Sega Mega-CD

Sega Mega-CD
Manufacturer: Sega
Variants: Sega Mega CD, Sega Mega CD II

The Sega Mega CD (Japanese: メガCD; in North America, simply Sega CD, because the "Mega" branding was not used and in South Korea, CD Aladdin Boy) is a hardware add-on developed by Sega for the Sega Mega Drive, first released in 1991. The device allows the user to play proprietary games which shipped on compact discs, audio CDs and CD+G discs. It also acts as an upgrade to the Mega Drive hardware, sporting an extra processor and increased RAM.

In many countries the Mega CD stands as the first video game console to utilise disc-based media rather than ROM cartridges.

Development

Development of the Mega CD was kept secret from the public and developers alike, with game programmers not knowing exactly what they were designing for until the Mega CD was revealed at the Tokyo Toy Show in Japan in 1991. The Mega CD was primarily aimed to compete against Sega Japanese rival, NEC, whose flagship video game console, the PC Engine had both a CD add-on device and was largely out-performing the Sega Mega Drive in terms of sales.

Sega's plan had always been to release add-ons for the Mega Drive, and had in fact tested this concept with the earlier SG-1000 II and Sega Mark III consoles, however in 1988 it was widely believed the console's expansion port would be used by the unreleased Mega Drive Floppy Disk Drive, not something reliant on compact discs. The Mega CD turned out to be one of the first systems to utilise compact discs, a form of media considered at the time to be far less expensive to produce than cartridges, while sporting a higher storage capacity. With several hundred megabytes of space as opposed to less than four, there was enough space to allow for quality audio in games at the expense of greater load times.

The Mega CD can be used in conjunction with a Sega 32X to run one of the six Sega Mega CD 32X games.

Official Variants

Like the Mega Drive, there were two major revisions of the add-on by Sega and several special combination units.

Mega CD

The original Mega CD utilises a CD tray, and sits underneath the Mega Drive (or Mega Drive 2). It is a reasonably large add-on designed to be permanently attached to the console at all times.

• 

  US model

• 

  US model (connected to Sega Genesis)

• 

  EU model (connected to Sega Mega Drive)

• 

  JP model (connected to Sega Mega Drive)

• 

  KR model (connected to Super Aladdin Boy)

• 34ilj6g.jpg

  IT model (connected to Mega Drive)

Mega CD 2

A cost-reduced model of the Mega CD was produced and released around the same period as the cost-reduced Mega Drive 2. This version sits on the right hand side of the Mega Drive, though continues to act as a new base for the console, and is a top-loading device. Fewer mechanical parts means less is likely to go wrong with a Mega CD 2, and is designed to look sleeker and more appealing. The Mega CD 2 is designed primarily with the Mega Drive 2 in mind, however various plastic spacers mean that can original Mega Drive can be attached without problems.

• 

  US model

• 

  US model (connected to Sega Genesis II)

• 

  EU model

• 

  EU model (connected to Sega Mega Drive II)

• 

  JP model (connected to Sega Mega Drive II

• 

  KR model (connected to Super Aladdin Boy)

Mega Drive Combos: JVC Wondermega/X'eye, Pinoeer LaserActive, Sega Multi-Mega, and Aiwa Mega CD

Main articles: Wondermega, LaserActive, Sega Multi-Mega, Aiwa Mega CD

Combination Mega Drive/Mega CD units were developed over the course of the Mega CD's lifetime. The Wondermega and LaserActive are standalone consoles; the LaserActive also plays Laserdiscs. The Multi-Mega is a portable audio CD player that can play Mega Drive and Mega CD games when plugged in to wall power and a TV. The Aiwa Mega CD is a Mega Drive/Mega CD packed into Aiwa's consumer-level portable CD stereos.

Release

Japan

The Sega Mega CD was released first in Japan on December 12, 1991. Its retail price was ¥49,800 and had two launch titles, both third party: Wolf Team's Sol-Feace and Micronet's Heavy Nova. Initially, it was a great success because of the inherent advantages of CDs (high storage capability and the low cost of media). The fact that it had a nice RPG catalog also helped.

