The Casio Loopy: A Forgotten Piece of Gaming History 'casio loopy emu'

Released in October 1995, nearly a year after Sony's PlayStation, the 32-bit Loopy was a unique gaming console that failed to make a significant impact on the gaming world. With its short lifespan and exclusivity to Japan, it has become a rare and coveted collector's item among British retro game enthusiasts.

But how does the Loopy compare to other consoles of its time? To find out, I reached out to Tetsuya Hayashi and Kunihiro Matsubara, two engineers who worked on the console 20 years ago. They revealed that a boxed console alone would now sell for between £130 and £160, while an unboxed one could fetch £60-90.

Quang Nguyen, a collector of rare gaming consoles, paid £180 for a boxed Loopy and four games in 2013, but he noted that prices have been steadily rising since then. The Loopy's rarity has made it a prized possession among collectors, who are willing to pay top dollar for this obscure piece of gaming history.

But what makes the Loopy so special? As an engineer on the project, Hayashi described it as 'a collection of ideas, a ragtag novelty that may well have been ahead of its time if it wasn't so scatty.' Matsubara added that the Loopy was never meant to be a commercial success, but rather an experiment in innovative gaming.

Despite its uniqueness, the Loopy isn't exactly a powerhouse when it comes to gaming. It's not particularly good as a console, and its limitations are evident in its short lifespan. However, for those who have managed to get their hands on one, the Loopy is a fascinating relic of Japan's gaming past.

In conclusion, the Casio Loopy may be an obscure piece of gaming history, but it has become a coveted collector's item among retro game enthusiasts. Its uniqueness and rarity make it a fascinating subject for those interested in gaming's rich and varied history.

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