Game.com Handheld Game Console London
Game.com Handheld Game Console
Game.comThe game.com (pronounced "game com", not "game dot com") was a handheld game console released by Tiger Electronics in September 1997. Although the unit was released as a challenger to Nintendo's highly popular Game Boy, it was primarily aimed at an older audience, sporting PDA-style features and functions such as a touch screen and stylus. The game.com could also be connected to a 14.4 kbit/s modem to access special Internet features. However, using the system with the modem was awkward; the user had to insert the modem into a game cartridge slot, connect the unit to a phone jack and dial into the game.com ISP, which had a relatively expensive monthly fee. Once connected, the user could check e-mail and browse the web (but only if they had the Internet cartridge, which was available separately) or they could upload saved high scores. No games had actual online play. In addition, many of the console's exclusive features had only limited functionality. The touch screen had a low sensor resolution, and it was difficult to use for precise input when using as a PDA or for games. Furthermore, the failure of the built-in backup battery would erase any information stored on the console, such as phone numbers, addresses or high scores, and as a result few players made use of the PDA functions. The display, like the original Game Boy's, also suffered from very slow screen updates (ghosting), which particularly affected fast-paced games. The console was launched with a number of games, such as Lights Out (which came bundled with the unit), Duke Nukem 3D, Indy 500 and Mortal Kombat Trilogy, along with a number of peripherals such as the compete.com serial cable that enabled users to connect their consoles to exchange high scores or play multiplayer games. Other items included earphones, and AC adapter and a carry-case. Although Tiger were able to boast licenses such as Resident Evil, Mortal Kombat and Duke Nukem, few of these adaptations kept to the spirit of the original games or were developed by their original creators, with most game development carried out in-house. In an effort to boost poor sales of the system, Tiger released a compact version called the game.com Pocket Pro. Built with almost the same specifications as the original, the Pocket Pro had a single cartridge slot (the original had two) and required only two AA batteries (rather than four). The initial version of the Pocket Pro featured a frontlit screen and had a rough-textured black case. A subsequent re-release came in four translucent colours (blue, green, pink and purple) and removed the frontlight. However, despite these changes the console enjoyed very limited success and was cancelled in 2000, along with its exclusive ISP. GamesOne of the reasons for the console's limited success was it small line up of only 20 games. These were:
|