Difference between revisions of "Sega Mega-CD"

From Sega Retro
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| mcd_rrp_us=299.99
 
| mcd_rrp_us=299.99
 
| mcd_date_eu=1993-04-19
 
| mcd_date_eu=1993-04-19
 +
| mcd_date_br=199x
 +
| mcd_date_kr=199x
 
}}
 
}}
 
}}
 
}}
−
The '''Sega Mega CD''' (メガＣＤ; in North America, simply '''Sega CD''', because the "Mega" branding was not used and in South Korea, '''CD Aladdin Boy''') is a hardware add-on developed by [[Sega]] for the [[Sega Mega Drive]], first released in 1991. The device allows the user to play proprietary games which shipped on compact discs, audio CDs and [[CD plus G|CD+G]] discs. It also acts as an upgrade to the Mega Drive hardware, sporting an extra processor and increased RAM.
+
The '''Sega Mega CD''' (メガＣＤ), known as the '''Sega CD''' in North America and Brazil, and '''CD Aladdin Boy''' (CD 알라딘 보이) in South Korea, is a hardware add-on developed by [[Sega]] for the [[Sega Mega Drive]]. As the names suggest, it allows a Mega Drive too run compact discs, be it proprietary Mega CD software, audio CDs or [[CD plus G|CD+G]] discs. The Mega CD was first released in 1991 and was supported alongside regular Mega Drive cartridges.
  
−
In many countries the Mega CD stands as the first video game console to utilise disc-based media rather than ROM cartridges.
+
In many countries the Mega CD stands as the first video game console to utilise disc-based media rather than ROM cartridges. It also acts as an upgrade to the Mega Drive hardware, sporting an extra processor and extra RAM.
  
−
==Development==
+
==Hardware==
−
Development of the Mega CD was kept secret from the public and developers alike, with game programmers not knowing exactly what they were designing for until the Mega CD was revealed at the Tokyo Toy Show in Japan in 1991. The Mega CD was primarily aimed to compete against Sega Japanese rival, NEC, whose flagship video game console, the PC Engine had both a CD add-on device and was largely out-performing the Sega Mega Drive in terms of sales.
+
The Mega CD comes in many forms, but in all cases the hardware adds the capability of reading compact discs, technology which in the late 1980s and early 1990s, was becoming a more affordable storage option than the traditional video game ROM cartridge of previous console generations.
 +
 
 +
A traditional Mega CD does not act as a stand-alone unit, and needs to be hooked up to a Mega Drive via the expansion port located on the right hand side of the console. Mega CDs do, however, require their own [[AC adaptor]], meaning that in order to play Mega CD games, two sockets will be occupied by the upgraded console.
 +
 
 +
Though one would expect the Mega CD to simply give the Mega Drive access to compact discs, it in fact adds extra processors, memory and audio features as well, all of which can only be utilised by CD software. The Mega CD does not, however, solve the issue of graphics, which aside from the ability to scale and rotate sprites on the fly, remain identical to the standard Mega Drive system.
  
−
Sega's plan had always been to release add-ons for the Mega Drive, and had in fact tested this concept with the earlier [[SG-1000 II]] and [[Sega Mark III]] consoles, however in 1988 it was widely believed the console's expansion port would be used by the unreleased [[Mega Drive Floppy Disk Drive]], not something reliant on compact discs. The Mega CD turned out to be one of the first systems to utilise compact discs, a form of media considered at the time to be far less expensive to produce than cartridges, while sporting a higher storage capacity. With several hundred megabytes of space as opposed to less than four, there was enough space to allow for quality audio in games at the expense of greater load times.
+
The Mega CD also offers stereo sound RCA connectors. The Mega Drive on its own will output a monaural audio signal to the television, with stereo only being available through the headphone port located at the front of the console. An external connection from the Mega Drive to the Mega CD will allow all games to play through the television in stereo.
  
 
The Mega CD can be used in conjunction with a [[Sega 32X]] to run one of the six [[Sega Mega CD 32X]] games.
 
The Mega CD can be used in conjunction with a [[Sega 32X]] to run one of the six [[Sega Mega CD 32X]] games.
  
