![made a game console back in 1996, and it was terrible - [Image source: Pixabay.com]](https://staticr1.blastingcdn.com/media/photogallery/2017/7/1/660x290/b_502x220x82/made-a-game-console-back-in-1996-and-it-was-terrible-trendsreadercom_1418537.jpg "made a game console back in 1996, and it was terrible - [Image source: Pixabay.com]")
Whenever people say game consoles, they immediately think of only three names - Nintendo, Sony, and Microsoft. These giants have become synonymous in the gaming community because of the innovation they each bring to the industry.
However, did you know that Apple, most commonly known for their iPhone and Mac devices, have tried their luck in the gaming world back in 1996? Apple has partnered with Bandai to create the Apple Pippin. Unfortunately, Apple’s Game Console was a technological and financial disaster.
Apple only managed to sell 42,000 units of the Apple Pippin in a span of one year before the company decided to discontinue the device.
Do you remember Nintendo’s Virtual Boy? That gaming console sold almost 1.2 million units, and that was a catastrophe for Nintendo.
Why did the Apple Pippin flop?
For one thing, the Apple Pippin was way ahead of its time. So much so that the game console tried to do everything all at once, resulting in a mediocre representation of what it tried to do.
The Apple’s game console was the first of its kind to have a built-in internet connection. However, the internet was still considered to be in its infancy in 1996, and people don’t understand what do if a game console has internet capabilities.
Basically, the Apple Pippin tried to be a game console, a computer for your home and a device for internet connection and it failed miserably in all categories.
Also, the $600 price tag didn’t help with its sales either. That’s pretty steep compared to the original PlayStation and N64 that only cost $300 and $200, respectively.
The Apple Pippin had the potential to become a breakthrough in gaming
The Apple Pippin was a truly unique device compared to other gaming consoles that time.
It didn’t have its operating system, but it did have its own 128 kilobytes of storage for saving game progress and settings.
The operating system was included in the game CDs, which was ideal for developers. This meant that developers didn’t need to adjust their games for a specific version of the Pippin’s operating system.
The device ran on Apple’s Mac OS 7 that also ran on Mac computers.
Also, the game CDs were not limited to any regions. Games that were bought in Japan can be played in the US and vice versa.
Check out the video below to see the hardware’s design and capabilities.
What do you think of the Apple Pippin? Do you want to see its comeback someday? Let us know in the comment section down below and don’t forget to like and share this article.
