Difference between revisions of "Dreamcast third-party Visual Memory Units"
From Sega Retro
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This page lists all of the memory cards we know about. It is likely incomplete. | This page lists all of the memory cards we know about. It is likely incomplete. | ||
| − | = | + | {| class="prettytable sortable" |
| − | + | !Box | |
| − | | | + | !Name |
| − | + | !Brand | |
| + | !Date & Price | ||
| + | !Images | ||
| + | !Documentation | ||
| + | |- | ||
| + | {{AccessoryRelease | ||
| front=MemoryCard3AGames4Mb DC Box Front Green.jpg | | front=MemoryCard3AGames4Mb DC Box Front Green.jpg | ||
| back= | | back= | ||
| spinemissing= | | spinemissing= | ||
| − | | square= | + | | square= |
| − | | | + | |
| − | | | + | | name=4 Mega (512kB) |
| − | + | | brand=[[3A Games]] | |
| − | | | + | |
| − | | | + | | dateprice1=(>=1999) |
| + | |||
| + | | image1= | ||
| + | | image1name= | ||
| + | }} | ||
| + | {{AccessoryRelease | ||
| front= | | front= | ||
| back= | | back= | ||
| spinemissing= | | spinemissing= | ||
| − | | square= | + | | square= |
| − | | | + | |
| − | | | + | | name=4 Mega (512kB) |
| + | | brand=[[3A Games]] | ||
| + | |||
| + | | dateprice1=(>=1999) | ||
| + | |||
| + | | image1=MemoryCard3AGames4Mb DC Box Front Blue.jpg | ||
| + | | image1name= | ||
}} | }} | ||
| − | + | {{AccessoryRelease | |
| − | {{ | ||
| − | |||
| − | |||
| front=MemoryCardNexus4Mb DC Box Front Green.jpg | | front=MemoryCardNexus4Mb DC Box Front Green.jpg | ||
| back= | | back= | ||
| spinemissing= | | spinemissing= | ||
| − | | square= | + | | square= |
| − | | | + | |
| − | | | + | | name=Nexus 4 Meg (512kB) |
| − | + | | brand=[[EMS]] | |
| − | | | + | |
| − | | | + | | dateprice1=(>=1999) |
| + | |||
| + | | image1= | ||
| + | | image1name= | ||
| + | }} | ||
| + | |||
| + | {{AccessoryRelease | ||
| front= | | front= | ||
| back= | | back= | ||
| spinemissing= | | spinemissing= | ||
| − | | square= | + | | square= |
| − | | | + | |
| − | | | + | | name=Nexus 4 Meg (512kB) |
| + | | brand=[[EMS]] | ||
| + | |||
| + | | dateprice1=(>=1999) | ||
| + | |||
| + | | image1=MemoryCardNexus4Mb DC Blue.jpg | ||
| + | | image1name= | ||
}} | }} | ||
| − | + | {{AccessoryRelease | |
| − | {{ | ||
| − | |||
| − | |||
| front= | | front= | ||
| back= | | back= | ||
| spinemissing= | | spinemissing= | ||
| − | | square= | + | | square= |
| − | | | + | |
| − | | | + | | name=4 Mega (512kB) |
| + | | brand=[[Innovation]] | ||
| + | |||
| + | | dateprice1=(>=1999) | ||
| + | |||
| + | | image1=4Mega.jpg | ||
| + | | image1name= | ||
}} | }} | ||
| − | + | {{AccessoryRelease | |
| − | {{ | ||
| − | |||
| − | |||
| front=MemoryCardIntec DC Box Front.jpg | | front=MemoryCardIntec DC Box Front.jpg | ||
| back= | | back= | ||
| spinemissing= | | spinemissing= | ||
| − | | square= | + | | square= |
| − | | | + | |
| − | | | + | | name=Memory Card (128kB) |
| + | | brand=[[Intec]] | ||
| + | |||
| + | | dateprice1=(>=1999) | ||
| + | |||
| + | | image1= | ||
| + | | image1name= | ||
