Difference between revisions of "Advanced Pico Beena"

From Sega Retro

m (Text replace - "Wakuwaku" to "Waku Waku")
Line 12: Line 12:
 
}}
 
}}
 
}}
 
}}
−
{{sub-stub}}The '''Advanced Pico Beena''' (アドバンスピコ・ビーナ) is the successor to the [[Sega Pico]], though only released in Japan. It was initially released in August of 2005, and still has games in production to this day.  
+
{{sub-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).
  
−
Like the Pico, the Advanced Pico Beena is a educational console system aimed at children between the ages of 2 and 8. Cartridges are book shaped, and games respond to inputs via the touch screen and magic pen. The system is also compatible with SD cards which can be used to save game progress.
+
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 Pico there is an ability to play without a TV, graphics and sound are far more advanced, two players via a second pen is possible, there is also score ranking and playtime which can be set by a parent.
+
==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.
  
−
The console was streamlined at some point with its top handle removed and its logo slighly altered. It is now simply known as the '''Beena''' (ビーナ) (or '''BeenaLite''').
+
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 {{RedButton}}, {{WhiteButton}}, {{GreenButton}}, {{OrangeButton}} and {{PurpleButton}} 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.
 +
 
 +
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.
 +
 
 +
==Release==
 +
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.
  
 
==List of Games==
 
==List of Games==

Revision as of 14:18, 22 October 2012

AdvancedPicoBeena.jpg
Advanced Pico Beena
Manufacturer: Sega Toys
Release Date RRP Code

This teeny-tiny article needs some work. You can help us by expanding it.

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).

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.

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.

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.

Release

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.

List of Games

SD Card

With Accessories

Models

Note: reorganise at a later date
Beena, JP
Beena JP Box Front.jpg
Cover
AdvancedPicoBeena.jpg
Console
Beena, JP (pink)

Beena Pink.jpg
Console
Beena, JP (Anpanman)

Beena Anpanman.jpg
Console
BeenaLite, JP (blue)
BeenaLite JP Box Front Blue.jpg
Cover
BeenaLite Blue.jpg
Console
BeenaLite, JP (pink)
BeenaLite JP Box Front Pink.jpg
Cover
BeenaLite Pink.jpg
Console
BeenaLite, JP (Anpanman)
BeenaLite JP Box Front Anpanman.jpg
Cover
BeenaLite Anpanman.jpg
Console
BeenaLite, JP (Pocket Monsters)
BeenaLite JP Box Front PocketMonsters.jpg
Cover
BeenaLite Blue.jpg
Console
Sega Home Video Game Systems
83 84 85 86 87 88 89 90 91 92 93 94 95 96 97 98 99 00 01 02 03 04 05 06 07 08 09 10 11
SG-1000 SG-1000 II Mega Drive Mega Drive II
SC-3000 Mega-CD Mega-CD II Genesis 3
Sega Mark III 32X Dreamcast
Master System Master System II
AI Computer Game Gear
Saturn
Pico Beena
Retrieved from "https://segaretro.org/index.php?title=Advanced_Pico_Beena&oldid=117142"