Difference between revisions of "Advanced Pico Beena"

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{{ConsoleBob
 
{{ConsoleBob
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| logos=[[File:AdvancedPicoBeena Logo.png]]
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| logo=AdvancedPicoBeena Logo.png
 
| consoleimage=AdvancedPicoBeena.jpg
 
| consoleimage=AdvancedPicoBeena.jpg
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| imgwidth=300
 
 
| name=
 
| name=
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| maker=[[Sega Toys]]
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| maker=[[Sega Toys]], [[Applause Technologies]]
 
| variants=
 
| variants=
 
| add-ons=
 
| add-ons=
 
| processor=
 
| processor=
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| releases={{releases
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| releases={{releasesBeena
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| beena_date_jp=2005-08-05
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| beena_date_jp=2005-08-06{{ref|https://web.archive.org/web/20050622023947/http://www.beena.jp:80/index.html}}
 +
| beena_rrp_jp=12,800e{{ref|https://web.archive.org/web/20050622023947/http://www.beena.jp:80/index.html}}
 
}}
 
}}
 
}}
 
}}
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{{stub}}The '''Advanced Pico Beena''' (アドバンスピコ・ビーナ) is a video game console released by [[Sega Toys]] in August of 2005 and the successor to the [[Sega Pico]]. Similar to its predecessor, the Advanced Pico Beena is aimed at children between the ages of 2 and 8 and stands primarily as an educational device. It has since been streamlined further, and is now commonly referred to simply as the '''Beena''' (ビーナ) or '''BeenaLite''' (ビーナLite).
+
{{stub}}<section begin=intro />The '''Advanced Pico Beena''' (アドバンスピコ・ビーナ), meaning "Be Natural"{{ref|https://web.archive.org/web/20050622023947/http://www.beena.jp:80/index.html}} is a video game console jointly developed by [[Sega Toys]] and [[Applause Technologies]]{{ref|https://web.archive.org/web/20090105185333if_/http://www.applause-tech.com/pdfs/news/pr20050405_e.pdf}}. It was released in August of 2005 and is the successor to the [[Sega Pico]]. Similar to its predecessor, the Advanced Pico Beena is aimed at children between the ages of 2 and 8 and stands primarily as an educational device. It has since been streamlined further, and is now commonly referred to simply as the '''Beena''' (ビーナ) or '''BeenaLite''' (ビーナLite).
  
−
Unlike the Sega Pico, the Advanced Pico Beena has not been released outside of Japan, and is maintained entirely by the Sega Toys division of the company (which also took control of the original Pico later in its lifespan). Though the console has not been officially discontinued, no games have been released for the system since July 2011.
+
Unlike the Sega Pico, the Advanced Pico Beena has not been released outside of Japan, and is maintained entirely by the Sega Toys division of the company (which also took control of the original Pico later in its lifespan). The final game released for the platform was ''[[Cars 2 Racing Beena: Mezase! World Champion!]]'' in 2011. The Beena continued to be produced after the release of its final game until it was officially discontinued two years later in 2013.
 +
<section end=intro />
  
 
==Hardware==
 
==Hardware==
Line 25: Line 26:
 
Newer Beena models can be powered by batteries as well as through an [[AC adaptor]], and unlike the Pico, all Beenas have built-in speakers (similar to the [[Wii]] Remote). The system is also compatible with SD cards which can be used to save game progress. The Beena also offers score ranking and playtime which can be set by a parent, as well as superior graphics and sound.
 
Newer Beena models can be powered by batteries as well as through an [[AC adaptor]], and unlike the Pico, all Beenas have built-in speakers (similar to the [[Wii]] Remote). The system is also compatible with SD cards which can be used to save game progress. The Beena also offers score ranking and playtime which can be set by a parent, as well as superior graphics and sound.
  