−
==Official Variants==
+
===Official Variants===
 
Like the Mega Drive, there were two major revisions of the add-on by Sega and several special combination units.
 
Like the Mega Drive, there were two major revisions of the add-on by Sega and several special combination units.
  
−
===Mega CD===
+
====Mega CD====
 
The original Mega CD utilises a CD tray, and sits underneath the Mega Drive (or Mega Drive 2). It is a reasonably large add-on designed to be permanently attached to the console at all times.
 
The original Mega CD utilises a CD tray, and sits underneath the Mega Drive (or Mega Drive 2). It is a reasonably large add-on designed to be permanently attached to the console at all times.
 
<gallery>
 
<gallery>
Line 38: Line 44:
 
File:MegaCD JP 2.jpg|JP model (connected to Sega Mega Drive)
 
File:MegaCD JP 2.jpg|JP model (connected to Sega Mega Drive)
 
File:CDAladdinBoy.jpg|KR model (connected to Super Aladdin Boy)
 
File:CDAladdinBoy.jpg|KR model (connected to Super Aladdin Boy)
−
File:34ilj6g.jpg|IT model (connected to Mega Drive)
 
 
</gallery>
 
</gallery>
  
−
===Mega CD 2===
+
====Mega CD 2====
 
A cost-reduced model of the Mega CD was produced and released around the same period as the cost-reduced Mega Drive 2. This version sits on the right hand side of the Mega Drive, though continues to act as a new base for the console, and is a top-loading device. Fewer mechanical parts means less is likely to go wrong with a Mega CD 2, and is designed to look sleeker and more appealing. The Mega CD 2 is designed primarily with the Mega Drive 2 in mind, however various plastic spacers mean that can original Mega Drive can be attached without problems.
 
A cost-reduced model of the Mega CD was produced and released around the same period as the cost-reduced Mega Drive 2. This version sits on the right hand side of the Mega Drive, though continues to act as a new base for the console, and is a top-loading device. Fewer mechanical parts means less is likely to go wrong with a Mega CD 2, and is designed to look sleeker and more appealing. The Mega CD 2 is designed primarily with the Mega Drive 2 in mind, however various plastic spacers mean that can original Mega Drive can be attached without problems.
 
<gallery>
 
<gallery>
Line 52: Line 57:
 
</gallery>
 
</gallery>
  
−
===Mega Drive Combos: JVC Wondermega/X'eye, Pinoeer LaserActive, Sega Multi-Mega, and Aiwa Mega CD===
+
====Mega Drive Combos: JVC Wondermega/X'eye, Pinoeer LaserActive, Sega Multi-Mega, and Aiwa Mega CD====
 
:''Main articles: [[Wondermega]], [[LaserActive]], [[Sega Multi-Mega]], [[Aiwa Mega CD]]''
 
:''Main articles: [[Wondermega]], [[LaserActive]], [[Sega Multi-Mega]], [[Aiwa Mega CD]]''
 
Combination Mega Drive/Mega CD units were developed over the course of the Mega CD's lifetime. The Wondermega and LaserActive are standalone consoles; the LaserActive also plays Laserdiscs. The Multi-Mega is a portable audio CD player that can play Mega Drive and Mega CD games when plugged in to wall power and a TV. The Aiwa Mega CD is a Mega Drive/Mega CD packed into Aiwa's consumer-level portable CD stereos.
 
Combination Mega Drive/Mega CD units were developed over the course of the Mega CD's lifetime. The Wondermega and LaserActive are standalone consoles; the LaserActive also plays Laserdiscs. The Multi-Mega is a portable audio CD player that can play Mega Drive and Mega CD games when plugged in to wall power and a TV. The Aiwa Mega CD is a Mega Drive/Mega CD packed into Aiwa's consumer-level portable CD stereos.
  
