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History of video games/Platforms/WOWOW

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History

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JSB operated the Japanese WoWoW satellite broadcasting company.[1]

The WOWOW was a canceled console that would have streamed arcade games to the home over a satellite connection.[1] This could be seen as an early example of cloud gaming.

The console was co-developed by companies Taito, JSB and ASCII.[2] Taito engineer and director of Darius Yukiharu Sambe spearheaded the project.[3][1]

At the Tokyo Toy Show in 1992 Taito announced the WOWOW.[2] Functional demo systems were shown to the public.[4]

However the system was never released due to issues with the technology of the time.[2][5] The project was shuttered early on in development, though it did lead to a successful venture into a telecommunication karaoke service.[1]

Planned games

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Technology

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Compute

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The WOWOW was powered by a 32 bit / 16 bit Motorola 68000 processor clocked at 12 megahertz.[2][6]

The system did not have enough RAM for downloaded games to be easily stored.[2]

Hardware

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The WOWOW would play games streamed over a satellite connection, and also had an RJ-45 jack.[2][1] Uniquely for the time, games would be charged by time used.[1]

The WOWOW had a CD drive.[2][1]

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  • A Motorola 6800 CPU die, similar to what would have been used in the WOWOW.
    A Motorola 6800 CPU die, similar to what would have been used in the WOWOW.
  • A communications satellite being deployed from space shuttle Atlantis during STS-61-B in 1985. Technological innovations in telecommunications technology made concepts like the WOWOW feasible.
    A communications satellite being deployed from space shuttle Atlantis during STS-61-B in 1985. Technological innovations in telecommunications technology made concepts like the WOWOW feasible.
  • Aside from streamed games, the WOWOW was intended to have the capability to play compact disks, similar to this one.
    Aside from streamed games, the WOWOW was intended to have the capability to play compact disks, similar to this one.
  • An RJ45 (8P8C) Jack, similar to what would have been used in the WOWOW. It is unknown if the jack would have been keyed, as shown here.
    An RJ45 (8P8C) Jack, similar to what would have been used in the WOWOW. It is unknown if the jack would have been keyed, as shown here.
  • The building which housed the former ASCII cooperation headquarters.
    The building which housed the former ASCII cooperation headquarters.
  • A TAITO development center.
    A TAITO development center.

References

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Wikipedia has related information at Taito, Wowow  and ASCII Corporation

  1. ↑ a b c d e f g h i j "The lost Taito WOWOW: interview with Yukiharu Sambe". Unseen64: Beta, Cancelled & Unseen Videogames!. 10 August 2015. Retrieved 11 December 2020.
  2. ↑ a b c d e f g Ago, Ixindamixin #retrogaming • 3 Years (7 January 2018). "Taito Wowow : The game console a little too far ahead of its time !". Steemit. Retrieved 11 December 2020.
  3. ↑ "Wowow: The 1990s Taito Console That Never Was". Den of Geek. 12 August 2015. https://www.denofgeek.com/games/wowow-the-1990s-taito-console-that-never-was/. 
  4. ↑ Life, Nintendo (11 August 2015). "The Tragic Tale Of Taito's WOWOW, The Console Which Promised Download Gaming In 1992". Nintendo Life. Retrieved 11 December 2020.
  5. ↑ a b Hawken, Kieren (9 May 2016). "10 Unreleased Video Game Consoles You Never Knew Existed" (in en). WhatCulture.com. https://whatculture.com/gaming/10-unreleased-video-game-consoles-you-never-knew-existed?page=8. 
  6. ↑ "Motorola 68000 microprocessor family". www.cpu-world.com. Retrieved 11 December 2020.
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