−
The technical specifications of the Beena are not currently known, however the system is known to have a 32-bit ARM7TDMI CPU clocked at 81MHz.
+
===Technical Specifications===
 +
The following specifications originate from a product catalog provided by the on-board LSI chip's manufacturer [[Applause Technologies]]{{ref|http://web.archive.org/web/20070517042956/http://www.applause-tech.com/en_US/products/ap2010.html}}{{ref|http://web.archive.org/web/20060110211908/http://www.applause-tech.com/ja_JP/products/ap2010.html}}.
  
−
==Release==
+
{{multicol|
−
Translation issues mean that little is known about the Beena's performance in Japanese markets. It is assumed to have been unsuccessful - Sega Toys expected to ship 250,000 units before the end of 2005, but by November 2006 had only sold 150,000 units. By May 2008 more than 350,000 units had been sold.
+
* LSI chip: Sega Toys 9H0-0008 (Applause Technologies AP2010)
 +
:* CPU: 32-bit ARM7TDMI clocked at 81MHz (Input Clock: 27MHz)
 +
:* On-Chip ROM: 128KB
 +
:* On-Chip RAM: 16KB
 +
* Graphics: Composite Video Output
 +
:* Resolution: NTSC (704×480), PAL (704×576 / 704×480)
 +
:* Color palette: 32768 colors (BGR555)
 +
:* Sprite plane: 128 sprites on screen
 +
* External RAM: 512KB x 16-Bit x 2 Banks (16MB) SDRAM (ICSI IC42S16100-7TG{{ref|http://web.archive.org/web/20221205163823/https://www.semiee.com/file/EOL/ICSI-IC42S16100.pdf}} / ESMT M12L16161A-7T{{ref|http://web.archive.org/web/20220314083539/https://www.esmt.com.tw/upload/pdf/ESMT/datasheets/M12L16161A(2Q).pdf}})
 +
* Pen Tablet
 +
:* Resolution: 176×122 / 352×244
 +
* Audio
 +
:* Input: 8-bit Mono
 +
:* Output: 12-bit Stereo
 +
:* MIDI: SMF format, 32-voice polyphony
 +
:* Speech coding: CELP (8kHz / 16kHz) encoded with Speex-1.0.4
 +
* Serial interface: UART (RS-232C, 16-byte FIFO × 1ch, 1.152Mbps maximum baud rate)
 +
* Debug interface: JTAG
 +
}}
 +
 
 +
===Models===
 +
{{mainArticle|Beena consoles}}
 +
 
 +
==History==
 +
===Release===
 +
Sega Toys expected to ship 250,000 units before the end of 2005, but by November 2006 had only sold 150,000 units. By May 2008 more than 350,000 units had been sold.
 +
 
 +
The Beena's poor sales were presumably caused by the success of the [[Nintendo DS]], which was released a year earlier.
 +
 
 +
===Successor===
 +
In August 2024, [[Sega Fave]] announced the [[ePico]], the successor of Beena{{ref|https://web.archive.org/web/20240820054840/https://www.segatoys.co.jp/epico/}}{{ref|1=https://web.archive.org/web/20240820054459/https://preservetube.com/watch?v=sFJKW_xkk4I}}{{ref|1=https://web.archive.org/web/20240820054112/https://preservetube.com/watch?v=yzj7FhZ3DQc}}. The console is planned to be released in Japan on October 2024 with at least two games being confirmed: ''[[Soreike! Anpanman: Hajimete Dekita yo! Oboeta yo! Anpanman Hitori de Deki Chatta!]]''{{ref|https://web.archive.org/web/20240820055516/https://www.segatoys.co.jp/epico/software/anpanman/}} and ''[[Disney Princess / Magical Academy]]''{{ref|https://web.archive.org/web/20240820055731/https://www.segatoys.co.jp/epico/software/disneyprincess/}}.
  
