HyperScan was a video game console from Mattel. It used Radio Frequency Identification (RFID) technology along with traditional video game technology. The console used UDF format disks that contain an EXE file and game data. The EXE does not work on any personal computer. The console has two controller ports, as well as a scanning mechanism that reads from and writes to "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. The console uses a CD-based medium, games retail for $19.99 and the console itself for $69.99.

Currently, five games have been released for the console. It is marketed toward children between the ages of five to nine who are not ready for high-end video games in terms of maturity or expense. The current licensed games are based on Marvel Comics's X-Men, Marvel Heroes, and Cartoon Network's Ben 10. The third game is an original known as Interstellar Wrestling League.

The X-Men game is a fighting game in which two characters face off against each other in self-contained matches. Marvel Heroes, which includes some X-Men characters, is a side-scroller beat 'em up adventure quest. The Hyperscan console comes with the X-Men game included.

According to the Mattel Consumer Relations Answer Center, the HyperScan game console was recently discontinued. This announcement, has generated interest in hobbyist game development. A group of computer science students have started the HS Game Community to develop homebrew open source games.

Hardware Specifications

108 MHz SunPlus 32-Bit RISC Processor
Open GL ES 1.0 3D Support
2 Controller Ports
Composite Video Output
MPEG4 Video Playback/MP3 Audio
16 MB DDR System Ram
640x480 Native Resolution
24 PCM sound channels
Quad Speed CD-Rom Drive
RFID Scanner (13.56 MHz)
RFID Storage: 128 Bytes
USB 1.1 Port

Released Games

Ben 10
IWL - Interstellar Wresting League
Marvel Heroes (Limited Release)
Spider-Man (Limited Release)
X-Men

Announced (Yet Unreleased) Games