Game.com

Console: Arcade

About Game.com

Console (handheld) published 29 years ago:

Fifth-generation handheld game console

- TRIVIA -

Released in August 1997 in the USA, with a retail price of $69.95.

It was the first video game console to include a touchscreen and the first handheld console to include Internet connectivity.

By February 1997, Tiger was planning to release a new game console, the handheld Game.com, as a direct competitor to Nintendo's portable Game Boy console. Prior to its release, Tiger Electronics stated that the Game.com would "change the gaming world as we know it," while a spokesperson stated that it would be "one of this summer's hits." The Game.com, the only new game console of the year, was on display at the Electronic Entertainment Expo (E3) in May 1997, with sales expected to begin in July.

The Game.com sold fewer than 300,000 units and was discontinued in 2000 because of poor sales.

A smaller version, the Game.com Pocket Pro, was released in mid-1999.

If you are exploring by feel rather than by title, jump from the tags above into the matching genre rooms, or return to the Arcade hall for the full wall.

Open Play on this page to start Game.com. Keyboard, USB/Bluetooth pads, and the on-screen touch gamepad all work inside the emulator bar. Save states and fullscreen live on that same bar so you can pause mid-session and resume later.

Arcade Handheld Arcade

Game.com — play guide

What Game.com wants from you

Game.com (Tiger Electronics, 1997, USA) is a fifth-generation handheld console host in MAME: boot the system, launch cartridges, and play titles on their local rules. Your job is Game.com bring-up and commit-per-cart literacy—PDA chrome and touchscreen ambitions do not auto-play software. Treat Game.com as a Tiger handheld platform exam: launch real carts, then spend minutes inside them.

First minutes in Game.com

First session: map controls and any touchscreen/stylus expectations, launch one known Game.com cartridge, and play for real minutes. Soft-retry after awkward input while you learn Tiger’s feel versus Game Boy habits. Early sessions teach Game.com honesty—survive clean software time before inventing library tourism through every untested cart on the shelf.

Core systems in Game.com

Boot path, cartridge slot, D-pad/buttons, touchscreen as emulated, and launched software rules define the systems. Depth is reliable bring-up plus per-title literacy on Tiger’s unique library. Once a cart runs, that game’s genre rules take over. Driver limits may gate touchscreen accuracy—work within what responds cleanly on Game.com.

Score, continues, and resources in Game.com

Playable cart sessions score progress. Failed thrash without a launch wastes nights. Extending means two clean cartridge sessions without reboot loops on Game.com. Farming BIOS/menus forever still leaves the Tiger handheld unread. Progress is software minutes on launched carts, not a museum of unbooted Game.com boxes.

Mistakes that burn credits in Game.com

Common Game.com fails: BIOS camping; expecting Game Boy muscle; never launching a cart; thrashing touchscreen calibration every minute; and blaming MAME before a known-good image. Also: hopping carts after every death without learning a win rule. Next session: boot, one cart, ten minutes play—stop setup tourism on later Game.com bring-ups.

Next steps after Game.com

When Game.com launches stay clean, compare other late-90s handheld hosts deliberately for control feel, then return with Tiger-specific notes. Keep working until boot loops stop ending every session before software. Cousin handheld consoles help as contrast after one cart feels automatic—not as escape from a menu you still camp. Run one full careful cartridge session before you chase another untested Game.com title.

Sources cited below under Further reading.

Cabinet dossier

Genre tags on Classic Arcade Games: Handheld, Arcade.

Screenshots

Next cabinets

Nearby cabinets you may also open from this hall (each on its own play page):Retro Dance Mat (110 song Super StepMania + 9-in-1 games) (PAL), Alien Attack, Alien Chase, Dribble Away Basketball, BittBoy Mini FC 300 in 1, Kick The Goal Soccer, Pengo (Bandai), Ultraman Monster Battle, Who Wants to Be a Millionaire? (Character Options, Plug and Play, UK), Cybiko Classic (V1), Double Dance Mania - Techno Light Edition, Dance Dance Revolution Disney Mix

Explore more on this site

Same genre

Retro Dance Mat (110 song Super StepMania + 9-in-1 games) (PAL) · Alien Attack · Alien Chase · Dribble Away Basketball · BittBoy Mini FC 300 in 1 · Kick The Goal Soccer · Pengo (Bandai) · Ultraman Monster Battle · Who Wants to Be a Millionaire? (Character Options, Plug and Play, UK) · Cybiko Classic (V1) · Double Dance Mania - Techno Light Edition · Dance Dance Revolution Disney Mix

How to play Game.com online

Arcade stick feel: Arrow keys for the joystick, X/Z (and nearby keys) for buttons, Enter=Start.
USB / Bluetooth pads map cleanly; six-button fighters use the face-button cluster.
On phones, open the on-screen pad from the emulator bar; rotate sits next to fullscreen.
Save states, load, volume, and fullscreen stay on the emulator bar between credits.

Questions about Game.com

Can I play Game.com free in a browser?

Yes. Classic Arcade Games hosts Game.com as a Arcade cabinet you can start on this page. The emulator loads in the browser; you do not need to install a separate app.

What controls does Game.com support?

Arcade stick feel: Arrow keys for the joystick, X/Z (and nearby keys) for buttons, Enter=Start. USB / Bluetooth pads map cleanly; six-button fighters use the face-button cluster.

What genre is Game.com on Classic Arcade Games?

Our catalog tags Game.com under Handheld, Arcade. Open those genre rooms from the tags on this page to find more playable cabinets in the same feel.

Embed This Retro Game

Copy the iframe code below to embed this game on your site.

<iframe src="https://classicarcade.games/games/arcade/gamecom?embed=1" width="800" height="600" allowfullscreen allow="gamepad; autoplay; fullscreen"></iframe>