−
==List of Games==
+
==Games==
 +
===List of games===
 
<!--Note: Romanisations may be incorrect.-->
 
<!--Note: Romanisations may be incorrect.-->
 
{{multicol|
 
{{multicol|
 
*''[[Beena Town e Youkoso]]'' (2005)
 
*''[[Beena Town e Youkoso]]'' (2005)
 
*''[[Partner In TV! o-Uchi ni Wan-chan ga Yattekita]]'' (2005)
 
*''[[Partner In TV! o-Uchi ni Wan-chan ga Yattekita]]'' (2005)
 +
*''[[Soreike! Anpanman Hajimete Kaketa yo! Oboeta yo! Hiragana Katakana: Gojuuon Board Kinou-tsuki]]'' (2005)
 
*''[[Futari wa Pretty Cure Max Heart]]'' (2005)
 
*''[[Futari wa Pretty Cure Max Heart]]'' (2005)
−
*''[[Soreike! Anpanman Hajimete Kaketa yo! Oboeta yo! Hiragana Katakana: Gojuuon Board Kinou-tsuki]]'' (2005)
+
*''[[Kouchuu Ouja Mushiking: Mori no Tami no Densetsu: Minna de Tanken! Kouchuu no Mori]]'' (2005)
−
*''[[Kazoku Minna no Nouryoku Trainer]]'' (2005)
+
*''[[Pocket Monsters Advanced Generation Pokémon Suuji Battle!!]]'' (2005)
 
*''[[Doraemon Tanoshiku o-Keiko Hiragana Katakana]]'' (2005)
 
*''[[Doraemon Tanoshiku o-Keiko Hiragana Katakana]]'' (2005)
−
*''[[Pocket Monsters Advanced Generation Pokemon Suuji Batoru!!]]'' (2005)
 
−
*''[[Shoku Iku Series 1 Soreike! Anpanman: Sukikirainai Ko Genki na Ko!]]'' (2005)
 
−
*''[[Meitantei Conan Kanzen Suiri! Suu to Zukei no Nazo]]'' (2005)
 
 
*''[[Game ga Ippai Kikansha Thomas]]'' (2005)
 
*''[[Game ga Ippai Kikansha Thomas]]'' (2005)
−
*''[[Kouchuu Ouja Mushi King: Mori no Tami no Densetsu: Minna de Tanken! Kabutomushi no Mori]]'' (2005)
+
*''[[Kazoku Minna no Nouryoku Trainer]]'' (2005)
−
*''[[Doraemon Tanoshii En Seikatsu Youchien Hoikuen]]'' (2005)
+
*''[[Shoku Iku Series 1 Soreike! Anpanman: Sukikirai Nai Ko Genki na Ko!]]'' (2005)
−
*''[[Oshare Majo: Love And Berry Cute ni Oshare]]'' (2005)
+
*''[[Meitantei Conan: Kanzen Suiri! Kazu to Zukei no Nazo]]'' (2006)
 
*''[[Narumiya Mezzo Piano Oshare & Lesson]]'' (2006)
 
*''[[Narumiya Mezzo Piano Oshare & Lesson]]'' (2006)
−
*''[[Sen'you Ehon Soft Futari wa Pretty Cure Splash Star]]'' (2006)
+
*''[[Doraemon Tanoshii En Seikatsu Youchien Hoikuen]]'' (2006)
−
*''[[Tomika de Asobou!]]'' (2006)
+
*''[[Futari wa Pretty Cure Splash Star]]'' (2006)
−
*''[[Cinnamoroll Cafe Cinnamon de o-Tetsudai]]'' (2006)
+
*''[[GoGo Sentai Boukenger Kazu to Katachi o Oboeyou!]]'' (2006)
 +
*''[[Oshare Majo Love And Berry: Cute ni Oshare]]'' (2006)
 +
*''[[Tomica de Asobou!]]'' (2006)
 +
*''[[Cinnamoroll: Cafe Cinnamon de o-Tetsudai]]'' (2006)
 +
*''[[Nihongo de Asobo]]'' (2006)
 
*''[[Point Gakushuu 10-masu Keisan]]'' (2006)
 
*''[[Point Gakushuu 10-masu Keisan]]'' (2006)
 +
*''[[Point Gakushuu Kakijun]]'' (2006)
 
