The idea was sound. Unfortunately, the execution of the idea was not. Many companies obtained licenses to produce 3DO systems, including Goldstar, Sanyo, Samsung, AT&T, Creative Labs and the world's largest electronics company, Matsushita/Panasonic. With the idea that the 3DO was to become a multifunctional part of everyone's home entertainment centers, the unit was released in 1993. Even though the system was touted as being a do-all set-top box of the future, most people saw it as an extremely expensive videogame system. With game system styled controllers, a lack of quality non-game launch titles and pack-in titles like Crash 'n Burn, the perception of the 3DO as a videogame system was planted in the consumer mind. At $700 to $800, most people steered clear of the 3DO and continued to purchase the much cheaper and more established 16-bit game consoles. Goldstar released their own version of the 3DO with a far lower price tag of $399. However, the 3DO never recovered from its initial reputation as a rich man's videogame system. This was very unfortunate as the 3DO could have easily competed with the Playstation, Saturn and future systems. Instead, because of constant delays to promised expansions like the M2, 3DO games and systems were placed in clearance bins starting in 1996, with the ultimate death of the system coming near the end of that year. The 3DO sported some very innovative features. The fact that it is a CD-based system gave developers nearly limitless space to store their games and programs, something cartridge-based systems lack. There was only one controller port. However, this wasn't a problem since extra controllers (up to 8) could be easily daisy-chained as each controller has its own controller port. The original Panasonic controllers have a built-in stereo headphone jack along with a volume control dial. The system has its own internal memory to save games and other information. It has 2 expansion ports which were to be used for future upgrades such as memory cards, modems, digital video cartridges and the M2 system upgrade. Many of these features you won't find on any game system on the market today. The 3DO was definitely ahead of its time and designed for the long haul.