}} | }} | ||
| − | + | {{AccessoryRelease | |
| − | {{ | ||
| − | |||
| − | |||
| front=1MbMemory Joytech Black Box Front.jpg | | front=1MbMemory Joytech Black Box Front.jpg | ||
| back= | | back= | ||
| spinemissing= | | spinemissing= | ||
| square=yes | | square=yes | ||
| − | | | + | |
| − | | | + | | name=1Mb Memory Card (128kB) |
| − | + | | brand=[[Joytech]] | |
| − | | | + | |
| − | | | + | | dateprice1=(>=1999) |
| + | |||
| + | | image1= | ||
| + | | image1name= | ||
| + | }} | ||
| + | {{AccessoryRelease | ||
| front=1MbMemory Joytech Blue Box Front.jpg | | front=1MbMemory Joytech Blue Box Front.jpg | ||
| back= | | back= | ||
| spinemissing= | | spinemissing= | ||
| square=yes | | square=yes | ||
| − | | | + | |
| − | | | + | | name=1Mb Memory Card (128kB) |
| − | + | | brand=[[Joytech]] | |
| − | | | + | |
| − | | | + | | dateprice1=(>=1999) |
| + | |||
| + | | image1= | ||
| + | | image1name= | ||
| + | }} | ||
| + | {{AccessoryRelease | ||
| front=4MbMemory Joytech Black Box Front.jpg | | front=4MbMemory Joytech Black Box Front.jpg | ||
| back= | | back= | ||
| spinemissing= | | spinemissing= | ||
| square=yes | | square=yes | ||
| − | | | + | |
| − | | | + | | name=4Mb Memory Card (512kB) |
| − | + | | brand=[[Joytech]] | |
| − | | | + | |
| − | | | + | | dateprice1=(>=1999) |
| + | |||
| + | | image1= | ||
| + | | image1name= | ||
| + | }} | ||
| + | {{AccessoryRelease | ||
| front=4MbMemory Joytech Orange Box Front.jpg | | front=4MbMemory Joytech Orange Box Front.jpg | ||
| back= | | back= | ||
| spinemissing= | | spinemissing= | ||
| square=yes | | square=yes | ||
| − | | | + | |
| − | | | + | | name=4Mb Memory Card (512kB) |
| − | + | | brand=[[Joytech]] | |
| − | | | + | |
| − | | | + | | dateprice1=(>=1999) |
| + | |||
| + | | image1= | ||
| + | | image1name= | ||
| + | }} | ||
| + | {{AccessoryRelease | ||
| front=4MbMemory Joytech Blue Box Front.jpg | | front=4MbMemory Joytech Blue Box Front.jpg | ||
| back= | | back= | ||
| spinemissing= | | spinemissing= | ||
| square=yes | | square=yes | ||
| − | | | + | |
| − | | | + | | name=4Mb Memory Card (512kB) |
| + | | brand=[[Joytech]] | ||
| + | |||
| + | | dateprice1=(>=1999) | ||
| + | |||
| + | | image1= | ||
| + | | image1name= | ||
}} | }} | ||
| − | + | ||
| − | {{ | + | {{AccessoryRelease |
| − | |||
| − | |||
| front=MadCatzMemoryUnitRed Box Front.JPG | | front=MadCatzMemoryUnitRed Box Front.JPG | ||
| back= | | back= | ||
| spinemissing= | | spinemissing= | ||
| − | | | + | |
| − | | | + | | name=Memory Unit (512kB) |
| − | + | | brand=[[Mad Catz]] | |
| − | | | + | |
| − | | | + | | dateprice1=(>=1999) |
| + | |||
| + | | image1= | ||
| + | | image1name= | ||
| + | }} | ||
| + | {{AccessoryRelease | ||
| front=MadCatzMemoryUnitBlue Box Front.JPG | | front=MadCatzMemoryUnitBlue Box Front.JPG | ||
| back= | | back= | ||
| spinemissing= | | spinemissing= | ||
| − | | | + | |
| − | | | + | | name=Memory Unit (512kB) |
| − | }}{{ | + | | brand=[[Mad Catz]] |
| − | + | ||
| − | + | | dateprice1=(>=1999) | |
| + | |||
