Difference between revisions of "Dreamcast third-party Visual Memory Units"

From Sega Retro

(Created page with "{{rewrite}} :''At present this is merely an image dump because I have no idea how this will be organised.'' <gallery> File:4Mega.jpg|4 Mega (Innovation) File:MegaMemoryCard.jpg|...")
 
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The [[Sega Dreamcast]]'s [[Visual Memory Unit]]s are an interesting peripheral, but as memory cards they have several flaws. The built in-screen made them comparitively more expensive than memory cards found on rival consoles such as the PlayStation, and because of its design, a VMU is limited to about 128kB (1Mb) of storage - 200 "blocks" in Dreamcast terms.
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:''At present this is merely an image dump because I have no idea how this will be organised.''
+
 
 +
Considering the original PlayStation matched this storage space in 1994, and the [[PlayStation 2]] could offer a whopping 4MB (32 times more memory than a VMU) for less money, it was often considered a wiser idea to go down the third-party route, investing in memory cards which lack the VMU's exclusive features, but are significantly cheaper as a result. There are other reasons for this too - having a memory unit with a screen in the second controller port in a [[Controller (Dreamcast)|Dreamcast controller]] is a pointless exercise, as you'll not be able to see it, and cards without screens don't require their own batteries.
 +
 
 +
Dozens of memory cards were produced for the Dreamcast, usually 128kB (1Mb; 200 blocks), 256kB (2Mb; 400 blocks) or 512kB (4MB; 800 blocks) in size. For cards larger than 128kB there is usually a switch to toggle between blocks of 200. Sega later produced their own [[Dreamcast 4x Memory Card]] in response to these ideas but these were not as widely released. The most notable card is the [[Massive Memory Card Plus]] which contains 1MB (8Mb; 800 blocks) of save game storage.
 +
 
 +
This page lists all of the memory cards we know about. It is likely incomplete.
 +
 
 +
==[[Innovation]]==
 +
{{Scanbox
 +
| console=Dreamcast
 +
| region=(512kB)
 +
| front=
 +
| back=
 +
| spinemissing=
 +
| square=yes
 +
| item1=4Mega.jpg
 +
| item1name=Card
 +
}}
 +
 
 +
==[[Intec]]==
 +
{{Scanbox
 +
| console=Dreamcast
 +
| region=(128kB)
 +
| front=MemoryCardIntec DC Box Front.jpg
 +
| back=
 +
| spinemissing=
 +
| square=yes
 +
| item1=
 +
| item1name=Card
 +
}}
 +
 
 +
 
 +
==[[Joytech]]==
 +
{{Scanbox
 +
| console=Dreamcast
 +
| region=(128kB)
 +
| front=1MbMemory Joytech Black Box Front.jpg
 +
| back=
 +
| spinemissing=
 +
| square=yes
 +
| item1=
 +
| item1name=Card
 +
}}{{Scanbox
 +
| console=Dreamcast
 +
| region=(128kB)
 +
| front=1MbMemory Joytech Blue Box Front.jpg
 +
| back=
 +
| spinemissing=
 +
| square=yes
 +
| item1=
 +
| item1name=Card
 +
}}{{Scanbox
 +
| console=Dreamcast
 +
| region=(512kB)
 +
| front=4MbMemory Joytech Black Box Front.jpg
 +
| back=
 +
| spinemissing=
 +
| square=yes
 +
| item1=
 +
| item1name=Card
 +
}}{{Scanbox
 +
| console=Dreamcast
 +
| region=(512kB)
 +
| front=4MbMemory Joytech Orange Box Front.jpg
 +
| back=
 +
| spinemissing=
 +
| square=yes
 +
| item1=
 +
| item1name=Card
 +
}}{{Scanbox
 +
| console=Dreamcast
 +
| region=(512kB)
 +
| front=4MbMemory Joytech Blue Box Front.jpg
 +
| back=
 +
| spinemissing=
 +
| square=yes
 +
| item1=
 +
| item1name=Card
 +
}}
 +
 