−
==Release==
+
===Technical Specifications===
−
===Japan===
+
{{multicol|
−
The Sega Mega CD was released first in Japan on December 12, 1991. Its retail price was ¥49,800 and had two launch titles, both third party and both Sharp X68000 ports: [[Wolf Team]]'s ''[[Sol-Feace]]'' and [[Micronet]]'s ''[[Heavy Nova]]''. Initially, it was a great success because of the inherent advantages of CDs (high storage capability and the low cost of media). The fact that it had a nice RPG catalog also helped.
+
====CPU====
−
 
 
−
The system sold 100,000 units during the first year of release in Japan. However, cost issues prevented more units from being sold. Despite these, the system was supported and received games until 1995, the last being ''[[Surgical Strike]]''.
 
−
 
 
−
===United States===
 
−
Sega of Japan did not speak to Sega of America about their Mega CD plans for that market until a few months after the Tokyo Toy Show in Japan. The renamed Sega CD was announced at the Chicago CES on November 1992.
 
−
 
 
−
In the end, the Sega CD failed to convince American gamers, mostly due to the cost of the console. There just was not enough value for the price. Moreover, the game experience was little improved.
 
−
 
 
−
Sound was likely to be better if it included some CD audio tracks, but on the average, conventional games looked the same. Sega wanted to showcase the power of the Sega CD, and so focused on "full motion video" (FMV) games, something which was incredibly hard to do on cartridge-based media. Sega insisted on licensing and producing primarily "full motion video" games similar to earlier Laserdisc games, that were universally panned by game reviewers. The single speed CD drive added load times to all games, and the 64-color graphics and underpowered processor (for video rendering) made these full-motion video games look terrible.
 
−
 
 
−
There was also more competition in the US. The CD-i by Philips, the 3DO by Panasonic, Atari Jaguar CD and the Neo Geo CD were all available by 1994 (as well as the Turbografx-CD - the North American version of the PC Engine CD). Neither system was successful, but most offered an advantage over the Sega CD due to being able to support more colours on screen at once (and therefore higher quality full motion videos).
 
−
 
 
−
===Europe===
 
−
In Europe the Mega CD was highly overpriced. It was released in April 1993 in the United Kingdom for £270. Its userbase was small as only 4% of European Mega Drive owners bought a Mega CD. Unlike the [[Mega Drive]], which was a very successful console in Europe, only 60,000 of the 70,000 Mega CDs shipped to Europe were sold by August 1993.
 
−
 
 
−
Some European countries (Spain for instance), wouldn't get the original Mega CD at all, but instead would get the cost-reduced Mega CD II, which also slowed sales.
 
−
 
 
−
===Australia===
 
−
The Australian release for the Mega CD was April 19, 1993.
 
−
 
 
−
===Brazil===
 
−
Like other Sega consoles, the Sega Mega CD was distributed in Brazil by [[Tectoy]]. The original Mega CD model did not reach the region (aside from imports), so the Mega CD II was released in Brazil under the name "Sega CD".
 
−
 
 
−
===South Korea===
 
−
Again like other Sega consoles, both the Mega CD and Mega CD II were distributd in South Korea by [[Samsung]]. They were renamed "CD Aladdin Boy" and "CD Aladdin Boy II" respectively.
 
−
 
 
−
==Technical Specifications==
 
−
===CPU===
 
 
Main CPU: Motorola [[68000]] 16-bit processor running at 12.5 MHz
 
Main CPU: Motorola [[68000]] 16-bit processor running at 12.5 MHz
  
 
''(Same as the Mega Drive/Genesis. Acts as a coprocessor along with the Genesis CPU. One must note that the Genesis clock speed is slower (7.67 MHz))''
 
''(Same as the Mega Drive/Genesis. Acts as a coprocessor along with the Genesis CPU. One must note that the Genesis clock speed is slower (7.67 MHz))''
  
−
===Graphics===
+
====Graphics====
 
* Graphics Processor: Custom ASIC
 
* Graphics Processor: Custom ASIC
 
* Number of simultaneous [[palette|colors]] on screen: 64 (Using programming tricks, this limit is increased to 128 colors via raster effects)
 
* Number of simultaneous [[palette|colors]] on screen: 64 (Using programming tricks, this limit is increased to 128 colors via raster effects)
Line 99: Line 76:
 
* Software-based upgrade
 
* Software-based upgrade
  
−
===RAM===
+
====RAM====
 
* Main [[RAM]]: 6 Mbit
 
* Main [[RAM]]: 6 Mbit
 
* PCM samples: 512 Kbit
 
* PCM samples: 512 Kbit
Line 106: Line 83:
 
* 1 Mbit Memory Card [[CD BackUp RAM Cart]]
 
* 1 Mbit Memory Card [[CD BackUp RAM Cart]]
  
−
The Mega CD also features sprite enhancement effects such as scaling and rotation, similar to that of the [[Super Nintendo|Super Famicom/SNES]] Mode 7.
+
The Mega CD also features sprite enhancement effects such as scaling and rotation, similar to that of the Super Nintendo/Super Famicom "Mode 7".
  
