3DO Company, The

Moby ID: 81

AKA +
  • SMSG, Inc. (from 1991 to 1992)

Overview edit · view history

The company was founded as SMSG, Inc. (San Mateo Software Games) in 1991 by Trip Hawkins and it was headquartered in Redwood City, California. Initially, the SMSG focused on video games consoles and launched the 3DO in October 1993. The console itself was created by different partners and licensees, while 3DO received royalties on each console sold and on each game manufactured. They also offered a lower royalty rate than direct competitors Nintendo and SEGA. The console did not succeed, with a high introduction price and dubious game quality. The final nail in the coffin was when Sony entered the market with the PlayStation in 1995. The 3DO Company sold the design for its next-generation console to Matsushita in 1996 and changed business to a games development and publishing.

Development was mainly achieved through 3 acquisitions: Cyclone Studios (1995), Archetype Interactive (1996) and New World Computing leading to a strong presence with different game genres: the Might and Magic and Heroes of Might and Magic series (New World), the long-running Army Men series, the High Heat Baseball franchise, and Meridian 59 (one of the first 3D MUDs preceding the MMORPGs), along with a lot of other games through in-house development. Studio 3DO was the company's branch in the United Kingdom, also called 3DO UK.

On 28th May 2003, the company filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy.

Credited on 123 Games from 1994 to 2004

Displaying most recent · View all

Army Men: Sarge's War (2004 on Windows, PlayStation 2, Xbox...)
Cubix: Robots for Everyone - Showdown (2003 on PlayStation 2, GameCube)
High Heat Major League Baseball 2004 (2003 on Windows, PlayStation 2, Xbox)
Heroes of Might and Magic IV: Gold Edition (2002 on Windows)
Might and Magic: Platinum Edition (2002 on Windows)
Sven-Göran Eriksson's World Manager (2002 on Windows, PlayStation, PlayStation 2)
Heroes of Might and Magic IV (2002 on Windows, Macintosh)
Might and Magic IX (2002 on Windows)
Army Men RTS (2002 on Windows, PlayStation 2, GameCube)
High Heat Major League Baseball 2003 (2002 on Game Boy Advance)
Heroes of Might and Magic IV (Elite Edition) (2002 on Windows)
Shifters (2002 on PlayStation 2)
High Heat Major League Baseball 2003 (2002 on Windows, PlayStation 2)
Godai: Elemental Force (2002 on PlayStation 2)
Army Men: Turf Wars (2002 on Game Boy Advance)
Collectors' Edition: Army Men Gold: Army Men 3D / Army Men: Air Attack / Army Men: Sarge's Heroes (2002 on PlayStation)
Cubix: Robots for Everyone - Clash 'n Bash (2002 on Game Boy Advance)
Heroes of Might and Magic: Platinum Edition (2002 on Windows)
Jonny Moseley Mad Trix (2002 on Game Boy Advance)
Sven-Göran Eriksson's World Challenge (2002 on Windows, PlayStation, PlayStation 2)

[ view all ]

History +

May 28, 2003

3DO files for Chapter 11 bankruptcy protection.

July 10, 1996

The company acquires New World Computing, Inc.

May 13, 1996

The company acquires Archetype Interactive.

1996

The 3DO Company sells the design for its next-generation console "M2" to Matsushita in October 1995 and changes its business to a games development and publishing.

December 1995

The company acquires Cyclone Studios.

[ view all ]

Trivia +

Address in 2000:

3DO 200 Cardinal Way

Redwood City, CA 94063

Phone: 650-385-3000

Location and contact information in Nov. 1995:

The 3DO Company Inc.

600 Galveston Drive

Redwood City, CA 94063-4746

Technical Support: 415-261-3454

Order line: 1-800-336-3506

Their official web site used to be at http://www.3do.com.

Related Web Sites +

  • IMDb
    The 3DO company filmography.
  • 3DO Today
    A 3DO resource website.

Contribute

Add your expertise to help preserve video game history! You can submit a correction or add the following: