Game.com
The original Game.com system | |
| Manufacturer | Tiger Electronics |
|---|---|
| Type | Handheld game console |
| Generation | Fifth |
| Release date | Game.com September 12, 1997 (US) Late 1997 (UK) Game.com Pocket Pro May/June 1999 (US) |
| Lifespan | 1997–2000 |
| Introductory price | $69.95 (original model) $29.99 (Pocket Pro) |
| Discontinued | 2000 |
| Units sold | Fewer than 300,000 |
| Media | ROM cartridge |
| CPU | Sharp SM8521 @ 10 MHz |
| Display | 200 x 160px 4 bit greyscale |
| Sound | Two 4-bit waveform generators, noise generator, 8-bit PCM channel |
| Input | Touchscreen |
| Connectivity | Compete.com serial cable, 14.4 kbit/s modem |
| Power | 4 × AA batteries or optional AC adapter (original model) 2 x AA batteries (Pocket Pro) |
The Game.com is a fifth-generation handheld game console developed and released by Tiger Electronics on September 12, 1997. Designed as a multimedia device for older audiences, it aimed to combine gaming with early digital functions such as touchscreen input and limited Internet connectivity. The original model features a monochrome touchscreen, dual cartridge slots, and could be connected to a 14.4 kbit/s modem for access to e-mail and basic web functions via a proprietary interface. Its name is a reference to the .com top-level domain, reflecting its Internet-related features. It was the first game console to include a touchscreen and the first handheld to offer Internet connectivity, positioning it as an early forerunner in multifunctional handheld gaming devices.
Despite its innovations, the system struggled commercially due to a small game library and technical limitations, prompting a redesign. The Game.com Pocket Pro, a smaller version that lacked Internet capabilities, was released in mid-1999. Due to poor sales, the Game.com console line was discontinued in 2000, having sold less than 300,000 units.