Sega Pico

Infobox CVG system
title=Sega Pico
logo=


manufacturer=Sega
type=Video game console
generation=Fourth generation era
lifespan=1993
CPU=Motorola 68000
media=Storyware
unitssold=
successor=Advanced Pico Beena|

The Sega Pico, also known as nihongo|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 to use video game systems. [ [http://www.answers.com/topic/sega-pico Sega Pico: Information and Much More from Answers.com ] ] The Sega Pico was designed for ages 2–8 and the slogan was "the computer that thinks it's a toy."

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. The back page of each book featured a drawing mode, where the player can insert stamps of characters from within the book. All software rated was rated EC - Early Childhood by the ESRB.

Games Released

*A Year at Pooh Corner
*Adventures in Letterland With Jack and Jill
*The Berenstain Bears: A School Day
*Crayola: Create a World
*Disney's "101 Dalmatians"
*Disney's "Pocahontas"
*Disney's "The Lion King": Adventures at Pride Rock
*Denji Sentai Megaranger
*Ecco Jr. and the Great Ocean Treasure Hunt!
*The Great Counting Caper With the 3 Blind Mice
*Magic Crayons
*Math Antics with Disney's "101 Dalmatians"
*Mickey's Blast Into the Past
*Mini Moni Eigo de Asobu n da pyon!
*Mini Moni Shōgakkō e Iku n da pyon!
*Mini Moni Terebi ni Deru n da pyon!
*Muppets on the Go
*Musical Zoo
*Peppy's Puzzles
*Pink Panther's Magic Island
*Pink Panther's Shapes and Colors
*Richard Scarry's Huckle and Lowly's Busiest Day Ever
*Scholastic's The Magic School Bus
*"Sesame Street"
*Smart Alex and Smart Alice: Curious Kids
*"Sonic the Hedgehog's Gameworld"
*Tails and the Music Maker
*Three Sailor Moon games -- Sailor Moon SuperS, Sailor Moon S, and Sailor Moon Sailor Stars

The Pico was released in 1993 in Japan and 1994 in America and Europe. In these parts of the world, Pico games were produced until late 1996/ early 1997, In Japan, however, games are still being produced. As of April 2005, 3.4 million Pico consoles and 11.2 million software cartridges had been sold. [cite web |url=http://www.segatoys.co.jp/english/company_profile/business_strategy/edutainment.html |title=Sega Toys Business Strategy]

Technical specifications

The hardware is based on Sega Mega Drive, with some parts removed and replaced by others:cite web |url=http://kaele.com/~kashima/pico |title=SEGA PICOの分解と小規模な解析|accessdate=2008-07-07]
*CPU: 16/32-bit Motorola 68000, the same as in Mega Drive
*RAM: 64 KB of Main RAM
*Video RAM: 64 KB
*ROM: "Storyware" cartridges of various sizes
*Video: 315-5313 VDP, same as in Mega Drive
*Sound: Texas Instruments SN76489 PSG and custom PCM chip
*Input: pen and buttons

ee also

Advanced Pico Beena

References