Apple Bandai Pippin: Comparison
Please note this is a comparison between Version 3 by Jason Zhu and Version 2 by Jason Zhu.

The Apple Bandai Pippin, stylized PiP P!N, is a multimedia technology console, designed by Apple Computer. The console is based on the Apple Pippin platform – a derivative of the Apple Macintosh platform. Bandai produced the ATMARK and @WORLD consoles between 1996 and 1997. It was sold at $599. The goal of the Bandai Pippin was to create an inexpensive computer system aimed mostly at playing CD-based multimedia software, especially games, but also functioning as a thin client. The operating system is a version of System 7.5.2, and is based on a 66 MHz PowerPC 603 processor and a 14.4 kb/s modem. It features a 4×-speed CD-ROM drive and a video output that can connect to a standard television display.

  • multimedia technology
  • 7.5.2
  • multimedia

1. Marketing

In Japan, Bandai produced Pippin-based systems called the Pippin Atmark (ピピンアットマーク, Pipin Attomāku). Most of the Atmark systems use the same platinum color used on many of the Apple Macintosh models at the time.

In the United States and most parts of Europe, Bandai named the system the Bandai Pippin @WORLD (pronounced "at-world"). The @WORLD has the same specifications as the Pippin Atmark, but runs an English version of Mac OS. Most of the western systems use a black color.

2. History

Bandai manufactured fewer than 100,000 Pippins, but reportedly sold 42,000 systems before discontinuing the line. Production of the system was so limited, there were more keyboard and modem accessories produced than actual systems.[1]

In May 2006, the Pippin placed 22nd in PC World's list of the "25 Worst Tech Products of All Time."[2]

3. Software

3.1. Japan

Very little software was produced for the Japanese version on release in early 1996. While some promised software may not have been released, the number that was released is fewer than 80 games and applications.[3]

3.2. United States

When Bandai released the U.S. version, it had only 18 games and applications sold separately, and six CDs that came with the Pippin itself. Upgrades to the Pippin Browser were released as a new CD over time, and so was an update to TV Works (a text and drawing program).[4]

3.3. Europe

When the console was released, barely any software was produced for this side of the world. Only 2 out of the 23 games were ever released in Europe. Not much is known about what happened to it in this region.

