3DO Interactive Multiplayer

In 1993, The 3DO Company released the 3DO Interactive Multiplayer console (also known as the 3DO system, or simply the 3DO), with the first model of the console being produced by Matsushita's Panasonic brand as well as other models being manufactured by GoldStar and, in Japan, Sanyo. An add-on for Windows PCs manufactured by Creative Labs was also produced. The 3DO is known for being a commercial failure due to many factors, including the high launch price of $699 USD, as well as an absence of quality control for the console's games, leading to mediocre games being released for the system. This led to the 3DO being discontinued in late 1996.

Contents

(October 4, 1993-1996)	(December 1, 1994-1996)	(October 1, 1994-1996)

Panasonic

Logo (October 4, 1993-1996)

Visuals: On a space background, an image of the Earth (which comes from the famous "The Blue Marble" photo, taken during the Apollo 17 mission) zooms toward the viewer at a slow pace, spinning as it does so. Next, we travel through a 2D version of the asteroid belt, and if you look closely, you can see colored dots, and the letters in the word "real". When we get through the asteroid belt, the letters form the word "R•E•A•L" in a very futuristic font at the top of the screen, but it zooms towards the bottom very quickly. A gray moon rock spins to the viewer, and when it stops, "REAL" slides up, then "WELCOME TO THE" and "WORLD" appear, with "REAL" between "TO THE" and "WORLD". We also notice the red, green, and blue dots between each letter in "REAL" as well. Then finally, a tan asteroid flies downward to the right, causing the moon rock and "Welcome to the real world" to fade out. Then, "REAL" spins back into place, and the 3DO logo, consisting of a white box with a red diamond, blue square, and gold sphere, with a shadow under the sphere, over a black box with "3DO" inside, fades in along with a blue line under "Real", plus the text "3DO INTERACTIVE MULTIPLAYER" with trademark symbols next to them, as well as a blue Panasonic logo, all fade in. Then they all fade out, with "REAL 3DO INTERACTIVE MULTIPLAYER" fading a second after the 3DO and Panasonic logos do.

Variant: When you turn an FZ-10 top-loader model on and there is no disc inside it, only the last part of the animation (which starts with "REAL" spinning into place) plays with no music.

Technique: Sprite animation, making use of the 3DO's special effects.

Audio: Humming synth bass notes, along with whooshes when we go through the asteroid belt.

Availability: This appears when a 3DO is turned on (FZ-1 model [front-loader] only) with no disc inside (when you turn the system on with a disc inside, you just get a still shot of the 3DO logo on a black background).

GoldStar

Logo (December 1, 1994-1996)

Visuals:

3DO: On a black background, the GoldStar logo (the letters "GoldStar" in a futuristic font) zooms in below. It slides up to make way for the 3DO wordmark, colorized as "3DO", to slide from the left of the screen. When it reaches the right part of the screen, it "bumps" to the center of the screen. The 3DO logo appears below, and very small red text appears in the center, which reads "3DO™ INTERACTIVE MULTIPLAYER™". Everything fades out.
GoldStar: Multicolored dots (resembling stars) are sprinkled all over the screen. They all move off-screen, creating a "zoom-out" effect. Five comets (colored blue, sea green, purple, crimson and aquamarine) slide in from both directions, causing colored trails to be carved on the screen. The comets then turn into the Earth (which seems to be The Blue Marble). They spiral into the center of the screen, causing a tiny yellow sparkle to emit in the center. Suddenly, a magenta-colored marble flies from the upper-left to the center of the screen. The marble explodes, and causes the same yellow sparkle to be emitted. Later, the GoldStar logo zooms in front of the screen. The logo shines, and a grey comet slides through the logo.

Technique: Same as the last logo.

Audio: None.

Availability: Seen when a GoldStar-manufactured 3DO system is powered up.

Sanyo

Logo (October 1, 1994-1996)

Visuals:

3DO: On a black background, the Sanyo logo (the letters "SANYO" with the "N" being made out of segmented lines) slides down and up. It fades in above the screen, and the text "3DO™ Interactive Multiplayer™" types in below it. The 3DO logo fades in below the text.
Sanyo: It is a simple loop that consists of the Sanyo and 3DO logos spinning. Each time the logo finishes spinning, the logo switches.

Technique: Sprite animation, utilizing the 3DO's 3D capabilities.

Audio: None.

Availability: Only seen when a Sanyo-manufactured 3DO system is powered on. Sanyo-manufactured 3DOs were only developed and released in Japan.