Technical Definitions: What is 3DO? 3DO Definition.

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3DO Definition

A set of specifications created and owned by the 3DO company, which is a partnership of seven different companies.  These specs are the blueprint for making a 3DO Interactive Multiplayer and are licensed to hardware and software producers. A 3DO system has an {ARM60} 32-bit {RISC} {CPU} and a graphics engine based around two custom designed graphics and animation processors.  It has 2 Megabytes of {DRAM}, 1 Megabyte of {VRAM}, and a double speed {CD-ROM} drive for main storage. The {Panasonic} 3DO system can run 3DO Interactive software, play audio CDs (including support for CD+G), view {Photo-CD}s, and will eventually be able to play {Video CD}s with a special add-on {MPEG}1 {full-motion video} cartridge.  Up to 8 {controller}s can be {daisy-chain}ed on the system at once.  A keyboard, mouse, light gun, and other peripherals may also some day be hooked into the system, although they are not currently available (December 1993).  The 3DO can display {full-motion video}, fully {texture map}ped 3d landscapes, all in 24-bit colour.  {Sanyo} and {AT&T} will also release 3DO systems.  Sanyo's in mid 1994 and AT&T in late 1994. There will be a 3DO add-on cartridge based on the {PowerPC} to enable the 3DO to compete with {Sony}'s {Playstation} console and {Sega}'s {Saturn} console, both of which have a higher specification than the original 3DO.  The add-on is commonly known as the M2 or Bulldog.  It should hit the shops by Christmas 1995 and will (allegedly) do a million flat shaded polygons per second. {3DO Home (http://www.3do.com/)}. {Usenet} newsgroup: {news:rec.games.video.3do}. (1994-12-13)

Definition Provided By Denis Howe