History Platform / Pippin

The '''Pippin''' was a platform created by Creator/{{Apple}} in the mid-1990s to create low-cost computers for playing multimedia [=CDs=] and browsing the Internet. The systems produced with it were ''severely'' stripped-down [[UsefulNotes/AppleMacintosh Macintoshs]] with TV-compatible video output which Apple intended to be manufactured by third parties, and Creator/{{Bandai|NamcoEntertainment}} took the deal as a way to (re-)enter the game console market.

The '''Pippin''' was an attempt by Creator/{{Apple}} in the mid-1990s to create a low-cost computer for playing multimedia [=CDs=] and browsing the Internet. It was a ''severely'' stripped-down [[UsefulNotes/AppleMacintosh Macintosh]] with TV-compatible video output which Apple intended to be manufactured by third parties, and Creator/{{Bandai|NamcoEntertainment}} took the deal as a way to (re-)enter the game console market.

Its hardware specifications, while theoretically better than that of contemporary consoles of the era, was too weak to run the normal Mac software of the day. Although it was never Apple's intent - like the UsefulNotes/{{Amiga}} CDTV and [=CD32=], the intent was to boot a special cut down version of UsefulNotes/MacOS, which then loaded up an optimized version of the game on the CD-ROM. However, in practice, the developers of the games often used the same executable as the one released for Mac desktops instead, which meant they didn't run well. What certainly didn't help is that the console lacked a discrete graphics and sound processor, meaning the [=CPU=] had to do ''all'' of the heavy lifting, in addition to calculating game logic. It had decent amount of RAM when compared to other consoles of the era, but due to the use of Mac OS as its operating system, the system was ''very'' short of [[UsefulNotes/RandomAccessMemory RAM]] after the OS booted (RAM can be upgraded, but the upgrades were proprietary and came at a premium). Additionally, it lacked any storage whatsoever, except for a tiny 128K [[UsefulNotes/FlashMemory Flash]] chip mainly used for system settings. Apple released a floppy drive (as well as a Magnetic-Optical drive, and later a SCSI interface accessory for hard drives and Zip disks) for it, but in typical Apple fashion they charged a hefty extra for the accessories, which put off many gamers, who scoffed at the idea of buying a pricey extra piece of hardware just to save their games.

Unsurprisingly, due to the high cost of ownership, it bombed, with just 42,000 units sold. Being seen and marketed mainly as a console and not a computer put it into a bad spot. The $599 pricetag, more suitable for an entry-level PC, was just too expensive for the console market. Remember the outrage that the same price for the UsefulNotes/PlayStation3 caused in 2006? Ten years before, it was even worse: 1996's $600 corresponded to 2006's $800, if corrected for inflation. Furthermore, after a RAM upgrade and a floppy drive, both needed to bring the Pippin up to a usable level, the final cost of ownership could easily reach over a thousand dollars. These factors, along with UsefulNotes/SteveJobs returning to Apple in 1997, led to the Pippin being discontinued the next very year, and [[OneBookAuthor Apple would never release another dedicated video game system again.]]

Unsurprisingly, due to the high cost of ownership, it bombed, with just 42,000 units sold. Being seen and marketed mainly as a console and not a computer put it into a bad spot. The $599 pricetag, more suitable for an entry-level PC, was just too expensive for the console market. Remember the outrage that the same price for the UsefulNotes/PlayStation3 caused in 2006? Ten years before, it was even worse: 1996's $600 corresponded to 2006's $800, if corrected for inflation. Furthermore, after a RAM upgrade and a floppy drive, both needed to bring the Pippin up to a usable level, the final cost of ownership could easily reach over a thousand dollars. These factors led to the Pippin being discontinued the next very year, and [[OneBookAuthor Apple would never release another dedicated video game system again.]]

Its hardware specifications, while theoretically better than that of contemporary consoles of the era, was too weak to run the normal Mac software of the day. Although it was never Apple's intent - like the UsefulNotes/{{Amiga}} CDTV and [=CD32=], the intent was to boot a special cut down version of UsefulNotes/MacOS, which then loaded up an optimized version of the game on the CD-ROM. However, in practice, the developers of the games often used the same executable as the one released for Mac desktops instead, which meant they didn't run well. What certainly didn't help is that the console lacked a discrete graphics and sound processor, meaning the [=CPU=] had to do ''all'' of the heavy lifting, in addition to calculating game logic. It had decent amount of RAM when compared to other consoles of the era, but due to the use of Mac OS as it's operating system, the system was ''very'' short of [[UsefulNotes/RandomAccessMemory RAM]] after the OS booted (RAM can be upgraded, but the upgrades were proprietary and came at a premium). Additionally, it lacked any storage whatsoever, except for a tiny 128K [[UsefulNotes/FlashMemory Flash]] chip mainly used for system settings. Apple released a floppy drive (as well as a Magnetic-Optical drive, and later a SCSI interface accessory for hard drives and Zip disks) for it, but in typical Apple fashion they charged a hefty extra for the accessories, which put off many gamers, who scoffed at the idea of buying a pricey extra piece of hardware just to save their games.

