Gizmondo

Lore & Background

The Gizmondo was conceived by Carl Freer, chairman of Tiger Telematics, originally as a GPS child-tracking device called Gametraq before evolving into a game system. It debuted as a concept at CES in January 2004 and was renamed Gizmondo around April 2004, with exterior design by Rick Dickinson. The console launched in the United Kingdom on 19 March 2005, selling 1000 units within an hour, and was promoted with extravagant spending, including a celebrity party at London's Park Lane Hotel and a sponsored entry in the 24 Hours of Le Mans. A widescreen revision was announced in September 2005, featuring a larger screen, Wi-Fi, TV-out, a 2-megapixel camera, and voice telephony, but it was never released after Gizmondo Europe went into administration in January 2006 and was liquidated in February 2006, amassing US$300 million in debt. The company was further damaged by Swedish press reports revealing criminal pasts of executives, including director Stefan Eriksson's involvement with the Uppsala mafia.

Reader's Guide

The Gizmondo's significance lies in its spectacular failure, which serves as a cautionary tale in the video game industry. Despite packing advanced features for its time—GPS, camera, cellular messaging, and Windows CE—the console was undermined by poor business decisions, including a delayed US launch and the premature announcement of a widescreen model that caused potential buyers to wait (the Osborne effect). The company's lavish promotional spending, such as celebrity parties and motorsport sponsorship, never translated into profitability. The revelation of executives' criminal backgrounds further eroded consumer and retailer confidence. With fewer than 25,000 units sold overall, according to GamePro, it is considered the worst-selling handheld console in history. GameTrailers named it the worst console of all time in 2007. The Gizmondo's legacy is that of a technologically ambitious device doomed by corporate mismanagement, scandal, and a failure to execute on its market potential.

Did You Know?

• The Gizmondo was originally conceived as a GPS child-tracking device called Gametraq.
• It included a built-in GPS chip and mobile cellular connectivity for SMS and MMS, but no telephone capabilities.
• The widescreen revision, announced in September 2005, was intended to include voice telephony, making it a mobile phone, but was never released.
• Gizmondo Europe was liquidated in February 2006 after amassing US$300 million in debt.