Sega NAOMI
CONCEPT
Short for the "New Arcade Operation Machine Idea", the NAOMI is a series of arcade system boards by Sega based on their Dreamcast architecture. It was used on a wide variety of arcade releases in the late '90s and early 2000's.

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Overview

NAOMI (also known as Sega NAOMI) is an arcade system board developed and used by Sega (Company) for a wide variety of their arcade releases from the late 1990's to mid-2000's (with third-party games even being released through the late-2000's). Its hardware shares the same architecture as Sega's Dreamcastconsole, albeit with increased memory capabilities. Along with hardware updates, it later received two revisions (the enhanced NAOMI 2 and the cost-reduced System SP), and was used as the base for Sammy's Atomiswave (Concept) system (which was used in some mid-2000's arcade releases). Initially, games were released on cartridges that fit into the NAOMI hardware. Some games were shipped on the same sort of GD-ROM discs used by the Dreamcast, which required operators to install an optional GD-ROM drive attachment. Using a DIMM board instead of a ROM cartridge, the system allows games to be loaded from a disc directly into its RAM, preventing the arcade machines from being saddled with disc loading times and improving reliability of the disc drives. As the system shares its architecture with the Dreamcast, many early games released for it received accurate ports for the Dreamcast shortly after release. In addition, some games supported Multiboard and Satellite Terminal setups, which connected multiple NAOMI boards together in different ways. Multiboard hardware allows some games to combine boards for multi-monitor output and improved graphics, while Satellite Terminal hardware allows some games to link up multiple terminals to one centralized console for multi-cabinet multiplayer (with the central console also displaying to a large public-facing screen). In Japan, some NAOMI games support connectivity with the Dreamcast Visual Memory Unit, allowing players to either record data for the Home version (such as unlocking new content or tracking stats) or read custom data from the Home version (such as using custom characters or unlocked data in the Arcade version). Some games also support connectivity with the Dreamcast Controller.

Revisions

In addition to the standard NAOMI, Sega has produced a more powerful NAOMI 2 model, essentially improving the system's graphical capabilities by doubling the CPU and GPU count, as well as doubling the VRAM. Although it only supports a handful of games (all of which are first-party), it has backwards compatibility with older Sega NAOMI games. Some later games with the NAOMI 2 were also distributed as either CD-ROM/DVD-ROM discs or as CompactFlash cards. Sega later used the base NAOMI hardware for their budget System SP model, optimizing certain components of the hardware for cost reduction (such as reducing the main RAM from 32 MB to 16 MB). While it doesn't support any optical disc format, the system has base support for both cartridges and CompactFlash cards. It also adds a dedicated network board and I/O chip (so that game controls are wired directly onto the board). The System SP was primarily used for Medal and children's games in the mid-to-late 2000's and is not backwards compatible with the base NAOMI model.

Game List

NOTE: This list may be incomplete (and, at times, incorrect). Assistance is always appreciated!

Standard (First-Party)

Standard (Third-Party)

Namco Games:

GD-ROM (First-Party)

GD-ROM (Third-Party)

CD-ROM / DVD-ROM

Standard (System SP)

CompactFlash (System SP)

  • MDA-C0001 to MDA-C0020 - ?
  • MDA-C0021 - Dinosaur King (Operation: Dinosaur Rescue, USA)
  • MDA-C0022 to MDA-C0041 - ?
  • MDA-C0042 - Love and Berry: Dress Up and Dance! (3rd-5th Collection, USA)
  • MDA-C0043 to MDA-C0046 - ?
  • MDA-C0047 - Dinosaur King (D-Team VS. The Alpha Fortress, USA)
  • MDA-C0048 to MDA-C0060 - ?
  • MDA-C0061 - Kodaiouja Kyouryuuking (Mezame yo! Arata-naru Chikara!!, JPN)
  • MDA-C0062 to MDA-C0070 - ?
  • MDA-C0071 - Love and Berry: Dress Up and Dance! (3rd-5th Collection, CHN)
  • MDA-C0072 to MDA-C0075 - ?
  • MDA-C0076 - Tetris Giant / Tetris Dekaris

Unknown (System SP)

  • Monopoly: The Medal
  • Touch De Zunou
  • Issyouni Wanwan
  • Beetle DASH!!
  • Disney Magical Dance
  • Issyouni Turbo Drive
  • Issyouni Wanwan WaiWai Puppy
  • Marine & Marine
  • Monopoly: The Medal - 2nd Edition
  • Battle Police
  • Ehonnotamago
  • Future Police Patrol Chase
  • 100 & Medal Geki Kazaan!!
  • 100 & Medal Hyozaan!!
  • 100 & Medal Gingaan!!
  • Kouchuuouja Mushiking (later revisions)
  • Thomas The Tank Engine
  • Medalink
Games view all →]
Concept details
Name
Sega NAOMI
Aliases
New Arcade Operation Machine Idea
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