The system sold 100,000 units during the first year of release in Japan. However, cost issues prevented more units from being sold. Despite these, the system was supported and received games until 1995, the last being Surgical Strike.

United States

Sega of Japan did not speak to Sega of America about their Mega CD plans for that market until a few months after the Tokyo Toy Show in Japan. The renamed Sega CD was announced at the Chicago CES on November 1992.

In the end, the Sega CD failed to convince American gamers, mostly due to the cost of the console. There just was not enough value for the price. Moreover, the game experience was little improved.

Sound was likely to be better if it included some CD audio tracks, but on the average, conventional games looked the same. Sega wanted to showcase the power of the Sega CD, and so focused on "full motion video" (FMV) games, something which was incredibly hard to do on cartridge-based media. Sega insisted on licensing and producing primarily "full motion video" games similar to earlier Laserdisc games, that were universally panned by game reviewers. The single speed CD drive added load times to all games, and the 64-color graphics and underpowered processor (for video rendering) made these full-motion video games look terrible.

There was also more competition in the US. The CD-i by Philips, the 3DO by Panasonic, Atari Jaguar CD and the Neo Geo CD were all available by 1994 (as well as the Turbografx-CD - the North American verison of the PC Engine CD). Neither system was successful, but most offered an advantage over the Sega CD due to being able to support more colours on screen at once (and therefore higher quality full motion videos).

Europe

In Europe the Mega CD was highly overpriced. It was released in April 1993 in the United Kingdom for £270. Its userbase was small as only 4% of European Mega Drive owners bought a Mega CD. Unlike the Mega Drive, which was a very successful console in Europe, only 60,000 of the 70,000 Mega CDs shipped to Europe were sold by August 1993.

Some European countries (Spain for instance), wouldn't get the original Mega CD at all, but instead would get the cost-reduced Mega CD II, which also slowed sales.

Australia

The Australian release for the Mega CD was April 19, 1993.

Brazil

Like other Sega consoles, the Sega Mega CD was distributed in Brazil by Tectoy. The original Mega CD model did not reach the region (aside from imports), so the Mega CD II was released in Brazil under the name "Sega CD".

South Korea

Again like other Sega consoles, both the Mega CD and Mega CD II were distributd in South Korea by Samsung. They were renamed "CD Aladdin Boy" and "CD Aladdin Boy II" respectively.

Technical Specifications

CPU

Main CPU: Motorola 68000 16-bit processor running at 12.5 MHz

(Same as the Mega Drive/Genesis. Acts as a coprocessor along with the Genesis CPU. One must note that the Genesis clock speed is slower (7.67 MHz))

Graphics

• Graphics Processor: Custom ASIC
• Number of simultaneous colors on screen: 64 (Using programming tricks, this limit is increased to 128 colors via raster effects)
• Colors available in Cinepak and TruVideo modes: 128 to 256 colors
• Video size from 1/4 to full screen
• Advanced compression scheme
• Software-based upgrade

RAM

• Main RAM: 6 Mbit
• PCM samples: 512 Kbit
• CD-ROM data cache: 128 Kbit
• 64 Kbit Internal Backup RAM
• 1 Mbit Memory Card CD BackUp RAM Cart

The Mega CD also features sprite enhancement effects such as scaling and rotation, similar to that of the Super Famicom/SNES Mode 7.

Storage

• 500 MB CD-ROM discs (equivalent to 62 min of audio data)
• Access time: 800 ms
• 1/4 screen B/W footage video: 1.5 to 4 hours
• 1/4 screen color footage: 45 minutes
• CD-ROM drive transfer rate: 150 Kbytes/s (1x)

(Above specs prior to compression)

Boot ROM

• Size: 1 Mb (128 KB)
• Used for games, CD player, CD+G viewing, karaoke (limited to Japanese systems) and regional lockout
• Region codes: "NA" = North America (NTSC), "EU" = Europe (PAL)

