HyperScan


The HyperScan is a home video game console from the toy company Mattel. It uses radio frequency identification along with traditional video game technology. The included game was rated "T" and the remaining titles were rated "E10+" by the ESRB. The console used UDF format CD-ROMs. The HyperScan has two controller ports, as well as a 13.56 MHz RFID scanner that reads and writes to the "cards" which, in turn, activate features in and save data from the game. Players are able to enhance the abilities of their characters by scanning cards. Games retailed for $19.99 and the console itself for $69.99 at launch, but at the end of its very short lifespan, prices of the system were down to $9.99, the games $1.99, and booster packs $0.99.
The system was sold in two varieties: a cube and a 2-player value pack. The cube box version was the version sold in stores. It included the system, controller, an X-Men game disc, and 6 X-Men cards. Two-player value packs were sold online and included an extra controller and 12 additional X-Men cards.
The system was discontinued in 2007 due to poor console, game, and card pack sales. It is featured as one of the ten worst systems ever by PC World magazine.
The HyperScan's RFID systems were provided by Innovision Research and Technology plc, a fabless semiconductor design house based in the UK which specializes in RFID systems and chip design.

Games

The games for the system were sold as $20 "Game Packs", which consisted of a game disc accompanied by six game cards. Additional cards which contained characters, abilities, moves and levels when scanned were part of a six-card "Booster Pack", available for $10/pack. As with most trading card packs, the cards were randomized, meaning a player looking for a certain card to unlock that element of the game may have had to buy multiple Booster Packs in order to get it, or trade it for another with a friend, as was likely intended by the Hyperscan's card aspect.
Multiple booster packs were intended for certain games, with X-Men intending to have 102 cards to unlock parts of the game, according to its instruction manual, in separate "red" and "black" series; the latter went unreleased due to the console's cancellation, effectively leaving half the game locked behind a paywall which, barring some kind of hack which would unlock the entire game, can never be lifted.
There were only titles known to have been released, with 2 canceled games.
#TitleGenreTotal CardsBooster Packs for complete set and minimum price.
1Ben 10Side-scrolling Platformer80 Released
13 Packs
$150
2Interstellar Wrestling LeagueFighting game54 Released

51 unreleased		8 Packs
$100
3Marvel HeroesSide-scrolling Platformer70 Released
11 Packs
$130
4Spider-ManSide-scrolling Platformer59 Released

1 unreleased		9 Packs
$110
5X-MenFighting game56 Released

46 unreleased		9 Packs
$139.99
6Avatar: The Last Air Bender?????????
7Nick Extreme Sports?????????

The Ben 10 and Spider-Man games are similar to Marvel Heroes.

Homebrew

Though not much development for homebrew games was done on the console, several programmers have created demos and proof-of-concepts. Some of the programs include a CD-Door demo, 3D wireframe demo, and a Bluescale demo.

Hardware specifications

The HyperScan was not a successful console, as it received largely negative reviews from critics and audiences for its games, design, and controls.