The (developed under the codename "BA-X") is a fifth-generation

home video game console A home video game console is a video game console that is designed to be connected to a display device, such as a television, and an external power source as to play video games. Home consoles are generally less powerful and customizable than ...

released exclusively in Japan in 1994 at the initial price of ¥24,800. It was intended for a young audience and, like many consoles of the era (e.g. the

LaserActive The is a converged device and fourth-generation home video game console capable of playing LaserDiscs, Compact Discs, console games, and LD-G karaoke discs. It was released by Pioneer Corporation in 1993. In addition to LaserActive games, separa ...

and the

3DO Interactive Multiplayer The 3DO Interactive Multiplayer, also referred to as simply 3DO, is a home video game console developed by The 3DO Company. Conceived by entrepreneur and Electronic Arts founder Trip Hawkins, the 3DO was not a console manufactured by the company ...

), was marketed more as a

multimedia Multimedia is a form of communication that uses a combination of different content forms such as text, audio, images, animations, or video into a single interactive presentation, in contrast to tradit ...

home entertainment system than as a dedicated gaming console, with

anime is hand-drawn and computer-generated animation originating from Japan. Outside of Japan and in English, ''anime'' refers specifically to animation produced in Japan. However, in Japan and in Japanese, (a term derived from a shortening of ...

quiz software and

edutainment Educational entertainment (also referred to as edutainment) is media designed to educate through entertainment. The term was used as early as 1954 by Walt Disney. Most often it includes content intended to teach but has incidental entertainmen ...

making up most of the game library. The Playdia uses a single infrared joypad with simple controls.

Bandai is a Japanese multinational toy manufacturer and distributor headquartered in Taitō, Tokyo. Its international branches, Bandai Namco Toys & Collectables America and Bandai UK, are respectively headquartered in Irvine, California and Richmond ...

, the Playdia's manufacturer, was the only software publisher to support this console (except for VAP who published ''

Ie Naki Ko is a 1977-1978 Japanese anime series by Tokyo Movie Shinsha and Madhouse. The story is based upon French author Hector Malot's 1878 novel '' Sans Famille''. It follows a young boy who works for a travelling group of players in the hope of ea ...

- Suzu no Sentaku'' instead of Bandai).

Overview

The Playdia was equipped with a CD-ROM drive, and the software was supplied on CD-ROM. The controller used two

AAA batteries The AAA battery (or triple-A battery) is a standard size of dry cell battery. One or more AAA batteries are commonly used in low-drain portable electronic devices. A zinc–carbon battery in this size is designated by IEC as R03, by ANSI C18. ...

with a wireless method using infrared rays that could be stored in the main unit when not in use. The target age group was set mainly for elementary school students as both the hardware and software were inexpensive for home games at the time. Micom BASIC Magazine - November 1994 https://retrocdn.net/images/a/a0/MicomBASIC_JP_1994-11.pdf The Playdia could create stunning anime-style Full Motion Video using CD-based games (FMV). The majority of the games were interactive learning experiences. However, Bandai did create a few video games with an interactive component based on their franchise series, including

Gundam is a Japanese military fiction media franchise. Created by Yoshiyuki Tomino and Sunrise (now Bandai Namco Filmworks), the franchise features giant robots, or mecha, with the name "Gundam". The franchise began on April 7, 1979, with ''Mobile ...

, Sailor Moon,

Ultra Man ''Ultraman'', also known as the , is the collective name for all media produced by Tsuburaya Productions featuring Ultraman, his many brethren, and the myriad monsters. Debuting with ''Ultra Q'' and then ''Ultraman'' in 1966, the series is one ...

, and Dragon Ball Z. The games, however, lacked true game action. As a simple interactive cartoon, the player just directs the on-screen figure by choosing from the menu options that are presented to them on the Playdia control pad. In addition, Playdia was the only 8-bit fifth-generation game machine, because the products of the competitors at that time were equipped with 32-bit CPUs and 64-bit CPUs across the board. The system had to rely on Bandai’s IPs which started to be redundant. On the main body and software package, there is a logo of "QIS" and the notation "This software is dedicated to the QIS standard" . QIS is an abbreviation of " Quick Interactive System" and indicates a high-speed access function to CD-ROM. There is no BIOS or menu when the user starts the console without a disc, all that shows is a blue screen. The Playdia had very poor sales, therefore for Bandai, the console was a failure. Bandai discontinued the console in 1996 and the unsold consoles were converted by

Banpresto (formerly Coreland Technology Inc.) was a Japanese video game video game development, developer and video game publisher, publisher headquartered in Shinagawa, Tokyo. It had a branch in Hong Kong named Banpresto H.K., which was headquartered in t ...

