The PasoGo (name derived from "Pasocon", Japanese for "personal computer") was a console by Koei released in 1996 meant for Go players. However, it ended up failing spectacularly due to several factors:
- An incredibly high price tag of 39,800 yennote .
- Crippling Overspecialization: It could only play variations of Go. Anyone who wanted to play those games could use other systems, while enthusiasts would not find the technology of that time adequate enough to provide a challenge, and anyone who didn't want to play them had no incentive to buy the system.
- A dim 5.6'' 320x240 screen, 395g weight, and overall large size comparable to the PlayStation's PS One revision. It would at least provide a full 19x19 board that's fairly easy to see. Other large handhelds like the Nintendo Switch have come out since then, they at least have the excuse of using an HD screen.
Games:
Eleven games for the system are known to exist. Their contents can be distinguished by the color of their boxes. Green ones teach how to play Go with different moves and strategies. Blue ones let you play against an AI opponent. Red ones let you watch a professional player, with the interactive element of letting you guess what move is going to be made. The black one also lets you play against an AI opponent.- KS-1001 - 対局くん 1 (Game Opponent 1)
- KS-1002 - 楽しい詰碁・第1巻 (Fun Go · Volume 1)
- KS-1003 - 楽しい詰碁・第2巻 (Fun Go · Volume 2)
- KS-1004 - 囲碁名局集 第1巻 (Go Name Bureau Collection · Volume 1)
- KS-1005 - 94年度三大タイトル挑戦手合集 (Collection of three major titles in 1994)
- KS-1006 - 歴代棋聖戦 名局集 (Chika Chosun Shakuin Bureau Collection)
- KS-1007 - 棋界覇王伝・古典編 (Kikai Haouden Classic Edition)
- KS-1008 - 棋界覇王伝・現代編 (Kikai Haouden Modern Edition)
- KS-1009 - 電子碁盤 (Electronic Grid)
- KS-1010 - 強くなる手筋・第1巻 (Stronger Hands · Volume 1)
- KS-1011 - 手談対局 (Shudan Taikyoku)
