10 Obscure Consoles You've Probably Never Heard Of

6. Bandai Playdia

Another company to appear on this list more than once is the hugely successful Japanese toy company Bandai. In 1994 they announced they were entering the home console market with a new CD-ROM based console called the BA-X. This name was changed to the more friendly Playdia before launch, with the machine boasting an infrared controller and a host of exciting games based on popular franchises such as Hello Kitty, Dragon Ball Z, Sailor Moon and Ultraman. Like many other CD based machines of the time - such as the 3DO and Philips CD-i - it was marketed as a multimedia system rather than just a straightforward games console. Unfortunately, the Playdia was incredibly underpowered, especially when compared to its rivals, and failed to impressive even its home audience. Bandai plugged away for two years, releasing over 30 games for the machine before pulling the plug midway through 1996, leaving a host of previously announced titles on the cutting room floor.