Boot ROM Revisions

Boot ROM Version	Machine	Download	CRC32
0.98	Pioneer LaserActive	0.98 (NA) (info) ()	8c3e3945
		0.98 (Asia) (info) ()	9f5771d2
1.00	Sega/Mega CD Model 1 Victor WonderMega 1 (Asia) Sega WonderMega (Asia)	1.00l (Asia, NTSC) (info) ()	f18dde5b
		1.00p (Asia, NTSC) (info) ()	9d2da8f2
		1.00s (Asia, NTSC) (info) ()	79f85384
		1.00s (Asia, PAL) (info) ()	550f30bb
		1.00w (Sega WonderMega Bios) (info) ()	d21fe71d
		1.00 (NA) (info) ()	e7e3afe2
		1.00 (EU) (info) ()	529ac15a
1.04	Pioneer LaserActive	1.04 (NA) (info) ()	2ed602d7
1.10	Sega CD Model 1 (minor update)	1.10 (NA) (info) ()	c6d10268
2.00	Sega/Mega CD 2 Victor WonderMega 2 (Asia) JVC X'Eye (NA)	2.00 (1st NA version) (info) ()	8af65f58
		2.00w (2nd NA version) (info) ()	9f6f6276
		2.00c (Asian version) (info) ()	dd6cc972
		2.00 (1st EU version) (info) ()	0507b590
		2.00w (2nd EU version) (info) ()	4d5cb8da
		2.00 (X'Eye) (info) ()	290f8e33
		2.00 (Wondermega) (info) ()	2b19972f1
2.11	Sega/Mega CD 2, Aiwa CSD GM1 (Japan)	2.11w (NA) (info) ()	2e49d72c
2.21	Sega Multimega (Europe & Japan), CDX (North America), Linguaphone Education Gear (Japan)	2.21x (MultiMega) (info) ()	aacb851e
		2.21x (CDX) (info) ()	d48c44b5

¹ The ZIP file contains two dumps, a "good" dump and a "bad" dump. The "bad" dump has an incorrect HINT vector, but is otherwise identical to the "good" dump. The CRC32 listed here is for the "good" dump.

Audio

The Mega CD adds 10 sound channels to the 10 provided by the Mega Drive's sound chips.

• CD Digital Audio
  • 2-channel stereo
  • 44.1 kHz sampling rate
• Ricoh RF5C164 PCM chip provides 8 sound channels:
  • Sound format: 8-bit sign/magnitude monaural PCM (with "stereo" support by allowing each channel to have different volumes on both left and right channels)
  • Maximum sample rate: 32 kHz

Other specifications:

• 16-bit DAC
• 8x internal over-sampling digital filter
• Frequency Range: 20 Hz - 20 KHz
• Signal-to-Noise Ratio: > 90 dB @ 1K
• Channel Separation: > 90 dB
• Input: Mixer cable for Genesis Model 1 compatibility.
• Output: Stereo RCA connectors.

Other

Dimensions: 301mm x 212.5 x 112.5
Weight: 1.4 kg (3.1 lbs)

Games

The five games marked with an asterisk(*) were later released in enhanced form, requiring both the Mega CD and 32X to be played, and taking advantage of the latter's improved graphics (see Sega Mega CD 32X).

