10 Most Infamous Unreleased Gaming Consoles

4. Panasonic M2

The first of the 32-bit consoles to hit shelves was the 3DO Interactive Multiplayer with a 1993 launch. The 3DO Company's business model differed from most other console makers in that they built a platform, but other companies licensed it to build consoles to sell to consumers. The 3DO was, essentially, supposed to be to video games what JVC's VHS format was for VCRs and Compact Disc Digital Audio (developed by both Sony and Philips) was for music playback at the time.

Panasonic was the first on board, with Goldstar, Sanyo, and even AT&T (their console never made it to market) joining in later. As a follow-up, 3DO developed the M2, which they sold to Panasonic exclusively for $100 million, as the "VCR of video games" model didn't really take off. Somewhere between the Nintendo 64 and Sega Dreamcast in terms of graphical horsepower, it got pretty far along, with promotional materials sent out and plans for both standalone and 3DO add-on models, but Panasonic pulled the plug when it got too unwieldy.

It did survive in the arcades as a board for a handful of games, but that was the end of it. There are a small number of developer and prototype consoles in circulation, but they go for obscene amounts of money on eBay.