Wondermega

Wondermega / X'Eye
Manufacturer: Sega, JVC/Victor
Release Date RRP Code JP (Victor) 1992-04-01 ¥82,80082,800 RG-M1 JP (Sega) 1992-04-24 ¥79,80079,800 HWM-5010 JP (Victor M2) 1993-07-02 ¥59,80059,800 RG-M2 US 1994-04 $499.95499.95 RG-M10BU

The Wondermega (ワンダーメガ) is a combined Sega Mega Drive and Sega Mega-CD unit created by Victor. It was initially released in 1992 as the first "combo" unit of its kind, seeing a North American release as the X'Eye in 1994.

Hardware

Four models of Wondermega were produced between 1992 and 1994, all sharing a similar set of features albeit with different case designs. Primarily the Wondermega serves as a high-end Mega Drive and Mega-CD unit, with composite and S-Video television outputs built into the unit in addition to the standard RF.

Also included is a digital signal processor (DSP) for audio enhancement, a MIDI output and two microphone inputs for use as a karaoke machine.

Models

There were several models of the Wondermega, though sales never reached that of the standard Mega Drive or Mega CD units, due to the Wondermega's substantial price.

Wondermega, Victor RG-M1 Model

The first Wondermega model, the RG-M1 is as described above, shipping with Wondermega Collection, a compilation disc that includes Quiz Scramble, Flicky, Pyramid Magic and Paddle Fighter. However, at ¥82,800 the system was priced well above the cost of a combined Mega Drive (¥21,000 at launch) and Mega-CD (¥49,800 at launch, totalling ¥70,800 (although prices for both would have dropped significantly by 1992)).

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  Console

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  CD area

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  DSP preset buttons

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  Karaoke buttons for recording/mixing

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  Power/reset buttons, controller ports

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  Audio/video output and MIDI output

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  Victor-branded gamepad

Wondermega, Sega Model

By the end of April 1992 Sega had released its own Wondermega model for ¥3,000 less and an added motorised disc door, which automatically opens or closes at the touch of a button.

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  Console

Wondermega M2, Victor RG-M2 Model

Sweeping changes were made in the RG-M2 model, released by Victor in 1993. The DE-9 controller ports were moved to the back, and in their place, an infrared receiver. M2 wireless controllers are very different in design from Sega's models and feature six buttons. The RG-M2 also employs numerous cost-cutting measures, resulting in a slightly smaller unit with a sleeker design.

While Sega 32X compatibility is maintained, the design means that the disc drive door cannot be opened completely with a 32X attached. Victor offered a "32-bit upgrade service" for ¥5,000, which would see the lid replaced with a new design capable of opening when a 32X is attached. The result partially obscures the disc drive internals but largely alleviates the problem. Curiously Victor maintained this service until 2013 - 20 years after the system's debut.

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  Console, now with infrared wireless controllers

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  Karaoke and headphone volume dials

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  Audio/video output, with extra controller ports

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  Wireless control pad

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  Wired control pad

X'Eye

During the spring of 1994, JVC released the Wondermega RG-M2 as the X'Eye in the United States, albeit with several features removed. The S-video connector was dropped in favor of the 9-pin AV port used by the Mega Drive II (although some X'Eyes lack this) and the wireless controllers were dropped, with standard 9-pin controller ports in place of the M2's infrared receiver.

The first batch of X'Eye consoles work with the Sega 32X add-on, although similarly to the M2 above, the 32X blocks the lid of the disc drive from opening completely (potentially causing issues with some Sega Mega-CD 32X games which require discs to be swapped). A second batch of X'Eye consoles lack the aforementioned 9-pin AV port, and so cannot function with a 32X.

The X'Eye was packaged with Prize Fighter, Compton's Interactive Encyclopedia and a Karaoke CD that included the songs Achy Breaky Heart and Two Princes.

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  Console

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  Bottom

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  A/V output

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  With 32X connected

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  JVC-branded control pad

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  Manuals & Samplers

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Magazine articles

Main article: Wondermega/Magazine articles.

Promotional material

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  JP print advert (Victor model)

• Wondermega MD JP PrintAdvert 3.jpg

  JP print advert 2 (Victor model)

• Wondermega MD JP PrintAdvert.jpg

  JP print advert (Sega model)

Print advert in Electronic Gaming Monthly (US) #59: "June 1994" (1994-xx-xx)

Releases

Japan

Box	Name	Date & Price	Console	Label	Hardware	Software	Documentation
	Wondermega			RG-M1		Control Pad	Wondermega Collection
	Wondermega					Control Pad	Wondermega Collection
	Wondermega M2			RG-M2		Control Pad

United States

Box	Name	Date & Price	Console	Label	Hardware	Software	Documentation
	X'Eye			RG-M10BU		Control Pad	Karaoke Top Hit Sampler Prize Fighter Compton's Interactive Encyclopedia
	X'Eye			RG-M10BU		Control Pad	Karaoke Top Hit Sampler Prize Fighter Compton's Interactive Encyclopedia

External links

• Sega of Japan catalogue page (Japanese)