Sega Mega-CD
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The 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 Mega Drive.
As the names suggest, it allows a Mega Drive to run compact discs, be it proprietary Mega-CD software, audio CDs or CD+G discs. It also acts as an upgrade to the Mega Drive hardware, sporting an extra processor and extra RAM. The Mega-CD was first released in 1991 and was supported alongside regular Mega Drive cartridges.
Contents
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. Alternatively it can be used to just play regular 5-inch or 3-inch audio CDs.
Models
- Main article: Mega-CD consoles.
Like the Mega Drive, there were two major revisions of the add-on by Sega and several special combination units.
Sega-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.
Japanese model
North American model
European/Australian model
South Korean model
JP (Mega Drive)
JP (Mega Drive 2)
US (Genesis)
US (Genesis (2))
EU (Mega Drive)
EU (Mega Drive II)
KR (Super Aladdin Boy)
KR (Super Aladdin Boy II)
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. In Japan, the system debuted on the 23rd April, 1993[10], with a US release around Summer CES 1993 and August 1993 for Europe[11].
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 a plastic extension piece was included to add extra support with an original Mega Drive attached.
Japanese/Asian model
North American/Brazilian model
European/Australian model
South Korean model
JP (Mega Drive)
JP (Mega Drive 2)
US (Genesis)
US (Genesis (2))
EU (Mega Drive)
EU (Mega Drive II)
KR (Super Aladdin Boy)
KR (Super Aladdin Boy II)
Mega Drive combos: JVC Wondermega/X'eye, Pioneer 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
- Main article: Sega Mega-CD/Technical specifications.
- See also Sega Mega Drive/Technical specifications.
History
- Main article: History of the Sega Mega-CD.
Games
List of games
- Main article: List of Mega-CD 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).
- 3 Ninjas Kick Back/Hook (1994)
- 3x3 Eyes: Seima Densetsu (1993)
- AX-101 (1994)
- A-Rank Thunder Tanjouhen (1993)
- The Adventures of Batman & Robin (1995)
- The Adventures of Willy Beamish (1993)
- After Armageddon Gaiden (1994)
- After Burner III (1992)
- Aisle Lord (1992)
- Alshark (1993)
- Android Assault: The Revenge of Bari-Arm (1994)
- Anetto Futatabi (1993)
- The Animals (1994)
- Aoki Ookami to Shiroki Mejika: Genchou Hishi (1993)
- Arcus I.II.III (1993)
- Arslan Senki (1993)
- Bakuden: The Unbalanced Zone (1994)
- Batman Returns (1993)
- Battle Frenzy (1995)
- Battlecorps (1993)
- BC Racers (1995)
- Bill Walsh College Football (1993)
- Black Hole Assault (1992)
- Bouncers (1995)
- Bram Stoker's Dracula (1993)
- Brutal: Paws of Fury (1993)
- Burai: Hachigyoku no Yuushi Densetsu (1992)
- Cadillacs and Dinosaurs: The Second Cataclysm (1994)
- Capcom no Quiz Tonosama no Yabou (1992)
- Captain Tsubasa (1994)
- Chuck Rock II: Son of Chuck (1992)
- Chuck Rock (1992)
- Cliffhanger (1993)
- Cobra Command (1992)
- Colors of Modern Rock (1993)
- Compton's Interactive Encyclopedia (1994)
- Corpse Killer (1994)*
- Cosmic Fantasy Stories (1992)
- Crime Patrol (1994)
- Cyborg 009 (1993)
- Daihoushinden (1994)
- Dark Seed (1993)
- Dark Wizard (1993)
- Death Bringer: The Knight of Darkness (1992)
