Difference between revisions of "Mil-CD"

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'''Mil-CD''' was a compact disc storage format created by [[Sega]] in 1998 to add multimedia features to normal CDs for use on the [[Sega Dreamcast]]. The extent that Mil-CD was used is unknown, however as code was not authenticated, [http://www.dcemu.co.uk/vbulletin/threads/26670-History-of-Dreamcast-Hombrew-%28retrorevival-co-uk%29 it allowed hackers to run their own code on the Dreamcast], opening the way to [[:Category:Unlicensed Dreamcast games|homebrew games]] and demos from the Dreamcast's early years.
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{{sub-stub}}'''Mil-CD''' ('''M'''usic '''I'''nteractive '''L'''ive'''-CD''', 見るCD) was a compact disc storage format created by [[Sega]] in 1998 to add multimedia features to normal CDs for use on the [[Sega Dreamcast]].
  
Later models of the Dreamcast in North America and Europe are said to lack Mil-CD support.
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Mil-CD was envisoned as an enhanced format for music, but with no major record labels willing to back the format, only eight Mil-CD albums were released, all of which were exclusive to Japan. However, the Mil-CD technology became (in)famous for other reasons, as its lack of security allowed the format to be exploited, paving the way for unlicensed software to boot on the Dreamcast console, and by extension, opening a market for software piracy.
==Known Discs==
 
:''note: this list may be incomplete''
 
*'''''[[Space Channel 5 MIL-CD]]''''' (1999)
 
*'''''Kita e. White Illumination: Pure Songs and Picture'''''<br>A soundtrack and character art/profile CD for [[Hudson]]/[[Red]]'s Dreamcast game ''[[Kita e. White Illumination]]'' released by an unknown company [http://www.generasia.com/wiki/%22Kita_e.%22_White_Illumination_Pure_Songs_and_Picture presumably] on 25 June 1999.
 
*'''''Heartbreak Diary'''''<br>a CD single by Japanese pop group [http://ja.wikipedia.org/wiki/Deeps dps]. [http://www.generasia.com/wiki/Heartbreak_Diary_%28deeps%29 Supposedly] released by an unknown company on 22 July 1999. It is also believed (same source) that the song ''Heartbreak Diary'' was used to promote the Mil-CD format in Japan.
 
  
{{Dreamcast}}
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While burning entire games en masse to [[GD-ROM]]s was (and still is) unfeasible for unlicensed Dreamcast developers, Dreamcasts supporting Mil-CD discs can boot code from commonly found CD-Rs. Often by compressing (or removing) audio tracks from the game, a typical Dreamcast game can be stored on a CD-R with relative ease.
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To combat piracy, while acknowledging the failure of the Mil-CD format, Sega removed Mil-CD support from later Dreamcast models. Mil-CD support is not immediately obvious, however systems manufactured after November 2000 (distinguishable both by the barcode and the use of "Sega Corporation" as a company name (which coincidentally became official on November 1st) generally lack Mil-CD support.
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==Discs==
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{{#dpl:
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|categorymatch=Mil-CD
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|namespace=
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|include={ReleasesMusic}:cd_date_jp
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|order=
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|ordermethod=
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|mode=userformat
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|secseparators=\n* ''[[%PAGE%]]'' (²{year¦,}²)
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}}
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==Magazine articles==
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{{mainArticle|{{PAGENAME}}/Magazine articles}}
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==External links==
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*[http://web.archive.org/web/20010314190533/http://www.sega.co.jp/milcd/home.html About Mil-CD (Sega)] (Japanese Archive)
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*[http://www.dricas.com/special/milcd/index.html About Mil-CD (Dricas)] (Japanese)
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*[http://www.dcemu.co.uk/vbulletin/threads/26670-History-of-Dreamcast-Hombrew-%28retrorevival-co-uk%29 Dreamcast Hack]
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==References==
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<references />
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[[Category:Mil-CD]]
 
[[Category:Dreamcast hardware]]
 
[[Category:Dreamcast hardware]]

Latest revision as of 03:07, 1 November 2024

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Mil-CD (Music Interactive Live-CD, 見るCD) was a compact disc storage format created by Sega in 1998 to add multimedia features to normal CDs for use on the Sega Dreamcast.

Mil-CD was envisoned as an enhanced format for music, but with no major record labels willing to back the format, only eight Mil-CD albums were released, all of which were exclusive to Japan. However, the Mil-CD technology became (in)famous for other reasons, as its lack of security allowed the format to be exploited, paving the way for unlicensed software to boot on the Dreamcast console, and by extension, opening a market for software piracy.

While burning entire games en masse to GD-ROMs was (and still is) unfeasible for unlicensed Dreamcast developers, Dreamcasts supporting Mil-CD discs can boot code from commonly found CD-Rs. Often by compressing (or removing) audio tracks from the game, a typical Dreamcast game can be stored on a CD-R with relative ease.

To combat piracy, while acknowledging the failure of the Mil-CD format, Sega removed Mil-CD support from later Dreamcast models. Mil-CD support is not immediately obvious, however systems manufactured after November 2000 (distinguishable both by the barcode and the use of "Sega Corporation" as a company name (which coincidentally became official on November 1st) generally lack Mil-CD support.

Discs

Magazine articles

Main article: Mil-CD/Magazine articles.

External links

References