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History of video games/Platforms/Pippin

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  • A Pippin Atmark console with wireless Applejack controller.
    A Pippin Atmark console with wireless Applejack controller.

History

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PIPPIN logotype.

Development

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The console was primarily developed as a joint effort between Apple and Bandai.[1] Apple was in dire straits and unable to dedicate many resources to producing a console, leading Bandai and other partners to handle most aspects of the console not related to it's core Mac architecture.[1]

A prototype console was referred to as the "Power Player".[2]

Launch

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The Pippin was announced in late 1994.[3] Marketing for the device was mainly handled by Bandai.[4]

The Japanese and American launches occurred in 1995.[5] The Apple Pippin cost $599.[6][7]

Discontinuation

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42,000 Apple Pippins were sold.[7] The possibility of Pippin discontinuation had been speculated on since at least February 6th, 1997 as a result of restructuring brought on by the return of Stve Jobs.[8] Such speculation that Jobs would eliminate the product line proved correct, and the Apple Pippin was discontinued later on in 1997.[6][9] In Japan the system was discontinued much later, in 2002.[10]

Technology

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Compute

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The Pippin used a 66MHz PowerPC Processor.[11]

Video and System Memory was a combined 6MB.[11]

Storage

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128 Kilobytes of SRAM resided on the system for saving games and settings[11], with a modified Mac OS 7 operating system residing on each game disk to avoid compatibility and optimization issues.[7][6][9]

The Pippin had a 4x speed CD-ROM drive.[11]

Notable games

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  • Gadget: Invention, Travel, & Adventure
  • Gundam Tactics: Mobility Fleet 0079
  • Super Marathon
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Bandai Apple Pippin

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Katz Media Player 2000

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Applejack Controller

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    The Applejack controller sports an unusual three buttons along the inner rim of the controller.
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IO

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    The IO on the rear of the console. This console was made in Japan.
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    Pippin modem
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    Controller plug

Internals

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    Bandai Apple Pippin Motherboard
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    Pippin Bios

Read more

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There is a Wikibook on the History of Apple Inc.

References

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Wikipedia has related information at Apple Pippin

 

Wikimedia Commons has media related to: Apple Pippin

Parts of this page are based on materials from:
 Wikipedia: the free encyclopedia.
  1. ↑ a b Staff, Ars (24 March 2018). "The Mac gaming console that time forgot" (in en-us). Ars Technica. https://arstechnica.com/gaming/2018/03/the-mac-gaming-console-time-has-forgot/. 
  2. ↑ "La concurrence entre ordinateurs et consoles de jeux s'intensifie" (in fr). Le Monde.fr. 26 November 1995. https://www.lemonde.fr/archives/article/1995/11/26/la-concurrence-entre-ordinateurs-et-consoles-de-jeux-s-intensifie_3888874_1819218.html. 
  3. ↑ "The Cutting Edge: COMPUTING / TECHNOLOGY / INNOVATION : Apple's Pippin Plays Video Games, Plugs Into TV Set". Los Angeles Times. 14 December 1994. https://www.latimes.com/archives/la-xpm-1994-12-14-fi-8786-story.html. Retrieved 24 October 2020. 
  4. ↑ "Apple sold a $599 game console in 1996 — Apple Scoop" (in EN). applescoop.org. https://applescoop.org/story/apple-sold-a-599-game-console-in-1996. 
  5. ↑ Frank, Allegra (8 September 2015). "Before gaming on iOS and Apple TV, there was Pippin" (in en). Polygon. https://www.polygon.com/2015/9/8/9277273/what-is-pippin-apple-tv. Retrieved 24 October 2020. 
  6. ↑ a b c "The Most Unusual Video Game Consoles" (in en). PCMAG. https://www.pcmag.com/news/the-most-unusual-video-game-consoles. Retrieved 24 October 2020. 
  7. ↑ a b c Villas-Boas, Antonio. "Apple made a game console back in 1996, and it was terrible". Business Insider. https://www.businessinsider.com/apple-made-a-games-console-called-pippin-in-1996-2017-6. Retrieved 24 October 2020. 
  8. ↑ "Apple se restructure à nouveau et rappelle ses anciennes gloires" (in fr). Le Monde.fr. 6 February 1997. https://www.lemonde.fr/archives/article/1997/02/06/apple-se-restructure-a-nouveau-et-rappelle-ses-anciennes-gloires_3769697_1819218.html. 
  9. ↑ a b Johnston, Casey (25 August 2011). "For the good of the company? Five Apple products Steve Jobs killed". Ars Technica. Retrieved 24 October 2020.
  10. ↑ "The Apple game system that failed early in the console wars". SlashGear. 20 January 2022. https://www.slashgear.com/the-apple-game-system-that-failed-early-in-the-console-wars-20708084/. 
  11. ↑ a b c d "PIPPIN TECHNICAL SPECIFICATIONS". web.archive.org. 29 January 1997. Retrieved 24 October 2020.
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