−
===Storage===
+
====Storage====
 
* 500 MB CD-ROM discs (equivalent to 62 min of audio data)
 
* 500 MB CD-ROM discs (equivalent to 62 min of audio data)
 
* Access time: 800 ms
 
* Access time: 800 ms
Line 116: Line 93:
 
''(Above specs prior to compression)''
 
''(Above specs prior to compression)''
  
−
===[[BIOS|Boot ROM]]===
+
====[[BIOS|Boot ROM]]====
 
* Size: 1 Mb (128 KB)
 
* Size: 1 Mb (128 KB)
 
* Used for games, CD player, CD+G viewing, karaoke (limited to Japanese systems) and regional lockout
 
* Used for games, CD player, CD+G viewing, karaoke (limited to Japanese systems) and regional lockout
−
* Region codes: "NA" = North America (NTSC), "EU" = Europe (PAL)
+
* Region codes: "NA" <nowiki>=</nowiki> North America (NTSC), "EU" <nowiki>=</nowiki> Europe (PAL)
−
 
+
}}
 
{| class="wikitable" border="1"
 
{| class="wikitable" border="1"
 
|+ Boot ROM Revisions
 
|+ Boot ROM Revisions
Line 208: Line 185:
  
 
<sup>1</sup> The ZIP file contains two dumps, a "good" dump and a "bad" dump. The "bad" dump has an incorrect HINT vector, but is otherwise identical to the "good" dump. The CRC32 listed here is for the "good" dump.
 
<sup>1</sup> The ZIP file contains two dumps, a "good" dump and a "bad" dump. The "bad" dump has an incorrect HINT vector, but is otherwise identical to the "good" dump. The CRC32 listed here is for the "good" dump.
−
 
+
{{multicol|
−
===Audio===
+
====Audio====
 
''The Mega CD adds 10 sound channels to the 10 provided by the Mega Drive's sound chips.''
 
''The Mega CD adds 10 sound channels to the 10 provided by the Mega Drive's sound chips.''
  
Line 228: Line 205:
 
* Output: Stereo [[RCA jack|RCA]] connectors.
 
* Output: Stereo [[RCA jack|RCA]] connectors.
  
−
===Other===
+
====Other====
 
Dimensions: 301mm x 212.5 x 112.5<br/>
 
Dimensions: 301mm x 212.5 x 112.5<br/>
 
Weight: 1.4 kg (3.1 lbs)
 
