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RIP: Panasonic cancels Jungle MMO handheld

You're in the jungle baby, you're gonna die

RIP: Panasonic cancels Jungle MMO handheld
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Panasonic’s Jungle, a bold handheld device with a focus on portable MMOs, has been sent to the mobile scrapheap. It’s now sharing a pit with the Gizmondo, the Microsoft Kin, and the Game.com.

According to Reuters, Panasonic pulled the plug on the Jungle earlier this year, "due to changes in the market and in our own strategic direction".

The bulky clamshell device was supposed to sport a full keyboard and gaming controls, various connectivity technologies to keep you online at all times, and a Linux-based operating system to run MMO games like Battlestar Galactica.

It’s the latest in a long line of Panasonic’s gaming cock-ups. Its 1993 3DO system bombed hard thanks to its insane $700 price tag, and was discontinued three years later. The Panasonic Q, a GameCube / DVD hybrid fared better, but mostly because it allowed for easy GameCube piracy.

Mark Brown
Mark Brown
Mark Brown is editor at large of Pocket Gamer