I want to get a 3DO, a reliable one. [Archive]

Platinum

03-20-2010, 06:39 PM

I just sold some 360 games and a 360 on top fo that, since I'm a collector of vintage games, I want to get a 3DO next. I know what my options are, but I want to know which model of the 3DO is the best. I live in the U.S., so I will NOT be importing any foreign models. Basically I'm looking for the best model in terms of dependability. I heard a long time ago that one specific model is the best overall. It was either FZ-1 or FZ-10, can't remember very well.

A local store has the Goldstar and the Panasonic models for 79.99 each, they work well, and they come with all of the essentials. So here are my questions.

1.) Which model is best to get?
2.) How do you determine what the FZ-1 and FZ-10 consoles are?
3.) How hard is it to come by S-Video cables?

And you probably knew this one was coming...

4.) Games.

I've already heard about Return Fire, Crash n' burn, STAR CONTROL 2, Alone in the Dark. My console will come with Doom if I get it locally.

Thanks everyone!

awbacon

03-20-2010, 06:42 PM

FZ-1..the square Panasonic set top box looking console, is the most reliable

It has an s-video port on the back, so getting the cable is as simple as going to wal-mart if you dont have one sitting around.

Killing Time is my favorite for the 3DO...Policenauts as well (if you want to deal w/ japanese voices and text)

Jorpho

03-20-2010, 06:59 PM

since I'm a collector of vintage games, I want to get a 3DO next.So you're a collector of bad vintage games.

Platinum

03-20-2010, 07:05 PM

^^^
Maybe I enjoy playing vintage games. Just because it was an ill-fated console doesn't mean it's bad. I have a sega 32X, and I like it, and I play it.

Anyway, that's good to know S-video cables won't be uber-expensive to get. I got a gold-plated one around here somewhere.

awbacon

03-20-2010, 07:30 PM

Yeah...I actually give 3DO credit for just putting standard ports on the back of the console. Compared to what an S-Video cable would cost me for my Jaguar....super cheap on 3DO

Like I said...Killing Time is my all-time fav, Space Hulk is also really good. Off the top of my head, the games I consider worth the time are

Killing Time / Space Hulk / Policenauts / Puzzle Bobble (much better on Neo-Geo CD, but its still good) / Blade Force / Gex / Need for Speed / Road Rash / Out of this World / Flashback (better on Jaguar in my opinion)

My 3DO and Jaguar sit side by side, so maybe I am a collector of bad consoles too! haha...I have 13 consoles currently wired to my living room tv

Loremaster

03-20-2010, 07:32 PM

I gotta tag in and agree with the recommendation for Space Hulk: Vengeance of the Blood Angels. If you like Rainbow Six style tactical FPS, then check out this game [which actually predates Rainbow Six]. It is an excellent title, very tense and atmospheric [essentially Aliens, but without the license or Ripley]

The 1 2 P

03-20-2010, 08:29 PM

1.) Which model is best to get?
2.) How do you determine what the FZ-1 and FZ-10 consoles are?
3.) How hard is it to come by S-Video cables?

And you probably knew this one was coming...

4.) Games.

1.) I've had my FZ-1 model for years and it still runs well, but I'd probably still recommend the FZ-10 due to it's lack of a disc load tray.
2.) The FZ-1 is a square system that looks kind of like an old school vcr system. It's heavy and cumbersome looking. The FZ-10 was redesigned with a more console friendlier look and features a flip-top lid as opposed to the disc load tray of the FZ-1. It's much lighter too.
3.) You may not find a 3DO with s-video cables included but you can use any standard cables so that won't be a problem.
4.) All depends on what you like but I recommend Samurai Shodown, Royal Pro Wrestling(Japanese Import) and Crash N Burn(it was fun back then but now it's very dated). If you like Star Wars theres Star Wars: Rebel Assault but it pretty much sucks when compared to it's vastly superior sequel.

Hope that helps.

Platinum

03-20-2010, 09:19 PM

I have two spare S-video cables around so, that makes me happy to know. Like I said, the 3DO (no matter which one I get) comes with Doom. I know it's supposedly the worst port ever, but I'm a doom fanatic so it doesn't bother me, and I know what the issues with it are.

I'm not big into fighting games, and certainly NOT RPG's. I like FPS, TPS, some RTS, some puzzles, racing, adventure/platformers.

