- Name
- Sega CD
- Abbreviation
- SCD
- Release Date
- 1991
- Manufacturer
- Sega (Company)
- Launch price
- $299.99
- Install base
- 2,240,000
- Online service
- No
- Aliases
- Mega CD
Sega CD
The Sega CD was one of the first CD-ROM based gaming consoles. The extra storage space this medium allowed gave rise to inclusion of full motion video, higher quality audio, and improved graphics in games.
Platform Images Related Pages
Overview
The Sega CD is the first of two add-on consoles to the Sega Genesis. As its name implies, the system utilized CDs for games instead of cartridges. In addition to game CDs, it was also able to read audio CDs and CD graphics (CD G).
In similar fashion to the Sega 32X (Platform), the original two Sega CD models (dubbed Sega CD I and II) required a Genesis console to operate. Both models plugged into the bottom of the Genesis, with CD I fitting the older version of the Genesis and the CD II fitting the newer version.
One of the hallmark features of the Sega CD was the inclusion of full motion video (FMV) in games. Though this was revolutionary at the time, the low number of colors (512) the console was able to produce effectively made low quality FMV. This was improved greatly with some Sega CD 32X games, as these were capable of showing 32,768 colors.
Between North America (Location), Japan (Location), and Europe (Location) approximately 221 Sega CD games were produced (including five Sega CD 32X games). Though a large number of these were original releases, several were simply ports of existing Genesis games with extra content and improved graphics (such as Mortal Kombat (Game) and Earthworm Jim).
A portable combo version of the Sega CD/Genesis was released in 1994, and was similar in appearance and size to portable CD players of that time. Named the Sega CDX, the hybrid console never saw much success in sales, likely due to its high price and the upcoming release of the Sega Saturn (Platform).
Technical Specifications
- CPU: 12.5 MHz 16-bit Motorola 68000 processor
- Graphics: Custom ASIC processor, 64 colors onscreen out of 512, resolution of 320 x 224 or 256 x 224 pixels
- RAM: 4 Mbit program RAM, 2Mbit word RAM, 512kbit PCM samples, 128kbit cache, 64kbit backup RAM
- Storage: 500MB on CD-ROM with a transfer rate of 150 kB/s
- Audio: Stereo PWM, total 12 MHz clock frequency, 18 total sound channels, max sample rate of 32 kHz, 8 bits of wave data, 16 bit DAC
- Dimensions: 301mm x 212.5mm x 112.5mm
Games view all →]
- 3 Ninjas Kick Back (Game)
- 3x3 Eyes: Seima Densetsu (Game)
- A-Rank Thunder Tanjouhen (Game)
- A/X-101 (Game)
- AH-3 Thunderstrike (Game)
- After Armageddon (Game)
- After Burner III (Game)
- Aisle Lord (Game)
- Alshark (Game)
- Android Assault: The Revenge of Bari-Arm (Game)
- Anett Futatabi (Game)
- Arcus I-II-III (Game)
- Arslan Senki (Game)
- BC Racers (Game)
- Batman Returns (Game)
- Battlecorps (Game)
- Bill Walsh College Football (Game)
- Blackhole Assault (Game)
- Bloodshot (Game)
- Bouncers (Game)
- Brain Dead 13 (Game)
- Bram Stoker's Dracula (Game)
- Brutal: Paws of Fury (Game)
- Burai: Hachigyoku no Yuushi Densetsu (Game)
- Burning Fists: Force Striker (Game)
- Cadillacs and Dinosaurs: The Second Cataclysm (Game)
- Chuck Rock (Game)
- Chuck Rock II: Son of Chuck (Game)
- Citizen X (Game)
- Cliffhanger (Game)
- Cobra Command (Game)
- Corpse Killer (Game)
- Cosmic Fantasy Stories (Game)
- Crime Patrol (Game)
- Cyborg 009 (Game)
- Daihoushinden (Game)
- Dark Wizard (Game)
- Death Bringer: The Knight of Darkness (Game)
- Demolition Man (Game)
- Detonator Orgun (Game)
- Devastator (Game)
- Double Switch (Game)
- Dracula Unleashed (Game)
- Dragon's Lair (Game)
- Dune (Game)
- Dungeon Explorer (Game)
- Dungeon Master II: The Legend of Skullkeep (Game)
- Dynamic Country Club (Game)
- ESPN Baseball Tonight (Game)
- ESPN National Hockey Night (Game)
- ESPN Sunday Night NFL (Game)
- Earnest Evans (Game)
- Earthworm Jim (Game)
- Ecco the Dolphin (Game)
- Ecco: The Tides of Time (Game)
- Egawa Suguru no Super League CD (Game)
- Eternal Champions: Challenge from the Dark Side (Game)
- Eye of the Beholder (Game)
- F1 Circus CD (Game)
- FIFA International Soccer (Game)
- Fahrenheit (Game)
- Fatal Fury Special (Game)
- Final Fight CD (Game)
- Flashback: The Quest for Identity (Game)
- Formula One World Championship: Beyond the Limit (Game)
- Frog Feast (Game)
- Gambler Jiko Chuushinha 2: Gekitou! Tokyo Mahjong Land Hen (Game)
- Game no Kanzume Vol. 1 (Game)
- Game no Kanzume Vol. 2 (Game)
- Genghis Khan II: Clan of the Gray Wolf (Game)
- Golden Axe (Game)
- Ground Zero: Texas (Game)
- Heart of the Alien: Out of this World Parts I and II (Game)
- Heavy Nova (Game)
- Heimdall (Game)
- Hook (Game)
- Illusion City - Gen'ei Toshi (Game)
- Iron Helix (Game)
- Jaguar XJ220 (Game)
- Jangō World Cup (Game)
- Jeopardy! (Game)
- Joe Montana's NFL Football (Game)
- Jurassic Park (Game)
- Keio Flying Squadron (Game)
- Kids On Site (Game)
- Lethal Enforcers (Game)
- Lethal Enforcers II: Gun Fighters (Game)
- Links: The Challenge of Golf (Game)
- Loadstar: The Legend of Tully Bodine (Game)
- Lodoss Jima Senki: Eiyuu Sensou (Game)
- Lords of Thunder (Game)
- Lunar: Eternal Blue (Game)
- Lunar: The Silver Star (Game)
- Mad Dog II: The Lost Gold (Game)
- Mad Dog McCree (Game)
- Mahou no Shoujo: Silky Lip (Game)
- Make My Video: INXS (Game)
- Make My Video: Kris Kross (Game)
- Make My Video: Marky Mark and the Funky Bunch (Game)
- Mansion of Hidden Souls (Game)