*''[[Point Gakushuu Tokei]]'' (2006)
 
*''[[Point Gakushuu Tokei]]'' (2006)
−
*''[[Nihongo de Asobo]]'' (2006)
+
*''[[Kouchuu Ouja Mushiking: Nebu-Hakase to Kazu Katachi ni Challenge!]]'' (2006)
−
*''[[Point Gakushuu Kakijun]]'' (2006)
 
−
*''[[Kabutomushi Ouja Mushi King Nebu-Hakase to Kazu Katachi ni Challenge!]]'' (2006)
 
 
*''[[Doraemon Chinou Daikaihatsu! Waku Waku Game Land]]'' (2006)
 
*''[[Doraemon Chinou Daikaihatsu! Waku Waku Game Land]]'' (2006)
−
*''[[Shimajirou no Eigo Activity Ehon ABC Park de Asobou!]]'' (2006)
+
*''[[Shimajirou no Eigo Activity Ehon: ABC Park de Asobou!]]'' (2006)
−
*''[[Chi'iku Drill Oshare Majo: Love and Berry Moji Kazu Chie Asobi]]'' (2007)
+
*''[[Chiiku Drill Oshare Majo Love and Berry: Moji Kazu Chie Asobi]]'' (2007)
−
*''[[Gen'eki Toudai-sei ga Tsukutta! 'Dekiru Ko ni Naru Seikatsu Shuukan Dragon Sakurayouji-hen': 1000-nin no Toudai-sei o Tettei Bunseki]]'' (2007)
+
*''[[Geneki Toudai-sei ga Tsukutta! 'Dekiru Ko ni Naru Seikatsu Shuukan Dragon Sakura Youji-hen']]'' (2007)
−
*''[[Soft Oden-kun Oden Mura no Tanoshii Nakama-tachi]]'' (2007)
+
*''[[Chiiku Drill Pocket Monsters Diamond & Pearl: Moji Kazu Chie Asobi]]'' (2007)
−
*''[[Soft Pururun~h! Shizuku-chan Asonde Tanoshiku Nouryoku Up]]'' (2007)
+
*''[[Oden-kun: Oden Mura no Tanoshii Nakama-tachi]]'' (2007)
 +
*''[[Pururun! Shizuku-chan: Asonde Tanoshiku Nouryoku Up]]'' (2007)
 
*''[[Taiko no Tatsujin Ongaku Lesson]]'' (2007)
 
*''[[Taiko no Tatsujin Ongaku Lesson]]'' (2007)
−
*''[[Chi'iku Drill Pocket Monsters Diamond & Pearl Moji Kazu Chie Asobi]]'' (2007)
+
*''[[Meet Bub: Bub to Eigo Tanken]]'' (2010)
−
*''[[Meet Bub Bub to Eigo Tanken]]'' (2010)
 
 
*''[[Soreike! Anpanman Waku Waku Eigo Game!]]'' (2011)
 
*''[[Soreike! Anpanman Waku Waku Eigo Game!]]'' (2011)
−
*''[[Suite Pretty Cure Happy Oshare Harmony]]'' (2011)
+
*''[[Suite PreCure: Happy Oshare Harmony]]'' (2011)
 
}}
 
}}
  
−
===SD Card===
+
===[[SD Card Reader]] support===
 
{{multicol|
 
{{multicol|
−
*''[[Anpanman no Waku Waku Game o-Ekaki]]'' (2007)
+
*''[[Anpanman no Waku Waku Game Oekaki]]'' (2007)
 +
*''[[Juuken Sentai Gekiranger: Niki Niki! Kazu Katachi ni Challenge!]]'' (2007)
 
*''[[Omoiyari o Hagukumu Katarikake Ehon Miffy to Asobou Utaou]]'' (2007)
 
