Time's Top 10 Failed Consoles

[Hawksmoor]

http://techland.com/2010/11/04/top-10-failed-gaming-consoles/?hpt=C2

I call BS on the Neo Geo and the Dreamcast. Otherwise, not a bad list.

[buzz_n64]

Screw that article. First they get facts wrong. 3DO- "the first game system to use CDs for content delivery." Then, they count unreleased systems like the Phantom. There are TONS of those alone, and that would fill the list, like the Indrema. If I didn't know any better, I would think this was a Yahoo article. Pathetic.

[retro junkie]

You would think that they would do a little research in attempting to write an article like this. One would easily find out that it was the NEC PC Engine in Japan that had the first CD rom gaming. And I feel that a console has to enter the marketplace in order to be considered failed. Good intentions don't count.

[k8track]

Oh look, yet another top-ten worst/biggest failure of a console list. Yawn.

[Baloo]

The Phantom? How can that even be a failure if it was never released?

Dumb list.

[Bandicat]

I would have put the Atari Jaguar on there before I put the Dreamcast. Also I think the Atari 5200 and Lynx could have found their way into that list.

[fahlim003]

I would have put the Atari Jaguar on there before I put the Dreamcast. Also I think the Atari 5200 and Lynx could have found their way into that list.I would never lump Lynx in with the 5200. The Jaguar is slighty better but on the whole, not a very successful or practical system, add-on wise. The 5200 of that group is surely the worst and as a result best candidate to replace the Dreamcast.

Agreed on the point mentioning the Phantom, as in why bother including it. I too was reminded again of Indrema...
Another general publication list of meh.

[FinalLapTwin]

If the 3DO, CDI, and Dreamcast are failures why are the systems and games holding their value?

[ScourDX]

No Amiga CD? Man those guys don't know jack.

[pepharytheworm]

Is it sad that I actually like all those systems? I am really surprised at Jaguar not being on the list as it usually on every top ten worst lists.

[Steve W]

I think they put these consoles on the list because of their potential. Other than the Laseractive, all of them had the potential to change the way we play games, but for some reason they never took root and gained a foothold. The Atari Jaguar or 5200 were almost doomed from the start because of the management of the company at the time. But think about the N-Gage. Everybody plays games on their phones now. But Nokia leapt in earlier than everyone else and didn't plan their strategy out that well. A bad unit design (removing the battery to change games?) and a poorly thought out array of old PS1 ports as launch titles damaged its reputation too badly and it never recovered, even with a much improved redesign and some really great software. All the consoles in this list had the same ability to conquer the market if they were utilized properly, but they never took off.

I can see why all of these consoles are on the list, other than the Laseractive. Unless they were taking into account having an all-in-one entertainment experience, with a box than can play games and high quality movie playback. It wasn't until the PS2 came out that any console really reached that potential.

[diskoboy]

Laseractive had huge potential.

Unfortunately, it was just a victim of bad timing and an unreasonable price tag - it basically came out at the tail end of the Genesis' shelf life. The price tag for the TG and Sega CD add ons were $600 - damn near the half price of the laseractive, itself. And Laserdisc never becoming a widespread format didn't help much, either.

If Pioneer designed the LD player to read Genesis/TG-16 CD-ROM's out of the box, instead of having to buy a seperate add on, they might have stood a chance in the upscale market.

And what's with Crazy Taxi supposedly being the best Dreamcast game? Ask most people, and they'll either say NFL2K1, Soul Calibur, Jet Grind Radio, or Shenmue. Crazy Taxi was good, but not the best. Even CT2 was better than the original! I'm even more shocked that the Jaguar didn't make the list. :)

[Steve W]

Actually, I want to know where the guy from the Laseractive YouTube video is located. The games and laserdiscs he's got has price tags that look like they're from either the Vintage Stock chain or the Movie Trading Company.

[Leo_A]

The title is "Top 10 Failed Gaming Consoles", not "Top 10 Worst Gaming Consoles".

I'm not sure why the fanboys are getting so upset. Something like the Dreamcast didn't even come close to reaching the potential it had. Where as something like the Jaguar didn't really have much potential due to various circumstances that were working against it from the start for many reasons. The Jaguar did as good or better then pretty much anyone ever expected, so I don't think it would be appropriate to include it in a list of the biggest failures.

And the Atari 5200 and Atari Lynx don't deserve to be on there. The Atari 5200 was a console version of a computer that had been on the market for several years and was largely intended as a stopgap measure to bridge the gap between the 2600 and a true next generation console, which it did pretty well.

