Difference between revisions of "Sega Pico Models"

Revision as of 11:10, 24 October 2012

There are numerous variants of the Sega Pico console spread across the world. The console was officially supported between 1993 and 2005, and during this time many cosmetic changes and cost-cutting measures were put in place. For the most part, all models of Pico are technically identical and will run the same software.

Primarily there are two variants of the Pico hardware, the more durable pre-2000 "Kids Computer Pico" (キッズコンピュータ・ピコ) models, and the post-2000 cost-reduced "Kids Communication Pico" models. There, are, however, some exceptions detailed below.

Japan

HPC-0001

The very first model of the Kids Computer Pico was the HPC-0001, a variant only released in Japan which debuted in June 1993. The HPC-0001 is a yellow with a red base, and has a dash of dark blue. It is one of two models to have the unused DE-9 port on the side.

Console closed
Console opened
Side inputs/outputs
Expansion port

HPC-0003

The HPC-0003 release was a revised version of the previous HPC-0001 version of the console, with a few minor tweaks to the bodywork that debuted in 1994 (mainly the removal of the DE-9 port). No HPC-0002 model was released to the public.

Console closed and box)
Console opened
No more DE-9 port

HPC-0003A

The HPC-0003A is a very rare update to the HPC-0003. It is rumoured to have been targeted at schools, though this comment may be referring to the similar IMC-001 model by Imagineer. This version shares its color scheme with its North American and European counterparts, being cyan and purple. It is, however, the only Sega-branded Japanese model to adopt this colour scheme.

Console and box
Console opened
Console closed
Front of box
Back of box

HPC-0007

In 1997 Sega released the HPC-0007, which would become the "standard" Pico model for many years to come. The HPC-0007 is largely identical to the HPC-0003, but changes the middle piece of plastic to dark blue. Initial Asian and South Korean models of the Pico are based on the HPC-0007.

Console closed
Console opened

HPC-0008

In 2000 distribution rights were moved from Sega to Sega Toys, and light rebranding occurred. It is assumed HPC-0008 models were churned out quickly in preparation for the redesigned Kids Communication Pico. Alternatively it may have been repackaged leftover stock from other Asian markets.

Console closed
Console opened

HPC-0009

The most important change for the Pico occurred in 2001, when Sega Toys launched the Kids Communication Pico. Communication Picos are lighter models without thick blastic bases - they are supported instead by a thinner piece of foldable plastic, making them easier to store but signficantly less durable. Two types of HPC-0009 were available at launch - orange/white, or cyan/white.

Console closed
Console opened
Cyan/blue model. The console was also available in different color variants. Here's a cyan blue one.

Pico Pocket Monsters

This 2004 Pico release was given a Pokémon makeover in an attempt to revive sales. It is otherwise identical to the HPC-0009.

Console and box
Console closed
Front of box

Pico Anpanman

box
Console closed
Console opened

Pico Mushiking

Console closed
Console open

Pico Hamtaro

Pico JP HAM 1.jpg

Console and box
Pico JP HAM 2.jpg

Console closed
Pico JP HAM Box Front.jpg

Front of box

MIXT BOOK PLAYER COPERA

The Mixt Book Player Copera is the only unusual Pico model. It was released in 1993 by Yamaha and is based on the HPC-0001, but adds stereo sound output and an FM sound chip as well as a microphone and support for music composition. It also has two MIDI ports. Coperas are much rarer devices and its exclusive set of software is not compatible with regular Sega Picos.

Console closed
Console opened
A variety of different inputs/outputs

HIRAMEKI MIRAI KIDS IMC-001

The Hirameki Mirai Kids Pico model, presumably based on the HPC-0003A, is a rare variant released by Imagineer, potentially for schools. It adopts the cyan/purple colour scheme you may find elsewhere.

Pico JP HMK.jpg

Pics to probably be stoled from blog.

http://blogs.yahoo.co.jp/rig_veda/61101403.html

North America

MK49002

The MK49002 is the standard 1994 North American Sega Pico model, similar to the HPC-0007 in Japan but with a cyan/purple colour scheme. There are a few logo changes and the coloring is slightly different, but is otherwise identical.

Console closed
Console opened
Pen sensor board
Pico mainboard

MK49325

When Majesco were given the rights to distribute older Sega consoles in 1998, they produced this model of Pico in 1999, based on the Japanese HPC-0008. It was cheaper to manufacture, but like the Genesis 3 sales were sluggish in comparison to the original release. It can be identified by the console's non-colored logo and lack of Sega branding.