| + | | image1=Memory MadCatz Blue.jpg | ||
| + | | image1name= | ||
| + | }} | ||
| + | {{AccessoryRelease | ||
| front=MadCatzMemoryUnitPurple Box Front.JPG | | front=MadCatzMemoryUnitPurple Box Front.JPG | ||
| back= | | back= | ||
| spinemissing= | | spinemissing= | ||
| − | | | + | |
| − | | | + | | name=Memory Unit (512kB) |
| + | | brand=[[Mad Catz]] | ||
| + | |||
| + | | dateprice1=(>=1999) | ||
| + | |||
| + | | image1= | ||
| + | | image1name= | ||
}} | }} | ||
| − | + | {{AccessoryRelease | |
| − | {{ | ||
| − | |||
| − | |||
| front=NakiMemoryCardBlue.jpg | | front=NakiMemoryCardBlue.jpg | ||
| back= | | back= | ||
| spinemissing= | | spinemissing= | ||
| − | | | + | |
| − | | | + | | name=Memory Card (256kB) |
| − | + | | brand=[[Naki]] | |
| − | | | + | |
| − | | | + | | dateprice1=(>=1999) |
| − | | front= | + | |
| + | | image1= | ||
| + | | image1name= | ||
| + | }} | ||
| + | |||
| + | {{AccessoryRelease | ||
| + | | front=MemoryCardNaki DC Orange.jpg | ||
| back= | | back= | ||
| spinemissing= | | spinemissing= | ||
| − | | | + | |
| − | | | + | | name=Memory Card (256kB) |
| + | | brand=[[Naki]] | ||
| + | |||
| + | | dateprice1=(>=1999) | ||
| + | |||
| + | | image1= | ||
| + | | image1name= | ||
}} | }} | ||
| − | + | {{AccessoryRelease | |
| − | {{ | ||
| − | |||
| − | |||
| front=MemoryCardNyko2Mb DC Box Front Blue.jpg | | front=MemoryCardNyko2Mb DC Box Front Blue.jpg | ||
| back= | | back= | ||
| spinemissing= | | spinemissing= | ||
| − | | | + | |
| − | | | + | | name=Memory Pack x2 (256kB) |
| + | | brand=[[Nyko]] | ||
| + | |||
| + | | dateprice1=(>=1999) | ||
| + | |||
| + | | image1= | ||
| + | | image1name= | ||
}} | }} | ||
| − | + | {{AccessoryRelease | |
| − | {{ | ||
| − | |||
| − | |||
| front=MemoryCardPerformance Box Front.jpg | | front=MemoryCardPerformance Box Front.jpg | ||
| back= | | back= | ||
| spinemissing= | | spinemissing= | ||
| − | | | + | |
| − | | | + | | name=Memory Card (128kB) |
| − | }}{{ | + | | brand=[[Performance]] |
| − | + | ||
| − | + | | dateprice1=(>=1999) | |
| + | |||
| + | | image1=MemoryCardPerformance1Mb DC.jpg | ||
| + | | image1name= | ||
| + | }} | ||
| + | |||
| + | {{AccessoryRelease | ||
| front= | | front= | ||
| back= | | back= | ||
| spinemissing= | | spinemissing= | ||
| − | | | + | |
| − | | | + | | name=Memory Card (128kB) |
| − | }}{{ | + | | brand=[[Performance]] |
| − | + | ||
| − | + | | dateprice1=(>=1999) | |
| + | |||
| + | | image1=MemoryCardPerformance1Mb DC Alt.jpg | ||
| + | | image1name= | ||
| + | }} | ||
| + | {{AccessoryRelease | ||
| front=MemoryCardPerformance1Mb DC Box Front Blue.jpg | | front=MemoryCardPerformance1Mb DC Box Front Blue.jpg | ||
| back= | | back= | ||
| spinemissing= | | spinemissing= | ||
| − | | | + | |
| − | | | + | | name=Memory Card (128kB) |
| − | }}{{ | + | | brand=[[Performance]] |
| − | + | ||
| − | + | | dateprice1=(>=1999) | |
| + | |||
| + | | image1=MemoryCardPerformance1Mb DC Blue.jpg | ||
| + | | image1name= | ||
| + | }} | ||
| + | {{AccessoryRelease | ||
