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Sega 32XFrom Sega Retro
The Sega 32X (スーパー32X) codenamed Project Mars, is a hardware add-on to the Sega Mega Drive created by Sega, allowing the system to play Sega 32X-branded cartridges. It is the second of two major add-ons for the system, the other being the Sega Mega CD, and as the name suggests, was designed to extend the console's lifespan by giving it the ability to play "32-bit" games, seen by many as the logical upgrade to the "16-bit" library offered by such consoles as the Mega Drive and the Super Nintendo Entertainment System. In the interests of simplicity Sega Retro uses a simplified "Sega 32X" name for the unit, though the official name differs depending on regions of the world. In Japan, it was distributed under the name Sega Super 32X, in North America, the Sega Genesis 32X, in Europe and Australia (and other countries that use PAL), the Sega Mega Drive 32X, in Brazil, the Mega 32X and in South Korea, the Super 32X.
HardwareThe Sega 32X is a reasonably large and heavy "mushroom-shaped" unit which plugs into the Mega Drive's cartridge slot. It cannot function as an independant machine, however unlike the Power Base Adapter, doubles up as a passthrough device allowing normal Mega Drive games to still be played (allowing the 32X to be a permanent addition to the console). The 32X also plays its own cartridges which are designed to take advantage of the enhancements of the system. The 32X came with ten coupons and several plastic spacers, ensuring it can work with most versions of the Mega Drive console. The 32X is often criticised for its setup, requiring another power adapter and a second physical connection to the Mega Drive console from the back of the unit. If the user also has a Mega CD, this means no less than three power adapters are required (plus a fourth for a television), all designed so that the transformer was located around the plug area. Due to the extra space required just to plug the console into the wall, Sega eventually released their own Sega Power Strip in North America. Furthermore the Mega Drive to 32X cable is extremely rare to find due to the bespoke nature of the consoles' sockets. The 32X brings several visual upgrades to the Mega Drive, including being able to display more colors on-screen (32768 at once, which was an important requirement for games featuring full-motion video and had hence been a common complaint with the Sega Mega CD), enhanced scaling and rotation, and additional 3D graphics capabilities provided by its two Hitachi 32-bit RISC processors. Audio capabilities were also upgraded, including the addition of QSound technology, which enables multidimensional sound that allows a regular stereo audio signal to approximate the 3D sounds heard in everyday life (similar to binaural recording). The 32X is compatible with the Sega Mega CD, allowing the user to play one of six enhanced Sega Mega CD 32X games. All 32X consoles have regional lockout chips, meaning that 32X games from one region cannot be played on 32X consoles from a different one without modifications. There are some exceptions however, such as FIFA Soccer 96. HistoryWith the release of the Super Famicom in Japan and the Super NES in North America, Sega needed to leapfrog in order to catch up to Nintendo in the technological department. The Sega Mega CD (aka Sega CD) hadn't worked as well as Sega wanted it to. The company had various hardware development projects underway, some using System 16 arcade technology, others being completely fresh ideas. On January 8, 1994, Hayao Nakayama, then CEO of Sega, ordered his company to make a 32-bit cartridge based console that would be in stores by Christmas 1994. This would at first be referred to under the codename "Project Jupiter". But during development it soon became clear that CD technology was the way forward, and the project was turned into the Sega Saturn. Meanwhile, Hideki Sato and some other Sega of Japan engineers travelled to North America to collaborate with Sega of America's Joe Miller. Initial plans were drawn up to produce a new Sega Mega Drive with more colors and a 32-bit processor. Miller thought that an add-on to the Mega Drive would be a better idea, because he felt that gamers would not buy another console between the Mega Drive and Sega Saturn. This project was codenamed Project Mars, with Sega of America at the helm, and was soon officially titled the "Sega 32X". The 32X was primarily envisioned as a system which would extend the life of the Sega Mega Drive/Genesis and provide revenue while the installed userbase of the Sega Saturn slowly grew. The video-gamer public first got a glimpse at the Summer 1994 CES in Chicago, Illinois. The console was unmasked as the 32X, with a price projection of $170, at a gamers' day, held by Sega of America on September 1994. It was released in mid-November 1994 in North America for $150, the same month that the Sega Saturn was released in Japan. It was then released in Japan in December 1994, and Europe in January 1995 for £150. Only 500,000 consoles had been produced for North American distribution, yet orders were in the millions. Games had been rushed for the system in order to be shipped for the Christmas season and they came with errors in programming. Some ports were found to be incomplete, which is evident in Doom as many levels are missing and musical scores are scarce. Complaints trickled in from consumers claiming that their 32X was not working with their Mega Drive/Genesis or television, forcing Sega to give away adapters. Since this was an expensive add-on system, Sega decided to offer a £50 discount on games with the console in Europe. However, the offer came in the form of rebate vouchers which were difficult to take advantage of. Just like its North American counterpart, this console was initially popular. Orders exceeded one million, but not enough were produced, and shortage supply problems arose. Two games, Darxide and FIFA Soccer '96, were only released for the PAL 32X. Darxide has often been awarded the title of "Best 32X Game". In Japan, the 32X was largely ignored, much like the Mega Drive and Mega CD before it. Consumers saw no reason to back the 32X as the Sega Saturn had already been released, and Sega of Japan abandoned it within a year. The 32X was also released in Brazil and suffered a similar fate to its North American and European counterparts. To make matters worse six games were released under the "Sega CD 32X" label, making use of both the Sega Mega CD and 32X add-ons so that they could benefit from CD quality audio and increased graphical capabilities. With all these Sega consoles on the market (Mega Drive, Mega CD, 32X, Mega CD 32X, Sega Saturn, Game Gear and even the Master System) customers were often left confused as to which software would work with which machine/add-on. By mid-1995 Sega executives realized their blunder and it was too late. Developers and licensees had abandoned this console in favor of what they perceived to be a true 32-bit console, the Sega Saturn. Even though the 32X add-on was a 32-bit system, the games weren't taking the full advantages of system's capabilities. Many games were 2D, rushed or slightly upgraded Mega Drive/Genesis titles. Customers perceived the Sega Saturn and the Sony PlayStation as the true next-generation consoles, and abandoned the 32X as doubts had arisen of Sega's promise to support it. Others chose to skip the 32X completely, citing its expensive price. Store shelves became littered with unwanted Sega 32X systems, and prices for a new system dropped as low as $19.95 in the US. Sega planned a console named the Sega Neptune, which would have been a Mega Drive and 32X in one. However, by the time a prototype was developed, the Sega Saturn was due for release in the west, and it was presumed unprofitable. The 32X ceased production by 1996 worldwide. The last game made for the 32X was Spider-Man: Web of Fire. The 32X badly damaged Sega's reputation, which was further tarnished when the Sega Saturn failed to compete with the Sony PlayStation/Nintendo 64 outside of Japan. It is often said Sega never truly recovered, and hence ultimately left the console business altogether. The Sega 32X fiasco is now considered one of the most badly planned console releases of all time. By the end of its lifespan there were 34 games released for the 32X, six of which are Mega CD 32X games. Romance of the Three Kingdoms IV: Wall of Fire was the only Japanese exclusive game. Technical specifications
GamesGames marked with asterisks(*) are enhanced versions of previous Sega Mega CD-only games, taking advantage of the 32X's improved graphics, which require both the 32X and Mega CD in order to be played (see Sega Mega CD 32X).
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