Console closed
Console opened

PAL Regions

Only one model of Pico is known to have been released in PAL regions, and is identical to the North American MK49002 model. The only difference is its adjustments required to work with PAL TV setups.

South Korea

Model 1

The Pico (피코) was surprisingly popular in South Korea, where it was initialy distributed by Samsung. This first model, being the most common, is similar to the North American and European designs, but again sports a different logo.

Model 2

A second model, based on the HPC-0007 was also released in the country.

Neo Pico

The HPC-0009 Kids Communication Pico was distributed in the country by Xity Enterprise. In South Korea it is known as the "Neo Pico" (네오피코).

Asia

A version of the Japanese HPC-0007 Pico, with some branding borrowed from the European variant, was distributed in "Asia". Which specific countries received the Pico is not yet known.

83	84	85	86	88	90	91	93	94	98	06
Sega Home Video Game Systems
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

@@ Line 1: / Line 1: @@
-Thanks to its popularity in Japan, the [[Sega Pico]] went through several hardware revisions in an attempt to cut costs.
+There are numerous variants of the [[Sega Pico]] console spread across the world. The console was officially supported between 1993 and 2005, and during this time many cosmetic changes and cost-cutting measures were put in place. For the most part, all models of Pico are technically identical and will run the same software.
+Primarily there are two variants of the Pico hardware, the more durable pre-2000 "Kids Computer Pico" (キッズコンピュータ・ピコ) models, and the post-2000 cost-reduced "Kids Communication Pico" models. There, are, however, some exceptions detailed below.
 ==Japan==
 ===HPC-0001===
-Known as the Kids Computer Pico (キッズコンピュータ・ピコ), the HPC-0001 was the first model of Sega Pico in Japan, and the world for that matter. It was first released in June 1993.
+The very first model of the Kids Computer Pico was the HPC-0001, a variant only released in Japan which debuted in June 1993. The HPC-0001 is a yellow with a red base, and has a dash of dark blue. It is one of two models to have the unused [[DE-9]] port on the side.
 <gallery>
 File:Pico JP HPC0001 1.jpg|Console closed
 File:Pico JP HPC0001 2.jpg|Console opened
 File:Pico JP HPC0001 3.jpg|Side inputs/outputs
-File:Pico JP HPC0001 4.jpg|Cartridge slot
+File:Pico JP HPC0001 4.jpg|Expansion port
 </gallery>
 ===HPC-0003===
-The HPC-0003 release was a revised version of the previous HPC-0001 version of the console, with a few minor tweaks to the bodywork that debuted in 1994. Strangely, no HPC-0002 model was released to the public.
+The HPC-0003 release was a revised version of the previous HPC-0001 version of the console, with a few minor tweaks to the bodywork that debuted in 1994 (mainly the removal of the [[DE-9]] port). No HPC-0002 model was released to the public.
 <gallery>
 File:Pico JP HPC0003 1.jpg|Console closed and box)
@@ Line 16: / Line 20: @@
 File:Pico JP HPC0003 3.jpg|No more [[DE-9]] port
 </gallery>
 ===HPC-0003A===
-A very rare update to the previous release by Sega/Imagineer targeted at schools. This version shares its color scheme with its North American counterparts.
+The HPC-0003A is a very rare update to the HPC-0003. It is rumoured to have been targeted at schools, though this comment may be referring to the similar IMC-001 model by [[Imagineer]]. This version shares its color scheme with its North American and European counterparts, being cyan and purple. It is, however, the only Sega-branded Japanese model to adopt this colour scheme.
 <gallery>
 File:Pico JP HPC0003A 1.jpg|Console and box
@@ Line 25: / Line 30: @@
 File:Pico JP HPC0003A Box Back.jpg|Back of box
 </gallery>
 ===HPC-0007===
-saw a jump to the HPC-0007, which saw a minor color change, more bodywork tweaks and a new range of software.
+In 1997 Sega released the HPC-0007, which would become the "standard" Pico model for many years to come. The HPC-0007 is largely identical to the HPC-0003, but changes the middle piece of plastic to dark blue. Initial Asian and South Korean models of the Pico are based on the HPC-0007.
 <gallery>
 File:Pico JP HPC0007 1.jpg|Console closed
 File:Pico JP HPC0007 2.jpg|Console opened
 </gallery>
 ===HPC-0008===
-There is very little difference between the HPC-0007 and HPC-0008, but rebranding occurred when Pico distribution rights were given to [[Sega Toys]]. The logo seen in the HPC-0007 is no longer colored.