| front=MegaMemoryCard DC Box Front.jpg | | front=MegaMemoryCard DC Box Front.jpg | ||
| back= | | back= | ||
| spinemissing= | | spinemissing= | ||
| square=yes | | square=yes | ||
| − | | | + | |
| − | | | + | | name=Mega Memory Card (512kB) |
| − | }}{{ | + | | brand=[[Performance]] |
| − | + | ||
| − | + | | dateprice1=(>=1999) | |
| + | |||
| + | | image1=MegaMemoryCard.jpg | ||
| + | | image1name= | ||
| + | }} | ||
| + | {{AccessoryRelease | ||
| front= | | front= | ||
| back= | | back= | ||
| spinemissing= | | spinemissing= | ||
| − | | | + | |
| − | | | + | | name=Mega Memory Card (512kB) |
| − | }}{{ | + | | brand=[[Performance]] |
| − | + | ||
| − | + | | dateprice1=(>=1999) | |
| + | |||
| + | | image1=MegaMemoryCard DC Red.jpg | ||
| + | | image1name= | ||
| + | }} | ||
| + | {{AccessoryRelease | ||
| front= | | front= | ||
| back= | | back= | ||
| spinemissing= | | spinemissing= | ||
| − | | | + | |
| − | | | + | | name=Mega Memory Card (512kB) |
| + | | brand=[[Performance]] | ||
| + | |||
| + | | dateprice1=(>=1999) | ||
| + | |||
| + | | image1=MemoryCardPerformance4Mb DC Green.jpg | ||
| + | | image1name= | ||
}} | }} | ||
| − | + | {{AccessoryRelease | |
| − | {{ | ||
| − | |||
| − | |||
| front= | | front= | ||
| back= | | back= | ||
| spinemissing= | | spinemissing= | ||
| − | | | + | |
| − | | | + | | name=DC 2M Memory (256kB) |
| + | | brand=[[Skillz]] | ||
| + | |||
| + | | dateprice1=(>=1999) | ||
| + | |||
| + | | image1=SkillsX2M.jpg | ||
| + | | image1name= | ||
}} | }} | ||
{{Dreamcast}} | {{Dreamcast}} | ||
| − | |||
[[Category:Dreamcast accessories]] | [[Category:Dreamcast accessories]] | ||
Revision as of 04:33, 19 June 2014
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.
| Box | Name | Brand | Date & Price | Images | Documentation |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
 |
4 Mega (512kB) | 3A Games | (>=1999) |
|
|
| 4 Mega (512kB) | 3A Games | (>=1999) | 
|
||
 |
Nexus 4 Meg (512kB) | EMS | (>=1999) |
|
|
| Nexus 4 Meg (512kB) | EMS | (>=1999) | 
|
||
| 4 Mega (512kB) | Innovation | (>=1999) | 
|
||
 |
Memory Card (128kB) | Intec | (>=1999) |
|
|
 |
1Mb Memory Card (128kB) | Joytech | (>=1999) |
|
|
 |
1Mb Memory Card (128kB) | Joytech | (>=1999) |
|
|
 |
4Mb Memory Card (512kB) | Joytech | (>=1999) |
|
|
 |
4Mb Memory Card (512kB) | Joytech | (>=1999) |
|
|
 |
4Mb Memory Card (512kB) | Joytech | (>=1999) |
|
|
 |
Memory Unit (512kB) | Mad Catz | (>=1999) |
|
|
 |
Memory Unit (512kB) | Mad Catz | (>=1999) | 
|
|
 |
Memory Unit (512kB) | Mad Catz | (>=1999) |
|
|
 |
Memory Card (256kB) | Naki | (>=1999) |
|
|
 |
Memory Card (256kB) | Naki | (>=1999) |
|
|
 |
Memory Pack x2 (256kB) | Nyko | (>=1999) |
|
|
 |
Memory Card (128kB) | Performance | (>=1999) | 
|
|
| Memory Card (128kB) | Performance | (>=1999) | 
|
||
 |
Memory Card (128kB) | Performance | (>=1999) | 
|
|
 |
Mega Memory Card (512kB) | Performance | (>=1999) | 
|
|
| Mega Memory Card (512kB) | Performance | (>=1999) | 
|
||
| Mega Memory Card (512kB) | Performance | (>=1999) | 
|
||
| DC 2M Memory (256kB) | Skillz | (>=1999) | 
|