Visual Memory Unit

From Sega Retro

Vmu.jpg
Visual Memory Unit
Made for: Sega Dreamcast
Manufacturer: Sega


The VMU (short for Visual Memory Unit, not Virtual Memory Unit), also referred to as the Visual Memory or VM in Japan (ビジュアルメモリ) and Europe (though there have been sources that say VMS is the japanese device name this is not confirmed by Sega's hardware lists or any of the associated merchandise), is the "memory card" for the Sega Dreamcast. While its most basic function is as a removable storage device, the VMU has other purposes as well. It can serve as an auxiliary display during normal gameplay and, through the use of additional software, it can act as a console independent of the Dreamcast.

In order to function on its own, a VMU requires two CR2032 batteries, which can lead to problems. It does not require batteries in order to function within a Dreamcast controller (when the controller is connected and the system is powered on), but if the VMU lacks power it will make a high pitched warning screech during the console's bootup to alert the user. Furthermore, when the system is turned off, the VMUs are not, and so operate on their own power source for a short period of time before automatically switching themselves off. This means that the VMU will run out of batteries quicker if plugged in.

Like the controllers and console, there are many different flavours of VMU in terms of colours. The colours vary depending on the market - in Japan there were many novelty VMUs, often inspired by games. In North America, translucent coloured VMUs were released, while in Europe very few coloured VMUs were sold.

Technical Specifications

  • CPU: 8-bit
  • Memory: 128 KB (200 blocks)
  • Power source: Two CR2032 batteries with auto-off function implemented in later versions of the VMU
  • Display: 48 dot Width x 32 dot Height, Monochrome
  • Display size: 37 mm (1.46 inches) Width x 26 mm (1.02 inches) Height
  • Case dimensions: 47 mm (1.85 inches) Width x 80 mm (3.15 inches) Height x 16 *mm (0.63 inches) Depth
  • Sound: 1-channel PWM sound source
  • Weight: 45g (0.099 pounds)