 +
==[[Mad Catz]]==
 +
{{Scanbox
 +
| console=Dreamcast
 +
| region=(512kB)
 +
| front=MadCatzMemoryUnitRed Box Front.JPG
 +
| back=
 +
| spinemissing=
 +
| item1=
 +
| item1name=Card
 +
}}{{Scanbox
 +
| console=Dreamcast
 +
| region=(512kB)
 +
| front=MadCatzMemoryUnitBlue Box Front.JPG
 +
| back=
 +
| spinemissing=
 +
| item1=Memory MadCatz Blue.jpg
 +
| item1name=Card
 +
}}{{Scanbox
 +
| console=Dreamcast
 +
| region=(512kB)
 +
| front=MadCatzMemoryUnitPurple Box Front.JPG
 +
| back=
 +
| spinemissing=
 +
| item1=
 +
| item1name=Card
 +
}}
 +
 
 +
==[[Naki]]==
 +
{{Scanbox
 +
| console=Dreamcast
 +
| region=(256kB)
 +
| front=NakiMemoryCardBlue.jpg
 +
| back=
 +
| spinemissing=
 +
| item1=
 +
| item1name=Card
 +
}}{{Scanbox
 +
| console=Dreamcast
 +
| region=(256kB)
 +
| front=
 +
| back=
 +
| spinemissing=
 +
| item1=MemoryCardNaki DC Orange.jpg
 +
| item1name=Card
 +
}}
 +
 
 +
==[[Performance]]==
 +
{{Scanbox
 +
| console=Dreamcast
 +
| region=(128kB)
 +
| front=MemoryCardPerformance Box Front.jpg
 +
| back=
 +
| spinemissing=
 +
| item1=
 +
| item1name=Card
 +
}}{{Scanbox
 +
| console=Dreamcast
 +
| region=(512kB)
 +
| front=MegaMemoryCard DC Box Front.jpg
 +
| back=
 +
| spinemissing=
 +
| square=yes
 +
| item1=MegaMemoryCard.jpg
 +
| item1name=Card
 +
}}{{Scanbox
 +
| console=Dreamcast
 +
| region=(512kB)
 +
| front=
 +
| back=
 +
| spinemissing=
 +
| item1=MegaMemoryCard DC Red.jpg
 +
| item1name=Card
 +
}}
 +
 
 +
==Skillz==
 +
{{Scanbox
 +
| console=Dreamcast
 +
| region=(256kB)
 +
| front=
 +
| back=
 +
| spinemissing=
 +
| item1=SkillsX2M.jpg
 +
| item1name=Card
 +
}}
  
−
<gallery>
 
−
File:4Mega.jpg|4 Mega (Innovation)
 
−
File:MegaMemoryCard.jpg|Mega Memory Card (Performance)
 
−
File:Memory MadCatz Blue.jpg|(MadCatz)
 
−
File:MadCatzMemoryUnitRed Box Front.JPG
 
−
File:MadCatzMemoryUnitBlue Box Front.JPG
 
−
File:MadCatzMemoryUnitPurple Box Front.JPG
 
−
File:SkillsX2M.jpg
 
−
File:NakiMemoryCardBlue.jpg|Memory Card (Naki)
 
−
File:4MbMemory Joytech Black Box Front.jpg|4Mb (Joytech)
 
−
File:4MbMemory Joytech Blue Box Front.jpg|4Mb (Joytech)
 
−
File:4MbMemory Joytech Orange Box Front.jpg|4Mb (Joytech)
 
−
File:1MbMemory Joytech Black Box Front.jpg|1Mb (Joytech)
 
−
File:1MbMemory Joytech Blue Box Front.jpg|1Mb (Joytech)
 
−
File:MemoryCardPerformance Box Front.jpg|Memory Card (performance)
 
−
</gallery>
 
 
{{Dreamcast}}
 
{{Dreamcast}}
  
 
[[Category:Dreamcast Accessories]]
 
[[Category:Dreamcast Accessories]]

Revision as of 14:18, 30 May 2012

The Sega Dreamcast's Visual Memory Units are an interesting peripheral, but as memory cards they have several flaws. The built in-screen made them comparitively more expensive than memory cards found on rival consoles such as the PlayStation, and because of its design, a VMU is limited to about 128kB (1Mb) of storage - 200 "blocks" in Dreamcast terms.