And the Lynx was successful for several years. had a solid software library, and was well recieved. It did better then it probably ever deserved to due to having to go up against Nintendo with it's new GameBoy after the massive success they had enjoyed in the console marketplace beforehand.

"If the 3DO, CDI, and Dreamcast are failures why are the systems and games holding their value?"

What does holding their value have to do with anything? And you don't think the Dreamcast was a failure? It had a good two year or so commercial run. You thought it achieved everything it was capable of and fully realized it's potential during that time period?

I'd like to think it didn't, which would mean I'd consider it's commercial run as having been a failure (Although the console and the games released for it were great).

I'd have to disagree about the inclusion of the NeoGeo. It was intended as a niche product to begin with and succeeded very well in that niche with game development lasting for a long time. It was never intended to compete with the same marketplace purchasing things like the SuperNes and PSOne, so the fact that it didn't is no reflection of it's success.

[Gameguy]

Actually, I want to know where the guy from the Laseractive YouTube video is located. The games and laserdiscs he's got has price tags that look like they're from either the Vintage Stock chain or the Movie Trading Company.
I checked his youtube page, he's from the Phoenix Area.

[Steve W]

I checked his youtube page, he's from the Phoenix Area.

I looked that up too, there aren't any Vintage Stocks or Movie Trading Company stores there. Maybe he bought those games and laserdiscs on a trip to Oklahoma?

[Famidrive-16]

Not a bad list really, even if the NeoGeo inclusion is debatable.

Now, NeoGeo CD on the other hand...

[FinalLapTwin]

I have an Action Max and it's not holding value like 3D0 or Dreamcast. So just wondering what is considered a failure?

[Rob2600]

http://techland.com/2010/11/04/top-10-failed-gaming-consoles/?hpt=C2

I call BS on the Neo Geo and the Dreamcast.

I worked at Electronics Boutique in northern NJ at the time. After the PlayStation 2 came out, the Dreamcast was dead. I remember early 2001, people would come into my store asking for the PlayStation 2 and I'd tell them we haven't had any in stock for weeks. Then, I'd show them the Dreamcast which cost *one-third* the price, but they'd insist on waiting for a PlayStation 2.

When a $300 product is outselling a $99 product of equal quality by a ratio of 10-to-1, then that's a failure.

[diskoboy]

I worked at Electronics Boutique in northern NJ at the time. After the PlayStation 2 came out, the Dreamcast was dead. I remember early 2001, people would come into my store asking for the PlayStation 2 and I'd tell them we haven't had any in stock for weeks. Then, I'd show them the Dreamcast which cost *one-third* the price, but they'd insist on waiting for a PlayStation 2.

In a way, this is true...

I literally started my job at a Babbages the day the PS2 was released (my training day was NOT fun, say the least...). We couldn't sell any shipment of PS2's we got, until everyone that pre-ordered one got theirs. So basically, it wasn't until about April we finally started selling PS2's as we got them in.

During that time, we tried to push the DC as a cheaper alternative. No one was having it.

I still say that even thought the DC struggled with the PS2's popularity for several months after it's release, it still had a few good years left in it. There were many games planned that were eventually cancelled that would've given the DC some attention, again. Rez, Half-Life, and Shenmue 2 being prime examples. Like Bally did with pinball, Sega pulled out of the market prematurely.

[Hawksmoor]

I worked at Electronics Boutique in northern NJ at the time. After the PlayStation 2 came out, the Dreamcast was dead. I remember early 2001, people would come into my store asking for the PlayStation 2 and I'd tell them we haven't had any in stock for weeks. Then, I'd show them the Dreamcast which cost *one-third* the price, but they'd insist on waiting for a PlayStation 2.

When a $300 product is outselling a $99 product of equal quality by a ratio of 10-to-1, then that's a failure.

I suppose it depends on how you define "failure". Granted, it never got the user base needed to be considered a commercial success, but it was successful in other ways. How many "dead" or "failed" consoles have commercially successful games (Ikaruga) after their supposed demise? How many of them have a devout user base and a thriving home brew scene? The Dreamcast also changed the controller paradigm, was the first to really push online gaming, and featured a library of software that has the best quality to crap ratio of any console I can think of.

[Rob2600]

The Dreamcast also changed the controller paradigm

How so?

[Hawksmoor]

How so?

