Game Wave Family Entertainment System
ManufacturerZAPiT Games
TypeDVD player
GenerationSeventh generation
Release dateOctober 2005
Lifespan2005–2009
Discontinued2009
Units soldCa. 70,000 (as of 2008)[1]
MediaDVD-ROM
CPUMediamatics 8611
Memory16 megabytes (SRAM)
Storage2 megabytes NOR flash storage, serial EEPROM
Online servicesNone
PredecessorNone
LanguageLua

The Game Wave Family Entertainment System, commonly abbreviated as Game Wave, is a hybrid DVD player and home video game console manufactured by ZAPiT Games. It is part of the seventh generation of video game consoles.[2]

History

In October 2004 the first Game Wave prototype system was made.[3][4]

It was first released in Canada in October 2005.[5] It was released in the United States at an MSRP of $99. It was packaged with the pack-in game 4 Degrees: The Arc of Trivia, Vol. 1 (later changed to VeggieTales: Veg-Out! Family Tournament).[6]

Because of the use of family friendly games and a partnership with VeggieTales, the system found some success with Christian households.[7]

The system was discontinued in 2009.[7] A followup console had been planned for 2009.[3][4]

Hardware

The Game Wave console could be disconnected from the controller caddy.

The Game Wave was packaged with both RCA and S-Video cables, along with 4 IR-based wireless controllers (modeled after typical DVD remote controllers) and a case that holds up to 6 controllers. The case and console are designed to sit side-by-side on a shelf to form a complete wave shape.[6]

The primary processor of the system is the Mediamatics 8611, which is coupled with 16 megabytes of SRAM and 2 megabytes of NOR flash memory storage.[3] An Altera MAX II CPLD is also used.[4] An Atmel serial EEPROM is used for save data.[3] The system uses a dedicated 2 channel audio DAC in order to avoid royalties for the one integrated in the Mediamatics processor.[3]

Game software for the Game Wave Family Entertainment System is typically scripted in Lua.[3]

The system can operate as a typical DVD player.[8]

Controllers

The Game Wave shipped with four color coded remote controls that double as game controllers.

The Game Wave controller has 4-directional navigational buttons used for menu navigation and DVD playback control. The controller has 4 alphabetical buttons along the top labeled "A", "B", "C", and "D" designed primarily for selecting responses in trivia games. A numeric keypad lines the bottom of the controller with Menu and Setup buttons.[9]

The Game Wave controllers came in 6 colors: blue, yellow, green, red, purple, and orange. Blue, yellow, green, and red come packaged with the console, whereas the purple and orange controllers could be purchased separately for an MSRP of $30.[10] Each controller color has a different IR beat frequency, allowing the console to differentiate the different controllers for multiplayer gameplay for up to 6 players (if the game in question supports it).[6][4]

Games

Due to the shape of the controller and marketing concerns for a "Family Entertainment System," no heavily action-based game genres are present within the Game Wave's 13 game library. Rather, the software library consists mainly of trivia and puzzle games. In addition, many Game Wave games are heavily inspired by other video games and TV shows. A 14th game, Quiz Konnect was developed for the India market.[11]

Title Released Genre Inspired by
4 Degrees: The Arc of Trivia, Bible Edition 2006[12] Trivia Trivial Pursuit
4 Degrees: The Arc of Trivia, Vol. 1 2006[12] Trivia Trivial Pursuit
4 Degrees: The Arc of Trivia, Vol. 2 2006[12] Trivia Trivial Pursuit
Click! 2007[12] Word Wheel of Fortune
Gemz 2007[12] Puzzle Bejeweled
Letter Zap! 2006[12] Word Boggle
Lock 5 2006[12] Strategy Yahtzee
Rewind 2007[12] Trivia N/A
Rewind 2005 2006[12] Trivia N/A
Rewind 2006 2006[12] Trivia N/A
Sudoku October 2007[12] Puzzle Sudoku
VeggieTales: Veg-Out! Family Tournament December 10, 2007[12] Minigame collection Mario Party
Zap 21 2006[12] Card Blackjack
Quiz Konnect 2010[13] Trivia Trivial Pursuit

References

  1. ^ "VP Final - MP4". 2008-12-20. Archived from the original on 2015-12-02. Retrieved 2012-08-14.
  2. ^ "Video Game Console Media". Museum of Obsolete Media. Retrieved 18 December 2020.
  3. ^ a b c d e f Nass, Richard (1 March 2007). "Tear Down: Game console goes way beyond the average DVD player". Embedded.com. Retrieved 19 May 2022.
  4. ^ a b c d Nass, Richard (12 March 2007). "EETimes - Under the Hood: Console is more than just a DVD player". EETimes. Retrieved 20 May 2022.
  5. ^ "Surf the Game Wave to Fun" (Press release). ZAPiT Games. October 2005. Archived from the original on 2009-06-18. Retrieved 2007-11-05.
  6. ^ a b c "Home Page". Video Game Console Library. Archived from the original on 2016-08-08. Retrieved 2016-08-20.
  7. ^ a b Pearson, Jordan (December 22, 2017). "Christians Loved Canada's Failed Video Game Console". www.vice.com. Retrieved 20 May 2022.
  8. ^ Gudmundsen (May 19, 2006). "Game Wave DVD system lets families play together - USATODAY.com". usatoday30.usatoday.com. Retrieved 20 May 2022.
  9. ^ "Image of Game Wave Controller". Archived from the original on 2016-10-06.
  10. ^ "Game Wave (Platform)". Giant Bomb. Archived from the original on 2019-06-17. Retrieved 2019-06-17.
  11. ^ "The Lost 14th Game Wave Game".
  12. ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l m "Game Wave Games - Giant Bomb". Giant Bomb. Archived from the original on 2018-04-04. Retrieved 2018-04-04.
  13. ^ "Welcome To Game Wave Media Entertainment India Pvt. Ltd". Game Wave Media Entertainment India Pvt. Ltd. Archived from the original on 2011-05-03. Retrieved 2021-12-02.

External links

Video game consoles (seventh generation)
Home video game consoles
Categories