+In 2000 distribution rights were moved from Sega to [[Sega Toys]], and light rebranding occurred. It is assumed HPC-0008 models were churned out quickly in preparation for the redesigned Kids Communication Pico. Alternatively it may have been repackaged leftover stock from other Asian markets.
 <gallery>
 File:Pico JP HPC0008 1.jpg|Console closed
 File:Pico JP HPC0008 2.jpg|Console opened
 </gallery>
 ===HPC-0009===
-The HPC-0009, is again a very different release, with  new color scheme selections, different buttons and now contains the ability to connect to the internet. This release debuted in 2001, though by this time, Pico sales were starting to slow in Japan. This version was dubbed the "Kids Communication Pico".
+The most important change for the Pico occurred in 2001, when Sega Toys launched the Kids Communication Pico. Communication Picos are lighter models without thick blastic bases - they are supported instead by a thinner piece of foldable plastic, making them easier to store but signficantly less durable. Two types of HPC-0009 were available at launch - orange/white, or cyan/white.
 <gallery>
 File:Pico JP HPC0009 1.jpg|Console closed
 File:Pico JP HPC0009 2.jpg|Console opened
-File:Pico JP HPC0009 3.jpg|The console was also available in different color variants. Here's a cyan blue one.
+File:Pico JP HPC0009 3.jpg|Cyan/blue model. The console was also available in different color variants. Here's a cyan blue one.
 </gallery>
@@ Line 73: / Line 81: @@
 ===MIXT BOOK PLAYER COPERA===
-A 1993 release by Yamaha, this model of Pico is notable for having stereo sound output and an FM sound chip as well as a microphone and support for music composition. It is otherwise similar to the HPC-0001.
+The Mixt Book Player Copera is the only unusual Pico model. It was released in 1993 by Yamaha and is based on the HPC-0001, but adds stereo sound output and an FM sound chip as well as a microphone and support for music composition. It also has two MIDI ports. Coperas are much rarer devices and its exclusive set of software is not compatible with regular Sega Picos.
 <gallery>
 File:Pico JP MBPC 1.jpg|Console closed
@@ Line 79: / Line 87: @@
 File:Pico JP MBPC 3.jpg|A variety of different inputs/outputs
 </gallery>
-===HIRAMEKI MIRAI KIDS===
-Someone please translate http://blogs.yahoo.co.jp/rig_veda/61101403.html kthxbye
+===HIRAMEKI MIRAI KIDS IMC-001===
+The Hirameki Mirai Kids Pico model, presumably based on the HPC-0003A, is a rare variant released by [[Imagineer]], potentially for schools. It adopts the cyan/purple colour scheme you may find elsewhere.
 <gallery>
 File:Pico JP HMK.jpg|Pics to probably be stoled from blog.
 </gallery>
+http://blogs.yahoo.co.jp/rig_veda/61101403.html
 ==North America==
 ===MK49002===
-The MK49002 is the standard 1994 North American Sega Pico model, similar to the HPC-0007 in Japan. There are a few logo changes and the coloring is slightly different, but is otherwise identical.
+The MK49002 is the standard 1994 North American Sega Pico model, similar to the HPC-0007 in Japan but with a cyan/purple colour scheme. There are a few logo changes and the coloring is slightly different, but is otherwise identical.
 <gallery>
 File:Pico NA MK49002 1.jpg|Console closed
@@ Line 103: / Line 113: @@
 ==PAL Regions==
-PAL models are almost identical to their North American counterparts, but tuned to work with PAL TV setups.
+Only one model of Pico is known to have been released in PAL regions, and is identical to the North American MK49002 model. The only difference is its adjustments required to work with PAL TV setups.
+<gallery>
+</gallery>
 ==South Korea==
-A model was also released in South Korea, likely distributed by [[Samsung]].
+===Model 1===
+The Pico (피코) was surprisingly popular in South Korea, where it was initialy distributed by [[Samsung]]. This first model, being the most common, is similar to the North American and European designs, but again sports a different logo.
+<gallery>
+</gallery>
+===Model 2===
+A second model, based on the HPC-0007 was also released in the country.
+<gallery>
+</gallery>
+===Neo Pico===
+The HPC-0009 Kids Communication Pico was distributed in the country by [[Xity Enterprise]]. In South Korea it is known as the "Neo Pico" (네오피코).
+<gallery>
+</gallery>
+==Asia==
+A version of the Japanese HPC-0007 Pico, with some branding borrowed from the European variant, was distributed in "Asia". Which specific countries received the Pico is not yet known.
+<gallery>
+</gallery>