why should I buy an expensive console with outdated games when the new PlayStation is cheaper?”

2. iQue Player. Game console built into the gamepad

iQue is a company that specializes in localization, global development, and sales of Nintendo products in China. Previously, Nintendo did not have the right to sell its consoles in this country, and it resorted to the services of intermediaries.

In addition to selling regular consoles with a changed name or in a unique color, collectors know a very interesting thing – the iQue Player. At first glance, it may seem like it’s just a futuristic controller, and technically, it is. But inside this gamepad there is a modified “iron» to run Nintendo 64 games.

The method of purchasing new games for this wonderful device was interesting. A special memory card is included in the package, and the city provides an iQue Depot terminal, which is similar to an ATM.

It was necessary to insert this card into the terminal memory, and then download and load the game onto it. Later, for convenience, the iQue Home service was launched and a cable was released for PC so that you could buy games from home.

iQue Player was released on November 18, 2003 in China (it was planned to launch worldwide, but was cancelled.). The console gained moderate popularity, and even various accessories were produced. True, you could only play 14 games from the N64 library.

Production and sales of iQue Player continued into 2013, and game distribution services were closed in 2016. However, Nintendo considers this project a success.

3. Fuji – Divers 2000 CX-1. Hybrid console and TV in the form of the head of Sonic the Hedgehog

A hybrid TV and console is the first thing that comes to mind when I think of unusual gaming device options. This is very convenient, isn’t it?

In the case of Fuji – Divers 2000, also a little creepy. After all, this is a TV in the shape of the head of Sega’s mascot – Sonic the Hedgehog. And inside it is built a full-fledged, and the last in the history of the brand, Sega Dreamcast game console.

There are no unique features here. The disc tray is on top, there are 4 gamepad ports on the outside, and a nice CRT screen that makes games look great.

This device was released only in Japan with a circulation of approximately 1000 copies. At the moment it is an object of hunting among collectors and is quite expensive, approximately 4 thousand dollars on Western sites.

4. TV Sony PlayStation 2 Bravia PX300. Console and TV in one

The last to be seen on the field of unusual experiments were samurai from Sonya. Apart from famous consoles, they also make the best TVs in the market. Why not talk about these two popular products?

The Bravia PX300 was released in 2010 and was primarily positioned as an HD-Ready TV. The Sony Bravia PX300 is the latest version of the PlayStation 2 in history.

The system works separately. The TV operated using smart TV technology and had an interface similar to that of the PS3 and PSP. But he had a full-fledged PS2 in his kit, which could run not only its own games, but also projects for the PS1.

It’s a pity that there was only one controller included in the package, and also that it is associated with the UK the device was not officially sold.

5. Sony 3D display. A unique monitor ahead of its time

However, there is something even more interesting, and when they told me about it, I did not believe that this was possible until I saw it with my own eyes from a collector friend. Sony 3D Display is, perhaps, the most unique monitor I’ve ever seen in my life.

Yes, this is not a console, but a 3D monitor with a unique modifier called SimulView. It works like this: you connect your PS3, launch one of the compatible games (there are not many of them: Killzone 3, Gran Turismo 5, MotorStorm RC, Super Stardust HD and MLB 12: The Show.), put on the supplied 3D glasses, and…

…trying to quickly find the liquid on the floor. I’ll explain why.

How do we play games on one screen? We’ll split it in half. This is not always convenient, but we need to play this way at the subconscious level.

SimulView technology offers a new way to split gaming sessions on a single screen using frame-sequential 3D technology. If you configure 3D glasses for each player, then The monitor can display independent full-screen images for two players simultaneously.

Simply put, two pictures are displayed on the screen at the same time, each of which can only be seen when sitting to the right or left of the Sony 3D Display.

I tried it myself and really liked it. True, there is one nuance: The resolution of games in this format drops to 720p, and sometimes lower. But the effect of novelty does not allow us to immediately consider this. Unfortunately, the uniqueness of the technology was its undoing.

Developers have already been working hard to produce games for such complex PS3 hardware, and the function of adding it to already higher-end games would be even more difficult. Although the monitor itself has had current success in the market.

We weren’t afraid to experiment before

Unfortunately, the time for any experiments is irrevocably gone. Technological progress has completely destroyed the need for such devices. Nowadays, even your living room TV is essentially just a large tablet without a touchscreen.

As always, in the comments, I encourage people who are passionate about the topic of devices to share unusual memories or show the presence of some unusual devices, because it was in the discussion of the material that the idea of ​​what you just read was born.

Have a wonderful weekend to everyone infected.