Video CD Card

From Sega Retro

Saturn MK-80310.jpg
Video CD Card
Made for: Sega Saturn
Manufacturer: Sega Enterprises, Ltd., Victor, Hitachi
Release Date RRP Code
Sega Saturn
JP 		¥19,80019,800 HSS-0119
Sega Saturn
JP
(Victor) 		¥19,800 (20,394)19800e[2] RG-VC1
Sega Saturn
JP
(Victor Twin Operator) 		¥21,000 (21,630)21000e[3][4] RG-VC2
Sega Saturn
JP
(Victor Twin Operator 2) 		¥18,000 (18,540)18000e[5] RG-VC3
Sega Saturn
EU 		MK-80310
Sega Saturn
UK 		£169.99169.99[6] MK-80310

The Video CD Card, called the Movie Card (ムービーカード) in Japan, is a daughtercard-like peripheral that plugs into the Sega Saturn (through the door the battery is accessed from), and, as the name suggests, allows the Saturn to play Video CDs (VCDs), otherwise known as the White Book disc standard. The Video CD Card also allows the hardware playback of MPEG-1 (version 1) video in certain games, leading to higher quality full motion video for use in cutscenes (and occasionally, gameplay).

The Video CD Card was released seven months after the console's debut in Japan. Nevertheless, the Video CD card stands as one of the earliest attempts at transforming a system traditionally used for games into something more akin to a general entertainment device. It was released in Japan and Europe and variants were manufactured by Sega, Victor, and Hitachi. Many cards are also capable of handling the rarely seen Photo CDs (or Beige Book disc standard), and there have also been reports of Saturn third-party video CD cards.

Functions

In addition to Video CDs, the Video CD Card also allows for playback of all Photo CD-encoded discs. While releases for this format generally consisted of multimedia presentations and basic combinations of video and audio, it also granted enough interactivity to allow video games to be created specifically for Photo CD. By installing the Video CD Card (or earlier Photo CD Operating System), users can play both Saturn games and Photo CD games, expanding the system's already-considerable software library.

History

With the Photo CD and Video CD standards only being finalised in 1992 and 1993 respectively, the formats were still relatively new when the Saturn was released, and similar to the relationship with the Xbox 360 and HD-DVD standard, and PlayStation 3 and Blu-Ray standard seen in later generations, for a short while the Saturn became a spokesperson for the two technologies, attempting to persuade consumers to switch from analogue systems such as VHS.

In Japan, the Movie Card was launched alongside the Photo CD Operating System and Electronic Book Operator on 23 June 1995 and retailed for ¥19,800. Europe received a similar package, save for the Electronic Book Operator shortly afterwards. The card fits in all versions of the Japanese Saturn (the Hi-Saturn naturally comes with MPEG capability), with early Japanese Saturns (i.e. the gray ones) having the connector for it on a second circuit board inside the unit, and later ones having the connector on the main board. Despite not being sold in the North America, all variants of the Video CD Card should work in a US Saturn, but the system's language may need to be changed.

For various reasons, most notably the lack of copy protection, the Video CD format failed to take off in Japan, and despite early pushes, was also rejected in Europe. Though the VCD format made it to North America, the Saturn's Video CD Card did not, and all three regions stuck dismissed the concept in favour of earlier technologies, usually treating the Saturn purely as a video game console. By 1995 the DVD standard had been created, and became the dominant form of video media during the late 1990s and 2000s (something the PlayStation 2 greatly benefited from). The Photo CD standard, though initially popular, became a loss-making venture and was retired between 2001 and 2004.

VCDs, however, remained popular in smaller Asian markets, such as mainland China, Taiwan, Hong Kong, Singapore, Malaysia, Thailand, Burma, Indonesia, Philippines, Vietnam, India, Pakistan and Bangladesh. For this reason, VCD compatibility was given to some Asian Sega Saturns straight out of the box. Sony also produced VCD-compatible PlayStations with the model number SCPH-5903 (with third-party accessories giving standard PlayStations VCD support).

Primarily the Video CD Card is used by Saturn enthusiasts to upgrade the quality of in-game movies. VCD resolution is 352x288 for PAL and 352x240 for NTSC. The Saturn does not support the extensions to the standard, namely the SVCD or XVCD technologies.

Variants

Several variants of the Video CD Card exist, with the primary differences being native Photo CD capability (or the lack of) and whether the television technology used is NTSC or PAL. For cards which lack native Photo CD support, the alternative for reading Photo CDs is to use the Photo CD Operator, however this requires disc-swapping.

