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| − | [[Image:Sega 32x.jpg|thumb|right|Sega 32X sitting atop a [[Sega Genesis]] Model 2.]] | + | #REDIRECT [[sega:32X]] |
| − | The '''Sega 32X''' ([[Japan|Japanese]]: スーパー32X; Romaji: Supa 32X) was a [[game console]] add-on created and distributed by [[SEGA]].
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| − | In [[Japan]], the console add-on was distributed under the name '''Sega Super 32X'''. In North America, its name was the '''Sega Genesis 32X'''. In Europe, Australia, and other countries that use [[PAL]], it was called the '''Sega Mega Drive 32X'''.
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| − | The system cannot work by itself. The Sega 32X can only be used in conjunction with a Sega Mega Drive/Sega Genesis system; it is plugged in where the cartridge bay is. Besides playing its own cartridges, it also acted as a passthrough for Genesis games so it would be a permanent attachment. The 32X came with 10 coupons and several spacers, so it would work with all versions of the Genesis.
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| − | All versions of the 32X all have lockout chips, so 32X games cannot be played on a different region than the region the console is set to use.
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| − | Almost all of the games released for the Japanese market had already been released in the United States, albeit some had different names.
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| − | ==History==
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| − | With the release of the Super Famicom in [[Japan]] and the [[Super NES]] in North America, Sega needed to leapfrog in order to catch up to [[Nintendo]] in the technological department. The Sega Mega-CD aka [[Sega CD]] hadn't worked as well as Sega wanted it to. Sega had various hardware development projects underway. Some used [[System 16]] technology like the Sega MegaDrive and [[Sega Genesis]] did, as well as other arcade games.
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| − | On January 8, 1994, [[Hayao Nakayama]], then CEO of Sega, ordered his company to make a 32-bit cartridge based console that would be in stores by Christmas 1994. This would at first be referred to under the [[Sega planet codenames|codename]] "Project Jupiter", but after Sega found CD technology cheaper, they decided to modify it instead of dropping the cartridge project. [[Hideki Sato]] and some other [[Sega of Japan]] engineers came over to collaborate about the project with [[SEGA]] of America's [[Joe Miller]]. The first idea was a new Sega Mega Drive with more colors and a 32-bit processor. Miller thought that an add-on to the Mega Drive would be a better idea, because he felt that gamers would not buy an improved version of the Mega Drive. And so, this project was [[Sega planet codenames|codenamed]] Project Mars, and Sega of America was going to shape the project.
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| − | The 32X was primarily envisioned as a system which would extend the life of the Sega Mega Drive/Genesis and provide revenue while the installed userbase of the Sega Saturn slowly grew.
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| − | The video-gamer public first got a glimpse at the Summer 1994 CES in Chicago, Illinois. The console was unmasked as the 32X, with a price projection of $170, at a gamers' day, held by Sega of America on September 1994.
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| − | The 32X was released in mid-November 1994 in North America for $150 the same month that the Sega Saturn was released in Japan., Japan in December 1994, and Europe in January 1995 for £150.
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| − | Only 500,000 consoles had been produced for North American distribution, yet orders were in the millions. Games had been rushed for the system in order to be shipped for the christmas season and they came with errors in programming. Some games which were ports left out portions which were in the original game. This is evident in ''Doom'' as many levels are missing and musical scores are scarse. Many were complaining that their 32X was not working with their Mega Drive/Genesis or television. Sega was forced to give away adapters.
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| − | Since this was an expensive add-on system, Sega decided to offer a £50 discount on games with the console in Europe. However, the offer came in the form of rebate vouchers which were difficult to take advantage of. Just like its North American counterpart, this console was initially popular. Orders exceeded one million, but not enough were produced, and shortage supply problems arose. Two games, ''Darxide'' and ''FIFA Soccer '96'', were only released for the PAL 32X. The ''Darxide'' videogame had been awarded "Best 32X Game".