Unsurprisingly, due to the high cost of ownership, it bombed, with just 42,000 units sold. The fact that it was seen and marketed mainly as a console and not a computer put it into a bad spot. The $599 pricetag, more suitable for an entry-level PC, was just too expensive for the console market. Remember the outrage that the same price for the UsefulNotes/PlayStation3 caused in 2006? Ten years before it was even worse: 1996's $600 corresponded to 2006's $800, if corrected for inflation. Furthermore, after a RAM upgrade and a floppy drive, both needed to bring the Pippin up to a usable level, the final cost of ownership could easily reach over a thousand dollars, making it just too expensive for its intended market. These factors led to the Pippin being discontinued the next very year, and [[OneBookAuthor Apple would never release another dedicated video game system again.]]

[[caption-width-right:350:The Japanese model of the Pipin; American models were black and carried the [="@WORLD"=] nametag instead of "Atmark".]]

Unsurprisingly, due to the high cost of ownership, it bombed, with just 42,000 units sold. The fact that it was seen and marketed mainly as a console and not a computer put it into a bad spot. The $599 pricetag, more suitable for an entry-level PC, was just too expensive for the console market. Remember the outrage that the same price for the UsefulNotes/PlayStation3 caused in 2006? Ten years before it was even worse: 1996's $600 corresponded to 2006's $800, if corrected for inflation. Furthermore, after a RAM upgrade and a floppy drive, both needed to bring the Pippin up to a usable level, the final cost of ownership could easily reach over a thousand dollars, making it just too expensive for its intended market. These factors led to the Pippin being discontinued the next very year.

Unsurprisingly, due to the high cost of ownership, it bombed, with just 42,000 units sold. The fact that it was seen and marketed mainly as a console and not a computer put it into a bad spot. The $599 pricetag, more suitable for an entry-level PC, was just too expensive for the console market. Remember the outrage that the same price for the UsefulNotes/PlayStation3 caused in 2006? Ten years before it was even worse: 1996's $600 corresponded to 2006's $800, if corrected for inflation. Furthermore, after a RAM upgrade and a floppy drive, both needed to bring the Pippin up to a usable level, the final cost of ownership could easily reach over a thousand dollars, making it just too expensive for its intended market.

The '''Pippin''' was an attempt by Apple in the mid-1990s to create a low-cost computer for playing multimedia [=CDs=] and browsing the Internet. It was a ''severely'' stripped-down [[UsefulNotes/AppleMacintosh Macintosh]] with TV-compatible video output which Apple intended to be manufactured by third parties, and [[Creator/BandaiNamcoEntertainment Bandai]] took the deal as a way to (re-)enter the game console market.

The Pippin was an attempt by Apple in the mid-1990s to create a low-cost computer for playing multimedia [=CDs=] and browsing the Internet. It was a ''severely'' stripped-down [[UsefulNotes/AppleMacintosh Macintosh]] with TV-compatible video output which Apple intended to be manufactured by third parties, and [[Creator/BandaiNamcoEntertainment Bandai]] chose it as a way to (re-)enter the game console market.

Its hardware specifications, while theoretically better than that of contemporary consoles of the era, was too weak to run the normal Mac software of the day. Although it was never Apple's intent - like the Amiga CDTV and [=CD32=], the intent was to boot a special cut down version of Mac OS, which then loaded up an optimized version of the game on the CD-ROM. However, in practice, the developers of the games often used the same executable as the one released for Mac desktops instead, which meant they didn't run well. What certainly didn't help is that the console lacked a discrete graphics and sound processor, meaning the [=CPU=] had to do ''all'' of the heavy lifting, in addition to calculating game logic. It had decent amount of RAM when compared to other consoles of the era, but due to the use of Mac OS as it's operating system, the system was ''very'' short of [[UsefulNotes/RandomAccessMemory RAM]] after the OS booted (RAM can be upgraded, but the upgrades were proprietary and came at a premium). Additionally, it lacked any storage whatsoever, except for a tiny 128K [[UsefulNotes/FlashMemory Flash]] chip mainly used for system settings. Apple released a floppy drive (as well as a Magnetic-Optical drive, and later a SCSI interface accessory for hard drives and Zip disks) for it, but in typical Apple fashion they charged a hefty extra for the accessories, which put off many gamers, who scoffed at the idea of buying a pricey extra piece of hardware just to save their games.

