Jungle (console)
A canceled portable MMO console from Panasonic.
The Jungle was a portable game console in development by Panasonic, announced in October 2010. Designed as a small laptop-like device, it was intended as a portable platform for MMOs, targeting players who wanted to play online games on the go. It was Panasonic's first attempt at creating a handheld console and was expected to be released in mid-2011, placing it in the eighth generation of gaming alongside the Nintendo 3DS and the then-unreleased PlayStation Vita.
Quick Facts
- Manufacturer
- Panasonic
- Cpu
- NVIDIA Tegra series SOC
- Generation
- Eighth generation
- Lifespan
- Cancelled / (was expected to be released in mid-2011)
- Related
- 3DO Interactive Multiplayer / Panasonic M2
Facts from the source article.
Lore & Background
The Jungle was Panasonic's second dedicated video game console, following the 3DO from 1993. In 1997, Panasonic had been developing a console called the Panasonic M2, but that project was canceled. The Jungle was announced in October 2010 with a design roughly similar to a small laptop. It featured a D-pad, touchpad, full QWERTY keyboard, 3.5 mm jack, USB and HDMI ports, and an unconfirmed Linux-based operating system and 720p high-resolution display. Three games were announced for its release: Stellar Dawn, RuneScape, and Battlestar Galactica Online. On March 1, 2011, Panasonic announced the cancellation of the Jungle, citing changes in the market.
Reader's Guide
The Jungle's significance lies in its brief existence as a niche attempt to create a portable console dedicated to massively multiplayer online games, a market segment largely unexplored by handheld hardware. Its cancellation in March 2011, before its planned mid-2011 release, highlights the volatility of the gaming market at the time, particularly as the Nintendo 3DS and PlayStation Vita were emerging. As Panasonic's second console after the 3DO, and following the canceled M2 project, the Jungle represents the company's final known foray into dedicated video game hardware. The system's features, such as a full QWERTY keyboard and HDMI output, reflected its focus on online connectivity and potential TV-out functionality, but the project never reached consumers. Its legacy is that of a footnote in gaming history, a what-if scenario for portable MMO gaming that was abandoned due to shifting market conditions.
Did You Know?
- Three games were announced for it: Stellar Dawn, RuneScape, and Battlestar Galactica Online.
- Panasonic canceled the Jungle on March 1, 2011, due to changes in the market.
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