TitleGenreDeveloper(s)Publisher(s)Regions released
JapanEurope/PALNorth America
@Card SD Gundam GaidenStrategy, Card battleBandai Digital Entertainment CorporationBandai Digital Entertainment Corporation1997UnreleasedUnreleased
1995.1.17: The Great Hanshin EarthquakeNon-Game, DocumentaryKeikakudoPlanning House1996UnreleasedUnreleased
Action Designer: Ultraman TigaNon-Game, Art editorMagic MouseBandai Digital Entertainment Corporation1997UnreleasedUnreleased
ad.hoc Medical Practice Quick Training CourseNon-Game, Educationalad.hoc Co., Ltd.Japan Medical Insurance Association1998UnreleasedUnreleased
AI ShogiBoard gameSomething GoodASCII1996UnreleasedUnreleased
Anime Designer: Dragon Ball ZNon-game, Art editorMagic MouseBandai Digital Entertainment Corporation1996UnreleasedUnreleased
Anpanman no AIUEO-N!EdutainmentBandai Digital Entertainment CorporationBandai Digital Entertainment Corporation1996UnreleasedUnreleased
Anpanman to Asobou! 1EdutainmentBandai Digital Entertainment CorporationBandai Digital Entertainment Corporation1996UnreleasedUnreleased
Anpanman to Asobou! 2EdutainmentBandai Digital Entertainment CorporationBandai Digital Entertainment Corporation1997UnreleasedUnreleased
Better Homes and Gardens Cool CraftsEdutainmentCD VisionBandai Digital Entertainment CorporationUnreleasedUnreleased1996
Chibikko ClubEdutainmentGakugeiGakugei1996UnreleasedUnreleased
Chisato Moritaka CD-ROM Watarase BashiNon-Game, MusicOracionOracion1996UnreleasedUnreleased
CineNoirNon-game, Art editorDigiToy EntertainmentBandai Digital Entertainment CorporationUnreleasedUnreleased1996
Circus!EdutainmentMatra Hachette MultimediaVoyager Company1996UnreleasedUnreleased
CombiPark Tonde MatRhythm gameCombiParkCombiPark1997UnreleasedUnreleased
Compton's Interactive Encyclopedia:@World EditionNon-gameSoftkey MultimediaBandai Digital Entertainment CorporationUnreleasedUnreleased1996
DazzeloidsEdutainmentCenter for Advanced WhimsyVoyager Company1996UnreleasedUnreleased
Densha Daishuugou: Driving TrainSimulationOngakukanBandai Digital Entertainment Corporation1996UnreleasedUnreleased
Dinosaur MuseumNon-GameApollon CreateBandai Digital Entertainment Corporation1996UnreleasedUnreleased
EGWORD PureNon-GameErgo SoftBandai Digital Entertainment Corporation1996UnreleasedUnreleased
Exotic SushiNon-gameElectric DreamsBandai Digital Entertainment CorporationUnreleasedUnreleased1996
Fair, then Partly PiggyNon-Game, BookStudio FlagshipStudio Flagship1996UnreleasedUnreleased
FortulliaNon-Game, AstrologyBandai Digital Entertainment CorporationBandai Digital Entertainment Corporation1996UnreleasedUnreleased
Funky Funny AliensEdutainmentAmuseAmuse1996UnreleasedUnreleased
Gadget: Invention, Travel, & AdventureAdventure, Point & ClickSynergy InteractiveBandai Digital Entertainment Corporation1996UnreleasedUnreleased
Gakkō no Kowai Uwasa: Hanako-san ga Kita!!AdventureAmuseAmuse1996UnreleasedUnreleased
Gokigen Mama no Omakase DiaryNon-GameNanaOn-ShaBandai Digital Entertainment Corporation1996UnreleasedUnreleased
Gundam Tactics: Mobility Fleet 0079StrategyDigiCubeBandai Digital Entertainment Corporation1996UnreleasedUnreleased
Gundam Virtual Modeler LightNon-Game, Art editorExpression ToolsBandai Digital Entertainment Corporation1996UnreleasedUnreleased
Gus Goes to CyberopolisEdutainmentModern Media VenturesBandai Digital Entertainment CorporationUnreleasedUnreleased1996
Gus Goes to the Kooky Carnival in search of RantEdutainmentModern Media VenturesBandai Digital Entertainment CorporationUnreleasedUnreleased1996
Histoires d'UrologieNon-Game, EducationalMELOdYÉditions Médicales Pierre FabreUnreleased1999Unreleased
Home Improvement 1-2-3Non-GameMulticom PublishingBandai Digital Entertainment CorporationUnreleasedUnreleased1996
Jungle ParkAdventure, RPGSaru BruneiBandai Digital Entertainment Corporation1996UnreleasedUnreleased
Kids BoxEdutainmentAloalo InternationalASK Kodansha1996UnreleasedUnreleased
L-ZoneAdventure, Point & ClickSynergy InteractiveBandai Digital Entertainment Corporation1996UnreleasedUnreleased
Le Livre de LuluNon-Game, BookAriadneOrgana1996UnreleasedUnreleased
Mobile Suit Gundam: Zion Dukedom Military-FileStrategyJVCBandai Digital Entertainment Corporation1997UnreleasedUnreleased
Mobile Suit Gundam: White Base - The 13th Independent ForceStrategyJVCBandai Digital Entertainment Corporation1997UnreleasedUnreleased
MovieokeNon-GameDigiToy EntertainmentBandai Digital Entertainment CorporationUnreleasedUnreleasedUnknown
Mr. Potato Head Saves Veggie ValleyEdutainment, Adventure, PuzzleDuck Soup Productions and Turning Point SoftwareBandai Digital Entertainment CorporationUnreleasedUnreleased1996
Music ISLAND vol.1: Peter and the WolfNon-Game, MusicOracionOracion1996UnreleasedUnreleased
Music ISLAND vol.2: The NutcrackerNon-Game, MusicOracionOracion1996UnreleasedUnreleased
Music ISLAND vol.3: The Four SeasonsNon-Game, MusicOracionOracion1996UnreleasedUnreleased
Music ISLAND vol.4: Carnival of the AnimalsNon-Game, MusicOracionOracion1996UnreleasedUnreleased
Narabete! Tsukkute! Ugoku BlockEdutainmentBandai Digital Entertainment CorporationBandai Digital Entertainment Corporation1996UnreleasedUnreleased
Nemurenu Yoru no Chiisana OhanashiEdutainmentAmuseAmuse1996UnreleasedUnreleased
Nobunaga's Ambition ReturnsStrategyKoeiBandai Digital Entertainment Corporation1996UnreleasedUnreleased
Ocean Life: Hawaii editionNon-GameSumeriaSumeria1996UnreleasedUnreleased
Odotte AIUEOEdutainmentTom CreateEmotion Digital Software1996UnreleasedUnreleased
PEASENon-GameMaki EnterpriseMaki Enterprise1996UnreleasedUnreleased
PEASE TurboNon-GameMaki EnterpriseMaki Enterprise1996UnreleasedUnreleased
Picture Book of Mission School UniformNon-GameShikanenEmotion Digital Software1996UnreleasedUnreleased
Play-Doh CreationsNon-GameHasbro InteractiveBandai Digital Entertainment CorporationUnreleasedUnreleasedUnknown
Playskool PuzzlesEdutainment, PuzzleImageBuilder SoftwareBandai Digital Entertainment CorporationUnreleasedUnreleased1996
Post de CardNon-GameSystemSoftBandai Digital Entertainment Corporation1996UnreleasedUnreleased
Power NazolerEdutainmentInfortechInfortech1996UnreleasedUnreleased
Power Rangers Zeo Vs. The Machine EmpireActionCyberFlixBandai Digital Entertainment CorporationUnreleasedUnreleased1996
Racing DaysRacingKitt PeakBandai Digital Entertainment Corporation1996Unreleased1996
Randoseru Shougakkou 1-NenseiEdutainmentGakugeiGakugei1996UnreleasedUnreleased
SD Gundam WarsStrategyBandai Digital Entertainment CorporationBandai Digital Entertainment Corporation1997UnreleasedUnreleased
SD Ultraman's Challenge! Maze IslandEdutainmentBandai Digital Entertainment CorporationBandai Digital Entertainment Corporation1996UnreleasedUnreleased
SeesawC 1: My favorite things 120EdutainmentAi Ga Areba DaijobuBandai Digital Entertainment Corporation1996UnreleasedUnreleased
SeesawC 2: My favorite places 400EdutainmentAi Ga Areba DaijobuBandai Digital Entertainment Corporation1996UnreleasedUnreleased
ShichisokusenNon-GameMedia5Media51996UnreleasedUnreleased
Shock Wave: Invasion Earth: 2019Action, ShooterElectronic ArtsBandai Digital Entertainment Corporation1996UnreleasedUnreleased
Super MarathonAction, FPSBungieBandai Digital Entertainment CorporationUnreleasedUnreleased1996
T-BreakBoard gameInfocityInfocity1996UnreleasedUnreleased
Tamagotchi CD-ROMVirtual Life7th Level ProductionsBandai Digital Entertainment Corporation1997UnreleasedUnreleased
Tarot MysteryNon-GameVisitVisit1996UnreleasedUnreleased
Terror T.R.A.X.: Track of the VampireActionGround Zero ProductionsBandai Digital Entertainment CorporationUnreleasedUnreleasedUnknown
Tetsuman Gaiden: Ambition of Great GameEdutainmentTeichikuTeichiku1996UnreleasedUnreleased
The Journeyman ProjectAdventurePresto StudiosBandai Digital Entertainment CorporationUnreleasedUnreleasedUnknown
The Virgin Of a LegendNon-GameAqua StoneAqua Stone1996UnreleasedUnreleased
Thomas the Tank Engine & FriendsEdutainmentBandai Digital Entertainment CorporationBandai Digital Entertainment Corporation1996UnreleasedUnreleased
Tropic IslandAction, PinballMomodera's BrandMomodera's Brand1996UnreleasedUnreleased
Tunin'GlueNon-Game, MusicNanaOn-ShaBandai Digital Entertainment Corporation1996UnreleasedUnreleased
Ultraman: The Digital Board GameBoard GameBandai Digital Entertainment CorporationBandai Digital Entertainment Corporation1996UnreleasedUnreleased
Ultraman Quiz KingQuiz, Game ShowBandai Digital Entertainment CorporationBandai Digital Entertainment Corporation1996UnreleasedUnreleased
Victorian ParkAdventureJVCBandai Digital Entertainment Corporation1996UnreleasedUnreleased
With Open Eyes: Images from the Art Institute of ChicagoNon-GameVoyagerVoyager1996UnreleasedUnreleased
Yellow Brick Road IAdventureSynergy InteractiveSynergy Interactive1997UnreleasedUnreleased
Yellow Brick Road IIAdventureSynergy InteractiveSynergy Interactive1997UnreleasedUnreleased
Yellows: Akira Gomi PhotographsNon-GameDigitalogueDigitalogue1996UnreleasedUnreleased
Yellows 2.0: Tokyo 1993 Akira Gomi PhotographsNon-GameDigitalogueDigitalogue1996UnreleasedUnreleased
Zukkoke Threesome: Drama Murder CaseAdventurePoplar PublishingBandai Digital Entertainment Corporation1997UnreleasedUnreleased