• 3x3 Eyes: Seima Densetsu (1993)
• AX-101 (1994)
• A-Rank Thunder Tanjouhen (1993)
• The Adventures of Batman & Robin (1995)
• The Adventures of Willy Beamish (1993)
• After Armageddon Gaiden (1994)
• After Burner III (1992)
• Aisle Lord (1992)
• Alshark (1993)
• Android Assault: The Revenge of Bari-Arm (1994)
• Anetto Futatabi (1993)
• The Animals (1994)
• Aoki Ookami to Shiroki Mejika: Genchou Hishi (1993)
• Arcus I.II.III (1993)
• Arslan Senki (1993)
• Bakuden: The Unbalanced Zone (1994)
• Batman Returns (1993)
• Battle Frenzy (1995)
• Battlecorps (1993)
• BC Racers (1995)
• Bill Walsh College Football (1993)
• Black Hole Assault (1992)
• Bouncers (1995)
• Bram Stoker's Dracula (1993)
• Brutal: Paws of Fury (1993)
• Burai: Hachigyoku no Yuushi Densetsu (1992)
• Cadillacs and Dinosaurs: The Second Cataclysm (1994)
• Capcom no Quiz Tonosama no Yabou (1992)
• Captain Tsubasa (1994)
• Chuck Rock II: Son of Chuck (1992)
• Chuck Rock (1992)
• Cliffhanger (1993)
• Cobra Command (1992)
• Colors of Modern Rock (1993)
• Compton's Interactive Encyclopedia (1994)
• Corpse Killer (1994)*
• Cosmic Fantasy Stories (1992)
• Crime Patrol (1994)
• Cyborg 009 (1993)
• Daihoushinden (1994)
• Dark Seed (1993)
• Dark Wizard (1993)
• Death Bringer: The Knight of Darkness (1992)
• Demolition Man (1995)
• Detonator Organ (1992)
• Devastator (1993)
• Double Switch (1995)
• Dracula Unleashed (1993)
• Dragon's Lair (1994)
• Dune (1993)
• Dungeon Explorer (1994)
• Dungeon Master II: Skullkeep (1994)
• Dynamic Country Club (1993)
• Earnest Evans (1991)
• Earthworm Jim: Special Edition (1995)
• Ecco the Dolphin (1993)
• Ecco the Dolphin CD (1995)
• Ecco: The Tides of Time (1994)
• Egawa Suguro no Super League (1993)
• ESPN Baseball Tonight (1994)
• ESPN National Hockey Night (1994)
• ESPN NBA Hangtime '95 (1994)
• ESPN Sunday Night NFL (1994)
• Eternal Champions: Challenge from the Dark Side (1994)
• Eye of the Beholder (1994)
• F-1 Circus CD (1994)
• Fahrenheit (1995)*
• Fatal Fury Special (1995)
• Fhey Area (1992)
• FIFA International Soccer (1994)
• Final Fight CD (1993)
• Flashback: The Quest for Identity (1993)
• Flink (1994)
• Formula One World Championship: Beyond the Limit (1994)
• Frog Feast (2005)
• Funky Horror Band (1991)
• Gambler Jikko Chuushinha 2 (1992)
• Game no Kanzume: Sega Games Can Vol. 1 (1994)
• Game no Kanzume: Sega Games Can Vol. 2 (1994)
• Genei Toshi: Illusion City (1993)
• Ground Zero: Texas (1993)
• Heart of the Alien (1994)
• Heavy Nova (1991)
• Heimdall (1994)
• Hook (1992)
• INXS (1992)
• Iron Helix (1994)
• Ishii Hisaichi no Daisekai (1994)
• Jaguar XJ220 (1993)
• Jango World Cup (1993)
• Jeopardy! (1994)
• Joe Montana's NFL Football (1993)
• Jurassic Park (1993)
• Keio Flying Squadron (1993)
• Kids on Site (1994)
• Kris Kross (1992)
• The Lawnmower Man (1994)
• Lethal Enforcers II: Gun Fighters (1994)
• Lethal Enforcers (1993)
• Links: The Challenge of Golf (1995
• Loadstar: The Legend of Tully Bodine (1994)
• Lords of Thunder (1995)
• Lunar: Eternal Blue (1994)
• Lunar: The Silver Star (1992)
• Mad Dog II: The Lost Gold (1994)
• Mad Dog McCree (1993)
• Mahou no Shoujo: Silky Lip (1992)
• Mansion of Hidden Souls (1993)
• Marko's Magic Football (1994)