What controller prior to the Dreamcast's interfaced with a memory card with a screen of its own that could be used to display game information and could play simple games of its own?

[Gavica]

you have to be crazy to not call the Dreamcast a failure, considring it gave Sega the final push out of the Console Market

[Geddon_jt]

The Neo Geo is the longest officially supported home games console in history, and it made the list. Not to mention the arcade hardware it was based on is one of the most profitable and successful arcade platforms of all time. Give me a break.

[Rob2600]

What controller prior to the Dreamcast's interfaced with a memory card with a screen of its own that could be used to display game information and could play simple games of its own?

1. That doesn't mean it changed the controller paradigm. If it did, then how come no other console after the Dreamcast has utilized a VMU? It was a novel idea that ultimately flopped.

2. For what it's worth, the N64 was released two-and-a-half years *prior* to the Dreamcast and also featured controller slots that could interface with memory cards, Rumble Paks, Transfer Paks, microphones, etc. Where do you think Sega got the idea?

[Sonicwolf]

Dreamcast Reason for Downfall: Company wanted to focus on software

That makes little sense. The reason for the downfall was not because Sega decided to end production to protect their financial future. It was due to overwhelming hype and demand for the PlayStation 2.

The Laseractive should not be on the list either. It's a system dependent on modules that contain the innards of other successful consoles.

The Phantom should never count on these lists as it was as tangible as air.

[Gentlegamer]

What controller prior to the Dreamcast's interfaced with a memory card with a screen of its own that could be used to display game information and could play simple games of its own?
What controller after could do that?

A paradigm isn't changed unless others adapt what you did.

[Hawksmoor]

What controller after could do that?

A paradigm isn't changed unless others adapt what you did.

And I'd say Sony adapted what Sega did with the VMU and released the PocketStation.

[jammajup]

Personally i feel the Dreamcast was no more a failure than the Game Cube ,athough that was because you could mod the x-box which helped its sales a little..

[Rob2600]

And I'd say Sony adapter what Sega did with the VMU and released the PocketStation.

PocketStation- another novelty item that flopped, not a paradigm shift.

[Hawksmoor]

PocketStation- another novelty item that flopped, not a paradigm shift.

You really want to nitpick over what does and does not constitute a paradigm shift? The VMU was a unique concept when it came out. Yes, the N64 controller seems to be the inspiration for the Dreamcast controller, but the VMU was uniquely Sega's concept. Sony then adapted that concept for the PlayStation.

Yes, neither gained any traction, but if we're going by the dictionary definition of paradigm (a pattern, essentially) then I'd say it qualifies. You obviously don't concur, so I guess we'll just have to agree to disagree; I can only debate linguistic semantics for so long.

[Hawksmoor]

Personally i feel the Dreamcast was no more a failure than the Game Cube ,athough that was because you could mod the x-box which helped its sales a little..

As I said in a previous post, I think it really depends on what criteria you use to define "success" and "failure". If your sole criteria is sales numbers, the DC was a success. It sold a little over 10 million units, and as far as I'm concerned, if you can sell 10 million of *anything* you've done pretty well.

On the other hand, if your criteria is sales numbers relative to the best performing consoles, then the DC was a failure. The GC sold about twice as many systems globally as the DC. It's a matter of perspective.

[j_factor]

As I said in a previous post, I think it really depends on what criteria you use to define "success" and "failure". If your sole criteria is sales numbers, the DC was a success. It sold a little over 10 million units, and as far as I'm concerned, if you can sell 10 million of *anything* you've done pretty well.

On the other hand, if your criteria is sales numbers relative to the best performing consoles, then the DC was a failure. The GC sold about twice as many systems globally as the DC. It's a matter of perspective.

Wait, the GC only sold twice as many systems as the DC? It was on the market for more than twice as long.

Personally, I don't think the DC was a failure, at least not here. It had the most successful launch in history at the time, and sold its first million units much faster than any previous console. As of right before the PS2 launch, it was the #2 selling console behind the Playstation. That might sound like it's not good enough, but when the Wii and PS3 launched, Xbox 360 was still #2 behind PS2 -- and that was followed by a long period of third-place behind Wii and PS2.

The DC was a failure (or at least more of a failure) in Japan and Europe, though. I think it Sega had kept it going, things would have improved in Japan, but Europe was probably a lost cause.

