Over the years video games have provided so many of us with so much joy. However, sometimes a great idea gets lost in translation. Here are just some of the biggest blunders in video game history.



Virtual boy


In 1995 Nintendo released the first follow up to the Game Boy with horrifying results. The Virtual Boy was this terrible 3D goggle thing that you put your face into and “enjoyed” the red on black graphics. Headaches, stiff neck and eye strain were the by-product of playing this console. Needless to say, it tanked. I played one once at a Blockbuster when it was first released, and that was one time too many. Nintendo went back to the drawing board tail between legs. To be fair, it was the only failed console Nintendo released which is more than I can say for…



Sega CD/32X/Sega Saturn


Believe it or not, Sega used to make consoles. Moving forward they have been spending the last decade or so doing the thing they do best, making games. But during the 1990’s Sega was really into experimenting with people’s money, yielding brutal Hindenburg-style results. First it was the Sega CD in 1992. As the name would suggest, it was a CD-ROM add on to the successful Sega Genesis. It was pricey, no one made games for it, and the games they did have ran at a slower frame rate than their existing 16-bit counterparts. Harsh.
Next for Sega was the 32X, yet another add on for the Genesis (insert sound of bomb dropping from sky). As I remember there was only one game for it. Again, price, lack of third party support and an overall lack of Sega support killed this one. That’s it right? No, Sega would go on to make not one but two more systems.
On May 11, 1995 the Sega Saturn was released in North America. It was crazy expensive, $700! Crazier still, they are anywhere between $225-$1000 on ebay. I should have kept mine. After three years, few games, disgruntled console owners and bad memories the Saturn was discontinued. I remember how I felt as I swore I would never buy another Sega product ever again. I think many people felt just as I did because in late 1998 Sega released its newest console, Dreamcast. Even though the system was the improvement Sega has been aiming for, it was too little, too late and nobody bought one. Game over.



CDi


In 1991 Royal Philips Electronics attempted to enter the video console wars by pairing up with Nintendo to create an add on for the Super Nintendo. Long story short, the deal fell through and Philips was left with a $700 paperweight. Ouch. Nintendo did give CDi the right to make games featuring Nintendo characters. Those games, (three Zelda, one Mario) were some of the worst ever made. Double ouch.



Atari Jaguar


This blunder needs no introduction. Just the name ‘Atari Jaguar’ is synonymous with just about the biggest dud in video game history. In 1993, Atari re-entered the console business for the last time with the Jaguar. It was over priced, (why were all these terrible consoles $700?) hard for developers to make games for and had this controller that didn’t fit in the average person’s hands. Like Sega, Atari went back to just making games and left the console market for good.



This has just been a taste of the worst. Honorable mentions go to; Panasonic 3DO, Amiga C32, Nokia N-Gage, Neo-Geo and Gizmondo. Stay tuned.

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2. This Day in History: Sega Announces Surprise Saturn Launch
3. This Day in History: Sega and Accolade Settle Their Differences
4. This Day in History: Atari Found Guilty in Landmark Nintendo Case
5. This Day in History: Atari Invades Japan, No One Notices

Tags: Mario, Nintendo, North America, Sega, sega saturn, video game history, Zelda