During the late 1990s, the company published one of the first 3D MMORPGs: Meridian 59, which survives to this day in the hands of some of the game's original developers. After struggling for several years, the company filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy in May 2003.
It was founded in 1991 by Electronic Arts founder Trip Hawkins, in a partnership with seven other companies.
The launch of the console in October 1993 was well-promoted, with a great deal of attention in the mass media as part of the "multimedia wave" in the computer world. The 3DO console launched in October 1993 at the price of US$699 ().
Stock in the 3DO Company dropped from over $37 per share in November 1993 to $23 per share in late December.
The rating system, which went into use in March 1994, uses the following four categories: E - Everyone 12 - Guidance for age 12 & under 17 - Guidance for age 17 & under AO - Adults Only These ratings would appear on the lower front and back of the packaging, while the back of the packaging also specified what content was present in the game.
In late 1994, the majority of 3DO's competitors signed on with a new rating system from the Entertainment Software Rating Board; despite this, the 3DO Company opted to continue providing their own rating system, leaving publishers of 3DO games to decide whether to use the 3DO Rating System or the new ESRB ratings.
Though the company's financial figures dramatically improved in the fiscal year ending March 1995, with revenues nearly triple that of the previous fiscal year, they were still operating at a loss.
The console's prospects continued to improve through the first half of 1995 with a number of critical success, including winning the 1995 European Computer Trade Show award for best hardware. In January 1996, The 3DO Company sold exclusive rights to its next generation console, M2, to Matsushita for $100 million.
The console's prospects continued to improve through the first half of 1995 with a number of critical success, including winning the 1995 European Computer Trade Show award for best hardware. In January 1996, The 3DO Company sold exclusive rights to its next generation console, M2, to Matsushita for $100 million.
Thanks in part to revenues from the sale of M2 technology to Matsushita and other licensees, in the first quarter of 1996 the 3DO Company turned a profit for the first time since it was founded, with a net income of $1.2 million.
Over the second half of 1996, the company restructured to focus on software development and online gaming, in the process cutting its staff from 450 to 300 employees.
It went bankrupt in 2003 due to poor sales of its games.
During the late 1990s, the company published one of the first 3D MMORPGs: Meridian 59, which survives to this day in the hands of some of the game's original developers. After struggling for several years, the company filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy in May 2003.
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