*''[[Omoiyari o Hagukumu Katarikake Ehon Miffy to Asobou Utaou]]'' (2007)
−
*''[[Disney Tanoshii o-Ekaki o-Mise-ya-san o Tsukutchaou!]]'' (2008)
+
*''[[Yes! PreCure 5: Asonde Oboeyou Hiragana!]]'' (2007)
−
*''[[1-nichi 10-bun de E ga Jouzu ni Kakeru Beena]]'' (2008)
+
*''[[Disney Tanoshii Oekaki: o-Mise-ya-san o Tsukutchaou!]]'' (2007)
 +
*''[[1-nichi 10-pun de E ga Jouzu ni Kakeru Beena]]'' (2008)
 
*''[[Hello Kitty no Hiragana Katakana o-Namae Kaitemiyou!]]'' (2008)
 
*''[[Hello Kitty no Hiragana Katakana o-Namae Kaitemiyou!]]'' (2008)
−
*''[[Engine Sentai Go-Onger Mach de Oboeru! Aiueo!!]]'' (2008)
+
*''[[Engine Sentai Go-onger Mach de Oboeru! Aiueo!!]]'' (2008)
−
*''[[Yes! Precure 5 Lovelove Hiragana Lesson]]'' (2008)
+
*''[[Yes! PreCure 5 GoGo!: LoveLove Hiragana Lesson]]'' (2008)
 
*''[[Kamen Rider Kiva Hiragana Suuji Chie Battle!!]]'' (2008)
 
*''[[Kamen Rider Kiva Hiragana Suuji Chie Battle!!]]'' (2008)
 
*''[[Anpanman o Sagase!]]'' (2009)
 
*''[[Anpanman o Sagase!]]'' (2009)
 
*''[[Samurai Sentai Shinkenger Battle ga Ippai! Iza Mairu!]]'' (2009)
 
*''[[Samurai Sentai Shinkenger Battle ga Ippai! Iza Mairu!]]'' (2009)
 
*''[[Issho ni Henshin Fresh Pretty Cure]]'' (2009)
 
*''[[Issho ni Henshin Fresh Pretty Cure]]'' (2009)
−
*''[[Pocket Monsters Diamond & Pearl Pokemon o Sagase! Meiro de Daibouken!]]'' (2009)
+
*''[[Pocket Monsters Diamond & Pearl Pokémon o Sagase! Meiro de Daibouken!]]'' (2009)
 
*''[[Doraemon Waku Waku Sekai Isshuu Game: Asonde Oboeru Chizu Kokki]]'' (2010)
 
*''[[Doraemon Waku Waku Sekai Isshuu Game: Asonde Oboeru Chizu Kokki]]'' (2010)
 
*''[[Tensou Sentai Goseiger Super Battle Daishuugou!]]'' (2010)
 
*''[[Tensou Sentai Goseiger Super Battle Daishuugou!]]'' (2010)
−
*''[[Oshare ni Henshin Heartcatch Precure!]]'' (2010)
+
*''[[Oshare ni Henshin HeartCatch PreCure!]]'' (2010)
−
*''[[Pocket Monsters Best Wishes! Chinou Ikusei Pokemon Daiundoukai]]'' (2010)
+
*''[[Pocket Monsters Best Wishes! Chinou Ikusei Pokémon Daiundoukai]]'' (2010)
 
}}
 
}}
  
−
===With Accessories===
+
===With accessories===
 
{{multicol|
 
{{multicol|
 +
*''[[Disney Tanoshii o-Benkyou Series: Mic de Kantan ABC]]'' (2005)
 
*''[[Go! Go! Advance Drive: Muttsu no Machine ni Chousen da!]]'' (2005)
 
*''[[Go! Go! Advance Drive: Muttsu no Machine ni Chousen da!]]'' (2005)
−
*''[[Soreike! Anpanman Card de Tanoshiku Abc]]'' (2006)
+
*''[[Soreike! Anpanman Card de Tanoshiku ABC]]'' (2006)
 
*''[[Pashah to Henshin Beauty Academy]]'' (2006)
 