Its hardware specifications, while marginally better than that of contemporary consoles of the era, was too weak to run the normal Mac software of the day. Although it was never Apple's intent - like the Amiga CDTV and [=CD32=], the intent was to boot a special cut down version of Mac OS, which then loaded up an optimized version of the game on the CD-ROM. However, in practice, the developers of the games often used the same executable as the one released for Mac desktops instead, which meant they didn't run well. It had decent amount of RAM when compared to other consoles of the era, but due to the use of Mac OS as it's operating system, the system was ''very'' short of [[UsefulNotes/RandomAccessMemory RAM]] after the OS booted (RAM can be upgraded, but the upgrades were proprietary and came at a premium). Additionally, it lacked any storage whatsoever, except for a tiny 128K [[UsefulNotes/FlashMemory Flash]] chip mainly used for system settings. Apple released a floppy drive (as well as a Magnetic-Optical drive, and later a SCSI interface accessory for hard drives and Zip disks) for it, but in typical Apple fashion they charged a hefty extra for the accessories, which put off many gamers, who scoffed at the idea of buying a pricey extra piece of hardware just to save their games.

* ''Super Marathon'' (a compilation of the first two ''VideoGame/{{Marathon}}'' games)

* [=AppleJack=] Gamepad: Default accessory. One comes with every Pippin. Each gamepad has a D-pad, 9 buttons (four face buttons, two shoulder buttons, and three buttons on the underneath) and a trackball. The controller is also in a weird boomerang-ish shape, released long before Sony's PS3 Sixaxis prototype controller.

Its hardware specifications, while marginally better than that of contemporary consoles of the era, was too weak to run the normal Mac software of the day. Although it was never Apple's intent - like the Amiga CDTV and [=CD32=], the intent was to boot a special cut down version of Mac OS, which then loaded up an optimized version of the game on the CD-ROM - the games were often the same executable as the one released for Mac desktops instead, which meant they didn't run well. It had decent amount of RAM when compared to other consoles of the era, but due to the use of Mac OS as it's operating system, the system was ''very'' short of [[UsefulNotes/RandomAccessMemory RAM]] after the OS booted (RAM can be upgraded, but the upgrades were proprietary and came at a premium). Additionally, it lacked any storage whatsoever, except for a tiny 128K [[UsefulNotes/FlashMemory Flash]] chip mainly used for system settings. Apple released a floppy drive (as well as a Magnetic-Optical drive, and later a SCSI interface accessory for hard drives and Zip disks) for it, but in typical Apple fashion they charged a hefty extra for the accessories, which put off many gamers, who scoffed at the idea of buying a pricey extra piece of hardware just to save their games.

Its hardware specifications, while marginally better than that of contemporary consoles of the era, was too weak to run the normal Mac software of the day. Although it was never the Apple's intent - like the Amiga CDTV and [=CD32=], the intent was to boot a special cut down version of Mac OS, which then loaded up an optimized version of the game on the CD-ROM - the games were often the same executable as the one released for Mac desktops instead, which meant they didn't run well. It had decent amount of RAM when compared to other consoles of the era, but due to the use of Mac OS as it's operating system, the system was ''very'' short of [[UsefulNotes/RandomAccessMemory RAM]] after the OS booted (RAM can be upgraded, but the upgrades were proprietary and came at a premium). Additionally, it lacked any storage whatsoever, except for a tiny 128K [[UsefulNotes/FlashMemory Flash]] chip mainly used for system settings. Apple released a floppy drive (as well as a Magnetic-Optical drive, and later a SCSI interface accessory for hard drives and Zip disks) for it, but in typical Apple fashion they charged a hefty extra for the accessories, which put off many gamers, who scoffed at the idea of buying a pricey extra piece of hardware just to save their games.

The Pippin was an attempt by Apple in the mid-1990s to create a low-cost computer for playing multimedia [=CDs=] and browsing the Internet. It was a ''severely'' stripped-down [[UsefulNotes/AppleMacintosh Macintosh]] with TV-compatible video output which Apple intended to be manufactured by third parties, and [[Creator/NamcoBandai Bandai]] chose it as a way to (re-)enter the game console market.

