Zeebo is a video game console produced by Tectoy and Qualcomm and fully managed by digital distribution. Announced in 2008 as the first ever Brazilian-designed console, it was released in Brazil on May 25, 2009 with a suggested retail price of R$ 499,00 and it will be licensed for other countries by Zeebo Inc.
Zeebo is designed aiming at developing emerging countries such as Brazil, Russia, India and China (BRIC). The project convinced companies such as Electronic Arts, Activision, Namco, Capcom, and id Software to invest on a new unexplored "The Next Billion" market.
The console - which uses a Qualcomm chipset similar to that in mobile phones - is fully operated by network through 3G or Edge. Hence, the player will be able to buy and download games, which are transferred through downloads using a virtual currency, Z-Credits.
Zeebo takes aim to curb piracy - a barrier in emerging countries - by offering games through a virtual store.Furthermore, a virtual store eliminates production costs of discs and cartridges. Zeebo's gaming delivery system reduces costs and oversteps piracy barriers - two elements that have led to the failure of previous gaming consoles marketed to "the next billion."
Z-Credits are purchased by bank transfer, credit card, bank debit or prepaid cards, similar to the download system designed for Xbox Live Arcade or the canceled Phantom. According to Tectoy, which established a partnership with Claro to provide the data-only 3G network, the user is always connected to the wireless network without any fee. The console was developed by 12 companies, mainly Qualcomm and Tectoy.
3 different cards with Z-Credits are sold, with 2000, 3000 or 5000 points, games costs from about 1500 to 2000 points.
Games
Zeebo features rewritten versions of games from mobile phones and other consoles, such as FIFA 09, Resident Evil 4, Crash Bandicoot Nitro Kart 3D and Quake.
In Brazil, Zeebo was launched with three games embedded - FIFA 09, Need for Speed Carbon: Own the City and Brain Challenge (known in Portuguese as "Treino Cerebral").
Prey Evil, Quake and Quake II are available to download for free, all in Portuguese. In addition to these titles, Zeebo's library has more than ten games, all developed for this platform.
Tectoy and Zeebo Inc. have removed from their websites all previous references to Sega games for the console, including Sonic Adventure, leaving many confused as to the current relationship between Sega and Tectoy
