The 3DO Company · Gen
Hardware
The FZ-1 was Panasonic’s launch 3DO unit for the U.S., marketed as the R·E·A·L 3DO Interactive Multiplayer. It uses a front-loading tray design and includes a single controller port with daisy-chain support, plus front-panel headphone jack and volume control. It established the baseline hardware configuration for later 3DO models.
Panasonic’s cost-reduced second model for the U.S. market switched to a top-loading lid mechanism. The redesign removed some front-panel features from the FZ-1 while maintaining software compatibility and lowering price. It commonly shipped with different U.S. pack-ins over its lifespan.
GoldStar’s U.S. 3DO unit used a tray-loading CD mechanism similar to Panasonic’s FZ-1 but at a lower price point. It was fully compatible with U.S. 3DO software and peripherals. An optional Video CD (VCD) module was offered separately on some markets, though VCD was not widely used in the U.S.