, a Bandai subsidiary, into coin-operated Micha King machines that played anime clips in Japanese arcades and shops. It successor was the unsuccessful

Apple Pippin The Apple Pippin is a defunct open multimedia technology platform, designed by Apple Computer, and marketed as PiPP!N. According to Apple, Pippin was directed at the home market as "an integral part of the consumer audiovisual, stereo, and tel ...

that Bandai co-developed.

Playdia title complete list

1994 (11 titles)

* 09/23 - '' Dragon Ball Z - Shin Saiyajin Zetsumetsu Keikaku Chikyū Hen'' - APD-01* 09/23 - '' Bishōjo Senshi Sailor Moon S - Quiz Taiketsu! Sailor Power Kesshū!!'' - APD-02* 09/23 - ''

SD Gundam is a media franchise that spawned from the ''Gundam'' franchise. SD Gundam takes the mecha (and characters) from Gundam and expresses them in super deformed and anthropomorphic style. Overview SD Gundam originated from a contributed illust ...

Daizukan'' - APD-03* 09/28 - ''

Ultraman Powered is a fighting game developed by Tose and published by Bandai for the 3DO Interactive Multiplayer. The player takes on the role of the extraterrestrial superhero Ultraman Powered, tasked with protecting the Earth from destructive aliens and monste ...

- Kaijū Gekimetsu Sakusen'' - APD-04* 09/28 - ''

Hello Kitty , also known by her full name , is a fictional Character (arts), character created by Yuko Shimizu, currently designed by Yuko Yamaguchi, and owned by the Japanese company Sanrio. Sanrio depicts Hello Kitty as an Anthropomorphism, anthropomorphi ...

- Yume no Kuni Daibōken'' - APD-05* 11/25 - ''Aqua Adventure - Blue Lilty'' - APD-06* 11/25 - ''Newton museum - Kyōryū Nendaiki Zenpen'' - APD-07* 11/25 - ''Newton museum - Kyōryū Nendaiki Kōhen'' - APD-08* 12/08 - ''Shuppatsu! Dōbutsu Tankentai'' - APD-09* 12/16 - ''

Ultra Seven is a Japanese ''tokusatsu'' science fiction television series created by Eiji Tsuburaya. It is the third installment in the Ultra Series and was produced by Tsuburaya Productions. The series aired on Tokyo Broadcasting System from October 1, 19 ...

- Chikyū Bōei Sakusen'' - APD-10* 12/16 - ''Dragon Ball Z - Shin Saiyajin Zetsumetsu Keikaku Uchū Hen'' - APD-11

1995 (16 titles)

* 01/24 - ''Norimono Banzai!! - Kuruma Daishūgō!!'' - APD-12* 01/24 - ''Norimono Banzai!! - Densha Daishūgō!!'' - APD-13* 03/22 - ''

- Suzu no Sentaku'' - PRJ-09722* 03/22 - ''

Gamera is a fictional monster, or ''kaiju'', originating from a series of Japanese films. Debuting in the 1965 film ''Gamera, the Giant Monster'', the character and the first film were intended to compete with the success of Toho's ''Godzilla'' film ...

- The Time Adventure'' - APD-15* 06/22 - ''Elements Voice Series vol.1

Mika Kanai is a Japanese voice actress and singer. She is attached to Ken Production. She is best known for her roles in ''Idol Tenshi Yokoso Yoko'' (as Yoko Tanaka), ''Tanoshii Moomin Ikka'' (as the Snork Maiden), '' Goldfish Warning!'' (as Wapiko), ''So ...

- Wind&Breeze'' - APD-18* 06/22 - ''Elements Voice Series vol.2

Rica Fukami is a Japanese voice actress, narrator and singer from Saitama Prefecture who is affiliated with Vi-Vo. She made her voice acting debut in 1982 with ''Tokimeki Tonight''. Fukami is best known for her role in the '' Sailor Moon'' series as Sailor V ...

- Private Step'' - APD-19* 06/22 - ''Elements Voice Series vol.3

Aya Hisakawa is a Japanese voice actress and singer. In addition to releasing various solo CDs, Hisakawa is well known for her voice roles in anime and video games. Some of her major roles are Retsu Unohana in ''Bleach'', Sailor Mercury in ''Sailor Moon'', ...

- Forest Sways'' - APD-20* 07/28 - '' Bishōjo Senshi Sailor Moon SuperS - Sailor Moon to Hiragana Lesson!'' - APD-21* 07/28 - ''

Ultraman ''Ultraman'', also known as the , is the collective name for all media produced by Tsuburaya Productions featuring Ultraman, his many brethren, and the myriad monsters. Debuting with ''Ultra Q'' and then ''Ultraman'' in 1966, the series is one ...