Weight: 1.4 kg (3.1 lbs)
 +
}}
 +
 +
==Development==
 +
Development of the Mega CD was kept secret from the public and developers alike, with game programmers not knowing exactly what they were designing for until the Mega CD was revealed at the Tokyo Toy Show in Japan in 1991. The Mega CD was primarily aimed to compete against Sega Japanese rival, NEC, whose flagship video game console, the PC Engine had both a CD add-on device and was largely out-performing the Sega Mega Drive in terms of sales.
 +
 +
Sega's plan had always been to release add-ons for the Mega Drive, and had in fact tested this concept with the earlier [[SG-1000 II]] and [[Sega Mark III]] consoles, however in 1988 it was widely believed the console's expansion port would be used by the unreleased [[Mega Drive Floppy Disk Drive]], not something reliant on compact discs. The Mega CD turned out to be one of the first systems to utilise compact discs, a form of media considered at the time to be far less expensive to produce than cartridges, while sporting a higher storage capacity. With several hundred megabytes of space as opposed to less than four, there was enough space to allow for quality audio in games at the expense of greater load times.
 +
 +
==Release==
 +
===Japan===
 +
The Sega Mega CD was released first in Japan on December 12, 1991. Its retail price was ¥49,800 and had two launch titles, both third party and both Sharp X68000 ports: [[Wolf Team]]'s ''[[Sol-Feace]]'' and [[Micronet]]'s ''[[Heavy Nova]]''. Initially, it was a great success because of the inherent advantages of CDs (high storage capability and the low cost of media). The fact that it had a nice RPG catalog also helped.
 +
 +
The system sold 100,000 units during the first year of release in Japan. However, cost issues prevented more units from being sold. Despite these, the system was supported and received games until 1995, the last being ''[[Surgical Strike]]''.
 +
 +
===United States===
 +
Sega of Japan did not speak to Sega of America about their Mega CD plans for that market until a few months after the Tokyo Toy Show in Japan. The renamed Sega CD was announced at the Chicago CES on November 1992.
 +
 +
In the end, the Sega CD failed to convince American gamers, mostly due to the cost of the console. There just was not enough value for the price. Moreover, the game experience was little improved.
 +
 +
Sound was likely to be better if it included some CD audio tracks, but on the average, conventional games looked the same. Sega wanted to showcase the power of the Sega CD, and so focused on "full motion video" (FMV) games, something which was incredibly hard to do on cartridge-based media. Sega insisted on licensing and producing primarily "full motion video" games similar to earlier Laserdisc games, that were universally panned by game reviewers. The single speed CD drive added load times to all games, and the 64-color graphics and underpowered processor (for video rendering) made these full-motion video games look terrible.
 +
 +
There was also more competition in the US. The CD-i by Philips, the 3DO by Panasonic, Atari Jaguar CD and the Neo Geo CD were all available by 1994 (as well as the Turbografx-CD - the North American version of the PC Engine CD). Neither system was successful, but most offered an advantage over the Sega CD due to being able to support more colours on screen at once (and therefore higher quality full motion videos).
 +
 +
===Europe===
 +
In Europe the Mega CD was highly overpriced. It was released in April 1993 in the United Kingdom for £270. Its userbase was small as only 4% of European Mega Drive owners bought a Mega CD. Unlike the [[Mega Drive]], which was a very successful console in Europe, only 60,000 of the 70,000 Mega CDs shipped to Europe were sold by August 1993.
 +
 +
Some European countries (Spain for instance), wouldn't get the original Mega CD at all, but instead would get the cost-reduced Mega CD II, which also slowed sales.
 +
 +
===Australia===
 +
The Australian release for the Mega CD was April 19, 1993.
 +
 +
===Brazil===
 +
Like other Sega consoles, the Sega Mega CD was distributed in Brazil by [[Tectoy]]. The original Mega CD model did not reach the region (aside from imports), so the Mega CD II was released in Brazil under the name "Sega CD".
 +
 +
===South Korea===
 +
Again like other Sega consoles, both the Mega CD and Mega CD II were distributd in South Korea by [[Samsung]]. They were renamed "CD Aladdin Boy" and "CD Aladdin Boy II" respectively.
  
 
==Games==
 
==Games==

Revision as of 15:02, 27 October 2012

SegaCD.jpg
Sega Mega-CD
Manufacturer: Sega
Variants: Sega Mega CD, Sega Mega CD II
Release Date RRP Code

The Sega Mega CD (メガＣＤ), known as the Sega CD in North America and Brazil, and CD Aladdin Boy (CD 알라딘 보이) in South Korea, is a hardware add-on developed by Sega for the Sega Mega Drive. As the names suggest, it allows a Mega Drive too run compact discs, be it proprietary Mega CD software, audio CDs or CD+G discs. The Mega CD was first released in 1991 and was supported alongside regular Mega Drive cartridges.

In many countries the Mega CD stands as the first video game console to utilise disc-based media rather than ROM cartridges. It also acts as an upgrade to the Mega Drive hardware, sporting an extra processor and extra RAM.

Hardware

The Mega CD comes in many forms, but in all cases the hardware adds the capability of reading compact discs, technology which in the late 1980s and early 1990s, was becoming a more affordable storage option than the traditional video game ROM cartridge of previous console generations.

