Definition: 3DO

A multimedia and video game technology from the former 3DO Company, Redwood City, CA that was widely licensed to manufacturers and developers. The first 3DO player was Panasonic's Realistic Entertainment Active Learning (REAL) Multiplayer, which played audio CDs and could be fitted for Video CDs.

3DO developers created games from a large library of royalty-free sound effects, music, stills, clip art and film. The technology provided very high speeds for animation and also a 3D capability that could be viewed through glasses.

3DO was started in 1990 by Trip Hawkins, one of Apple's earliest employees and founder of Electronic Arts software company. In 2003, bowing to competitive pressure from Sony's Playstation and Sega's Saturn series, the company went into bankruptcy.

Sanyo TRY 3DO Video Game Console

The Sanyo TRY was available only in Japan and is considered a rare 3DO example because there was only one model released. (Image courtesy of Evan-Amos, Wikimedia Commons, https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/User:Evan-Amos)