- Demolition Man (1995)
- Detonator Orgun (1992)
- Devastator (1993)
- Double Switch (1995)
- Dracula Unleashed (1993)
- Dragon's Lair (1994)
- Dune (1993)
- Dungeon Explorer (1994)
- Dungeon Master II: Skullkeep (1994)
- Dynamic Country Club (1993)
- Earnest Evans (1991)
- Earthworm Jim: Special Edition (1995)
- Ecco the Dolphin (1993)
- Ecco the Dolphin CD (1995)
- Ecco: The Tides of Time (1994)
- Egawa Suguro no Super League (1993)
- ESPN Baseball Tonight (1994)
- ESPN National Hockey Night (1994)
- ESPN NBA Hangtime '95 (1994)
- ESPN Sunday Night NFL (1994)
- Eternal Champions: Challenge from the Dark Side (1994)
- Eye of the Beholder (1994)
- F-1 Circus CD (1994)
- Fahrenheit (1995)*
- Fatal Fury Special (1995)
- Fhey Area (1992)
- FIFA International Soccer (1994)
- Final Fight CD (1993)
- Flashback: The Quest for Identity (1993)
- Flink (1994)
- Formula One World Championship: Beyond the Limit (1994)
- Frog Feast (2005)
- Funky Horror Band (1991)
- Gambler Jikko Chuushinha 2 (1992)
- Game no Kanzume: Sega Games Can Vol. 1 (1994)
- Game no Kanzume: Sega Games Can Vol. 2 (1994)
- Genei Toshi: Illusion City (1993)
- Ground Zero: Texas (1993)
- Heart of the Alien (1994)
- Heavy Nova (1991)
- Heimdall (1994)
- Hook (1992)
- INXS (1992)
- Iron Helix (1994)
- Ishii Hisaichi no Daisekai (1994)
- Jaguar XJ220 (1993)
- Jango World Cup (1993)
- Jeopardy! (1994)
- Joe Montana's NFL Football (1993)
- Jurassic Park (1993)
- Keio Flying Squadron (1993)
- Kids on Site (1994)
- Kris Kross (1992)
- The Lawnmower Man (1994)
- Lethal Enforcers II: Gun Fighters (1994)
- Lethal Enforcers (1993)
- Links: The Challenge of Golf (1995)
- Loadstar: The Legend of Tully Bodine (1994)
- Lords of Thunder (1995)
- Lunar: Eternal Blue (1994)
- Lunar: The Silver Star (1992)
- Mad Dog II: The Lost Gold (1994)
- Mad Dog McCree (1993)
- Mahou no Shoujo: Silky Lip (1992)
- Mansion of Hidden Souls (1993)
- Marko's Magic Football (1994)
- Marky Mark and the Funky Bunch (1992)
- Masked Rider (1994)
- Mega Schwarzschild (1993)
- MegaRace (1994)
- Mickey Mania: The Timeless Adventures of Mickey Mouse (1994)
- Microcosm (1994)
- Midnight Raiders (1994)
- Might and Magic III: Isles of Terra (1993)
- Mighty Mighty Missile! (2005)
- Mighty Morphin Power Rangers (1994)
- Mortal Kombat (1994)
- My Paint: The Animated Paint Program (1993)
- NBA Jam (1993)
- NFL Football Trivia Challenge (1994)
- NFL's Greatest: San Francisco vs. Dallas 1978-1993 (1993)
- NHL '94 (1993)
- Night Striker (1993)
- Night Trap (1992)*
- The Ninja Warriors (1993)
- Nostalgia 1907 (1993)
- Novastorm (1993)
- Panic! (1993)
- Pitfall: The Mayan Adventure (1994)
- Popful Mail (1994)
- Power Factory featuring C+C Music Factory (1992)
- Power Monger (1994)
- Prince of Persia (1993)
- Prize Fighter (1995)
- Pro Yakyuu Super League CD (1992)
- Psychic Dectective vol. 3: Psychic Detective Aya (1993)
- Psychic Dectective vol. 4: Psychic Detective Orgel (1993)
- Puggsy (1993)
- Quiz Scramble Special (1992)
- Racing Aces (1993)
- Radical Rex (1994)
- Ranma ½: Byakuran Aika (1993)
- RDF Global Conflict (1995)
- Record of Lodoss War (1994)
- Revenge of the Ninja (1993)
- Revengers of Vengeance (1993)
- Rise of the Dragon (1992)
- Road Avenger (1992)
- Road Rash (1995)
- Robo Aleste (1993)