Also, Jaguar, that's pretty hardcore there. I remember playing one, and I loved AVP and Tempest 2000.

Thanks for the input guys, keep it coming I love hearing your recommendations.

Breetai

03-20-2010, 09:49 PM

FZ-1..the square Panasonic set top box looking console, is the most reliable.Ummm... No, it is NOT. The CD drive is mechanical, whereas the FZ-10 is a manual opening top-loader. That means less things to break on it.

Top-loaders are ALWAYS more reliable than front-loaders.

Both are much more reliable than the Goldstar model.

A local store has the Goldstar and the Panasonic models for 79.99 each...
Good grief... I didn't realize 3DO systems in America were that expensive.

Road Rash and The Need for Speed are pretty fun. Super Street Fighter II Turbo and Samurai Shodown have good ports to it. For the most part, the decent 3DO games have been ported to other systems.

phreakindee

03-20-2010, 10:38 PM

I got my FZ-1 at the start of the year for $70 shipped. Came with two controllers. It works great and others I've known over the years that had one put money on that model as THE one to own. The FZ-10 a close second (or comes in first, if you're worried about the FZ-1's mechanical tray breaking, but I've heard it's not extremely common... but it will happen eventually I suppose).

Doom on the thing SUCKS. I mean, SUCKS. PO'd is okay, but also quite slow and buggy like Doom. Wolfenstein 3D is not bad. Megarace and Crash n Burn are decent. Some of the best games to me:

Another World
Road Rash
Samurai Shodown
Battle Sport
NFS
Gex
SSFII Turbo
Lemmings
The Incredible Machine
Return Fire

There's some weird ones, like Pataank and Gridders, that might be worth checking out. And Way of the Warrior and Shadow: War of Succession are good for a laugh. Good thing you can burn games to try before you buy.

Richter Belmount

03-20-2010, 11:08 PM

I want a jet skii

ReTrO-pLaYeR

03-20-2010, 11:18 PM

One of the best games for the 3DO is GEX by Crystal Dynamics. It's a mascot platformer but it has fantastic gameplay complete with a secret world for you to discover.

Breetai

03-21-2010, 01:23 AM

One of the best games for the 3DO is GEX by Crystal Dynamics. It's a mascot platformer but it has fantastic gameplay complete with a secret world for you to discover.
And you can actually save you game, unlike the PS1 and Saturn versions.

Oldskool

03-21-2010, 04:02 AM

I'm on my third 3DO. I bought the FZ-1 new back in the day, ended up with an FZ-10 later on, and now I have an FZ-1 again. NONE of them gave me any grief AT ALL. I personally prefer the FZ-1, it just seems fancier and more well built to me. I've never had a problem with the mechanical front loader, those things eject like there is no tommorow. People say that they are less reliable, but I have yet to witness one fail. The FZ-10 is nice because it's got a built in memory manager. But that's not too big of a deal because you can manage the memory of the FZ-1 from a CD.

Personally, I'd say get the FZ-1 or the FZ-10. I am partial to the FZ-1 however.

Some people with the Sanyo and Goldstar models say that they are ok, and some say that they are not.

Rickstilwell1

03-21-2010, 04:08 AM

I have both the FZ-1 and FZ-10, and the top-loading FZ-10 seems to have a better time reading scratched up discs. Also the memory manager makes it easier to use.

geezuzkhrist119

03-21-2010, 07:17 AM

i remember reading on a different forum that theres a 3do console model that plays back ups without a modchip just like the dreamcast

is that true?
if so what model?

c0ldb33r

03-21-2010, 07:48 AM

OP, I want you to play Doom on the 3do and then come back here and tell us your thoughts.

awbacon

03-21-2010, 10:36 AM

Yeah...you can just backup your 3DO games, no chips required.

I backed up my rare import version of Killing Time so I could keep the case sealed, since I got it NIB

Mobius

03-21-2010, 11:15 AM

Something that a lot of people don't notice is that the FZ-1 and FZ-10 come with slightly different controllers. The FZ-1 controllers are bigger and bulkier with stiffer D-pads. The slightly smaller one that comes with the FZ-10 is much nicer, but doesn't have the headphone jack.

Personally, I own two FZ-1s and I think they're great. They're built like tanks.

i remember reading on a different forum that theres a 3do console model that plays back ups without a modchip just like the dreamcast

is that true?
if so what model?

That's true of all the models.