A traditional Mega CD does not act as a stand-alone unit, and needs to be hooked up to a Mega Drive via the expansion port located on the right hand side of the console. Mega CDs do, however, require their own AC adaptor, meaning that in order to play Mega CD games, two sockets will be occupied by the upgraded console.

Though one would expect the Mega CD to simply give the Mega Drive access to compact discs, it in fact adds extra processors, memory and audio features as well, all of which can only be utilised by CD software. The Mega CD does not, however, solve the issue of graphics, which aside from the ability to scale and rotate sprites on the fly, remain identical to the standard Mega Drive system.

The Mega CD also offers stereo sound RCA connectors. The Mega Drive on its own will output a monaural audio signal to the television, with stereo only being available through the headphone port located at the front of the console. An external connection from the Mega Drive to the Mega CD will allow all games to play through the television in stereo.

The Mega CD can be used in conjunction with a Sega 32X to run one of the six Sega Mega CD 32X games.

Official Variants

Like the Mega Drive, there were two major revisions of the add-on by Sega and several special combination units.

Mega CD

The original Mega CD utilises a CD tray, and sits underneath the Mega Drive (or Mega Drive 2). It is a reasonably large add-on designed to be permanently attached to the console at all times.

  • US model

  • US model (connected to Sega Genesis)

  • EU model (connected to Sega Mega Drive)

  • JP model (connected to Sega Mega Drive)

  • KR model (connected to Super Aladdin Boy)

Mega CD 2

A cost-reduced model of the Mega CD was produced and released around the same period as the cost-reduced Mega Drive 2. This version sits on the right hand side of the Mega Drive, though continues to act as a new base for the console, and is a top-loading device. Fewer mechanical parts means less is likely to go wrong with a Mega CD 2, and is designed to look sleeker and more appealing. The Mega CD 2 is designed primarily with the Mega Drive 2 in mind, however various plastic spacers mean that can original Mega Drive can be attached without problems.

  • US model

  • US model (connected to Sega Genesis II)

  • EU model

  • EU model (connected to Sega Mega Drive II)

  • JP model (connected to Sega Mega Drive II

  • KR model (connected to Super Aladdin Boy)

Mega Drive Combos: JVC Wondermega/X'eye, Pinoeer LaserActive, Sega Multi-Mega, and Aiwa Mega CD

Main articles: Wondermega, LaserActive, Sega Multi-Mega, Aiwa Mega CD

Combination Mega Drive/Mega CD units were developed over the course of the Mega CD's lifetime. The Wondermega and LaserActive are standalone consoles; the LaserActive also plays Laserdiscs. The Multi-Mega is a portable audio CD player that can play Mega Drive and Mega CD games when plugged in to wall power and a TV. The Aiwa Mega CD is a Mega Drive/Mega CD packed into Aiwa's consumer-level portable CD stereos.

Technical Specifications

CPU

Main CPU: Motorola 68000 16-bit processor running at 12.5 MHz

(Same as the Mega Drive/Genesis. Acts as a coprocessor along with the Genesis CPU. One must note that the Genesis clock speed is slower (7.67 MHz))

Graphics

  • Graphics Processor: Custom ASIC
  • Number of simultaneous colors on screen: 64 (Using programming tricks, this limit is increased to 128 colors via raster effects)
  • Colors available in Cinepak and TruVideo modes: 128 to 256 colors
  • Video size from 1/4 to full screen
  • Advanced compression scheme
  • Software-based upgrade

RAM

  • Main RAM: 6 Mbit
  • PCM samples: 512 Kbit
  • CD-ROM data cache: 128 Kbit
  • 64 Kbit Internal Backup RAM
  • 1 Mbit Memory Card CD BackUp RAM Cart

The Mega CD also features sprite enhancement effects such as scaling and rotation, similar to that of the Super Nintendo/Super Famicom "Mode 7".

