The first handheld to offer internet connectivity was a commercial failure
In short: In 1997, Tiger Electronics launched a device that combined gaming with a touchscreen and dial-up internet. It was a technological pioneer, aiming to be a "Game Boy for adults." Yet, despite its ambitious features, it sold fewer than 300,000 units before being discontinued.
Released on September 12, 1997, the Game.com was a fifth-generation handheld designed as a multimedia device. This device pioneered touchscreen technology in gaming hardware while becoming the initial portable unit with web access capabilities. To support these features, it included a 14.4 kbit/s modem for email and text-only web browsing, along with internal memory for saving high scores and contact information. Its name was a direct nod to the .com top-level domain, reflecting the era's internet mania.
Despite its innovation, the console struggled with technical limitations. While it boasted a higher resolution and better sound than the Nintendo Game Boy, it suffered from a "tiny, somewhat blurry" monochrome touchscreen and a slow processor that caused flickering and slow frame rates in action games. The library was also notably small; while Nintendo had hundreds of titles, Tiger only planned to release about 50 games by 1998, many of which were developed internally. Critics noted that while non-scrolling games like Wheel of Fortune worked well with the stylus, conventional action games were often disappointing.
The system's commercial failure led to a redesign called the Game.com Pocket Pro in 1999. This smaller version removed internet capabilities and reduced the cartridge slots to one, aiming for a lower price point of $29.99. Ultimately, the line was discontinued in 2000. While it is often cited as one of the worst consoles due to its "paper-thin" library and low-quality screen, the Game.com remains a significant historical footnote for pioneering the touchscreen and internet features that would later become standard in devices like the Nintendo DS.
The device's legacy is also tied to its marketing. Tiger Electronics launched a website at game.com and ran a television commercial that famously insulted gamers who asked questions about the console. Though it failed to capture the market, the discovery of a working prototype for an unreleased port of Castlevania: Symphony of the Night in 2022 suggests that the hardware may have had the potential for higher-quality software than what was ultimately delivered.
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Sources
- Summary by Intellect · source: Game.com
- Also: Wikidata — Game.com · CC0
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