Sega mega CD
| Sega mega CD | ||||
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| Manufacturer | Sega | |||
| Type | stationary game console | |||
| generation | 4th generation of consoles | |||
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| Main processor | CPU: MC68000 @ 12.5 MHz | |||
| Storage media | CD-ROM | |||
| Units sold | about 3.2 million | |||
| Most successful game | Sonic the Hedgehog CD | |||
| info | Additional device for the Sega Mega Drive | |||
The Sega Mega-CD ( Japanese メ ガ CD , Mega-CD ; Sega CD in North America) is a CD-ROM drive for the Sega Mega Drive to play games from CDs. The device, first released in Japan in 1991, was connected below the Mega Drive and has a retractable CD tray. This version was also released in the USA in 1992. In 1993 the heavily reduced Sega Mega-CD II was released worldwide , which dispenses with the retractable drawer and replaces it with a top-loading CD drive that opens upwards. This device is connected to the right side of the Mega Drive.
While Nintendo still used modules (and was to continue this up to the Nintendo 64 ), Sega took the step towards CD-ROM use in game consoles with the Mega-CD and continued this path with the Sega Saturn . However, the price of the device at DM 580 (today's purchasing power € 434) was too expensive for most players, which meant that the sales figures for the console fell short of expectations.
hardware
The Mega-CD is connected to the expansion port of the Mega Drive. With the older Mega Drive I, the headphone output must also be connected to the Mega-CD using the cable supplied.
The Mega-CD has its own 68000 processor clocked at 12.5 MHz . In addition, the console has an additional graphics chip that enables scaling and rotation effects. The audio properties of the Mega Drive are also expanded by 8 PCM channels.
With the exception of a separate cinch output for audio data, the connections of the Mega Drive are still used.
The built-in CD-ROM drive is running at normal speed (single speed) . In addition to games and music CDs, CD + Gs can also be played. These are music CDs that contain additional data such as text or images.
The console has no copy protection, so burned games can be played without a mod chip .
The console has a battery-backed memory of 64 kbit, on which games can be saved. Separate memory modules appeared later that offered considerably more space than the internal memory of the Mega CD and were plugged into the module slot of the Mega Drive.
Due to the higher CPU performance of the second 68000 CPU and the additional graphics chip, more technically demanding games could be developed for the console. Examples are Thunderhawk , Battlecorps and Soulstar . The racing game Jaguar XJ220 also made extensive use of the stepless rotation and zoom function of the mega-CD. However, it was often criticized that the Mega-CD, just like the Mega Drive, could display a maximum of 64 colors at the same time. Full motion video in particular suffered from this limitation.
Versions and variants
Mega CD and Sega CD
The first version of the mega-CD was only released in larger numbers in Japan and North America. The relatively few devices for the European market were mainly sold in the UK .
Mega-CD II and Sega CD II
The second version of the mega-CD dispenses with an electric drawer and instead uses a top-loader drive. Therefore, in contrast to its predecessor, the Mega-CD II is mounted on the side next to the Mega Drive. Furthermore, the number of status LEDs has been reduced to one. This version was the first to be published across Europe.
Wondermega / X'Eye
Wondermega and X'Eye are systems manufactured by JVC , a Mega Drive and a Mega CD are each combined in a housing. There are also microphone connections for use as a karaoke home device, and the Wondermega RG-M1 even has a MIDI output.
In North America, the Wondermega RG-M2 was sold as the JVC X'Eye, the wireless controllers and the S-Video connection were rationalized away and the two controller ports were reinstalled on the front of the device. A Sega 32X cannot be used due to the lack of RGB outputs.
None of the devices were officially sold in Europe.
Multi-mega
The Multi-Mega is a very compact version with an integrated Mega-CD, known in North America as Sega CDX . This version can be used as a portable CD player. In this case, the power supply runs on two Mignon batteries. A small liquid crystal screen displays information such as the current track number. In order to play, the console still has to be connected to a television and the mains.
Games
Games specially developed for the mega-CD are more of the exception; most games are module conversions that have been expanded with CD music or additional video sequences. A total of about 210 games were released. The best-selling game for the console was Sonic CD with around 1.5 million copies sold.
Individual evidence
- ↑ Sega CD System Info. (No longer available online.) Archived from the original on June 20, 2014 ; Retrieved January 3, 2013 .
Web links
- Mega-CD.de - German-language information portal
- Information page ( memento of July 2, 2014 in the Internet Archive ) on Eidolon's Inn (English)
- List of published and unpublished games ( Memento of March 27, 2009 in the Internet Archive )