• Marky Mark and the Funky Bunch (1992)
• Masked Rider (1994)
• Mega Schwarzschild (1993)
• MegaRace (1994)
• Mickey Mania: The Timeless Adventures of Mickey Mouse (1994)
• Microcosm (1994)
• Midnight Raiders (1994)
• Might and Magic III: Isles of Terra (1993)
• Mighty Mighty Missile (2005)
• Mighty Morphin Power Rangers (1994)
• Mortal Kombat (1994)
• My Paint: The Animated Paint Program (1993)
• NBA Jam (1993)
• NFL Football Trivia Challenge (1994)
• NFL's Greatest: San Francisco vs. Dallas 1978-1993 (1993)
• NHL '94 (1993)
• Night Striker (1993)
• Night Trap (1992)*
• The Ninja Warriors (1993)
• Nostalgia 1907 (1993)
• Novastorm (1993)
• Panic! (1993)
• Pitfall: The Mayan Adventure (1994)
• Popful Mail (1994)
• Power Factory featuring C+C Music Factory (1992)
• Power Monger (1994)
• Prince of Persia (1993)
• Prize Fighter (1995)
• Pro Yakyuu Super League CD (1992)
• Psychic Dectective vol. 3: Psychic Detective Aya (1993)
• Psychic Dectective vol. 4: Psychic Detective Orgel (1993)
• Puggsy (1993)
• Quiz Scramble Special (1992)
• Racing Aces (1993)
• Radical Rex (1994)
• Ranma ½: Byukuran Aika (1993)
• RDF Global Conflict (1995)
• Record of Lodoss War JASPAC (1994)
• Revenge of the Ninja (1993)
• Revengers of Vengeance (1993)
• Rise of the Dragon (1992)
• Road Avenger (1992)
• Road Rash (1995)
• Robo Aleste (1993)
• Romance of the Three Kingdoms III: Dragon of Destiny (1993)
• Samurai Shodown (1995)
• The Secret of Monkey Island (1993)
• Sega Classics Arcade Collection (1993)
• Sengoku Denshou (1993)
• Sensible Soccer (1993)
• Sewer Shark (1992)
• Shadow of the Beast II (1994)
• Shadowrun (1996)
• Sherlock Holmes: Consulting Detective Vol. II (1992)
• Sherlock Holmes: Consulting Detective (1992)
• Shin Megami Tensei (1994)
• Shining Force CD (1994)
• Silpheed (1993)
• SimEarth (1993)
• Slam City with Scottie Pippen (1992)*
• The Smurfs (1995)
• Snatcher (1994)
• Sol-Feace (1991)
• Sonic the Hedgehog CD (1993)
• Soulstar (1994)
• Space Ace (1993)
• The Space Adventure (1995)
• Spider-Man vs. The Kingpin (1993)
• Star Strike (2000)
• Star Wars Chess (1993)
• Star Wars: Rebel Assault (1994)
• StarBlade (1994)
• Stellar Fire (1993)
• Supreme Warrior (1994)*
• Surgical Strike (1995)*
• Syndicate (1993)
• Tenbu: Mega CD Special (1992)
• Tenka Fubu (1991)
• The Terminator (1994)
• Theme Park (1995)
• The Third World War (1993)
• Thunderhawk (1993)
• Time Gal (1992)
• Tokyo Mahjong Gakuen (1996)
• Tomcat Alley (1994)
• Trivial Pursuit (1994)
• Urusei Yatsura: My Dear Friends (1994)
• Vay (1993)
• Warau Salesman (1993)
• Wheel of Fortune (1994)
• Who Shot Johnny Rock? (1993)
• Wild Woody (1995)
• Wing Commander (1994)
• Winning Post (1993)
• Wirehead (1995)
• Wolfchild (1993)
• Wonder Dog (1992)
• World Cup USA 94 (1994)
• WWF Rage in the Cage (1993)
• Yumimi Mix (1993)

Launch Titles

Japan

• Heavy Nova
• Sol-Feace

North America

• Black Hole Assault
• Chuck Rock
• Cobra Command
• INXS
• Marky Mark and the Funky Bunch
• Night Trap
• Sega Classics 4-in-1
• Sewer Shark
• Sherlock Holmes: Consulting Detective
• Sol-Feace

External Links

• Console Database - Sega Mega CD/Sega CD
• Sega CD Development Guide By Mask of Destiny.

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