*''[[Pashah to Henshin Beauty Academy]]'' (2006)
−
*''[[Densha Daishuugou! Card de Asobou]]'' (2007)
+
*''[[Densha Daishuugou! Card de Asobou]]'' (2006)
 +
*''[[Kodai Ouja Kyouryuu King D-Kids Adventure: Dino Slash! Kyouryuu Battle !!]]'' (2007)
 
*''[[Cooking Beena: o-Ryouri Dekichatta!]]'' (2007)
 
*''[[Cooking Beena: o-Ryouri Dekichatta!]]'' (2007)
−
*''[[Kodai Ouja Dinosaur King D-Kids Adventure Dino Slash! Kyouryuu Battle!!]]'' (2008)
+
*''[[Oshare Beena: o-Mise de Kisekae Make Haircut]]'' (2008)
−
*''[[Oshare Beena o-Mise de Kisekae Make Haircut]]'' (2008)
+
*''[[Soreike! Anpanman Doki Doki! Rescue Drive: Car Navi-tsuki]]'' (2008)
−
*''[[Soreike! Anpanman Doki Doki! Rescue Drive: Car Navi-tsuki]]'' (2009)
 
 
*''[[Soreike! Anpanman o-Mise ga Ippai! TV de o-Ryouri Tsukutchao]]'' (2009)
 
*''[[Soreike! Anpanman o-Mise ga Ippai! TV de o-Ryouri Tsukutchao]]'' (2009)
−
*''[[Disney Tanoshii o-Benkyou Series Mic de Kantan Abc]]'' (2009)
+
*''[[Shooting Beena Toy Story 3: Woody to Buzz no Daibouken!]]'' (2010)
−
*''[[Shooting Beena Toy Story 3 Woody to Buzz no Daibouken!]]'' (2010)
+
*''[[Cars 2 Racing Beena: Mezase! World Champion!]]'' (2011)
−
*''[[Cars 2 Racing Beena Mezase! World Champion!]]'' (2011)
 
 
}}
 
}}
  
−
==Models==
+
==Magazine articles==
−
:''Note: reorganise at a later date''
+
{{mainArticle|{{PAGENAME}}/Magazine articles}}
−
{{Scanbox
+
 
−
| console=Beena
+
==Promotional material==
−
| region=JP
+
{{gallery
−
| front=Beena JP Box Front.jpg
+
|{{gitem|Beena lite cm 2009.flv|BeenaLite CM (circa 2009)}}
−
| square=yes
+
|{{gitem|Beena lite pv 2009.flv|BeenaLite PV (circa 2009)}}
−
| item1=AdvancedPicoBeena.jpg
 
−
| item1name=Console
 
−
}}{{Scanbox
 
−
| console=Beena
 
−
| region=JP (pink)
 
−
| front=
 
−
| square=yes
 
−
| item1=Beena Pink.jpg
 
−
| item1name=Console
 
−
}}{{Scanbox
 
−
| console=Beena
 
−
| region=JP (Anpanman)
 
−
| front=
 
−
| square=yes
 
−
| item1=Beena Anpanman.jpg
 
−
| item1name=Console
 
−
}}{{Scanbox
 
−
| console=BeenaLite
 
−
| region=JP (blue)
 
−
| front=BeenaLite JP Box Front Blue.jpg
 
−
| square=yes
 
−
| item1=BeenaLite Blue.jpg
 
−
| item1name=Console
 
−
}}{{Scanbox
 
−
| console=BeenaLite
 
−
| region=JP (pink)
 
−
| front=BeenaLite JP Box Front Pink.jpg
 
−
| square=yes
 
−
| item1=BeenaLite Pink.jpg
 
−
| item1name=Console
 
−
}}{{Scanbox
 
−
| console=BeenaLite
 
−
| region=JP (Anpanman)
 
−
| front=BeenaLite JP Box Front Anpanman.jpg
 
−
| square=yes
 
−
| item1=BeenaLite Anpanman.jpg
 
−
| item1name=Console
 
−
| item2=AoS Beena JP Box.jpg
 
−
| item2name=''[[Anpanman o Sagase!]]''
 
