Sega Pico

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Sega Pico
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Sega Pico Logo.jpg
Also known as Kids Computer Pico
Manufacturer Sega
Type Video game console
Generation Fourth generation era
Release date
  • JP June, 1993
  • NA November, 1994[1]
  • EU Q4, 1994
Introductory price 1994 (Sega)
USD160[2]
1999 (Majesco)
USD49.95[3][4]
Discontinued
Units sold JP: 3.5 million[5]
NA: 400,000 (as of January, 1996)[1]
Media Storyware (Cartridge)
CPU 16-bit Motorola 68000
Memory 64KB RAM, 64KB VRAM
Successor Advanced Pico Beena

The Sega Pico, also known as Kids Computer Pico (キッズコンピューター・ピコ Kizzu Konpyūtā Piko?), was an electronic toy by Sega. The aim of creating the Pico was to get more young children (specifically, ages 2–8) to use video game systems.

The Pico was the first Sega-branded console to carry an officially licensed game from their largest competitor, Nintendo.

The Pico was released in 1993 in Japan and 1994 in America and Europe. In Japan, the system was a huge success and games were developed until 2005. In America and Europe, however, the Pico was less successful and games were only developed until 1997. To celebrate its 10th anniversary in 2003 in Japan, Sega re-released some of the Pico games from the 1990s. As of April 2005, 3.4 million Pico consoles and 11.2 million software cartridges had been sold.[5]

The Sega Pico's slogan was: "The computer that thinks it's a toy."

Contents

[edit] Design

The cartridges were called "Storyware," and were book shaped. Each time a player turned the page of the cartridge the screen changed to replicate the image in the book. The games were controlled by a "magic" pen and buttons.[4] The last page of each book features a freehand drawing mode, where the player can also insert stamps of characters shown previously in the game. All software released for the Pico received a rating from either the V.R.C. or the ESRB.

[edit] Technical specifications

The hardware is based upon the Sega Genesis, with some parts removed and/or replaced by others:[6]

  • CPU: a 16-bit Motorola 68000, the same as the Mega Drive/Genesis.
  • RAM: 64 KB of Main RAM
  • Video RAM: 64 KB
  • ROM: "Storyware" cartridges of various sizes.
  • Video: a YM7101 ASIC, which was replaced with an FQ8007 ASIC in newer units. Both were used in Mega Drive/Genesis consoles as well.
  • Sound: a Texas Instruments SN76489 Programmable sound generator and an NEC µPD7759 PCM chip.
  • Input: a pen with an action button at its tip, a four button directional pad, and one on-board action button.

[edit] Software

In Japan, 296 games were produced. In America, 20 games were produced while Europe produced about 15 or 18 games, one of which was cancelled.

