Worst Selling Console Ever: Memorex VIS 

John: Today I'm sharing something terrible with you. Me: GO ON

Philips CD-i: I will be the worst console of all time ever! Memorex VIS: *hold my beer*

what circle of hell did a a family circus video game emerge from

Jebus, Sherlock Holmes Consulting Detective really was on every CD based system of the early 90's wasn't it.

I actually wrote the music for "Spacenuts". I was a software test engineer at Tandy at the time. One of the Hardware test engineers wrote the game as a hardware test and the MIDI was in there to test the built in Sound Blaster. The powers that be there were absolutely determined that no actual "game" games were to go on the thing, they thought parents were the target market, because they actually had the money for a dumbed down PC to hook to your TV. Many of us that actually worked on the project could see from a mile away it was going to fail, though it had some elements that went on to be an influence, like working w/ MS to produce a slimmed down Windows OS (pre-cursor to WinCE) and sometimes I think maybe some people at MS got the idea for Xbox out of that project, then executed it much better, and didn't make the "no video games" mistake. (and still lost a bunch on launch, but it cemented MS's place in gaming. Thanks for playing a bit of that and posting it, it really is a blast from the past for me. Still my only Video game credit.

That site is an insane throwback.

Well, to the credit of the VIS, it was one of the first video game consoles to actually come out with not only wireless controllers, but I think that it was also the first one that had them as standard for that system, as well as is possibly the first video game console ever that had memory cards.

I can't believe the thing retailed for $700! That made the Neo Geo look like a bargain deal! No wonder why the console flopped...

A lot these remind me of the shovelware CDs Roms that were available when I first got a PC CDROM in 1992 or 93

This is so bizarre. Is that Alice Cooper on the cover of Sail With Columbus? 3.30 :D

I had one of these. I realize now how crappy it was but I had Rick Ribbit, Rodney’s fun screen and some others. I could recite word for word the dialogue from Rodney’s fun screen.

Awesome video. I remember when Radio Shack touted this thing. MEMORIES LOL. I always noticed how close the logo mimics the VHS logo.

Hey John, I picked up a system a few years back in a box deal called "ActionMax", have you heard of that one? Seems to be a VHS based gun system that only had 5 or 6 games. Thanks for sharing your collection with us, always entertaining!

Thank you, Mr. Hancock, for your review of the Memorex VIS. I have to say, our team at Tandy (Radio Shack) shared in your sentiment. This was Tandy's attempt to make a name for itself in the tech world, with a really bad idea. Nevertheless, we really enjoyed building the console. I adapted the demo game (Spacenuts) from a game I was writing at home for my DOS machine, using C++. When I saw that VIS had multimedia hardware, it was too tempting to pass up the adaptation of the game for that console. Still, when it was all said and done, we knew this console was a flop, mainly because of the $600 price, which was very close to the actual cost of building a console. The CD drive was about $300 of the cost. Back then, they were not standard on PCs, nor was digital audio, nor MIDI. Thanks for the trip down memory lane. -Mark C (Old time nerd)

Honestly, it still has a better line-up I would play then the HyperScan. The Consulting Detective games are pretty good and I seem to recall the Victor Vector games being ok click-n-points. Rodney's Fun Screen also came out on PC and was made by the same artist who did the designs for PaRappa the Rapper.

I can't wait for the Angry Video Game Nerd to do the Memorex VIS console.

Hey John, if you have a controller that doesn't work, try opening it and clean the rubber pads and circuit board. Over the years dust gets into a controller through the button holes and it makes the buttons unresponsive. I think the same is true for TV remotes. Even microscopical dust that you can't see can be a problem. I've fixed a number of my controllers by simply cleaning the parts inside. I had super nintendo controllers from my childhood and they were almost totally unresponsive after trying years later as an adult. I opened them up and cleaned the rubber pads, and now they work like new. I even opened my atari flashback 9 controller because I felt like the menu and start/select buttons needed a harder push to get a response. After cleaning the rubber pads, the buttons worked better. I assume dust from the factory was the problem.

Usually I’d be interested in trying the oddball stuff out, but this just looked painful. Thanks for sharing! :)

my friend found one of these at yard sale with no controller or software this year and sold it to me. after that i bought the link golf game on amazon someone was selling it, and got the controller on ebay. its so weird but cool to have even though its technically really bad its cool owning a unique part of history. the console is not available anywhere online other then that site you mention.

I love that you love collecting. I enjoy watching your videos. I will keep on keeping on.

