Difference between revisions of "Wondermega"

Revision as of 04:16, 15 January 2024

Wondermega / X'Eye

Manufacturer: Sega, JVC/Victor

Release	Date	RRP	Code
JP (Victor)	1992-04-01^[1]	¥82,800 (85,284)82,800e^[2]	RG-M1
JP (Sega)	1992-04-24^[1]	¥79,800 (82,194)79,800e^[3]	HWM-5010
JP (Victor M2)	1993-07-02^[1]	¥59,800 (61,594)59,800e^[4]	RG-M2
US	1994-04^[5]	$499.95499.95^[6]	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. The original 2 models even featured a motorised pop-up disc tray.

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. All of them have the TMSS.

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)).

Victor released a pair of matching speakers - the "Wonder Sound" (RG-SP1), for ¥22,000 at around the same time.

Console
CD area
DSP preset buttons
Karaoke buttons for recording/mixing
Power/reset buttons, controller ports
Audio/video output and MIDI output
Victor-branded gamepad

Wondermega, Sega Model

By the end of April 1992 Sega released their own Wondermega model which retailed for ¥3,000 less. This version is basically identical to the Victor RG-M1, but the sticker that is seen next to the Wondermega logo is removed and the Victor logo near the disc tray is replaced with the Sega logo.

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.

Console, now with infrared wireless controllers
Karaoke and headphone volume dials
Audio/video output, with extra controller ports
Wireless control pad
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.

Very early X'Eye consoles lack the aforementioned 9-pin AV port, and so cannot function with a 32X. Most 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).

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.

Console
Bottom
A/V output (note that this unit has been modified with S-video out)
With 32X connected
JVC-branded control pad
Manuals & Samplers

Magazine articles

Main article: Wondermega/Magazine articles.

Promotional material

Main article: Wondermega/Promotional material.

Releases

Japan

Name	Distributor	Date & Price	Console	Hardware	Software
Wondermega ワンダーメガ	Victor	JP: ¥82,80082,800 (1992-04-01)	RG-M1	Control Pad	Wondermega Collection
Wondermega ワンダーメガ HWM-5000	Sega	JP: ¥79,80079,800 (1992-04-24)	HWM-5100	Control Pad	Wondermega Collection
Wondermega M2 ワンダーメガ M2	Victor	JP: ¥59,80059,800 (1993-07-02)	RG-M2	Control Pad

United States

Box	Name	Distributor	Date & Price	Console	Label	Hardware	Software	Documentation	Comments
	X'Eye	JVC	$499.00 (1994)	RG-M10BU		Control Pad	Karaoke Top Hit Sampler Prize Fighter Compton's Interactive Encyclopedia
	X'Eye	JVC	$499.00 (1994)	RG-M10BU		Control Pad	Karaoke Top Hit Sampler Prize Fighter Compton's Interactive Encyclopedia

External links

Sega of Japan catalogue page (Japanese)

References

Sega Mega Drive
Topics	Technical specifications (Hardware comparison) \| History \| List of games \| Magazine articles \| Promotional material \| Merchandise \| Cartridges \| TradeMark Security System
Hardware	Japan \| North America \| Western Europe \| Eastern Europe \| South America \| Asia \| South Korea \| Australasia \| Africa EZ Games \| Genesis 3 \| LaserActive \| Mega Jet \| Mega PC \| Mega Play \| Mega-Tech System \| Mega 6 \| Nomad \| Teradrive \| Mega Drive Mini \| Mega Drive Mini 2 New Mega Drive \| Tianli VCD/DVD Players \| "Consoles on a chip" \| Licensed clones (Magic 2 \| Mega Game II \| Power Pegasus \| Super Bitman) Unlicensed clones
Add-ons	Game Box \| Power Base Converter \| Mega-CD \| 32X (Mega-CD 32X) \| Mega Modem \| Demo System DS-16
Cases	Sega Genesis Nomad Carrying Case \| System Carry Case
Controllers	Control Pad \| Six Button Control Pad \| 6 Button Arcade Pad \| Arcade Power Stick 6B \| Konami Justifier \| MK-1470 Action Chair \| Activator \| Arcade Power Stick \| Keyboard \| MegaFire \| Mouse \| Mega Stick \| Menacer \| Remote Arcade System \| Ten Key Pad \| Third Party Controllers
Accessories	4 Way Play \| AC adaptor \| Cleaning System \| Control Pad Extension Cord \| Game Factory \| Genesis Speakers \| Headset \| HeartBeat Catalyst \| Microphone \| Region converter cartridges \| Mega Terminal \| Nomad PowerBack \| RF Unit \| SCART Cable \| Stereo Audio Video Cable \| Team Player \| Video Monitor Cable \| Third-party AC adaptors \| Third Party Accessories
Network services	Sega Channel \| Sega Game Toshokan \| Mega Anser \| Mega Net \| TeleBradesco Residência \| XB∀ND
Development tools	ERX 308P \| ERX 318P \| Sprobe \| SNASM68K \| SNASM2 (Mega Drive) \| SNASM2 (32X) \| PSY-Q Development System (Mega Drive) \| PSY-Q Development System (32X) \| 32X CartDev \| Sega Mars Development Aid System \| Sega 32X Development Target
Unreleased	Edge 16 \| Floppy Disk Drive \| Mega Play 1010 \| Sega VR \| Teleplay System \| Video Jukebox

Sega Mega-CD
Topics	Technical specifications \| History \| Magazine articles \| Promotional material
Hardware	Mega CD (Asia \| North America \| Western Europe \| Eastern Europe \| South America \| Australasia \| Africa) Sega Multi-Mega (Asia \| North America \| Europe \| South America \| Australasia) Wondermega \| LaserActive \| CSD-G1M
Misc. hardware	CD BackUp RAM Cart \| Mega-CD Karaoke \| Pro CDX
Development tools	SNASM Mega-CD \| PsyQ Mega-CD SDK \| PSY-Q CD Emulation System (Mega-CD)
Unreleased hardware	Game Genie

[https:.2F.2Fweb.archive.org.2Fweb.2F20130410234358.2Fhttp:.2F.2Fsega.jp.2Ffb.2Fsegahard.2Fmcd.2Fwonder.html-1] 1.0 ^1.1 ^1.2 http://sega.jp/fb/segahard/mcd/wonder.html (Wayback Machine: 2013-04-10 23:43)

[:File:BeepMD_JP_1993-01.pdf_p15-2] Beep! MegaDrive, "January 1993" (JP; 1992-12-08), page 15

[:File:BeepMD_JP_1992-04.pdf_p5-3] Beep! MegaDrive, "April 1992" (JP; 1992-03-07), page 5

[:File:BeepMD_JP_1994-01.pdf_p18-4] Beep! MegaDrive, "January 1994" (JP; 1993-12-08), page 18

[:File:GamePro_US_057.pdf_p90-5] GamePro, "April 1994" (US; 1994-xx-xx), page 90

[:File:EGM_US_055.pdf_p60-6] Electronic Gaming Monthly, "February 1994" (US; 199x-xx-xx), page 60

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@@ Line 68: / Line 68: @@
 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.
+Very early X'Eye consoles lack the aforementioned 9-pin AV port, and so cannot function with a 32X. Most 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).
 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''.
@@ Line 74: / Line 74: @@
 File:Xeye.jpg|Console
 File:Xeye_Bottom.jpg|Bottom
-File:Xeye_Back.jpg|A/V output
+File:Xeye_Back.jpg|A/V output (note that this unit has been modified with S-video out)
 File:Wondermega 32x.jpg|With 32X connected
 File:Xeye ControlPad.jpg|JVC-branded control pad