Title Year Developer Publisher Educational Material Covered
Adventures in Letterland With Jack and Jill 1995 Thinking Cap Sega Alphabet
The Berenstain Bears: A School Day 1995 Sega Sega Alphabet
Crayola: Create a World 1995 Sega Art
Disney's Pocahontas Riverbend Adventure 1995 RealTime Associates Sega Nature
Ecco Jr. and the Great Ocean Treasure Hunt! 1995 Sega Math
The Great Counting Caper With the 3 Blind Mice 1995 Thinking Cap Sega Math
Muppets on the Go 1996 Sega Shapes & Matching
Musical Zoo 1995 Sega Music
Pepe's Puzzles 1995 Sega Problem Solving
Richard Scarry's Huckle and Lowly's Busiest Day Ever 1994 Sega Creativity
Sailor Moon SuperS [7] 1994 (JP) Bandai Bandai (JP)
Sailor Moon S [7] 1994 (JP) Bandai Bandai (JP)
Sailor Moon Sailor Stars [7] 1994 (JP) Bandai Bandai (JP)
Scholastic's The Magic School Bus 1995 (US) Novotrade Sega
Sesame Street Alphabet Avenue 1997 Sega Letter
Smart Alex and Smart Alice: Curious Kids 1995 Novotrade Sega Letters&Math
Sonic the Hedgehog's Gameworld 1994 (JP) / 1996 (NA) Aspect Co., Ltd. Sega Strategy & Problem Solving
Tails and the Music Maker 1994 (NA) / 1996 (JP) Novotrade Sega(US)/Imagineer (JP) Music
Disney's The Lion King: Adventures at Pride Rock 1995 Sega Sega Problem Solving
Magic Crayons 1994 (NA) Realtime Associates Inc. Sega Drawing & Coloring
Mickey's Blast Into the Past 1994 (NA) / 1996 (JP) Sega Sega History
Math Antics with Disney's 101 Dalmatians 1994 (NA) Sega Sega Math
A Year at Pooh Corner 1994 (NA) Novotrade Sega Letters & Math
Denji Sentai Megaranger (電磁戦隊メガレンジャー) 1997 (JP) Sega Sega
Minimoni Eigo de Asobu n da pyon! 1994 (JP) Sega Sega
Minimoni Shōgakkō e Iku n da pyon! 1994 (JP) Sega Sega
Minimoni Terebi ni Deru n da pyon! 1994 (JP) Sega Sega
Cutie Honey Flash (キューティーハニー フラッシュ) 1997 (JP) Bandai Bandai
Ojamajo Doremi Dokka~n! (おジャ魔女どれみドッカ~ン!) 2002 (JP) Bandai Bandai
Pocket Monsters Advanced Generation : Hiragana Katakana Kakechatta! (ポケットモンスターアドバンスジェネレーション ・ひらがな カタカナ かけちゃった!) [8] 2003 (JP) Sega Toys Nintendo/TV Tokyo/ShoPro/Sega Toys Hiragana & Katakana
Futari Wa Pretty Cure (ふたりはプリキュア) 2004 (JP) Bandai Bandai
Noddy's Toyland Adventures (Cancelled) 1997 (UK) Silicon Dreams BBC Multimedia

[edit] See also

[edit] References

  1. ^ a b "Sega captures dollar share of videogame market -- again; diverse product strategy yields market growth; Sega charts path for 1996.". Business Wire. The Free Library. January 10, 1996. http://www.thefreelibrary.com/Sega+captures+dollar+share+of+videogame+market+--+again%3b+diverse...-a018001580. Retrieved September 29, 2011. 
  2. ^ Marilyn A. Gillen (July 9, 1994). "Sega, Nintendo Bring Big Plans To CES". Billboard (Nielsen Business Media, Inc.) 106 (28): 73. http://books.google.com/books?id=XggEAAAAMBAJ&pg=PA73&dq=sega+pico+$160&hl=en&ei=MzCETqzCK5LUgAeZkt0W&sa=X&oi=book_result&ct=result&resnum=1&ved=0CDcQ6AEwAA#v=onepage&q=sega%20pico%20%24160&f=false. Retrieved September 29, 2011. 
  3. ^ a b "Edison, N.J.-Based Firm Signs Video Game Distribution Deal with Sega.". Home News Tribune. HighBeam Research. August 6, 1999. http://www.highbeam.com/doc/1G1-55368935.html. Retrieved September 29, 2011. 
  4. ^ a b "Majesco Signs Licensing Deal to Distribute Sega Pico Educational Systems: Systems Will Be Available In All Major Toy Retailers By Holiday Season". Business Wire. Gale, Cengage Learning. August 5, 1999. http://findarticles.com/p/articles/mi_m0EIN/is_1999_August_5/ai_55353637/?tag=content;col1. Retrieved September 29, 2011. 
  5. ^ a b "Sega Toys Business Strategy". http://www.segatoys.co.jp/english/company_profile/business_strategy/edutainment.html. 
  6. ^ "SEGA PICOの分解と小規模な解析". http://kaele.com/~kashima/pico. Retrieved 2008-07-07. 
  7. ^ a b c Sailor Moon Pico games
  8. ^ It would be the first official Nintendo licensed title on an official Sega platform ever.


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