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History
The VideoNow XP started as a 2003 product called VideoNow. Produced by Hasbro under their Tiger Electronics brand (following the acquisition of Tiger Electronics in 1998), the VideoNow was a simple video player using their own proprietary video disc called PVD (Personal Video Disc). Each disc could contain about 30 minutes of 15 fps video footage. While 30 minutes is not enough for a movie, it was more than enough for an episode of most kids’ shows of the time which had an average run time between 20-23 minutes. On top of this, the original VideoNow had other serious limitations, including being monochrome, having a small resolution (80 x 80) and no back light. But with almost no competition, this low-cost video player became an immediate success.
In 2004, Hasbro released a much-needed update in the form of the VideoNow Color. The new device finally offers the possibility to play video in colors on a new 240 x 160 resolution, backlit screen. The VideoNow Color was such a success that Hasbro quickly released through their subsidiary Playskool, the VideoNow Jr., a ruggedized version of the VideoNow Color for preschoolers.
With the success of the VideoNow Color, Hasbro needed to expand on the product line to continue making profits out of the hardware. With the main competitor of the VideoNow Color being the Nintendo Game Boy Advance and their line-up of full video cartridges called Game Boy Advance Video, it was only natural for Hasbro to attempt to cross over in the video game console territory with the next VideoNow iteration. And as it was relatively easy to create interactive movie based games such as Dragon’s Lair on a simple DVD player, it wasn’t a big leap to implement such technology in the VideoNow line. By simply directional buttons and two action buttons, Hasbro was ready to enter the world of video game handheld with their VideoNow XP.
Release
On August 15, 2005, Hasbro released the VideoNow XP, which stands for Xtra Play. The XP change its look to resemble the Game Boy Advance SP. Sadly, despite the possibility to create interactive content, the VideoNow XP didn’t generate the excitement that Hasbro wanted. By the end of 2005, Hasbro already noted an overall decreased sales of VideoNow product line. As the VideoNow products carried a lower gross margin, the sales number needed to increase drastically to continue to be commercially viable.
Demise
Following the poor performance of the VideoNow XP, Hasbro decided to pull the plug. They rebranded the VideoNow Color as the VideoNow Color FX to liquidate the overstock of the VideoNow Color by giving them a translucent body. They then rebranded another Tiger Electronics’ product called VuGo, a portable video recorder/player, as TVNow as their final product in the “Now” line.
Games
Only 3 full games were released for the system.
Batman |
What’s New Scooby-Doo? |
Teen Titans |
Other disc can also include VideoNow XP exclusive content such as quiz and mini-games. Here are titles that have been identified so far as to include additional VideoNow XP content. This list is almost certainly incomplete.
- All Grown Up! – “Coup DeVille” [AUG3]
- Codename: Kids Next Door – “Operation: R.O.B.B.E.R.S.” & “Operation: U.T.O.P.I.A.” [KND1]
- Drake & Josh – Grammy [DJ2]
- Nick Mix #7 [NM7]
- Nick Mix #9 [NM9]
- Nick Mix #11 [NM11]
- Powerpuff Girls: Keen on Keane & Not So Awesome Blossom
- SpongBob [SB8]
- Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles Mutants & Monsters: Bishop’s Gambit [TMNT 1]
- The Amanda Show #3 [AMA 3]
- The Fairly Oddparents – “Scary Oddparents” [FOP7]
- The Story of Star Wars [SW1]
- Yu-Gi-Oh! : The ESP Duelist Part 1 [YGO2]
- Yu-Gi-Oh! : The ESP Duelist Part 2 [YGO3]
- Winx Club – “Miss Magix” [WNX1]