My dad used to shop at RadioShack all the time. He got a lot of cool stuff back in the day from radio shack. I believe he ended up getting this Vis console at a really good price so he bought it for us as kids. We got tons of games that came with it and as little kids, it was fun as hell. Being between the ages of 5 and 7 years old when I have this, I remember the golf game the best. That was my favorite one. We also had fun with the little kids games like Rodney's fun screen and Rick ribbit. Yes now that I'm grown older, they did horrible on this console but the reason I started liking it was because of that game called mysteries of Hosea freeman. That game used to scare the crap out of me as a kid. But I would always go back to it LOL. Definitely horrible and quality but not every game was horrible at all. We did have trouble from time to time with the controller lagging, other than that this was somebody's dream that they made happen and so we have to at least respect the effort. I believe the intention behind this system was to be more educational and interactive like a piece of school equipment if you will. Thanks for sharing these videos, it's so funny LOL

I had certainly never heard of the VIS, but I recently had a brush with it. I found a copy of My Paint at a local thrift store. I was able to pick it up for a mega collector who didn't have it yet.

Amiga CD32: I'm the worst console ever made! VIS: Hold my beer... This thing is truly awful.... makes the Atari 5200 and the soviet Dendy look great in comparison. Still an interesting piece of videogame history

Wow, I thought I knew every obscure console out there (Pippin, Nuon, the old stuff like the vc-4000 etc.) but this one I never heard of....

Man! And here I thought the CD-i was the worst console. Guess when you dig deep enough, you can always find something that is worse. XD

It's not so bad. I might enjoy - (it came out in the early 90s) 🙄🙄🙄 I'll go play my NES now, thanks.

I never saw this system! First time, I have seen it up close. Nice video!

People watching this video already exceeded the number units sold.

I have a Tomy Tutor still in the bag ,and unopened games. And it's an awesome system and very rare!

Rodney’s fun screen guy reminds me of the ps vita “ Frobisher” from “Frobisher says” hahaha

Is it live or is it Memorex? Thanks for sharing that. I don't remember seeing that system in our local Radio Shack but with it priced like that I can see why it would fail. It definitely looks like it was developed on striped down computer hardware. Very nice, keep showing us stuff like this. Thanks!

The Memorex VIS is the reason that the Phillips CD-i can be a respected video game console again.

John I love your videos! Can you do a full Sega Game Gear video soon? I know you've mentioned in the videos you have a complete loose set. It would be really cool to see that full set shown and see what a complete North America set looks like

Nice touch with the background music!

My dad bought this for me at Radio Shack. Horrific system, but some decent reference titles and educational stuff.

In 1992 the Memorex VIS was good for what it provided. The limited exposure to the public did not give it much of a chance. The Encyclopedia was easily obtained at that time. I had bought the CD of Space, Nature and more. My son John enjoyed it until I bought a PC for him and his brother. Hindsight gives it a bad rap.

This is very intetesting... I had no idea this existed. I will now be on the lookout :)

This library looks like early days of Java games on your flip phone. haha

With so many AAA titles, I'm surprised it failed.

Cool lol You've got some Warren G type of music in the background, love these types of vids! :)

I feel like if we go to Hell this is the console we will have to play for eternity.

No lie. Back in the late 80s my friend had a vcr as in a console that ran off of vhs tapes. I remember it came with a gun and a cop shooting game. Even back then i was confused as to how it works. Never actually played it.

Really interesting, I'd never even heard of this console!

My knowledge of gaming history I feel is pretty good and I’d never heard of this one.. cool stuff man it’s rare I see something that I haven’t heard of before like this thing.

I want a stream of "Better Homes and Gardens: Healthy Cooking" pronto. ;)

I like the background music, smoooooooth

Didn't the Commodore C64GS sell only 2,000? Do you not count it since it's just a repackaged Commodore 64?

John Hancock, out of curiosity, what were the specifications of the Memorex VIS in comparison to its competition?

Hey John, You probably have them by now but I noticed a few games that were missing: Henry and Mudge: In the Sparkle Days Just Grandma and Me Jesse Bear, What Will You Wear? Time Almanac 1992 Time Table of History: Business, Politics, & Media By the way, thanks for the site link.🙂

What is that shelving system you use for your vhs takes behind you ?

I'm not going to lie, that shooter title seems so bad like the system, it may be a hidden gem? Keep up with the great content John.

And here I thought my TI-99/4A was obscure. Before this video, I don't believe I had any knowledge that it even existed. Learning is fun with the Immortal One.

We are still hoping for SpaceNuts 2.

Looks more like an educational system than for actual gaming. My grandparents gave me something like this in the late 80's. I don't even remeber what it was called but it had a paint program that I would use. Super simple drawings. Had like some kind of robot when it booted up. I remember the controller being super unresponsive with a major delay with the system. Anyway it also sucked.

Good morning John coffee time

How many of these random unknown consoles are there? I remember when I first heard of cdi and virtual boy and thought that was scraping the bottom of the barrel.

