3DO Blaster
Encyclopedia
The 3DO Blaster was an add-on designed to allow compatible Windows-based PCs to play games for the 3DO
console.
It was a full-sized ISA
compatibility card
, and unlike other such add-ons, it does not emulate a 3DO system, but rather the whole system's logic board is included, with the input (controllers) and output (video & audio) redirected to the PC.
The product was marketed as a single board for CD-ROM drive owners (but only of a particular CD-ROM drive model, see below) or bundled with the necessary CD-ROM drive. The software drivers allowed for DOS or Windows (3.1) based gameplay, although Windows based gaming featured real-time stretching of the game window and screenshot capturing. As graphics boards of the time (1994) were not up to par with the system's needs, a pass-through using a VGA feature connector
link was used, thus reserving an area on screen to be used by the 3DO Blaster card's output (on the Windows environment - running under DOS, full-screen was the only option). Thus, there was no impact on the CPU. As with the first 3DO system from Panasonic (REAL FZ-1) an FMV
daughter-card enabling VideoCD playback was planned, but since the 3DO Blaster failed to achieve momentum, it was never released. Saved games were stored in NVRAM
on the card, supposedly not using resources on the PC to prevent hacking.
and "Gridders" from Tetragon. Despite showing the 'long boxes' of the two games on the back of the packing box, they were included in jewel cases only. A third CD, containing demos of popular 3DO games was also included.
Further included was software from Aldus; Aldus Photostyler SE and Aldus Gallery Effects Vol. 1, both titles can be seen on the back of the 3DO Blaster packing box.
3DO Interactive Multiplayer
The 3DO Interactive Multiplayer is a video game console originally produced by Panasonic in 1993. Further renditions of the hardware were released in 1994 by Sanyo and Goldstar. The consoles were manufactured according to specifications created by The 3DO Company, and were originally designed by...
console.
It was a full-sized ISA
Industry Standard Architecture
Industry Standard Architecture is a computer bus standard for IBM PC compatible computers introduced with the IBM Personal Computer to support its Intel 8088 microprocessor's 8-bit external data bus and extended to 16 bits for the IBM Personal Computer/AT's Intel 80286 processor...
compatibility card
Compatibility card
A compatibility card is an expansion card for computers that allows it to have hardware emulation with another device. The most popular of these were for Macintosh systems that allowed them to emulate Windows PCs via NuBus or PCI. Apple Computer made many of these cards A compatibility card is an...
, and unlike other such add-ons, it does not emulate a 3DO system, but rather the whole system's logic board is included, with the input (controllers) and output (video & audio) redirected to the PC.
The product was marketed as a single board for CD-ROM drive owners (but only of a particular CD-ROM drive model, see below) or bundled with the necessary CD-ROM drive. The software drivers allowed for DOS or Windows (3.1) based gameplay, although Windows based gaming featured real-time stretching of the game window and screenshot capturing. As graphics boards of the time (1994) were not up to par with the system's needs, a pass-through using a VGA feature connector
Feature connector
The Feature connector was an internal connector found mostly in some older VESA Local Bus, ISA and PCI graphics cards, but also on some early AGP ones....
link was used, thus reserving an area on screen to be used by the 3DO Blaster card's output (on the Windows environment - running under DOS, full-screen was the only option). Thus, there was no impact on the CPU. As with the first 3DO system from Panasonic (REAL FZ-1) an FMV
Full motion video
Full motion video based games are video games that rely upon pre-recorded TV-quality movie or animation rather than sprites, vectors, or 3D models to display action in the game. In the early 1990s a diverse set of games utilized this format...
daughter-card enabling VideoCD playback was planned, but since the 3DO Blaster failed to achieve momentum, it was never released. Saved games were stored in NVRAM
NVRAM
Non-volatile random-access memory is random-access memory that retains its information when power is turned off, which is described technically as being non-volatile...
on the card, supposedly not using resources on the PC to prevent hacking.
Required CD-ROM drive
The only CD-ROM drive that worked with the card was the Creative CR-563 (a Panasonic model, re-branded by Creative).Bundle contents
The card was sold with the cables needed, a 3DO controller by Logitech, and two 3DO games on CD: "Shock Wave" from Electronic ArtsElectronic Arts
Electronic Arts, Inc. is a major American developer, marketer, publisher and distributor of video games. Founded and incorporated on May 28, 1982 by Trip Hawkins, the company was a pioneer of the early home computer games industry and was notable for promoting the designers and programmers...
and "Gridders" from Tetragon. Despite showing the 'long boxes' of the two games on the back of the packing box, they were included in jewel cases only. A third CD, containing demos of popular 3DO games was also included.
Further included was software from Aldus; Aldus Photostyler SE and Aldus Gallery Effects Vol. 1, both titles can be seen on the back of the 3DO Blaster packing box.
Hardware requirements
- Intel or compatible PC with 80386 CPU and Microsoft Windows
- Any of these Sound Blaster cards: Sound Blaster Pro, Sound Blaster 16 or Sound Blaster AWE32
- A Creative CR-563 CD-ROM drive
- A free ISA slot
- A VGA graphics card with VGA feature connectorFeature connectorThe Feature connector was an internal connector found mostly in some older VESA Local Bus, ISA and PCI graphics cards, but also on some early AGP ones....