Platinum

03-21-2010, 11:20 AM

Yeah yeah, I know Doom sucks on 3DO, but its a game that is free, and I'm willing to give it a try because Doom is up there in my top 5 favorite series. If I enjoyed the SNES and 32X versions, I'm sure I can get by with playing 3DO doom on a small screen.

Now, say I get the FZ-1 model, and the tray jams. How easy would it be for me to fix that. Note, I work part-time at a video store where I fix game systems, a lot of the time I'm fixing jammed/broken xbox/ps2 drives and trays.

Mobius

03-21-2010, 11:57 AM

My first FZ-1 had a jammed tray because it got bumped in shipping or something. I opened it up (regular screws, no crazy gamebits needed) and snapped the tray assembly back into place. No problems. I've never heard of worn out gears or anything.

HaggarCodyGuy123

03-21-2010, 02:54 PM

I had a gear worn out on an fz-1. I also had a laser lens break on an fz-1.

dodgeme

03-21-2010, 03:26 PM

I have an FZ-1 Testing Station that I got for about 30 dollars considering what I paid for the item I traded for it. Overall I will say I am extremely happy with it and it doesn't really seem like it was built all that weakly. I was shocked at how well it worked when comparing it to some of my other tray based drives, especially my Sega CD, that thing grinds whenever I start it but it still works lol. I will say Doom on the 3DO is horrible. It makes the 32x version shine. I do like Wolf 3d on the 3do though.

Platinum

03-21-2010, 05:25 PM

Alright, I ended up getting the FZ-10, the FZ-1 they had was NFS because the laser would not read. The FZ-10 works perfectly fine. It came with Doom AND Gex. Let me tell you something, Doom on it was actually decent (I played to level 10). The game was playable in my opinion, I sized the screen down two levels, but was fine for me.

Gex was also decent, I played it for a good hour and a half.

So I have a question for you guys, how easy is it to fix/replace a laser in an FZ-1. Granted I can talk them into selling the unit cheaply, I may take a stab at it. The guy told me he tried blowing it out with an air compressor a while ago, which I would NEVER do.

Thanks.

Emperor Megas

03-21-2010, 05:43 PM

I've never had a problem with my FZ-1 model 3DO, and I used that thing for years. The loading tray is mechanical, but honestly, I'd expect the disc drive to die before the tray on that machine. I'm not saying that the drive is faulty, but rather the tray breaking isn't a practical concern considering the drive has moving parts too, and works 100 times more than the tray mechanism does. I also thought that all of the 3DO models had S-video output with standard cables, but it may have been mistaken. I know that my FZ-1 and Goldstar models do.

The FZ-1 and Goldstar models look very similar, though I prefer the FZ-1's asteroid themed attract mode/screen saver better. I also prefer the front loading trays to top loaders because the systems are narrower and they require less overhead room to access in the entertainment cabinet (http://img29.imageshack.us/img29/4886/gamecabinet04.jpg) I built to store my active consoles in.

As for all of the Doom hate, I'm really not getting it. Granted, I haven't played Doom on the 3DO in some years, but it was always my favorite version. I liked it better than the 32X version, which I also own. I don't recall why I liked it better anymore; it could have been the audio, or maybe something was different about the HUD. In any event, I always enjoyed the 3DO version best.

With that said, the 3DO is home to a lot of terrible games, there's no denying it. But there are a handful of games that make the system worth owning, IMO. Some of my favorite 3DO games are:

Advanced Dungeons and Dragon's: Slayer
Alone in the Dark
Brain Dead 13
Bust-A-Move
Doom
Dragon's Lair
Dragon Lore
Gex
Hell: A Cyberpunk Thriller
Horde, The
Icebreaker
Incredible Machine, The
Lemmings
Myst
Return Fire
Return Fire: Maps O' Death (expansion pack)
Shanghai: Triple-Threat
Soccer Kid
Space Ace
Star Control II
Star Fighter
Super Street Fighter II Turbo
Trip'D and
Wolfenstien 3D

I used to enjoy Twisted: The Game Show, and to a lesser extent Zhadnost: The People's Party, back in the day, but I can't really recommend them when there are so many better party games on the market for other systems.

Trip'D is an awesome (and often over looked) puzzle game. It doesn't offer much in single player, but it's great for competitive play. It's actually one of my wife's all time favorite games -- she doesn't play many video games, but she's played that game to death. It's one of the few games that she can compete with me in, so she really enjoys it.