List of VMUs

Sega

Japan

Model No. Description Release Date Product Package Notes
HKT-7001 Gather Godzilla ~Large Monster Set~
あつめてゴジラ〜怪獣大集合〜
1998-07-30 HKT-7001 VM JP Godzilla.png Price: 2,500¥
HKT-7002 Visual Memory
ビジュアルメモリ
1998-11-27 VMU JPN US.png HKT-7002 VM.png Site: [1]
Price: 2,500¥
HKT-7005 Mothra Dream Battle
モスラドリームバトル
1998-12-23 VMU JPN US.png HKT-7005 VM.png Notes: HKT-7002 (with software)
and figurine
Price: ?
HKT-7006 Gamera Dream Battle
ガメラドリームバトル
1999-03-25 VMU JPN US.png HKT-7006 VM.png Notes: HKT-7002 (with software)
and figurine
Price: ?
HKT-7007-03 Visual Memory Colour Version (Aqua Blue)
ビジュアルメモリ・カラーバージョン (アクアブル)
2000-03-01 ? HKT-7007-03 VM JP AQUABLUE.PNG HKT-7007-03 VM JP AQUABLUE BOX.png Site: [2]
Price: 2,500¥
HKT-7007-04 Visual Memory Colour Version (Lime Green)
ビジュアルメモリ・カラーバージョン (ライムグリーン)
2000-03-01 ? HKT-7007-03 VM JP LIMEGREEN.PNG HKT-7007-04 VM JP LIMEGREEN BOX.png Site: [3]
Price: 2,500¥
HKT-7007-05 Visual Memory Colour Version (Passion Pink)
ビジュアルメモリ・カラーバージョン (パッションピンク)
2000-03-01 ? HKT-7007-05 VM JP PASSIONPINK.PNG HKT-7007-05 VM JP PASSIONPINK BOX.png Site: [4]
Price: 2,500¥
HKT-7007-06 Visual Memory Colour Version (Smoke)
ビジュアルメモリ・カラーバージョン (スモーク)
2000-03-01 ? HKT-7007-06 VM JP SMOKE.PNG Site: [5]
Price: 2,500¥
HKT-7007-16 Visual Memory Clear
ビジュアルメモリ クリア
2000-12-01 ? HKT-7007-16 VM JP CLEAR.jpg HKT-7007-16 VM JP CLEAR BOX.png Site: [6]
Price: 2,500¥
HKT-7007-17 Virtual Memory Sonic Team version
ビジュアルメモリ ソニックチームバージョン
2000-12-21 ? VMU JP SonicTeam.jpg VMU JP SonicTeam Box.png
HKT-7007-18 SGGG (Segagaga) Virtual Memory
SGGG (セガガガ) ビジュアルメモリ
2001-03-29 HKT-7007-18 VM JP SGGG.PNG HKT-7007-18 VM JP SGGG BOX.png Note: See also Segagaga
HKT-7008-01 Super Inventor Boy Kanipan Playing Kid DCDC
超発明BOYカニパン あそんでキッドDCDC(デシデシ)
1999-04-22 50px HKT-7008-01 VM JP BOYKANIPAN box-1.PNGHKT-7008-01 VM JP BOYKANIPAN box-2.jpg Price: ?
HKT-7008-02 Giant Channel
ジャイアントチャネル
1999-05-20 50px HKT-7008-02 VM JP GIANTCHANEL box.PNG Price: ?
HKT-7009-01 Visual Memory US Blue
ビジュアルメモリ USレッド
2001-11-01 ? VMU Blue.jpg HKT-7009-01 USBlue box.jpg Site: [7]
Price: 2,500¥
HKT-7009-02 Visual Memory US Red
ビジュアルメモリ USブルー
2001-11-01 ? VMU Red.jpg HKT-7009-02 USRed box.jpg Site: [8]
Price: 2,500¥
DD Visual Memory: Pearl White
ビジュアルメモリ:パールホワイト
2000-08-31 Site: Announcement
Price: 2,800¥
DD Visual Memory: Pearl Blue
ビジュアルメモリ:パールブルー
2000-08-31 DD VM JP PEARLBLUE.png Site: Announcement
Price: 2,800¥
Notes: See also Special DC
model Pearl Blue
DD Visual Memory: Pearl Pink
ビジュアルメモリ:パールピンク
2000-08-31 DD VM JP PEARLBLUE.JPG Site: Announcement
Price: 2,800¥
Notes: See also Special DC
model Pearl Pink
DD Visual Memory: Pure Black
ビジュアルメモリ:ピュアブラック
2000-12-21 DD VM JP PUREBLACK.jpg DD VM JP PUREBLACK box.png Site: Announcement 1, 2
Price: 2,800¥
Notes: See also Special DC
model Pure Black
DD Visual Memory Clear Red
ビジュアルメモリ クリアレッド
2000-11-30 Site: Announcement
Note: Christmas Lottery
(30-11~20-12)
Might be the same as
HKT-7009-02.
DD Visual Memory Capcom version
ビジュアルメモリ カプコンバージョン
2000-12-22 DD VM JP CAPCOM.PNG Site: Announcement
Price: 2,800¥
DPB Visual Memory: Camouflage
ビジュアルメモリ:迷彩色
1999-03-01 ? DPB VM JP CAMOUFLAGE.png DPB VM 2000POINTS box.png Price: 2000 DPB points
DPB Visual Memory: Carbon Black
ビジュアルメモリ:カーボンブラック
1999-03-01 ? VMU JP CARBONBLACK.jpg DPB VM 2000POINTS box.png Price: 2000 DPB points
DPB Visual Memory: Wood Grain
ビジュアルメモリ:木目調
2000-09-01 VMU JP WOODGRAIN.PNG DPB VM 2000POINTS box.png Site: Announcement
Price: 2000 DPB points
DPB Visual Memory: Leopard
ビジュアルメモリ:豹柄
2000-09-01 DPB VM JP LEOPARD.png DPB VM 2000POINTS box.png Site: Announcement
Price: 2000 DPB points
DPB Visual Memory: Marble
ビジュアルメモリ:大理石調
2000-09-01 DPB VM JP MARBLE.png DPB VM 2000POINTS box.png Site: Announcement
Price: 2000 DPB points
DPB Visual Memory: Strawberry version
ビジュアルメモリ:イチゴバージョン
2001-05-17 ? DPB VM JP STRAWBERRIES.png DPB VM 2000POINTS box.png Price: 2000 DPB points
DPB Visual Memory: Dolphin version
ビジュアルメモリ:イルカバージョン
2001-05-17 ? DPB VM JP DOLPHINS.png DPB VM 2000POINTS box.png Price: 2000 DPB points
DPB Visual Memory: Number version
ビジュアルメモリ:ナンバーバージョン
2001-05-17 ? VMU JP DirectNumber.jpg DPB VM 2000POINTS box.png Price: 2000 DPB points
Sakura Wars bundle VM
サクラ大戦 ?? 同梱
2000-05-25 50px HDR-0089 bundle
Price: 6,800¥ (pack)
Sakura Wars 3 bundle VM
サクラ大戦 ?? 同梱 携帯キネマトロン型
2001-03-22 HDR-0148 Sakura Taisen VM.jpg HDR-0148 bundle
Price: 9,800¥ (pack)
Di Gi Charat Fantasy bundle VM
デ・ジ・キャラット ファンタジー ??
2001-09-06 T-46301M Di Gi Charat Fantasy VM.png T-46301M bundle
Price: 7,800¥ (pack)
Seaman ~Forbidden Pet~ ??
シーマン~禁断のペット~ ?? 同梱
1999-07-29 DC SEAMAN (clear) VM.PNG Site: Announcement
Price: 34,800¥ (pack)
Hello Kitty Dreamcast Set (Blue Skeleton) bundle
Hello Kitty ドリームキャストセット (と"スケルトンブルー) 同梱
1999-11-25 DC HelloKitty (Blue) VM.PNG Site: [9], Announcement
Price: 39,800¥ (pack)
Hello Kitty Dreamcast Set (Pink Skeleton) bundle
Hello Kitty ドリームキャストセット (スケルトンピンク) 同梱
1999-11-25 DC HelloKitty (Pink) VM.PNG Site: [10], Announcement
Price: 39,800¥ (pack)
Dreamcast model: Seaman Christmas package bundle
ドリームキャスト model:SEAMAN クリスマスパッケージ 同梱
1999-12-19 DC SEAMAN (xmas) VM.PNG Price: 34,800¥ (pack)
Dreamcast CODE: Veronica LIMITEDBOX bundle
Dreamcast CODE: Veronica LIMITEDBOX 同梱
2000-02-03 50px Site: Announcement
Price: 34,800¥ (pack)
Dreamcast Sakura Taisen model bundle
ドリームキャスト サクラ大戦モデル 同梱
2000-12-01 DC SakuraWarsDCforInternet VM.PNG Site: [11]
Price: 25,800¥ (pack)
Sakura Wars Contest VM
  • Data in italics is not official.
  • Release dates with ? do not have a source.
  • ?? means there is something supposed to be there.

