Goldstar GDO-101 Alive 3DO
 | |
| GoldStar 3DO GDO-101 "Alive", the South Korean model | |
| Specifications | |
|---|---|
| Manufacturer | GoldStar |
| Type | Game console |
| Released | 1994 (South Korea)[1] |
| CPU | — |
| Memory | — |
| Storage | — |
| Display | — |
| Sound | — |
| Power | AC 220 V, 60 Hz, 15 W[2] |
| OS / Firmware | — |
| Successor | GDO-202 |
| Model no. | GDO-101 |
The Goldstar GDO-101, sold as the Alive, is GoldStar's 3DO Interactive Multiplayer for South Korea. GoldStar released it in mid-1994, and the GDO-101M is its version for North America and Europe.[1] It looks like the GDO-101M apart from the word ALIVE printed across the grey panel on top.[3]
History
[edit | edit source]LG opened a "3DO Plaza" in Seoul for the 1994 launch, and many games were localised for the Korean market.[1] archive3do records 3DO cafés in Korea where players could use Alive kiosks with the latest local releases.[3] GoldStar followed the GDO-101 with the GDO-202 and, in late 1995, the top-loading GDO-203 Alive II.[1]
Hardware
[edit | edit source]The Korean consoles have the same hardware revisions as their export counterparts, so the GDO-101 shares the GDO-101M's boards and Sanyo disc drive.[3] The specifications, board numbers and power supply design are on the GDO-101M page.
The difference that matters for repair is the mains rating. The plate on the base reads AC 220 V, 60 Hz, rated power 15 W, and warns that the console is for 220 V only.[2] Korea uses NTSC video, so the console needs an NTSC-capable television.[3]
Running one outside Korea
[edit | edit source]A GDO-101 needs 220 V. On 110–120 V mains it needs a step-up converter, or the supply from a North American console can be fitted in its place.[3] A replacement supply built around a PicoPSU is sold for the GDO-101M.[4]
Repair
[edit | edit source]Maintenance, fault-finding and the capacitor lists are written up for the GDO-101M, each with a section on the Korean model:
The first production run of GDO-101 consoles had a faulty flexible cable to the laser board, which GoldStar replaced under warranty; on an unmodified early console it is the first thing to check when discs will not read.[5]
Related pages
[edit | edit source]- Goldstar GDO-101M 3DO
- Goldstar GDO-202 3DO
- Goldstar GDO-203 Alive II
- Goldstar GDO-101M Documentation
References
[edit | edit source]- ↑ 1.0 1.1 1.2 1.3 3DO, Wikipedia—link(accessed 2026-10-01) Sections "Variants" and "Decline", the latter citing Electronic Gaming Monthly issue 80 (March 1996), p. 18. Used for model history and dates only.
- ↑ 2.0 2.1 Rating plate on the base of a GDO-101, photographed by archive3do (File:GoldStar 3DO GDO-101 rating plate.jpg): model GDO-101, AC 220 V 60 Hz, rated power 15 W, type approval 3-11-4448, GoldStar Co. (금성사), "220 V only".
- ↑ 3.0 3.1 3.2 3.3 3.4 Korean Retail, archive3do.com—link(accessed 2026-10-01) Photographs of the GDO-101 Alive and GDO-203 Alive II, including their rating plates.
- ↑ PSUs (Power Supply Units), 3DO Development Repo—link(accessed 2026-10-01) Lists a PicoPSU-based replacement supply for the GDO-101M sold by Will's Console Modifications.
- ↑ General Hardware Repair and Maintenance, 3DO Development Repo, 7 November 2022—link(accessed 2026-10-01) Community repair notes: common failures by model and common symptoms.