[Atarileaf]

All this talk of paradigm shifts makes me believe there are too many people watching "Big Bang Theory" and trying to go all "Sheldon" on everyone else :D

[Hawksmoor]

All this talk of paradigm shifts makes me believe there are too many people watching "Big Bang Theory" and trying to go all "Sheldon" on everyone else :D

I don't watch Big Bang Theory, so I don't think that's influencing the discussion. It's probably more attributable to my being an egghead. That said, why not join the fray and weigh-in on the Dreamcast debate?

Regardless of where one stands on it being a success or failure, hopefully we can all agree that it was a hell of a good console with a kick ass library.

[agent57]

So...my beloved Dreamcast and Neo-Geo are on the list...and the Emerson Arcadia 2001 isn't? I've been told that the Arcadia sold less than 10,000 units in the US. Can someone confirm that?

The only failure I see here is in article research.

Moving on...

[Baloo]

Wait, the GC only sold twice as many systems as the DC? It was on the market for more than twice as long.

Personally, I don't think the DC was a failure, at least not here. It had the most successful launch in history at the time, and sold its first million units much faster than any previous console. As of right before the PS2 launch, it was the #2 selling console behind the Playstation. That might sound like it's not good enough, but when the Wii and PS3 launched, Xbox 360 was still #2 behind PS2 -- and that was followed by a long period of third-place behind Wii and PS2.

The DC was a failure (or at least more of a failure) in Japan and Europe, though. I think it Sega had kept it going, things would have improved in Japan, but Europe was probably a lost cause.

Gamecube sold 21.74 Million Units, Dreamcast only sold 9 million units. A little bit more than twice the amount.

[SpaceHarrier]

Did the 32X not count because it was an add-on? It is still a console.. I can't see listing Dreamcast as a failed console in the same respect as the rest of the list.

By the way I love my 32X. Just saying..

[Atarileaf]

I don't watch Big Bang Theory, so I don't think that's influencing the discussion. It's probably more attributable to my being an egghead. That said, why not join the fray and weigh-in on the Dreamcast debate?

Regardless of where one stands on it being a success or failure, hopefully we can all agree that it was a hell of a good console with a kick ass library.

I love the DC. Its a console I discovered only recently but love its great library.

[Zama]

I will agree that the N-Gage was a epic failed :o

[Greg2600]

Flop we laughed most at was Neo Geo. $700 for the console, $250 for a game.

[Gameguy]

I don't agree with the Neo Geo being on that list, it wasn't aimed at general consumers. It was a high end product, and games were still produced for it 14 years after it launched. The only problem with it was piracy which hurt the company.

I do agree with the Dreamcast being an overall failure, not with the quality of it but it didn't sell all that well. It sold slightly better than the Saturn, which wasn't really a success either. The Master System sold better than the Dreamcast, though the Master System was available longer than the Dreamcast. It wasn't a complete failure, but it still wasn't close to what they were hoping for.

Sega Dreamcast-10.6 million
Sega Saturn-9.5 million
Sega CD-6 million
Sega 32X-Approx 665,000
Sega Master System-13 million
Sega Genesis-exact number unknown, minimum 29 million but probably closer to 40 million
Gamecube-21.74 million
Nintendo 64-32.9 million
Super Nintendo-49.10 million
NES-61.91 million
Wii-75.9 million and counting
Playstation 1-102 million
Playstation 2-146.9 million and counting
Xbox-24 million
Xbox 360-44.6 million and counting

[Robocop2]

Standard top 10 list nonsense. I also don't really understand why he starts out talking about Kinect which is an add on to an already existing system and then goes into talking about console failures. Wouldn't a list of the top failures in console addons be more in line with the opening bit?
As to total X360 sales figures; how many of the 360's numbers are replacement units for RROD units? I know at least 4 of those numbers are my own.... ;)

[Aussie2B]

Yes, the N64 controller seems to be the inspiration for the Dreamcast controller, but the VMU was uniquely Sega's concept. Sony then adapted that concept for the PlayStation.

I don't know about that. The Dreamcast came out in Japan in November '98 (I assume the VMU launched with it), and the PocketStation came out in January '99 (and would've shipped in December '98 if not for a delay). That's WAY too close to say that the concept was uniquely Sega's or that Sony got any ideas from Sega. Obviously the PocketStation was already in development before the VMU even came out.

And whatever the case, the VMU was a failure itself. It had Game Gear syndrome in that the battery would be dead in the blink of an eye. When I got my first VMU, brand new, I didn't do anything with it but leave it in the controller as I played games, and the damn battery was dead in two weeks. Most of the time they just act as a really bulky memory card.

