Sega CD

Release: October 15, 1992
aka: Mega-CD (Japan)

In October 1991, Sega released the Mega-CD for the Mega-Drive to Japanese customers. This add-on could play new games as well as karaoke CDs. A year later, the Sega CD was finally released for the American Genesis. The SegaCD contained the same processor as the Genesis, and working together, they sped up loading times. The Sega CDs graphics chips brought scaling and rotation to the Genesis (like the Super NES), enhanced the RAM and enabled CD-quality sound.

The original Sega CD sat underneath the Genesis, and a front-loading tray extended below to insert a CD (like a typical computer CD ROM drive). In 1993, the Sega CD2 was released. It was a repackaging of the SegaCD technology into casing that would sit in a tray beside the Genesis. The top opened manually eliminating the motor, therefore lowering the system's price.

The Sega CD was a good idea, but never caught on due to poor games. In 1996, it was discontinued.

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