Considering the original PlayStation matched this storage space in 1994, and the PlayStation 2 could offer a whopping 4MB (32 times more memory than a VMU) for less money, it was often considered a wiser idea to go down the third-party route, investing in memory cards which lack the VMU's exclusive features, but are significantly cheaper as a result. There are other reasons for this too - having a memory unit with a screen in the second controller port in a Dreamcast controller is a pointless exercise, as you'll not be able to see it, and cards without screens don't require their own batteries.

Dozens of memory cards were produced for the Dreamcast, usually 128kB (1Mb; 200 blocks), 256kB (2Mb; 400 blocks) or 512kB (4MB; 800 blocks) in size. For cards larger than 128kB there is usually a switch to toggle between blocks of 200. Sega later produced their own Dreamcast 4x Memory Card in response to these ideas but these were not as widely released. The most notable card is the Massive Memory Card Plus which contains 1MB (8Mb; 800 blocks) of save game storage.

This page lists all of the memory cards we know about. It is likely incomplete.

Innovation

Dreamcast, (512kB)

4Mega.jpg
Card

Intec

Dreamcast, (128kB)
MemoryCardIntec DC Box Front.jpg
Cover


Joytech

Dreamcast, (128kB)
1MbMemory Joytech Black Box Front.jpg
Cover
Dreamcast, (128kB)
1MbMemory Joytech Blue Box Front.jpg
Cover
Dreamcast, (512kB)
4MbMemory Joytech Black Box Front.jpg
Cover
Dreamcast, (512kB)
4MbMemory Joytech Orange Box Front.jpg
Cover
Dreamcast, (512kB)
4MbMemory Joytech Blue Box Front.jpg
Cover

Mad Catz

Dreamcast, (512kB)
MadCatzMemoryUnitRed Box Front.JPG
Cover
Dreamcast, (512kB)
MadCatzMemoryUnitBlue Box Front.JPG
Cover
Memory MadCatz Blue.jpg
Card
Dreamcast, (512kB)
MadCatzMemoryUnitPurple Box Front.JPG
Cover

Naki

Dreamcast, (256kB)
NakiMemoryCardBlue.jpg
Cover
Dreamcast, (256kB)

MemoryCardNaki DC Orange.jpg
Card

Performance

Dreamcast, (128kB)
MemoryCardPerformance Box Front.jpg
Cover
Dreamcast, (512kB)
MegaMemoryCard DC Box Front.jpg
Cover
MegaMemoryCard.jpg
Card
Dreamcast, (512kB)

MegaMemoryCard DC Red.jpg
Card

Skillz

Dreamcast, (256kB)

SkillsX2M.jpg
Card


Sega Dreamcast
Topics Technical specifications (Hardware comparison) | History (Development | Release | Decline and legacy | Internet) | List of games | Magazine articles | Promotional material | Merchandise
Hardware Japan (Special) | Western Europe | Eastern Europe | North America | Asia | South America | Australasia | Africa
Add-ons Dreamcast Karaoke | Dreameye
Controllers Controller | Arcade Stick | Fishing Controller | Gun (Dream Blaster) | Race Controller | Maracas Controller (Third-party) | Twin Stick | Keyboard | Mouse | Third-party
Controller Add-ons Jump Pack (Third-party) | Microphone | VMU (4x Memory Card | Third-party)
Development Hardware Dev.Box | Controller Box | Controller Function Checker | Sound Box | GD-Writer | C1/C2 Checker | Dev.Cas | GD-ROM Duplicator
Online Services/Add-ons Dreamarena | SegaNet | WebTV for Dreamcast | Modem | Modular Cable | Modular Extension Cable | Broadband Adapter | Dreamphone
Connector Cables Onsei Setsuzoku Cable | RF Adapter | Scart Cable | S Tanshi Cable | Stereo AV Cable | VGA Box

Dreamcast MIDI Interface Cable | Neo Geo Pocket/Dreamcast Setsuzoku Cable | Taisen Cable

Misc. Hardware Action Replay CDX | Code Breaker | Kiosk | MP3 DC | MP3 DC Audio Player | Official Case | Treamcast
Third-party accessories Controllers | Controller converters | Miscellaneous
Unreleased Accessories DVD Player | Zip Drive | Swatch Access for Dreamcast | VMU MP3 Player
Arcade Variants NAOMI | Atomiswave | Sega Aurora
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