−
}}{{Scanbox
 
−
| console=BeenaLite
 
−
| region=JP (Pocket Monsters)
 
−
| front=BeenaLite JP Box Front PocketMonsters.jpg
 
−
| square=yes
 
−
| item1=BeenaLite Blue.jpg
 
−
| item1name=Console
 
−
| item2=PMBWCIPD Beena Box Front.jpg
 
−
| item2name=''[[Pocket Monsters Best Wishes! Chinou Ikusei Pokémon Daiundoukai|Pocket Monsters<br/>Best Wishes!]]''
 
 
}}
 
}}
−
{{Clear}}
+
 
 +
==Gallery==
 +
<gallery>
 +
AdvancedPicoBeena Logo.png|Older logo
 +
BeenaLite logo.png|Newer logo
 +
</gallery>
 +
 
 +
==Patents==
 +
<gallery>
 +
WO2006107071A1.pdf|WO2006107071A1
 +
WO2006107072A1.pdf|WO2006107072A1
 +
</gallery>
 +
 
 +
==References==
 +
<references/>
 +
 
 
{{Sega_Consoles}}
 
{{Sega_Consoles}}
 
[[Category:Hardware]]
 
[[Category:Hardware]]
 
[[Category:Advanced Pico Beena]]
 
[[Category:Advanced Pico Beena]]

Latest revision as of 14:10, 1 September 2024

AdvancedPicoBeena Logo.png
AdvancedPicoBeena.jpg
Advanced Pico Beena
Manufacturer: Sega Toys, Applause Technologies
Release Date RRP Code
Advanced Pico Beena
JP		 ¥12,800e[1] ?

This short article is in need of work. You can help Sega Retro by adding to it.

The Advanced Pico Beena (アドバンスピコ・ビーナ), meaning "Be Natural"[1] is a video game console jointly developed by Sega Toys and Applause Technologies[2]. It was released in August of 2005 and is the successor to the Sega Pico. Similar to its predecessor, the Advanced Pico Beena is aimed at children between the ages of 2 and 8 and stands primarily as an educational device. It has since been streamlined further, and is now commonly referred to simply as the Beena (ビーナ) or BeenaLite (ビーナLite).

Unlike the Sega Pico, the Advanced Pico Beena has not been released outside of Japan, and is maintained entirely by the Sega Toys division of the company (which also took control of the original Pico later in its lifespan). The final game released for the platform was Cars 2 Racing Beena: Mezase! World Champion! in 2011. The Beena continued to be produced after the release of its final game until it was officially discontinued two years later in 2013.


Hardware

The Advanced Pico Beena is built similarly to the original Sega Pico, though is more powerful from a technology point of view and has a much more streamlined design. Similar to the Pico, the Beena is a large, plastic foldable unit which acts as a hybrid between traditional cartridge-based video game consoles, tablets and electronic book readers. Cartridges are book shaped and the system keeps track of which pages have been turned, and the device connects to a television, with the users manipulating the game with the touch screen, magic pen and face buttons.

Like later models of the Pico, the Beena does not have a solid base to keep the top half of the unit upright, instead relying on a much thinner retractable plastic stand. Beenas can, however, be flipped 360 degrees, and every page of the cartridge can be manipulated by the magic pen (as opposed to just the last page as seen with the original Pico). This effectively creates a tidier, tabletop touch-screen device, hiding the buttons for games which do not need them. The Magic Pen can also be removed in the Beena, and a second can be aded for two player play.

Unlike the Sega Pico, the Advanced Pico Beena caters for both left and right handed children, with two sets of Red, White, Green, Orange and Purple buttons.

Newer Beena models can be powered by batteries as well as through an AC adaptor, and unlike the Pico, all Beenas have built-in speakers (similar to the Wii Remote). The system is also compatible with SD cards which can be used to save game progress. The Beena also offers score ranking and playtime which can be set by a parent, as well as superior graphics and sound.

