Difference between revisions of "Sega Pluto"
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The '''Sega Pluto''' is an unreleased video game console developed by [[Sega]] during the 1990s. The console's existence was kept away from the general public until April 2013, when a former Sega employee leaked details of the system onto the internet. | The '''Sega Pluto''' is an unreleased video game console developed by [[Sega]] during the 1990s. The console's existence was kept away from the general public until April 2013, when a former Sega employee leaked details of the system onto the internet. | ||
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The Sega Pluto would have been a cost-reduced [[Sega Saturn]] with built-in [[NetLink Internet Modem]] and hard drive, making it one of the first consoles to have internet support straight out of the box. It is unknown exactly how far the project was carried through before it was cancelled. - at least two prototypes were ever produced (Pluto 01 and Pluto 02, respectively), the first in 1996, the second presumably around the same time. | The Sega Pluto would have been a cost-reduced [[Sega Saturn]] with built-in [[NetLink Internet Modem]] and hard drive, making it one of the first consoles to have internet support straight out of the box. It is unknown exactly how far the project was carried through before it was cancelled. - at least two prototypes were ever produced (Pluto 01 and Pluto 02, respectively), the first in 1996, the second presumably around the same time. | ||
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Both Pluto prototypes have been found, though they lie in the hands of collectors. Both share the same shell but have minor aesthetic differences - Pluto 02 has the text "Sega Saturn" printed on the unit, and "Pluto 02" printed on the underside, while Pluto 01 lacks both of these things. Each have a North American BIOS which may suggest it was only ever intended for that market (most likely due to the NetLink technology being scarcely seen outside of this region). Pluto 01 also had a faulty disc drive door which did not fully close because of some missing parts that didn't make it in this first prototype version. It has been modded to be fully operational in February 2020. | Both Pluto prototypes have been found, though they lie in the hands of collectors. Both share the same shell but have minor aesthetic differences - Pluto 02 has the text "Sega Saturn" printed on the unit, and "Pluto 02" printed on the underside, while Pluto 01 lacks both of these things. Each have a North American BIOS which may suggest it was only ever intended for that market (most likely due to the NetLink technology being scarcely seen outside of this region). Pluto 01 also had a faulty disc drive door which did not fully close because of some missing parts that didn't make it in this first prototype version. It has been modded to be fully operational in February 2020. | ||
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According to a subsequent auction of Pluto 01, the system is 9 inches x 3½ inches x 14 inches in size, with an estimated weight of 5lbs. These are similar dimensions to a [[Sega Mega Drive|Sega Mega Drive 2]] connected to a [[Sega Mega-CD|Sega Mega-CD 2]]. It has been fully disassembled in February 2020 according to a video posted on YouTube, showing that this prototype is composed of: | According to a subsequent auction of Pluto 01, the system is 9 inches x 3½ inches x 14 inches in size, with an estimated weight of 5lbs. These are similar dimensions to a [[Sega Mega Drive|Sega Mega Drive 2]] connected to a [[Sega Mega-CD|Sega Mega-CD 2]]. It has been fully disassembled in February 2020 according to a video posted on YouTube, showing that this prototype is composed of: | ||
| − | + | *Stock Saturn components regarding the internal AC-DC adapter, | |
| − | + | *A custom motherboard specific to the Pluto, marked with the serial number 171-7211B, | |
| − | + | *A modem powered by a Rockwell RC288DPi chipset, typical of 28.8 kbs modems produced in 1995, | |
| − | + | *A 2.5" hard drive disk of 540 MB capacity, a typical Seagate ST9546A. | |
Both modem and hard drive are linked to the mainboard through expansion cards and aren't accessible from the console's BIOS screen. An operating cartridge or CD is presumably necessary to use them. | Both modem and hard drive are linked to the mainboard through expansion cards and aren't accessible from the console's BIOS screen. An operating cartridge or CD is presumably necessary to use them. | ||
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"Pluto" was likely just a code name and was unlikely to be used in marketing. | "Pluto" was likely just a code name and was unlikely to be used in marketing. | ||
Revision as of 20:14, 28 March 2020
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| Sega Pluto |
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| Manufacturer: Sega |
The Sega Pluto is an unreleased video game console developed by Sega during the 1990s. The console's existence was kept away from the general public until April 2013, when a former Sega employee leaked details of the system onto the internet.
The Sega Pluto would have been a cost-reduced Sega Saturn with built-in NetLink Internet Modem and hard drive, making it one of the first consoles to have internet support straight out of the box. It is unknown exactly how far the project was carried through before it was cancelled. - at least two prototypes were ever produced (Pluto 01 and Pluto 02, respectively), the first in 1996, the second presumably around the same time.
Both Pluto prototypes have been found, though they lie in the hands of collectors. Both share the same shell but have minor aesthetic differences - Pluto 02 has the text "Sega Saturn" printed on the unit, and "Pluto 02" printed on the underside, while Pluto 01 lacks both of these things. Each have a North American BIOS which may suggest it was only ever intended for that market (most likely due to the NetLink technology being scarcely seen outside of this region). Pluto 01 also had a faulty disc drive door which did not fully close because of some missing parts that didn't make it in this first prototype version. It has been modded to be fully operational in February 2020.
According to a subsequent auction of Pluto 01, the system is 9 inches x 3½ inches x 14 inches in size, with an estimated weight of 5lbs. These are similar dimensions to a Sega Mega Drive 2 connected to a Sega Mega-CD 2. It has been fully disassembled in February 2020 according to a video posted on YouTube, showing that this prototype is composed of:
- Stock Saturn components regarding the internal AC-DC adapter,
- A custom motherboard specific to the Pluto, marked with the serial number 171-7211B,
- A modem powered by a Rockwell RC288DPi chipset, typical of 28.8 kbs modems produced in 1995,
- A 2.5" hard drive disk of 540 MB capacity, a typical Seagate ST9546A.
Both modem and hard drive are linked to the mainboard through expansion cards and aren't accessible from the console's BIOS screen. An operating cartridge or CD is presumably necessary to use them.
"Pluto" was likely just a code name and was unlikely to be used in marketing.
Gallery
Pluto 01
Pluto 02
Pluto 02
Pluto 02
Pluto 02
Pluto 02