Dragons' Lair and Space Ace of course are classic animated FMV games. You've probably played them on several other systems, but the 3DO version are some of the best. Brain Dead 13 on the 3DO is also vastly superior to the SEGA Saturn version. It comes on 2 discs so the video isn't compressed and grainy like the Saturn's single disc version is. I've never played the PSX or Jaguar CD versions though, so I don't know how they measure up. Most of the other multi-platform 3DO titles are probably better played on other systems. It's not that the 3DO versions are inferior, but the 3DO's on-board memory is both limited and difficult to access, so unless you're collecting for the sake of owning, just go with the PSX or Saturn version for ease of use.

I own Space Hulk: Vengeance of the Blood Angels for 3DO but I've never actually played it, so I don't know if it's as good as people seem to think, but it seems like a safe bet. But as I mentioned before, I'd probably just opt for the PSX version of the game and focus on the 3DO exclusives.

Good luck with your selections, and happy collecting!

Dr. Dib

03-21-2010, 07:55 PM

Emperor Megas

03-21-2010, 09:29 PM

So while we're on the topic, how bad is the Goldstar 3DO? Someone has been selling one in my area for 2 years, so I figure he may be open to a deal. I'd rather not get a unit that's going to fail on me. Plus the 3DO isn't really on my must have list, so I'm willing to wait for a good deal on a better model. The only issues that I'm aware of with the Goldstar 3DO are some early 3DO games crash on them. I read on Classic Gaming a while back that The Horde, PO'd and Cyberia lock up. There are also a few obscure glitches that you'll likely never run into which as associated with certain systems. For example, IIRC, there was a code that allowed you to play a version of Space War on the game War of the Warrior, but it didn't work on all 3DO models.

Typically, the first run of a console has the least problems running software, though long term reliability is usually a concern (NES's with bad connectors, fubar PSX's that you had to run upside down, Thompson drive XBOX's, RRoD 360s, etc.). I don't think early run models of the 3DO system suffer hardware failure like a lot of other consoles though. Overall, unless you're hardcore and/or anal, you'll probably be fine with which ever version you get, but if you're skeptical or paranoid hold out for a R.E.A.L. FZ-1, or FZ-10 unit.

dreamcaster

03-21-2010, 09:42 PM

I've got a GoldStar 3DO and whilst you can tell the build quality is not fantastic (the CD tray slides out of the console by itself if you tip it forward), it's never missed a beat and has worked perfectly for the 2+ years I've had it (plus however many years it was played by it's previous owner).

GoldStars are much more common down here than Panasonics, possibly because they were more widely distributed in South-East Asia.

That said, the FZ-10 just seems like a more sensible choice, since it's already going to be better by being a Panasonic AND the top loading drive is just going to be more reliable in the very long run.

I haven't got many games, but my favourite picks would be Road Rash, The Need for Speed and Space Hulk.

UnpluggedClone

03-22-2010, 12:24 PM

Google 4 Gaga

The 1 2 P

03-22-2010, 04:10 PM

For what it's worth the FZ-1 model of the 3DO is probably one of the best built disc load tray systems out there. I've never had any issues with the one I bought used almost 10 years ago.

Oldskool

03-23-2010, 03:25 AM

Every time I eject the disc on my FZ-1 I am amazed at how much power it forces the tray open and closed.. Sometimes I almost feel like it's gonna toss the game right out of the system! haha.. no but really. I don't see that thing failing any time soon. That front loader's got some nuts.. haha.

OldSchoolGamer

03-23-2010, 04:27 AM

i remember reading on a different forum that theres a 3do console model that plays back ups without a modchip just like the dreamcast

is that true?
if so what model?

All of them. Protection on disc based games did not start until later. Sega CD, CD32 also read straight backups............

geezuzkhrist119

03-23-2010, 08:31 PM

All of them. Protection on disc based games did not start until later. Sega CD, CD32 also read straight backups............

what about the neo geo cd and tg 16 cd?

sorry for going off topic

Dr. Dib

03-23-2010, 09:34 PM

what about the neo geo cd and tg 16 cd?

sorry for going off topic

Yes to both of those. I'd assume the general rule of thumb is that any console before Saturn/Playstation plays backups. Those after may or may not. I say this because it seems like the Pippin actually does play backups.

Once again, not sure on this 100%, but it does seem very likely.