Its hardware specifications, while marginally better than that of contemporary consoles of the era, was too weak to run the normal Mac software of the day (although it was never Apple's intent- like the Amiga CDTV and [=CD32=], the intent was to boot a special cut down version of Mac OS, which then loaded up an optimized version of the game on the CD-ROM. Unfortunately, the games were often the same executable as the one released for Mac desktops instead, which meant it didn't run well). It had decent amount of RAM when compared to other consoles of the era, but due to the use of Mac OS as it's operating system, the system was ''very'' short of [[UsefulNotes/RandomAccessMemory RAM]] after the OS booted (RAM can be upgraded, but they were proprietary and came at a premium). Additionally, it lacked any storage whatsoever, except for a tiny 128K [[UsefulNotes/FlashMemory Flash]] chip mainly used for system settings. Apple released a floppy drive (as well as a Magnetic-Optical drive, and later a SCSI interface accessory for hard drives and Zip disks) for it, but in typical Apple fashion they charged a hefty extra for the accessories, which put off many gamers, who scoffed at the idea of buying a pricey extra piece of hardware just to save their games.

Unsurprisingly, due to the high cost of ownership, it bombed, with just 42,000 units sold. The fact that it was seen and marketed mainly as a console and not a computer put it into a bad spot. The $599 pricetag, more suitable for an entry-level PC, was just too expensive for the console market. Remember the outrage that the same price for the UsefulNotes/PlayStation3 caused in 2006? Ten years before it was even worse: 1996's $600 corresponded to 2006's $800, if corrected for inflation. Furthermore, the final cost of ownership can easily reach over a thousand dollars after a RAM upgrade and a floppy drive, both needed to bring the Pippin up to a usable level.

[[quoteright:320:http://static.tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pub/images/pippin_original_9148.jpg]]

The Pippin uses a specialized version of the Mac Toolbox firmware called KINKA. There are several versions of KINKA, the most common version being 1.0 for Japan and 1.2 for US, the Katz Media Pippins has version 1.3. Unlike common desktop Macs, the firmware is not user-upgradeable.

* [=AppleJack=] Gamepad: Default accessory. One comes with every Pippin. Each gamepad has a D-pad, 9 buttons (four face buttons, two shoulder buttons, and three buttons on the underneath) and a trackball.

* [=AppleJack=] Gamepad: Default accessory. One comes with every Pippin. Each gamepad has a D-pad, 7 buttons (four face buttons, two shoulder buttons, and three buttons on the underneath) and a trackball.

* [=AppleJack=] Gamepad: Default accessory. One comes with every Pippin.

* [=AppleJack=] Gamepad: Default accessory.

* [[UsefulNotes/CentralProcessingUnit CPU]]: [=PowerPC=] 603, 66 [=Mhz=].

Its hardware specifications, while marginally better than that of contemporary consoles of the era, was too weak to run the normal Mac software of the day (although it was never Apple's intent- like the Amiga CDTV and [=CD32=], the intent was to boot a special cut down version of Mac OS, which then loaded up an optimized version of the game on the CD-ROM. Unfortunately, the games were often the same executable as the one released for Mac desktops instead, which meant it didn't run well). It had decent amount of RAM when compared to other consoles of the era, but due to the use of Mac OS as it's operating system, the system was ''very'' short of [[UsefulNotes/RandomAccessMemory RAM]] after the OS booted (RAM can be upgraded, but they were proprietary and came at a premium). Additionally, it lacked any storage whatsoever, except for a tiny 128K [[UsefulNotes/FlashMemory Flash]] chip mainly used for system settings. Apple released a floppy drive (as well as a Magnetic-Optical drive, and later a SCSI interface accessory for hard drives and Zip disks) for it, but in typical Apple fashion they charged a hefty extra for the accessories, which put off many gamers who scoffed at the idea of buying a pricey extra piece of hardware just to save their games.

* Output via VGA, Composite or S-Video. Supports both NTSC and PAL color modes.
* Hardware-driven 2D and 3D video, using [=QuickTime 3D=], [=QuickDraw=], and [=QuickTime=] [[UsefulNotes/ApplicationProgrammingInterface APIs]]

* SCSI dock: Allows users to install a SCSI hard drive and save games to it. Also allows users to use a 100 MB Zip drive. Requires latest firmware. Unnecessary with Katz Media Pippins as those come with a SCSI port built in.

* [=AppleJack=]-to-ADB adapter: Allows use of standard Mac Keyboards, Mice and gamepads on the Pippin.

Certain Pippin software can also support [=StyleWriter=] 1500 and 2500 series color inkjet printers through the Printer serial port.