3DO/Matsushita M2 Review

Overall Rating

The stuff of legends

Never released

This isn't a review as such, just a bit of useful information on one of the most enigmatic and mysterious consoles in games history.

Primarily developed by the 3DO company (creators of the 3DO, naturally), the M2 was originally intended to be an add-on designed to boost the 3DO's power to an incredible 64-bits. Not so impressive nowadays, but back in 1993, that was pretty spectacular.

It was meant to come in the form of some sort of external peripheral - a bit like the Sega Mega CD (or Sega CD, depending on where you come from!), and plug into a port on the existing 3DO system. The hardware was kept under wraps for most of the so-called development time and only a handful of supposed screenshots were 'leaked' - mainly of a game called 'D2,' a 3D sequel to dull-as-ditchwater point and click adventure game 'D.' These screens turned out to be nothing more than mock ups, but the rumour mill was working over time - especially on the subject of how powerful the new console was actually going to be: astronomical.

Over the months, it emerged that the original plan to release the M2 as an add-on had been ditched in favour of launching it as a whole new platform - one that made everything else obsolete, an attempt to create a single games format. Like the VHS of gaming. 3DO's Grand Master, Trip Hawkins had a vision of the future, and it was M2 shaped.

Eager to get in on the action, electronics giant Matsushita (aka Panasonic) got wind of the rumblings surrounding the M2 and put in a bid to actually purchase the untested hardware from the 3DO company. For some bizarre reason, 3DO said 'yes,' and Matsushita were suddenly the new owners of the M2. After that nothing.

What was supposed to be the 'biggest thing ever' simply vanished without trace. A few mock up M2s were paraded at various game shows (see the picture above), but the system was never shown running giving birth to the notion that these systems were nothing but empty plastic shells designed simply to re-spark interest in the system and it's mythical status.

Alas, nothing ever became of the M2 and its promised capabilities. Only two games were ever produced that were said to be running on M2 hardware, but these were bizarre Japanese arcade games made by Konami (Polystars - a shoot em up, and Battle Tryst - a Battle Arena Toshinden rip off) and featured visuals that were nowhere near as good as what 3DO had boasted years before (think first generation PlayStation graphics). And that's where the tale ends unfortunately. Matsushita reportedly paid 3DO $100 million for the hardware, so convinced were they that it was going to be a hit. With hindsight, they probably wish they'd invested it more wisely.

Members' Comments onTOMLEECEE's Review

• Zhadnost on 16th Feb 2007

  I remember quite a few screenshots being released, and a video of M2 Racing (which was previewed at E3).
  
  The M2 was originally supposed to be both a console and and add-on for the original 3DO. The add on would connect to the side bus connector, where it would only use the CD drive and the PSU.
  
  When Panasonic upgraded the spec of the M2 console (after buying the entire project from 3DO for a reported $100Million, with the agreement that 3DO would produce 10 games for it), to include an 8xCD drive (probably because they had a factory that made them at the time), Panasonic shelved the idea of releasing an upgrade.
  
  From vague memory, Panasonic stated that they also wanted to include a second PPC601 processor and increase the on-board memory to 8Mb (the second processor requiring a BIOS re-write).
  
  It was reported that developers were sent out devkit upgrades.
  
  There are lots of stories going round as to whose fault it is that the M2 got shelved. I guess only Trip Hawkins and some Panasonic people really know.