OldSchoolGamer

03-24-2010, 01:51 AM

what about the neo geo cd and tg 16 cd?

sorry for going off topic

You have to remember at the time original CD based media consoles were introduced the idea of owning a CD burner was crazy, the burners were very expensive and the media would have cost you as much if not more than any game, only when it became financially feasible to burn discs at home did they start introducing copy protection.

AS TO THE ORIGINAL POST: I second the PANASONIC FZ10, yeah the FZ1 looks cooler but the fancy motorized tray is just trouble in these aging systems. I initially had the FZ1 and loved the look of it but it began skipping, not loading etc, got a FZ10 and it has been rock solid and the built in memory manager is a nice plus, I like the slimmer profile and TurboDuo styling of it. My 2 cents.

A Black Falcon

03-24-2010, 02:15 AM

Yes to both of those. I'd assume the general rule of thumb is that any console before Saturn/Playstation plays backups. Those after may or may not. I say this because it seems like the Pippin actually does play backups.

Once again, not sure on this 100%, but it does seem very likely.

Yeah, before the PSX and Saturn I'm pretty sure that all CD-based systems play backups.

Even after them, the Neo-Geo CD and Jaguar CD both play backups as well. I think the PC Engine FX does, but I'm not absolutely certain about that.

And of course, thanks to an exploit the Dreamcast plays backups... but other than that everything since then has copy protection.

Manhattan Sports Club

03-24-2010, 02:18 AM

I also have a question to ask about the 3DO. I recently aquired an FZ-1 off eBay (which turned out to be much larger than expected, silly me) and works fine, although I have no idea of its history or how its been treated in the past aside from a vague description by the seller (who had a good feedback reputation actually) as it had a few small knacks on the case, and the back ports such as where the RF switch goes appear either slightly dirty or rusted (I actually use RCA however). I have no idea how much of a lifespan is left in it for me, and being a picky and spoiled brat, I have actually been tempted to resell it for an FZ-10 because of my current skepticism but am not sure if it is worth it or if I am just worrying too much. I also want to know something else about playing imports. I hear some imports actually do not play on the US 3DO because wiki claims the US units lack a special kanji font which is only in the japanese units, that prohibits a few games from playing like Twinkle Knights and some others, but I am not sure if that happens to all US units, because I assume later models like the FZ-10 must be the same for both JP and US releases, since they were made after it was already being distributed in the japanese market unlike the early US FZ-1s (or so I assume, since 3DO was an american company). So is it true? Has anyone encountered this problem, and if so, is there a way to get around it without using a JP system?

Oldskool

03-24-2010, 04:50 AM

No need to get rid of the console if it's working fine. Maybe if one day it craps on you it should be replaced, but until then why bother? Yes the US console will play the Japanese games and vice versa. Yes, the Japanese console has 100% compatibility because it uses both the US and Japanese fonts. The US console will still run 99% of the games however.

The lifespan on the FZ-1 is fine! What everyone talks about with the tray problems and whatnot is usually hear say. Rarely do you hear of a problem with it that actually happened to the person talking about it. Like I said before, I've owned a few, and they are always rock solid units. Loads better quality than a lot of consoles out there. The failure rate is pretty low.

So unless you are dying to have an FZ-10 don't bother. I think the Kanji issue is with the FZ-10 as well.

The way I see it, get whatever Panasonic model you can find that's a good deal, you'll be happy with either. The FZ-10 has the built in memory manager which is about the only thing that's better about it in my opinion. But like mentioned, you can still manage the memory on the FZ-1, you just have to do it off a disc. Big deal.. insert disc, manage memory, eject disc.

jwlowry

03-24-2010, 10:22 AM

I have an FZ-10 I got back in 1995 that is still going strong, along with an FZ-1 I picked up about a year ago (I always try to keep a backup console around). The FZ-10 has gotten a tremendous amount of play over the years (Star Control II, Return Fire, Gex, Battlesport, and too many more to mention) and I've never had a problem with it. My only complaint about the FZ-1 would be the lack of a built-in memory manager like the FZ-10, but it seems to be pretty durable as well. I have no experience with the Goldstar unit so I have no opinions on it other than what I have read.