Technical Specifications

The following specifications originate from a product catalog provided by the on-board LSI chip's manufacturer Applause Technologies[3][4].

  • LSI chip: Sega Toys 9H0-0008 (Applause Technologies AP2010)
  • CPU: 32-bit ARM7TDMI clocked at 81MHz (Input Clock: 27MHz)
  • On-Chip ROM: 128KB
  • On-Chip RAM: 16KB
  • Graphics: Composite Video Output
  • Resolution: NTSC (704×480), PAL (704×576 / 704×480)
  • Color palette: 32768 colors (BGR555)
  • Sprite plane: 128 sprites on screen
  • External RAM: 512KB x 16-Bit x 2 Banks (16MB) SDRAM (ICSI IC42S16100-7TG[5] / ESMT M12L16161A-7T[6])
  • Pen Tablet
  • Resolution: 176×122 / 352×244
  • Audio
  • Input: 8-bit Mono
  • Output: 12-bit Stereo
  • MIDI: SMF format, 32-voice polyphony
  • Speech coding: CELP (8kHz / 16kHz) encoded with Speex-1.0.4
  • Serial interface: UART (RS-232C, 16-byte FIFO × 1ch, 1.152Mbps maximum baud rate)
  • Debug interface: JTAG

Models

Main article: Beena consoles.

History

Release

Sega Toys expected to ship 250,000 units before the end of 2005, but by November 2006 had only sold 150,000 units. By May 2008 more than 350,000 units had been sold.

The Beena's poor sales were presumably caused by the success of the Nintendo DS, which was released a year earlier.

Successor

In August 2024, Sega Fave announced the ePico, the successor of Beena[7][8][9]. The console is planned to be released in Japan on October 2024 with at least two games being confirmed: Soreike! Anpanman: Hajimete Dekita yo! Oboeta yo! Anpanman Hitori de Deki Chatta![10] and Disney Princess / Magical Academy[11].

Games

List of games

SD Card Reader support

With accessories

Magazine articles

Main article: Advanced Pico Beena/Magazine articles.

Promotional material

BeenaLite CM (circa 2009)
BeenaLite PV (circa 2009)

Gallery

  • Older logo

  • Newer logo

Patents

  • WO2006107071A1

  • WO2006107072A1

References

  1. ↑ 1.0 1.1 1.2 http://www.beena.jp:80/index.html (Wayback Machine: 2005-06-22 02:39)
  2. ↑ http://www.applause-tech.com/pdfs/news/pr20050405_e.pdf (Wayback Machine: 2009-01-05 18:53)
  3. ↑ http://www.applause-tech.com/en_US/products/ap2010.html (Wayback Machine: 2007-05-17 04:29)
  4. ↑ http://www.applause-tech.com/ja_JP/products/ap2010.html (Wayback Machine: 2006-01-10 21:19)
  5. ↑ https://www.semiee.com/file/EOL/ICSI-IC42S16100.pdf (Wayback Machine: 2022-12-05 16:38)
  6. ↑ https://www.esmt.com.tw/upload/pdf/ESMT/datasheets/M12L16161A(2Q).pdf (Wayback Machine: 2022-03-14 08:35)
  7. ↑ https://www.segatoys.co.jp/epico/ (Wayback Machine: 2024-08-20 05:48)
  8. ↑ https://preservetube.com/watch?v=sFJKW_xkk4I (Wayback Machine: 2024-08-20 05:44)
  9. ↑ https://preservetube.com/watch?v=yzj7FhZ3DQc (Wayback Machine: 2024-08-20 05:41)
  10. ↑ https://www.segatoys.co.jp/epico/software/anpanman/ (Wayback Machine: 2024-08-20 05:55)
  11. ↑ https://www.segatoys.co.jp/epico/software/disneyprincess/ (Wayback Machine: 2024-08-20 05:57)
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