The Xenosphere I/XVI (more often just called "Xenosphere" or "Xeno 1") is a 16-bit home video game console, developed and produced by Boston-based US-American software company REDFISH. The Xenosphere I/XVI was developed in the late 80's and released on October 5th 1990 in North America, September 6th 1991 in the UK and Ireland, September 13th 1991 in continental Europe, July 10th 1992 in Japan and Korea, on September 4th 1992 in Australia and New Zealand and on June 18th 1993 in South America.
The Xeno 1 is REDFISH's first programmable home console. The console introduced advanced graphics and sound capabilities compared with other systems at the time, but marginally being the most powerful one.
The Xenosphere received largely positive reviews and was a global success, becoming the second best-selling console of the 16-bit era after launching relatively late.
The console and its games became very popular among collectors and retro gamers, with new homebrew games and REDFISH's emulated rereleases, such as the Xenosphere Nostalgia Mini Edition or free downloadable contents on the latest consoles Xenosphere V and Xenosphere HYPERSIX.
Every Xenosphere I/XVI-package had two controllers. The most second controllers were as the same color as of the first one (grey). In every 16th release box, instead of a second grey one, a red one was enclosed. In every 700th release box, a green controller has been enclosed.
Best-selling games were:
1. Badgey & Hatchy (Jump'n'Run, 1992)
2. Velocity (SciFi-Racing, 1991)
3. King of the Boyars (RPG, 1991)
4. Badgey & Hatchy 3 (Jump'n'Run, 1994)
5. Badgey & Hatchy 2 (Jump'n'Run, 1993)
6. Qyxoria: Paradise in Danger (Jump'n'Run, 1995)
7. Karushi & Padavi (Jump'n'Run, 1991)
8. Enemy Colony (Action-Adventure/Jump'n'Run/Rail Shooter, 1993)
9. Bar Wars (Beat 'em up, 1993)
10. The Quest of Boris (Jump'n'Run/Puzzle, 1990)
In late 1995 (in North America) and 1996/97 (Worldwide), the successor - Xenosphere II - was released, which was the most powerful 64-bit console.
The Xenosphere I/XVI was planned still under the company's original name RYBAK&PIROS. In 1989, the management decided to rename to company's name to REDFISH on January 1st 1990, because this name will be much catchier and more memoriable an thus helps out getting more money.
In 1974, RYBAK&PIROS was founded by two friends and software developers - Alexander Rybak, descendant of Polish immigrants who came to the US in the 1930's, and Andrew Piros, descendant of Hungarian immigrants who came to the US in the 1890's.
REDFISH stands for a very high quality related to the games they release (they have a very similar system to Nintendo's "Seal of Quality"), as well as to the hardware.
Unlike most other video game companies, REDFISH is famous for translating their games in many languages. PAL-games often are (besides English) available in German, French, Italian, Dutch, Spanish, Portuguese, Russian, Polish, Hungarian, Czech and Swedish, depends on the region.
Also, REDFISH became to one of the fan-friendliest video-game- and console producers.