Code Name Brand Region Photo CD support Television standard
HSS-0119 Movie Card
ムービーカード 		Sega JP No NTSC
MK-80310 Video CD Card Sega EU No PAL
RG-VC1 Video CD Decoder
ビデオCDデコーダー 		Victor JP No NTSC
RG-VC2 Video CD & Photo CD Twin Operator
ビデオCD＆フォトCD ツインオペレーター 		Victor JP Yes NTSC
RG-VC20 Video CD/Photo CD Decoder JVC AS Yes NTSC/PAL
RG-VC3 Video CD & Photo CD Twin Operator
ビデオCD＆フォトCD ツインオペレーター 		Victor JP Yes NTSC/PAL
RG-VC3S Twin Operator Hatsubai 3 Shuunen Kinen Special Pack
ツインオペレーター発売3周年記念スペシャルパック 		Victor JP Yes NTSC/PAL
HiSaturn Card (model 1)
ハイサターンカード 		Hitachi JP No NTSC
HiSaturn Card (model 2)
ハイサターンカード 		Hitachi JP No NTSC
Model 2 Video CD console Sega AS No NTSC/PAL

Compatibility

Games


Lunar: Silver Star Story MPEG-ban is the only game that requires the Video CD Card to function.

The PAL MK-80310 Video CD Card is incompatible with all of these games. The US version of Gungriffon still has MPEG movies on the disc but that they are not played during the game. Instead, the in-game movies have been apparently converted to Cinepak or Truemotion.

Demos

Magazine articles

Main article: Video CD Card/Magazine articles.

Promotional material

Logo-pdf.svg
RG-VC1 Print advert in Sega Saturn Magazine (JP) #1995-04: "April 1995" (1995-03-08)
Logo-pdf.svg
Logo-pdf.svg
RG-VC2 Print advert in Sega Saturn Magazine (JP) #1996-12: "1996-12 (1996-07-26)" (1996-07-12)
also published in:
Logo-pdf.svg
Logo-pdf.svg
RG-VC3 Print advert in Sega Saturn Magazine (JP) #1997-30: "1997-30 (1997-09-05)" (1997-08-22)
Logo-pdf.svg
Logo-pdf.svg
RG-VC3 Print advert in Famitsu (JP) #445: "1997-06-27" (1997-06-13)
also published in:
Logo-pdf.svg

Photo gallery

  • EU model (front)

  • EU model (back)

  • JP model (front)

  • JP model (back)

  • JP RG-VC1 model (front)

  • JP RG-VC1 model (back)

  • JP RG-VC2 model (front)

  • JP RG-VC2 model (back)

  • AS RG-VC20 model (front)

  • AS RG-VC20 model (back)

  • JP RG-VC3 model (front)

  • JP RG-VC3 model (back)

  • JP HiSaturn model 1 (front)

  • JP HiSaturn model 1 (back)

  • JP HiSaturn model 2 (front)

  • JP HiSaturn model 2 (back)

  • AS Video CD model 2 (front)

  • AS Video CD model 2 (back)

  • AS Video CD manual (front)

  • AS Video CD back (front)

Physical scans

Saturn, JP (HSS-0119)
Saturn HSS-0119 box-2.jpgNospine-small.pngSaturn HSS-0119 box-1.jpg
Cover
Saturn, JP (HSS-0119) (alt)
MovieCard Saturn JP Box Front Alt.jpg
Cover
Saturn, JP (RG-VC1)
Saturn RG-VC1 box.jpg
Cover
Saturn, JP (RG-VC2)
Saturn RG-VC2 box-2.jpgNospine.pngSaturn RG-VC2 box-1.jpg
Cover
Saturn, JP (RG-VC3)
RG-VC3 Saturn JP Box Back.jpgNospine-small.pngSaturn RG-VC3 box.jpg
Cover
Saturn, JP (RG-VC3S)
Saturn RG-VC3S Box.jpg
Cover
Saturn, EU (MK-80310)
VideoCDCard Saturn EU Box Top.jpg
VideoCDCard Saturn EU Box Back.jpgVideoCDCard Saturn EU Box Spine2.jpgSaturn MK-80310 box.jpgVideoCDCard Saturn EU Box Spine.jpg
VideoCDCard Saturn EU Box Bottom.jpg
Cover
Saturn, AS† (RG-VC20)
Saturn RG-VC20 box back.jpgNospine.pngSaturn RG-VC20 box.jpg
Cover
Saturn, SG/MY/BN
Nospine.pngSaturn HSS-0119 SG MY BN Box Front.png
Cover

External links

  • Sega of Japan catalogue pages (Japanese): Saturn

References

  1. ↑ http://sega.jp/fb/segahard/ss/movie.html (Wayback Machine: 2013-02-09 18:37)
  2. ↑ Sega Saturn Magazine, "April 1995" (JP; 1995-03-08), page 7
  3. ↑ File:MoonCradle Saturn JP Spinecard.jpg
  4. ↑ Sega Saturn Magazine, "1996-12 (1996-07-26)" (JP; 1996-07-12), page 25
  5. ↑ Sega Saturn Magazine, "1997-30 (1997-09-05)" (JP; 1997-08-22), page 92
  6. ↑ 6.0 6.1 Computer & Video Games, "November 1995" (UK; 1995-10-13), page 17
  7. ↑ Sega Magazine, "August 1995" (UK; 1995-07-13), page 36
  8. ↑ Sega Saturn Magazine, "1996-13 (1996-08-09)" (JP; 1996-07-26), page 12
  9. ↑ Sega Saturn Magazine, "1997-31 (1997-09-12)" (JP; 1997-08-29), page 86
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