I've never understood the bad reputation the 3DO seems to have today, sure it had it's share of dogs (Virtuoso, Mazer, and the Doom port for example), but in my opinion its library is aging better than that of the vastly superior PS1 (though I don't debate that the 3DO doesn't have any one title that compares to such PS1 classics as FFVII and MGS). I have a nearly complete 3DO US library and probably get more play out of it now than my 300+ title PS1 collection.

InsaneDavid

03-24-2010, 11:27 AM

I also want to know something else about playing imports. I hear some imports actually do not play on the US 3DO because wiki claims the US units lack a special kanji font which is only in the japanese units, that prohibits a few games from playing like Twinkle Knights and some others, but I am not sure if that happens to all US units, because I assume later models like the FZ-10 must be the same for both JP and US releases, since they were made after it was already being distributed in the japanese market unlike the early US FZ-1s (or so I assume, since 3DO was an american company). So is it true? Has anyone encountered this problem, and if so, is there a way to get around it without using a JP system?

I know that Sword & Sorcery (Japanese version of Lucienne's Quest) displays an error message in Japanese after the splash screen on a USA system.

Personally I rescued an FZ-1 out of a neglected trash pile in a junkpile of an old game store. Coated in dirt, shoved in a pile of broken Model 2 Sega CD systems, missing the door plate on the CD tray, and it looked like something had been spilled inside at one point. The store owner saying I could have it for $10.00 only made me assume even more that it didn't work. But it did eject the disc fine (as has been said, the console ejects the tray with authority) so I took my chances. I got it home, took it apart and cleaned it out (blew out the dust, cleaned where the spill was, general stuff). Put it back together and it's been working flawlessly since. I use it quite a bit, mainly for the Sailormoon S fighting game, and haven't had any problems. I remember reading somewhere that the Goldstar control pads can cause shorts when being daisy chained with non-Goldstar control pads, so watch out for that.

As a side note, can anyone here explain how the save system works on Wolfenstein 3D? I know the menu controls can be a little clunky and I have a saved game on there I can load, but I can't seem to save another / over / new progress. I have a disc only copy and can't find a scan of the 3DO manual, thanks.

Steve W

03-24-2010, 04:17 PM

One of my biggest problems with the 3DO is that it's so hard to find games for it without the aid of online auctions. I generally only buy games in the wild, and you just don't come across any good ones anymore. In the past few years Dallas has started to brim over with places to buy retro video games, and very few of them have anything other than sports titles and commons. I have found controllers and SNES-to-3DO adapters in the wild (and new!), but few games. I can't tell you how disappointing it is to see one of those longboxes from a distance, then getting my hopes dashed when I see it's only a Madden game. Bleh.

josekortez

03-24-2010, 04:28 PM

pseudonym

03-24-2010, 04:35 PM

Yeah, 3DO games are hard to find in the wild, for a couple of years all I had was 2 games until I bought some more on Ebay. I like Emperor Megas' list, I have a lot of the same games as him that I enjoy too.

Insaneclown

03-24-2010, 06:02 PM

Get the original heavy beast!!!

Oldskool

03-24-2010, 06:07 PM

I'm quite excited as I have been acquiring 3DO games lately through trades (mostly disc-only, some in jewel cases and some boxed) and today Yu-Yu Hakusho and Hell: A Cyberpunk Adventure appeared in the mail. I've got an FZ-10 with cables coming from one trade and two controllers coming in another trade. Hopefully, by the end of the week, I'll be able to contribute something to this thread in reference to the majesty of the FZ-10. I've been dying to play Real Pinball since I like pinball games.

Congrats on the new 3DO stuff. I honestly didn't think Hell was that great, it's got a LOT of reading/storyline, and TO ME it can be quite boring too. As far as Real Pinball is concerned, it's really not that good either. If you want a really good pinball game get Pataank! It's sort of a 3d, first person pinball game, I've never seen anything else like it. I keep hearing of this Yu-Yu Hakusho game, but I am not quite sure what it is, so I cannot tell you if it's any good or not, but people seem to mention it a bit so it must be good. You'll probably want to get some better games before you reference to the majesty of the FZ-10.

Steve W

03-24-2010, 08:54 PM

I honestly didn't think Hell was that great, it's got a LOT of reading/storyline, and TO ME it can be quite boring too.
I feel the same way. So many people talked about how great it was supposed to be, but the early '90s rendered art, odd animation, iffy voice acting, and tediousness of the gameplay totally turned me off. But to be fair, I'm more of an action game person.