Storage

  • 500 MB CD-ROM discs (equivalent to 62 min of audio data)
  • Access time: 800 ms
  • 1/4 screen B/W footage video: 1.5 to 4 hours
  • 1/4 screen color footage: 45 minutes
  • CD-ROM drive transfer rate: 150 Kbytes/s (1x)

(Above specs prior to compression)

Boot ROM

  • Size: 1 Mb (128 KB)
  • Used for games, CD player, CD+G viewing, karaoke (limited to Japanese systems) and regional lockout
  • Region codes: "NA" = North America (NTSC), "EU" = Europe (PAL)
Boot ROM Revisions
Boot ROM Version Machine Download CRC32
0.98 Pioneer LaserActive 0.98 (NA) (info) ("Us lsr 930329.zip" does not exist) 8c3e3945
0.98 (Asia) (info) ("Jp lsr 930329.zip" does not exist) 9f5771d2
1.00 Sega/Mega CD Model 1
Victor WonderMega 1 (Asia)
Sega WonderMega (Asia) 		1.00l (Asia, NTSC) (info) ("BIOS Mega CD Japan 1.00l.md.zip" does not exist) f18dde5b
1.00p (Asia, NTSC) (info) ("Jp mcd1 911217.zip" does not exist) 9d2da8f2
1.00s (Asia, NTSC) (info) ("BIOS Mega CD Japan 1.00S.md.zip" does not exist) 79f85384
1.00s (Asia, PAL) (info) ("Jp mcd1 911228.zip" does not exist) 550f30bb
1.00w (Sega WonderMega Bios) (info) ("Jp wmg 920206.zip" does not exist) d21fe71d
1.00 (NA) (info) ("BIOS Sega CD USA 1.00.md.zip" does not exist) e7e3afe2
1.00 (EU) (info) ("Eu mcd1 921027.zip" does not exist) 529ac15a
1.04 Pioneer LaserActive 1.04 (NA) (info) ("Us mld 930922.zip" does not exist) 2ed602d7
1.10 Sega CD Model 1 (minor update) 1.10 (NA) (info) ("Us scd1 921011.zip" does not exist) c6d10268
2.00 Sega/Mega CD 2
Victor WonderMega 2 (Asia)
JVC X'Eye (NA) 		2.00 (1st NA version) (info) ("Us scd2 930314.zip" does not exist) 8af65f58
2.00w (2nd NA version) (info) ("Us scd2 930601.zip" does not exist) 9f6f6276
2.00c (Asian version) (info) ("Jp mcd2 921222.zip" does not exist) dd6cc972
2.00 (1st EU version) (info) ("Eu mcd2 930330.zip" does not exist) 0507b590
2.00w (2nd EU version) (info) ("Eu mcd2 930601.zip" does not exist) 4d5cb8da
2.00 (X'Eye) (info) ("Us xeye 931227.zip" does not exist) 290f8e33
2.00 (Wondermega) (info) ("Wondermega 2.00 Bios.zip" does not exist) 2b19972f1
2.11 Sega/Mega CD 2, Aiwa CSD GM1 (Japan) 2.11w (NA) (info) ("Us scd2 930621.zip" does not exist) 2e49d72c
2.21 Sega Multimega (Europe & Japan), CDX (North America), Linguaphone Education Gear (Japan) 2.21x (MultiMega, EU) (info) ("Eu mmg 930916.zip" does not exist) aacb851e
2.21x (CDX) (info) ("Us cdx 930907.zip" does not exist) d48c44b5

1 The ZIP file contains two dumps, a "good" dump and a "bad" dump. The "bad" dump has an incorrect HINT vector, but is otherwise identical to the "good" dump. The CRC32 listed here is for the "good" dump.

Audio

The Mega CD adds 10 sound channels to the 10 provided by the Mega Drive's sound chips.

  • CD Digital Audio
    • 2-channel stereo
    • 44.1 kHz sampling rate
  • Ricoh RF5C164 PCM chip provides 8 sound channels:
    • Sound format: 8-bit sign/magnitude monaural PCM (with "stereo" support by allowing each channel to have different volumes on both left and right channels)
    • Maximum sample rate: 32 kHz

Other specifications:

  • 16-bit DAC
  • 8x internal over-sampling digital filter
  • Frequency Range: 20 Hz - 20 KHz
  • Signal-to-Noise Ratio: > 90 dB @ 1K
  • Channel Separation: > 90 dB
  • Input: Mixer cable for Genesis Model 1 compatibility.
  • Output: Stereo RCA connectors.