[Vlcice]

I don't agree with the Neo Geo being on that list, it wasn't aimed at general consumers. It was a high end product, and games were still produced for it 14 years after it launched. The only problem with it was piracy which hurt the company.

I'd definitely agree. The Neo was clearly never a mainstream console, so it's not a criticism of it to say that it didn't achieve equal success to the others in the list. They conflate the regular Neo with the Neo CD, which would be a fairer failure to point to if they were being specific.

The Laseractive's a lot fairer of a choice in comparison. It was also for a niche, high-income audience, but it totally failed to sell well even within its niche. I thought their comment about LD's failure was a bit Americacentric though, given that the LA's from Japan where LD was a much more successful format.

[Compute]

Xbox 360-44.6 million and counting

Of course 40.6 million of those are currently RRoD :deadhorse:

[dendawg]

Of course 40.6 million of those are currently RRoD :deadhorse:


http://imgs.xkcd.com/comics/wikipedian_protester.png/

Yea I know the RROD problem was pretty severe, but all but 4 million? C'mon! Exaggerating much?

[Compute]

Of course I was exaggerating. It was supposed to be amusing commentary, not an actual number. Most of the Xboxers I know have owned at least 2. Although broken boxes tend to get fixed, I find myself trying to adjust the number sold to reflect the FACT that I currently have 4 broken 360's sitting in my bedroom, with one more on the way. This is seriously the first game system that has failed so consistently that I end up with a donated stack of the things. One of these days I'll get around to fixing them..

[Rob2600]

Of course I was exaggerating. It was supposed to be amusing commentary, not an actual number. Most of the Xboxers I know have owned at least 2. Although broken boxes tend to get fixed, I find myself trying to adjust the number sold to reflect the FACT that I currently have 4 broken 360's sitting in my bedroom, with one more on the way. This is seriously the first game system that has failed so consistently that I end up with a donated stack of the things. One of these days I'll get around to fixing them..

The Sony PlayStation was almost as bad. I worked at Electronics Boutique at the time and I'd get the same customers a few times a year buying another PlayStation because the lasers would stop reading the discs. They were like disposable consoles.

Then, the PSOne came out and the same people bought yet more PlayStations, supposedly for their cars.

[Gameguy]

I've actually wondered how many of those consoles listed for the 360, PS1, and PS2 were from people having to replace broken systems. Those systems seemed to be failure prone when they were first released.

[j_factor]

At least your Playstation would still work if you turned it upside-down. An upside-down RROD 360 is still dead. :p

[bangtango]

To me, the Dreamcast made a good enough dent to get an exclusive (at the time) "Resident Evil" game released for it by Capcom. While one example doesn't mean a whole lot in the grand scheme of things, I believe it is enough to keep the Dreamcast off of Time's Top 10 list.

[Rob2600]

To me, the Dreamcast made a good enough dent to get an exclusive (at the time) "Resident Evil" game released for it by Capcom. While one example doesn't mean a whole lot in the grand scheme of things, I believe it is enough to keep the Dreamcast off of Time's Top 10 list.

I agree to an extent, and I feel bad about the Dreamcast, but ultimately I still stand by my previous post:

"When a $300 product is outselling a $99 product of equal quality by a ratio of 10-to-1, then that's a failure. "

[bangtango]

I agree to an extent, and I feel bad about the Dreamcast, but ultimately I still stand by my previous post:

"When a $300 product is outselling a $99 product of equal quality by a ratio of 10-to-1, then that's a failure. "

Sure, you are right on paper.

But the problem here is that you are comparing older technology to a brand new console with brand new technology. The Dreamcast already had a launch period, the usual levelling off period and a sizable installed base by the time Playstation 2 was launched. Dreamcast wasn't going to be keeping up with PS2 sales figures in 2001, considering many people who might want a Dreamcast already had one.

By this period of time, Sega had also publicly announced that it was discontinuing support for the Dreamcast, which creates one hell of a stigma because a lot of potential buyers don't want to buy a video game system or any product that is being discontinued.

[Rob2600]

the problem here is that you are comparing older technology to a brand new console with brand new technology.

The Sony PlayStation 2 came out one year after the Dreamcast. It's not like the Dreamcast was old and crusty by the time the PS2 hit the market. At launch, many PS2 games featured *worse* graphics than Dreamcast games, so I don't think that's a good explanation.