I think I'm going to pull out the ol' FZ-1 and fire it up later tonight. I just wish I had more of a selection of games to play than I do right now.

Platinum

03-24-2010, 09:20 PM

I just finished 3DO Doom yesterday morning. I scaled the screen down one size to decrease the lag. Other than that, I don't see why people bog on it all the time. Sure I had some lag, not aften. It was a respectable version if you ask me. Now I award the title of worst doom port to the 32X version, and I still liked that one.

Emperor Megas

03-24-2010, 11:52 PM

I honestly didn't think Hell was that great, it's got a LOT of reading/storyline, and TO ME it can be quite boring too. HELL: aCT also had a couple of nasty game ending bugs, too. But even with all of it's flaws I always enjoyed the game. It's a point and click adventure after all, so you can't really expect much in the way of action or intensity. I was really into cyberpunk too, so the theme earned it points with me as well. And Dennis Hopper is so over the top, and some (most) of the dialog is so incredibly terrible that it's hard (for me) not to enjoy it.

Bad dialog in older games is a guilty pleasure of mine (Telenet/Reno, FTW!).

I feel the same way. So many people talked about how great it was supposed to be, but the early '90s rendered art, odd animation, iffy voice acting, and tediousness of the gameplay totally turned me off.I didn't realize that there was ever any buzz about the game, but then I never knew anyone else who owned a 3DO back then. I still enjoy HELL, but it's definitely a love or hate title. I especially enjoyed the puzzles. I used to work offshore when I first played though it, and it was really fun to play in short half hour intervals each night before bed. The same with MYST. I found those point and click games to be very relaxing, and stimulating, too.

josekortez

03-25-2010, 10:21 AM

Congrats on the new 3DO stuff. I honestly didn't think Hell was that great, it's got a LOT of reading/storyline, and TO ME it can be quite boring too. As far as Real Pinball is concerned, it's really not that good either. If you want a really good pinball game get Pataank! It's sort of a 3d, first person pinball game, I've never seen anything else like it. I keep hearing of this Yu-Yu Hakusho game, but I am not quite sure what it is, so I cannot tell you if it's any good or not, but people seem to mention it a bit so it must be good. You'll probably want to get some better games before you reference to the majesty of the FZ-10.

Well, I've got others. Over the past 6 or so months, I've acquired Road Rash, Need for Speed, Mad Dog McCree 2, Twisted: The Game Show, Panzer General, Supreme Warrior and John Madden Football. I figure those should get me started. I'm not necessarily in a rush to collect for 3DO. It's just an obscure system I haven't tried yet.

And Yu Yu Hakusho is a Japanese-exclusive 2D fighting game. I always hear it mentioned in league with Street Fighter II and Samurai Shodown as one of the three available fighters for the system, although I don't think the gameplay is as deep as it is in either of those games.

I still need to find a light gun. Are the light guns hard to find for this thing?

jwlowry

03-25-2010, 10:58 AM

I completely agree that 3DO games are nearly impossible to find in the wild, plus online searches aren't as fruitful as they were just a few years ago. I picked up the majority of my 3DO collection as game stores were selling off stock when the system was being phased out, which historically has been the best way to build a collection of any console. I've always got one eye open for 3DO games in the wild with no expectations of actually coming across anything.

josekortez

03-25-2010, 11:29 AM

Oldskool

03-25-2010, 01:06 PM

Hmmm that sucks about the power cord. I couldn't tell ya the specs on it, but basically try to look on the bottom of the console somewhere for how many volts and amps it takes, ac or dc, and try to look at some adapters and see if they match. You'll also want to make sure that the polarity is correct. I didn't recall it having a separate AC adapter, but it's been years since I had an FZ-10. The FZ-1 is cool in the fact that the power cord is integrated into the console, maybe that's one reason why it's so heavy.

bitrate

03-25-2010, 04:44 PM

My FZ-10 arrived today, but the seller didn't put the AV cables or the power cord in like he was supposed to. I know it uses off-the-shelf AV cables, but is it possible to use the power cord from any other game systems successfully with a 3DO? I don't want to use the wrong voltage. I'm kind of ticked off since I had planned to test my 3DO games today.

All 3DO consoles (Goldstar, Panasonic, Sanyo) have integrated power supplies so you do not need to worry about using an incorrect AC adapter. As such, all you need is a run-of-the-mill polarized power cord. A two conductor 18 awg cable with a polarized IEC C7 connector on the end that plugs into the FZ-10.

