Summary of "17 Gaming Consoles You Probably Never Heard Of"

Overview

The video explores 17 obscure and often failed gaming consoles that shaped the industry through their bold innovations and spectacular missteps. It highlights how many companies without gaming experience attempted to replicate Atari’s success but struggled with technical limitations, poor marketing, or awkward designs. The consoles featured span from the late 1970s to the 2020s, illustrating the evolution of gaming hardware and the risks of innovation.

Storyline & Historical Context

The early era (1976–1980s) saw many companies entering gaming with limited knowledge, producing consoles that introduced key innovations but failed commercially. Notable examples include:

Fairchild Channel F: First to use ROM cartridges and introduce pause buttons and AI opponents.
RCA Studio 2: Featured keypad controls and early female game developer Joyce Weisser.
Kolico Telstar Arcade: Rotating console with multiple control schemes.
Ballet Home Library/Astrocade: Advanced graphics but crippled by hardware limitations.

Gameplay Highlights & Innovations

Vectrex (1982) Unique vector display with built-in screen and color overlays; included peripherals like 3D goggles and a light pen.
Virtual Boy (1995) Nintendo’s stereoscopic 3D console with red monochrome display; innovative but caused eye strain and discomfort.
Casio Loopy (1995) Targeted female gamers with a built-in thermal printer for stickers and video capture capabilities.
Playdate (2022) Indie handheld with a hand crank for controls, delivering rotating indie games, focusing on creativity over power.

Strategies & Key Tips Discussed

Many consoles failed due to a combination of factors:

Poor timing (e.g., Philips CDI arriving after CD-ROM PCs dominated).
Lack of killer game libraries or software support (e.g., Tiger Telematics Gizmando, Mattel Hyperscan).
Confusing or awkward hardware designs (e.g., Kolico Telstar Arcade, Virtual Boy).
Overambitious concepts without practical execution (e.g., Bandai Apple Pippen mixing computer and console features).

Successful innovation requires balancing technical capability with accessible software and user-friendly design. Nostalgia-driven consoles like Atari VCS and Evercade VS struggled to find mainstream success despite catering to collectors.

Notable Consoles & Their Fates

Fairchild Channel F Pioneered cartridge use but lost to Atari 2600.
RCA Studio 2 Basic graphics, awkward controls, but historically significant.
Ballet/Astrocade Powerful hardware but inaccessible to developers.
Vectrex Unique display tech, failed due to market crash.
Philips CDI Multimedia ambitions undermined by late release and poor game quality.
Bandai Platia Educational focus, poor sales against established consoles.
Casio Loopy Creative niche console for girls, limited game library.
Bandai Apple Pippen Expensive, confusing hybrid that sold poorly.
Nintendo Virtual Boy Innovative 3D concept, poor ergonomics, and health issues.
Tiger Telematics Gizmando Overhyped lifestyle gadget, poor software support.
Mattel Hyperscan Failed hybrid of card scanning and gaming.
Ouya Indie-focused Android console with poor execution and limited appeal.
Atari VCS (2021) Retro-modern hybrid with unclear identity and performance issues.
Evercade VS Cartridge-based retro console with cult following but limited mainstream success.
Playdate Indie handheld with unique crank control, niche but beloved.

Summary

The video showcases the creativity and risks of gaming console development, emphasizing that innovation alone doesn’t guarantee success. Many consoles introduced groundbreaking features but failed due to market conditions, design flaws, or lack of compelling software. These forgotten consoles serve as lessons and curiosities in gaming history.

Sources / Gamers Featured

Engineer Jerry Lawson (Fairchild Channel F)
Joyce Weisser (RCA Studio 2 game developer)
Ron Gilbert (commented on Philips CDI)
Gunpei Yokoi (Nintendo Virtual Boy creator)
Various industry designers and company founders (Bandai, Casio, Atari, Tiger Telematics, etc.)