Processor
12.5MHz
- CPU
- Motorola 68000
- Core
- Motorola 68000 (16-bit)
- Word size
- 16-bit
- Custom graphics ASIC — sprite scaling and rotation
12.5 MHz, 5 MHz faster than the Genesis's own 68000
Sega CD / Mega-CD
Also known as Mega-CD · Sega CD 2 · Mega-CD 2
- Sega
- Add-on
- Fourth generation
35 Sega CD / Mega-CD games, all playable free in your browser.
The Sega CD, sold as the Mega-CD in most regions outside North America and Brazil, is a CD-ROM add-on for the Sega Genesis that Sega designed with JVC to match NEC's PC Engine CD-ROM² System. It launched in Japan on December 12, 1991, in North America on October 15, 1992 and in Australia, Europe and Brazil during 1993. Besides its own software it plays audio CDs and CD+G karaoke discs.
- First released · Japan
- 1991
- Units sold
- 2.2M
- CPU
- 16-bit
- Games in the library · all playable
- 35
TIMELINE
1991–1996
- JPJapan
- NANorth America
- AUAustralia
- EUEurope
- BRBrazil
- ENDDiscontinued
Games per release year
| Year | Games |
|---|---|
| 1992 | 5 |
| 1993 | 16 |
| 1994 | 7 |
| 1995 | 7 |
- LynxAtari Lynx: Sep 1, 1989 – 1995
- Neo GeoNeo Geo: Apr 16, 1990 – 2004
- Game GearSega Game Gear: Oct 6, 1990 – Apr 30, 1997
- SNESSuper Nintendo: Nov 21, 1990 – Sep 25, 2003
- Sega CDSega CD / Mega-CD: Dec 12, 1991 – 1996
- CPS-2Capcom CPS-2: Sep 10, 1993 – Dec 22, 2003
- Neo Geo CDNeo Geo CD: Sep 9, 1994 – 1997
- 32XSega 32X: Nov 1994 – 1996
- PS1PlayStation: Dec 3, 1994 – Mar 23, 2006
All 36 systems
- Atari 2600Atari 2600: Sep 1977 – 1992
- SpectrumZX Spectrum: Apr 23, 1982 – 1992
- ColecoColecoVision: Aug 1982 – 1985
- Atari 5200Atari 5200: Oct 1982 – May 21, 1984
- VectrexVectrex: Oct 1982 – Feb 1984
- NESNintendo Entertainment System: Jul 15, 1983 – Sep 25, 2003
- SG-1000Sega SG-1000: Jul 15, 1983 – Oct 1985
- MSXMSX: Oct 21, 1983 – 1993
- Amstrad CPCAmstrad CPC: Jun 21, 1984 – 1990
- Master SystemSega Master System: Oct 20, 1985 – 1996
- Atari 7800Atari 7800: May 1986 – 1992
- X68000Sharp X68000: Mar 28, 1987 – end not recorded
- PC EnginePC Engine / TurboGrafx-16: Oct 30, 1987 – Dec 16, 1994
- CPS-1Capcom CPS-1: May 13, 1988 – May 11, 1995
- GenesisSega Genesis / Mega Drive: Oct 29, 1988 – 1997
- PCE CDPC Engine CD / TurboGrafx-CD: Dec 4, 1988 – end not recorded
- Game BoyGame Boy: Apr 21, 1989 – Mar 31, 2003
- LynxAtari Lynx: Sep 1, 1989 – 1995
- Neo GeoNeo Geo: Apr 16, 1990 – 2004
- Game GearSega Game Gear: Oct 6, 1990 – Apr 30, 1997
- SNESSuper Nintendo: Nov 21, 1990 – Sep 25, 2003
- Sega CDSega CD / Mega-CD: Dec 12, 1991 – 1996
- CPS-2Capcom CPS-2: Sep 10, 1993 – Dec 22, 2003
- Neo Geo CDNeo Geo CD: Sep 9, 1994 – 1997
- 32XSega 32X: Nov 1994 – 1996
- PS1PlayStation: Dec 3, 1994 – Mar 23, 2006
- N64Nintendo 64: Jun 23, 1996 – 2002
- CPS-3Capcom CPS-3: Nov 21, 1996 – end not recorded
- NAOMISega NAOMI: 1998 – end not recorded
- GBCGame Boy Color: Oct 21, 1998 – Mar 31, 2003
- NGPCNeo Geo Pocket Color: Mar 19, 1999 – Oct 30, 2001
- PS2PlayStation 2: Mar 4, 2000 – Jan 4, 2013
- WonderSwanWonderSwan Color: Dec 9, 2000 – 2003
- GBAGame Boy Advance: Mar 21, 2001 – 2010
- OpenBOROpenBOR: 2004 – today
- TIC-80TIC-80: Mar 22, 2017 – today
A bar that fades out means the end date is unknown. Fantasy consoles and game engines are still available.
UNDER THE HOOD
Technical specifications
Memory
768KB
- Main RAM
- 768 KB
- PCM sound RAM
- 64 KB
- CD-ROM data cache
- 16 KB
- Backup RAM
- 8 KB
- Boot ROM (BIOS, CD player)
- 128 KB
Sound
8channels
- Chip
- Ricoh RF5C164
8-channel stereo PCM, added to the Genesis's own FM and PSG sound
Sales
2.2million
- Scope
- Worldwide
- Best-selling game
- Sonic CD · 1.5 million
Media
CD-ROM
- CD-ROM
- up to 640 MB
Launch price
¥49,800
- Japan
- ¥49,800
- North America
- $299
- Europe
- £269.99
THE STORY
About the Sega CD
The unit adds a faster Motorola 68000, several megabits of extra memory and a custom graphics chip able to scale and rotate sprites. Its main draw was storage: a disc holds far more than a cartridge, which led to many full-motion video games, among them the controversial Night Trap, alongside well-regarded titles such as Sonic CD, Lunar: The Silver Star, Popful Mail and Snatcher. A cheaper top-loading Sega CD 2 followed in 1993, and combined Genesis and Sega CD systems included Sega's CDX and JVC's Wondermega.
Sega discontinued the add-on in early 1996 to focus on the Sega Saturn, after 2.24 million units had been sold worldwide.
- Main CPU: a 12.5 MHz Motorola 68000, 5 MHz faster than the Genesis processor.
- Adds eight channels of stereo PCM sound to the Genesis.
- A CD-ROM can hold more than 640 MB, against the 8–16 megabits of typical cartridges of the time.
- Named Best New Peripheral of 1992 by Electronic Gaming Monthly.
- More than 200 games were released, six of which also use the 32X.
- Sonic CD sold 1.5 million copies.
THE LIBRARY
35 Sega CD games on Back2OldGames
35
games, all playable right in your browser
Release years 1992–1995
<p class="lib-span">25 developers</p>Genres
Top developers
Players
4 games with a known number of players.
Regions
THE GAMES
The Sega CD library
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Sources
Specifications and history from the sources below (Wikipedia text is available under CC BY-SA 4.0; facts summarized in our own words). Library numbers come from the Back2OldGames catalog.
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