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| − | By, mid-1995, Sega executives realized their blunder and it was too late. Developers and licensees had abandoned this console in favor of what they perceived to be a true 32-bit console, the [[Sega Saturn]]. Even though the 32X add-on was a 32-bit system, the games weren't taking the full advantages of systems capabilites. Many games were 2D and rushed or slightly upgraded Mega Drive/Genesis titles. Also, customers perceived the [[Sega Saturn]] and the Sony PlayStation as the true next-generation consoles, and abandoned the 32X as doubts had arisen of Sega's promise to support it. Others chose to skip the 32X completely and wait for the PlayStation and Saturn. Store shelves became littered with unwanted Sega 32X systems, and prices for a new one dropped as low as $19.95. Sega planned a console named the [[Sega Neptune]], which would have been a Genesis and 32X in one. However, by the time a prototype was developed, the [[Sega Saturn]] was going to be released, and the Sega Neptune was cancelled.
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| − | The system ended production in 1996 worldwide. The last game made for the 32X was ''Spider-Man: Web of Fire'' (1996). In the end the system was merely a gap filler between the Genesis and the Saturn. The 32X badly damaged Segas reputation and ultimately they left the console business altogether. The Sega 32X fiasco is now considered one of the most badly planned console releases ever.
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| − | ==Technical specifications ==
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| − | *Processor: Twin Hitachi SH-2 (SH7095) 32-bit RISC processors with a clock speed of 23 MHZ 40 MIPS
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| − | *Co-processors: Overlay Mega Drive [[Motorola]] [[M68000]], [[Zilog Z80]], Genesis 32X VDP
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| − | *Video: 320x224/320x240 double buffered framebuffer with three modes:
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| − | **8bpp "packed pixel" mode: 256 simultaneous colors on screen; each pixel is an index into CRAM (can use full screen)
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| − | **16bpp "run length" mode: 256 simultaneous colors on screen; each pixel is both a number of pixels to display and the index of CRAM (limits screen size)
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| − | **16bpp "direct color" mode: 32,768 simultaneous colours on screen; each pixel is the color value (limits screen size)
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| − | :256KB VRAM ("DRAM") split into two 128KB segments for each framebuffer. A priority system allows partial overlaying of Mega Drive/Mega CD graphics.
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| − | *Memory: 512k (4 MBit) additional RAM to Mega Drive/Sega Mega-CD memory
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| − | *Audio: Stereo PWM (Pulse Wave Modulation) mixing with Mega Drive sound; additional 2 channels (therefore 14 all together?)
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| − | *I/O: Same as Mega Drive; 32X upgradable; can upgrade the 32X
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| − | *Storage: CD-ROM if you have a SegaMega-CD; speed same as Sega Mega-CD compatible with audio CD, CD&G, SegaCD and JVC WonderMega
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| − | *Cartridge: compatible with all Mega Drive models, JVC Wondermega can store save game/score information.
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| − | == Box Scans ==
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| − | <gallery>
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| − | Image:32x console jp box front.jpg|JP retail box (front)
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| − | Image:32x console jp box back.jpg|JP retail box (back)
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| − | </gallery>
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| − | == Sonic-related games ==
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| − | * ''[[Knuckles' Chaotix]]''
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| − | ===Prototype Sonic-related games ===
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| − | * ''[[Knuckles' Chaotix (prototype 1207)]]''
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| − | * ''[[Knuckles' Chaotix (prototype 1227)]]''
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| − | * ''[[Knuckles' Chaotix (prototype 1229)]]''
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| − | * ''[[Knuckles' Chaotix (prototype 0111)]]''
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| − | * ''[[Knuckles' Chaotix (prototype 0119)]]''
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| − | * ''[[Knuckles' Chaotix (prototype 0202)]]''
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| − | * ''[[Knuckles' Chaotix (prototype 0208)]]''
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| − | * ''[[Knuckles' Chaotix (prototype 0209)]]''
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| − | * ''[[Knuckles' Chaotix (prototype 0210)]]''
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| − | * ''[[Knuckles' Chaotix (prototype 0213)]]''
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| − | * ''[[Knuckles' Chaotix (prototype 0213)]]''
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| − | * ''[[Knuckles' Chaotix (prototype 0214)]]''
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| − | * ''[[Knuckles' Chaotix (prototype 0216)]]''
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| − | ==Unreleased Sonic-related games==
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| − | * ''[[Sonic Mars]]''
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| − | ==External links==
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| − | *[http://www.consoledatabase.com/consoleinfo/sega32x/index.html Console Database] - Sega 32X Info
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| − | {{SonicGenesisGames}}
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| − | {{MegaDrive}}
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| − | {{Sega_Consoles}}
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| − | [[Category:Hardware]]
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| − | [[Category:Mega Drive Hardware]]
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