4. Accessories

An AppleJack controller. https://handwiki.org/wiki/index.php?curid=1313715
  • AppleJack controller
  • AppleJack Wireless (IR) controller
  • Pippin keyboard with drawing tablet
  • Pippin Modems (14.4, 28.8, 33.6 kbit/s)
  • Pippin memory (2, 4, 8, 16 MB)
  • Pippin Floppy Dock
  • Pippin MO 256 MB optical disk
  • Pippin ADB adapter (for connecting Macintosh devices to Pippin)
  • Pippin to Macintosh (ADB) adapter (for connecting Pippin devices to Macintosh)

5. Printers

Pippin can use the Apple Color StyleWriter 2400 and 2500 series through its serial port.

References

  1. Assembler (via Archive.org). Apple Bandai Pippin. Retrieved March 21, 2008. https://web.archive.org/web/20080321013705/http://assembler.roarvgm.com/Apple_Bandai_pippin/apple_bandai_pippin.html
  2. Tynan, Dan (May 26, 2006). "The 25 Worst Tech Products of All Time: 22. Apple Pippin @World (1996)". PCWorld. http://www.pcworld.com/article/125772/worst_products_ever.html?page=6. Retrieved January 5, 2021. 
  3. The most accurate list of Pippin titles. Retrieved February 13th, 2018. https://sebangulo.000webhostapp.com/Pippin/Game_Collection.html
  4. "About the Apple Pippin. Retrieved February 13th, 2018.". http://web.mac.com/sebangulo/Pippin/About_the_Pippin.html. 
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