- Romance of the Three Kingdoms III: Dragon of Destiny (1993)
- Samurai Shodown (1995)
- The Secret of Monkey Island (1993)
- Sega Classics Arcade Collection (1993)
- Sengoku Denshou (1993)
- Sensible Soccer (1993)
- Sewer Shark (1992)
- Shadow of the Beast II (1994)
- Shadowrun (1996)
- Sherlock Holmes: Consulting Detective Vol. II (1992)
- Sherlock Holmes: Consulting Detective (1992)
- Shin Megami Tensei (1994)
- Shining Force CD (1994)
- Silpheed (1993)
- SimEarth (1993)
- Slam City with Scottie Pippen (1992)*
- The Smurfs (1995)
- Snatcher (1994)
- Sol-Feace (1991)
- Sonic the Hedgehog CD (1993)
- Soulstar (1994)
- Space Ace (1993)
- The Space Adventure (1995)
- Spider-Man vs. The Kingpin (1993)
- Star Strike (2000)
- Star Wars Chess (1993)
- Star Wars: Rebel Assault (1994)
- StarBlade (1994)
- Stellar Fire (1993)
- Supreme Warrior (1994)*
- Surgical Strike (1995)*
- Syndicate (1993)
- Tenbu: Mega CD Special (1992)
- Tenka Fubu (1991)
- The Terminator (1994)
- Theme Park (1995)
- The Third World War (1993)
- Thunderhawk (1993)
- Time Gal (1992)
- Tomcat Alley (1994)
- Trivial Pursuit (1994)
- Ultraverse Prime/Microcosm (1994}
- Urusei Yatsura: Dear My Friends (1994)
- Vay (1993)
- Warau Salesman (1993)
- Wheel of Fortune (1994)
- Who Shot Johnny Rock? (1993)
- Wild Woody (1995)
- Wing Commander (1994)
- Winning Post (1993)
- Wirehead (1995)
- Wolfchild (1993)
- Wonder Dog (1992)
- World Cup USA 94 (1994)
- WWF Rage in the Cage (1993)
- Yumimi Mix (1993)
Launch titles
Japan
North America
United Kingdom
France
Germany
Spain
Italy
- Sol-Feace / Cobra Command (pack-in)
Brazil
Magazine articles
- Main article: Sega Mega-CD/Magazine articles.
Promotional material
- Main article: Sega Mega-CD/Promotional material.
Artwork
Japanese logo
North American logo
European/Australian logo
Patents
USD351385
External links
References
- ↑ https://sega.jp/history/hard/mega-cd/index.html (Wayback Machine: 2018-11-16 04:34)
- ↑ Beep! MegaDrive, "December 1991" (JP; 1991-11-08), page 3
- ↑ Mega Drive Fan, "February 1992" (JP; 1992-01-08), page 2
- ↑ 4.0 4.1 Sega Visions, "August/September 1992" (US; 1992-xx-xx), page 6
- ↑ Mega Play, "August 1992" (US; 1992-0x-xx), page 16
- ↑ 6.0 6.1 Computer & Video Games, "May 1993" (UK; 1993-04-15), page 8
- ↑ Video Game, "Outubro 1993" (BR; 1993-xx-xx), page 6
- ↑ 8.0 8.1 Mega Fun, "09/93" (DE; 1993-08-18), page 30
- ↑ Player One, "Septembre 1993" (FR; 1993-08-xx), page 53
- ↑ http://sega.jp/fb/segahard/mcd/mcd2.html (Wayback Machine: 2016-03-03 23:30)
- ↑ Sega Force Mega, "November 1993" (UK; 1993-10-14), page 19
- ↑ File:SelectRound FR 01.pdf, page 2
- ↑ Video Games, "9/93" (DE; 1993-08-25), page 32
| 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 |
| 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 |
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| 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 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||
- JP Mega-CD hardware
- US Mega-CD hardware
- DE Mega-CD hardware
- ES Mega-CD hardware
- FR Mega-CD hardware
- UK Mega-CD hardware
- SI Mega-CD hardware
- SE Mega-CD hardware
- IT Mega-CD hardware
- AU Mega-CD hardware
- BR Mega-CD hardware
- KR Mega-CD hardware
- RU Mega-CD hardware
- TW Mega-CD hardware
- AS Mega-CD hardware
- Mega-CD hardware
- Sega Mega-CD