Panasonic, Welcome to the Jungle, Online Gaming - Photo The Jungle
Electronics manufacturer Panasonic has announced it is producing a portable game console called the Jungle designed for online gaming and MMORPGs. The flip-open clamshell device features a QWERTY keyboard, touchpad, dual touch-sensitive d-pads and shoulder buttons. While Panasonic has not revealed the Jungle’s specifications, it reportedly has a high definition screen, Wi-Fi connectivity, USB and HDMI ports, and will probably use Linux operating system.
A statement posted on the Jungle’s official new website says, “We began this journey by asking gamers what they wanted. Almost unanimously, we heard calls for online gaming products. … In response, the Jungle was born. Our mission: Create an ecosystem around online gaming.” Panasonic also says it is working with developers to create exciting content.
To date, Panasonic has announced just two Jungle products: ‘Battlestar Galactica Online’, and a cartoon comedy program called ‘Online Underground’.
Although a few teaser videos are posted on the Jungle website, details such as device specifications, release date and price have not been revealed.
Panasonic’s last gaming product dates back to 1993, when it launched the 3DO home console, which was less than successful. Whether the Jungle will fare any better is yet to be seen, especially given the little information available – but analysts are not very optimistic.
Billy Pidgeon of M2 Research said the Jungle appears to be a “highly specialized dedicated portable for a non-existent market.” “Frankly, this looks like a non-starter,” he added.
Lazard Capital Markets analyst Colin Sebastian is not much more optimistic about the success of the new Panasonic gaming device when he says it “would seem like an uphill challenge to launch a new portable gaming device unless there is some meaningful differentiation or access to proprietary content.”