US

The U.S. standard VM is undistinguisable from the Japanese counterpart. However, the colour series has slightly darker casing and has grey (instead of white) buttons (notice the starking difference between the Dreamcast inscription and the button colours). The US red and US blue japanese VMs described above are a domestic release of their overseas versions, sporting the U.S. grey buttons and are only distinct by their different packaging.

Model No Reference Product Box Notes
MK-50120 Visual Memory Unit (standard) VMU JPN US.png VMU US Box Front.jpg
'MK-50121 Visual Memory Unit (clear blue) VMU Blue.jpg VMU Blue US Box Front.jpgVMU US Box Back.jpg
MK-50122 Visual Memory Unit (clear green) VMU Green.jpg VMU Green US Box Front.jpg a similar (or same) is included with the Holiday Gift Pack.
MK-50123 Visual Memory Unit (clear red) VMU Red.jpg VMU Red US Box Front.jpg a similar (or same) is included with the Holiday Gift Pack
MK-50124 Visual Memory Unit (clear yellow) VMU Yellow.png VMU Yellow US Box Front.jpg
MK-50125 Visual Memory Unit (clear black) VMU Black.JPG VMU Black US Box Front.jpg
  • Data in italics might not be accurate.

Europe

The standard PAL VM is different from the Japanese and U.S. devices as it does not have have a spiral next to the Dreamcast inscription, and the inscription itself is made in a larger font.

Model No Reference Image Box Notes
MK-55120 Visual Memory (standard) VM PAL Box Front.jpgVM PAL Box Back.jpg


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