Oldskool

03-25-2010, 04:47 PM

josekortez

03-25-2010, 05:04 PM

So basically plug your Playstation AC adapter into it, and it will work. Looks like you are in luck! I suggest using an S-Video cable for the video. You can get one at most stores for just a few bucks.

Yeah, I found an AC in my cords drawer that was 125 v even though the power specs on the bottom of the system say it should be 120 v. After I cleaned the system out thoroughly (it seemed to have been buried under a pile of leaves at some point), I tried the 125 v cord and it powered on. I had some gold-plated composite cables from an old VCR, and it works fine on my TV! That was a stroke of genius on the designers' parts to make it possible to use AV cables from almost any piece of tech.

And I found a disc-only copy of Stellar 7 that I already had from two years ago! Score!!!

bitrate

03-25-2010, 07:38 PM

Yeah, I found an AC in my cords drawer that was 125 v even though the power specs on the bottom of the system say it should be 120 v. After I cleaned the system out thoroughly (it seemed to have been buried under a pile of leaves at some point), I tried the 125 v cord and it powered on. I had some gold-plated composite cables from an old VCR, and it works fine on my TV! That was a stroke of genius on the designers' parts to make it possible to use AV cables from almost any piece of tech.

And I found a disc-only copy of Stellar 7 that I already had from two years ago! Score!!!

You are misunderstanding what that 120V designation on the console and 125V designation on the power cord mean.

Just because the power cord has 125V printed on it does not mean that it is going to power a device with 125V when plugged into a wall outlet. The power cord is going to give you whatever voltage is available at that wall outlet (minus a VERY small amount based on cable length and conductor diameter, etc.)
When you see a voltage designation on a cable/wire, it is usually there to indicate to the user what type of circuit that cable/wire is to be used in and/or a maximum allowable voltage that can be placed across it.

The 120V designation on the bottom of the 3DO console does indicate an input voltage requirement, but it is not a strict number and instead is there to (along with the other printed information) indicate that the console operates under the North American voltage range (usually quoted at 110-volt, 115-volt and 120-volt). Electric utilities, under standard conditions, usually deliver 120 volts +/- 5% at the transformer.

So, when you say "I found an AC in my cords drawer that was 125 v even though the power specs on the bottom of the system say it should be 120 v" understand that a simple AC power cable is not used for stepping-up or stepping-down voltages and that your cable should work fine for use with the 3DO console (assuming the cable has sufficient current carrying capability).
The times when you need to pay attention to input voltages and currents are when you are powering an electronic device that uses an external supply (wall-wart, power-brick, etc.)

josekortez

03-25-2010, 07:54 PM

You are misunderstanding what that 120V designation on the console and 125V designation on the power cord mean.

Just because the power cord has 125V printed on it does not mean that it is going to power a device with 125V when plugged into a wall outlet. The power cord is going to going to give you whatever voltage is available at that wall outlet (minus a VERY small amount based on cable length and conductor diameter, etc.)
When you see a voltage designation on a cable/wire, it is usually there to indicate to the user what type of circuit that cable/wire is to be used in and/or a maximum allowable voltage that can be placed across it.

The 120V designation on the bottom of the 3DO console does indicate an input voltage requirement, but it is not a strict number and instead is there to (along with the other printed information) indicate that the console operates under the North American voltage range (usually quoted at 110-volt, 115-volt and 120-volt). Electric utilities, under standard conditions, usually deliver 120 volts +/- 5% at the transformer.

So, when you say "I found an AC in my cords drawer that was 125 v even though the power specs on the bottom of the system say it should be 120 v" understand that a simple AC should work fine for use with the 3DO console (assuming the cable has sufficient current power cable is not used for stepping-up or stepping-down voltages and that your cable carrying capability).
The times when you need to pay attention to input voltages and currents are when you are powering an electronic device that uses an external supply (wall-wart, power-brick, etc.)

Thanks, bitrate. I appreciate the explanation about the voltage. And I don't mean that in a sarcastic way. My main concern was not shorting anything out or electrocuting myself.

I have a worse problem now, though. The FZ-10 wouldn't boot any games and it's making a grinding noise. I'm pretty sure it won't read any discs because it continues to reboot to the loading screen. So as to not derail this thread any further, I'll continue my inquiry in the Technical and Restoration Society forum.