Besides, the PlayStation 2 was released one year before the Xbox and GameCube, and outsold both of them despite being older and less powerful. The Wii has outsold the Xbox 360 and PlayStation 3, despite being less powerful, too.


Dreamcast wasn't going to be keeping up with PS2 sales figures in 2001, considering many people who might want a Dreamcast already had one.

Right. So the Dreamcast would've plateaued at maybe 15 million units worldwide after a couple more years on the market, which is arguably a failure...especially after having such a big launch.


By this period of time, Sega had also publicly announced that it was discontinuing support for the Dreamcast, which creates one hell of a stigma because a lot of potential buyers don't want to buy a video game system or any product that is being discontinued.

That's why in the end, I consider the Dreamcast a failure. Sega made it fail on purpose.

I like the Dreamcast and this particular topic is tricky. On one hand, there were a bunch of great games including a successful sports series, beautiful graphics, and the console had built-in four player support and a modem. On the other hand, Sega couldn't surpass the ridiculous Sony PlayStation 2 hype ("It can launch missiles!") and pulled the plug.

[bangtango]

Right. So the Dreamcast would've plateaued at maybe 15 million units worldwide after a couple more years on the market, which is arguably a failure...especially after having such a big launch.

Nobody would have ever called a video game console that sold "15 million units" a failure in the 80's or 90's. Why should that standard have changed by the 2000's?

The guys who were marketing and promoting the Atari Jaguar or Amiga CD32 would have masturbated over the thought of "15 million units sold worldwide."

[Rob2600]

Nobody would have ever called a video game console that sold "15 million units" a failure in the 80's or 90's. Why should that standard have changed by the 2000's?

Maybe in 1980, 15 million units worldwide was amazing, but by 2000, the NES, SNES, N64, Genesis, and PlayStation each outsold the Dreamcast by tens of millions. The video game industry had grown significantly during those two decades.

[bangtango]

Maybe in 1980, 15 million units worldwide was amazing, but by 2000, the NES, SNES, N64, Genesis, and PlayStation each outsold the Dreamcast by tens of millions. The video game industry had grown significantly during those two decades.

Now that I'm drowning, the least you could do is throw me some rope.

[Rob2600]

Now that I'm drowning, the least you could do is throw me some rope.

Nobody ever had to turn a Dreamcast upside down to get it to read discs. :)

Also, the Dreamcast never had The Bouncer.

[j_factor]

I agree to an extent, and I feel bad about the Dreamcast, but ultimately I still stand by my previous post:

"When a $300 product is outselling a $99 product of equal quality by a ratio of 10-to-1, then that's a failure. "

But Dreamcast wasn't $99 until it was discontinued.

[Collector_Gaming]

Dreamcast.... god i can still remember the 9/9/99 commercials like they were yesterday

i never thought of dreamcast a failure.

To me imo the reason for its demise is because of the fan base sony left with its PS1. When word got out a PS2 was on its way everyone was looking out for that while people weren't sure of this microsoft product called the "Xbox" and nintendo making a cd based console called a Gamecube.
So with all those options dreamcast fell into a problem.
Its problem was it came out toooooo soon that 1 part of its hardware became outdated by the time the PS2 came out.
and that was DVD technology.
It was new and the new wave. and developers were noticing that they could jam alot more in a dvd then a cd which is what dreamcast was still using. which gave developers more freedom.
So sega was being left behind in the race for exclusive games.
and the Sony fan craze ultimately put a stop to it.

The console was fine and did what it was said to do.
Just people were too focused on the new cool sony product that all the cool kids were buying.

The Virtual Boy was a great idea. It just wasn't researched as much in the field as it should have been. Instead of testing it more. They basically put it together and was like ok.. its done it works lets send it out to stores. Kids started seeing red hence the death of the virtual boy

and its not fair to put the phantom down. it wasn't ever released other then in Beta form for conventions.

Thats like the famous Sony/Nintendo Hybrid that was made in 1994 when Nintendo hired Sony to make them a peripheral that could keep them ahead of the game with all these cd based consoles coming out such as the sega cd, sega saturn, cdi ect ect ect.
Sony made a beta product that would have the Super Nintendo sit on top of (same concept as the genesis on the sega cd). Nintendo said no and that they were sticking to cartridges and making a product they were calling the Nintendo 64 (N64). Sony said screw you and used the technology they made to make their own console and the playstation was born and the rest was history.

So sometimes with failure. Rises victory remember that.