- Hiragana Dai Sakusen'' - APD-22* 07/28 - ''Ultraman - Alphabet TV e Yōkoso'' - APD-23* 08/24 - ''Bishōjo Senshi Sailor Moon SS - Sailor Moon to Hajimete no Eigo'' - APD-24* 08/24 - ''Bishōjo Senshi Sailor Moon SS - Yōkoso! Sailor Yōchien'' - APD-25* 08/24 - ''Ultraman - Oide yo! Ultra Yōchien'' - APD-26* 10/20 - '' Chōgōkin Selections'' - KPD-01* 11/16 - ''Elements Voice Series vol.4

Yuri Shiratori Yuri may refer to: People and fictional characters Given name *Yuri (Slavic name), the Slavic masculine form of the given name George, including a list of people with the given name Yuri, Yury, etc. * Yuri (Japanese name), also Yūri, feminine Ja ...

- Rainbow Harmony'' - KPD-02* 12/15 - ''Soreike!

Anpanman is a Japanese children's superhero picture book series written by Takashi Yanase, running from 1973 until the author’s death in 2013. The series has been adapted into an anime entitled , which is one of the most popular anime series among ...

- Picnic de Obenkyō'' - APD-27

1996 (6 titles)

* 03/22 - ''Ultraman - Sūji de Asobō Ultra Land'' - APD-28* 03/22 - ''Ultraman - Ultraman Chinō UP Dai Sakusen'' - APD-29* 03/27 - ''Elements Voice Series vol.5

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- Welcome to the Marikotown!'' - KPD-03* 04/24 - ''

Nintama Rantarō is a Japanese anime series produced by Ajia-do Animation Works and Japanese broadcast on NHK since April 10, 1993. It is an adaptation of the manga series ''Rakudai Ninja Rantarō'', written and illustrated by Sōbe Amako. ''Nintama Rantar ...

- Gungun Nobiru Chinō Hen'' - KPD-04* 05/15 - ''Nintama Rantarō - Hajimete Oboeru Chishiki Hen'' - KPD-05* 06/26 - ''

Gekisou Sentai Carranger is a Japanese tokusatsu television show. It was Toei's twentieth production of the Super Sentai metaseries. It is the second vehicle-themed Super Sentai, preceded by ''Kousoku Sentai Turboranger''. The show was written as a parody of its own ...

- Tatakae! Hiragana Racer'' - KPD-06

Not for sale (6 titles)

* ''

Yumi is the Japanese term for a bow. As used in English, refers more specifically to traditional Japanese asymmetrical bows, and includes the longer and the shorter used in the practice of and , or Japanese archery. The was an important wea ...

to Tokoton Playdia'' - S-003* ''Go! Go! Ackman Planet'' - S-005* '' Jamp Gentei Special - 4 Dai Hero Battle Taizen'' - S-006* ''

Item Collection 70'' - S-007* ''Playdia IQ Kids'' - S-009* ''

Kero Kero Keroppi This is a list of characters from Sanrio, a Japanese company specialized in creating kawaii (cute) characters. Sanrio sells and licenses products branded with these characters and has created over 450 characters. Their most successful and best kno ...

- Uki Uki Party Land'' - S-010

Internal details

* Sanyo Lc89515 - CD-ROM Host Interface * Toshiba TA2035F - CD Focus tracking server * Toshiba tc9263f - CD Single Chip processor * Rohm 6398FP - 4 Channel BTL Driver for CD Player motor * Toshiba TMP87C800F - 8 Bit Microcontroller (8 kb ROM, 16 kb RAM) - 8 MHz Operation, can access 64 kb (TLCS-870 series which is based heavily on the Z80) * Sharp LH52B256 - 256 kb (32K x 8) Static RAM chip * NEC μPD78214GC - 8 Bit Microcontroller (16 kb ROM, 512 byte RAM) - 12 MHz Operation, can access 1 mb (NEC

78K 78K is the trademark name of 16- and 8-bit microcontroller family manufactured by Renesas Electronics, originally developed by NEC started in 1986. The basis of 78K Family is an Accumulator (computing), accumulator-based Register file, reg ...

series) * Toshiba TC514256JAJ - 256K Word x 4 Fast Page DRAM Chip * Asahi Kasei AK8000 - Audio / Video processor * Philips DA8772AH - Triple 8 bit DAC converter * Sony CX1229M - NTSC/PAL Decoder * Rohm BA10324AF - Quad Op Amp * Sanyo LC78835K - 18BIT DAC with filter * Rohm BU3052BCF - Dual 4 Channel Analogue Multiplexer

References

External links

* https://www.kanzenshuu.com/tidbits/saiya-jin-zetsumetsu-keikaku/
Playdia TV advert
{{Home video game consoles Bandai consoles Home video game consoles Fifth-generation video game consoles Products introduced in 1994 Japan-only video game hardware CD-ROM-based consoles