Would have liked to see some more of the software for it

Thanks for showing this system I was finally after many attempts got the emulation in mame to work with the right bios placed in the rooms folder the internet archive has allow the titles which were about 79 it is great that you have the real thing a rarity I vaguely remember seeing in stores there is only one left at the store that you linked to and it is nearly 500 dollars and for 1000 they will sell it to you with 20 titles they are trying to really get a profit on something old it would eventually have to have capacitors and laser and components worked on I'm sure but after that years more novelty and enjoyment from it there was a page maybe on your you tube page showing the system at a group gathering I can't remember whete I saw it trying to find it again Thanks Jeff Ross

Never heard of this until now

Wow John! I had no idea this even existed! Memorex? Really?!

"complete collection including many extras", are you saying the extras aren't part of a complete collection or that the extras are part of it being complete? i've actually been discussing this with a coworker, whether or not the extras should be included when you're told "complete"

Can imagine getting this for Christmas? Hey Billy, what did you get for Christmas? I got an NES with SMB3! What did you Tommy? I got a Sega Genesis with Sonic! What did you get Sean? I got a VIS with Compton's Multimedia Encyclopedia VIS edition. What?

I thought I'd heard of every console, but this is a new one on me. How could they think this thing would ever sell?

Cool! Never heard of this one.

Memorex is such an interesting/weird brand. I remember getting their "white-out" knockoff at a liquidation outlet. It was not as good as the real thing. lol.

Had no idea this existed I can see why from the games and that site charges 450 usd for a system and 20 games ouch

I love rare, weird stuff like this that I’ve never heard about.

Rodney's fun screen had a reference in return to zork.

It is basically a 286 12mhz with 1mb of ram and basic multimedia kit. And 799 would have been about the price of a computer like that in the day. I am sure that is why it was priced like that... So IOW they were disconnected from reality if they thought this thing stood a chance. And had no clue what the home console market was at all about.

This console does look a lot like a VCR...and seems slightly less awful than the old Action Max console which actually *was* a VHS-based system...

Memorex VIS It's not just an expensive DOS PC, or is it? (Riffing off of the Spacenuts title screen)

is something that sold really badly worth more to collectors later on as there's not many kicking about and therefore rarer ?

Worst 90's kids birthday present ever!

I found one at a goodwill in Salem, Oregon.... coudln't find any info on it two years ago and sold it to game crazy south for $40.... hope i didn't sell a super spendy unit for nothing :(

Reminds me of my CD-i machine, as you mentioned. Philips controllers appear to be far superior, although gameplay, graphics, and sound seem to be in line with the CD-i’s. For posterity’s sake, you should play a few of the awful video games for those of us who won’t ever have that misfortune so we can see exactly how terrible of a machine it really was. You could do that for the CD-i Zeldas too. I have those but everyone should have the opportunity to see how absolutely awful they were as well. 😊👍🏻 Thanks for sharing this John - it’s one I was completely unaware of.

You know you are a true collector when you have a console that’s “the worst ever”.

The Spacenuts music rocks!

Of course I haven't played it but the titles available doesn't sound terrible. As a kid from that era I think I would of loved having that.

I worked for Radio Shack back then and I don't remember seeing this. I probably would have bought it , but then regret it.

This runs Windows 3.1 and titles run fine from the CD on windows 3,1, 9X or OS/2 PC once the VIS specific .dlls are copied.

I’ve seen SpaceBalls and now Spacenuts, I feel complete.

I honestly never heard of this one! So this thing sold less than even the Gizmondo or the pioneer laseractive!

I decided for grins n giggles to saunter over to the site selling the VIS systems they are a selling those for like $449 with some games LOL!

A complete collection of 8 games. And I am sure there are worse consoles when ti comes to total games.

Wow, great library! I just can't see why it didn't sell well.

I hate to say it, but the best part of this review was viewing that ancient website of goodness :)

11,000 units sold? That's not enough to make the break-even point, let alone make a profit.

right on, you'll have to do the socrates console next

Didn’t the c64 gs sell less units?

Way to make the CDI look like a beacon of hope..

Awesome now I know what to look out for while thrifting.

One of them is Family Circus. That might be worth at least a look. Why is the enterprise flying backwards in the shooter. Also..was that Shatner narrating?

I'm actually not surprised it failed, considering pretty much console of this type failed. Honestly, I cannot think of a single 1990s "multimedia center" that actually sold well! Can't blame them for trying though, cause, had this market took off, the ones that didn't would have been wondering "why didn't we do that!" They were 2 decades ahead of the times, as now your playstation or xbox can do everything! Had the VIS come out today (with the right games and modern tech), it might have been a smash hit!

Is it worse than the gamewave?

We're you calling the commentary from the bathroom?

You are missing the VIS game "How to use a video camera"

You are missing Henry & Mudge: In the Sparkle Days and Jesse Bear, What will you wear. Just a couple I have that I see you do not.

This was NOT game console in the first place. Rather "educational system" for "family".

Vis means fish in my language and this....... looks fishy, 700 dollar? What where they thinking. I really enjoy these types of vids, never knew about this system tho

When you look at the “ games” you see why it didn’t sell. This is like a bad idea a school system would try to get kids engaged. Definitely the ugly duckling of game systems.