Other

Dimensions: 301mm x 212.5 x 112.5
Weight: 1.4 kg (3.1 lbs)

Development

Development of the Mega CD was kept secret from the public and developers alike, with game programmers not knowing exactly what they were designing for until the Mega CD was revealed at the Tokyo Toy Show in Japan in 1991. The Mega CD was primarily aimed to compete against Sega Japanese rival, NEC, whose flagship video game console, the PC Engine had both a CD add-on device and was largely out-performing the Sega Mega Drive in terms of sales.

Sega's plan had always been to release add-ons for the Mega Drive, and had in fact tested this concept with the earlier SG-1000 II and Sega Mark III consoles, however in 1988 it was widely believed the console's expansion port would be used by the unreleased Mega Drive Floppy Disk Drive, not something reliant on compact discs. The Mega CD turned out to be one of the first systems to utilise compact discs, a form of media considered at the time to be far less expensive to produce than cartridges, while sporting a higher storage capacity. With several hundred megabytes of space as opposed to less than four, there was enough space to allow for quality audio in games at the expense of greater load times.

Release

Japan

The Sega Mega CD was released first in Japan on December 12, 1991. Its retail price was ¥49,800 and had two launch titles, both third party and both Sharp X68000 ports: Wolf Team's Sol-Feace and Micronet's Heavy Nova. Initially, it was a great success because of the inherent advantages of CDs (high storage capability and the low cost of media). The fact that it had a nice RPG catalog also helped.

The system sold 100,000 units during the first year of release in Japan. However, cost issues prevented more units from being sold. Despite these, the system was supported and received games until 1995, the last being Surgical Strike.

United States

Sega of Japan did not speak to Sega of America about their Mega CD plans for that market until a few months after the Tokyo Toy Show in Japan. The renamed Sega CD was announced at the Chicago CES on November 1992.

In the end, the Sega CD failed to convince American gamers, mostly due to the cost of the console. There just was not enough value for the price. Moreover, the game experience was little improved.

Sound was likely to be better if it included some CD audio tracks, but on the average, conventional games looked the same. Sega wanted to showcase the power of the Sega CD, and so focused on "full motion video" (FMV) games, something which was incredibly hard to do on cartridge-based media. Sega insisted on licensing and producing primarily "full motion video" games similar to earlier Laserdisc games, that were universally panned by game reviewers. The single speed CD drive added load times to all games, and the 64-color graphics and underpowered processor (for video rendering) made these full-motion video games look terrible.

There was also more competition in the US. The CD-i by Philips, the 3DO by Panasonic, Atari Jaguar CD and the Neo Geo CD were all available by 1994 (as well as the Turbografx-CD - the North American version of the PC Engine CD). Neither system was successful, but most offered an advantage over the Sega CD due to being able to support more colours on screen at once (and therefore higher quality full motion videos).

Europe

In Europe the Mega CD was highly overpriced. It was released in April 1993 in the United Kingdom for £270. Its userbase was small as only 4% of European Mega Drive owners bought a Mega CD. Unlike the Mega Drive, which was a very successful console in Europe, only 60,000 of the 70,000 Mega CDs shipped to Europe were sold by August 1993.

Some European countries (Spain for instance), wouldn't get the original Mega CD at all, but instead would get the cost-reduced Mega CD II, which also slowed sales.

Australia

The Australian release for the Mega CD was April 19, 1993.

Brazil

Like other Sega consoles, the Sega Mega CD was distributed in Brazil by Tectoy. The original Mega CD model did not reach the region (aside from imports), so the Mega CD II was released in Brazil under the name "Sega CD".

South Korea

Again like other Sega consoles, both the Mega CD and Mega CD II were distributd in South Korea by Samsung. They were renamed "CD Aladdin Boy" and "CD Aladdin Boy II" respectively.

Games

The five games marked with an asterisk(*) were later released in enhanced form, requiring both the Mega CD and 32X to be played, and taking advantage of the latter's improved graphics (see Sega Mega CD 32X).

Launch Titles

Japan

North America

External Links


Sega Mega Drive
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