The Video Game Console Library

	Sega 32X
	DW FACTS by Dark Watcher
	Page content, development and design by Marriott_Guy

Developer	Manufacturer	Release Date	Country(s)	Initial Price	Model Number	Game Releases	Overall Rating
Sega of America	Sega Enterprises	Nov-94	North America, Japan, Europe	$159 USD	MK-84000	39	NA
Ratings	Reviews	Pictures\Media	Specs\Manuals	Games\Emulation	Models	Clones	Links

Sega 32X box contents (image from an eBay auction)

Ratings
Consoles are rated based upon the available technology at the time of its release. Ratings based upon a 10 point scale (10 being excellent\very rare).
Console Design (appearance, functionality)	N\A
Console Durability (sturdy or frail and fragile)	N\A
Controllers (design, response, feel, use)	N\A
Graphics (graphical capability and presentation)	N\A
Audio (sound, music, speech, effects)	N\A
Media (game media format, design, durability)	N\A
Packaging (appeal, durability of packaging)	N\A
Game Library (quality, quantity of game library)	N\A
Innovations (technological industrial strides)	N\A
Gamer Value (good investment for the gamer?)	N\A
Collector Value (good collector investment?)	N\A
Games Rarity (general availability of games)	N\A
Console Rarity (general availability of a system)	N\A

Reviews

Sega 32X with Box

DW FACTS
- by Dark Watcher

It was the winter of 1994, and new more powerful consoles were entering the videogame market. Gamers were enjoying new 3D arcade games, and the 16-bit Genesis / Mega Drive seemed to be feeling its age. It was January 8th 1994 when Sega CEO Hayao Nakayama directed his company to produce a 32-bit cartridge-based console to be in stores by Christmas 1994. The project was dubbed Jupiter. The project was given to 'Sega of America' while their Japan sector worked on a CD-Based console. Not happy with the idea of developing a simple console that had a 32-bit processor and more colors, Joe Miller of Sega of America chose to make the project an add on for the Genesis / Mega Drive. Sega of America began development on the add on called project Mars without any knowledge of the 32-bit CD console being developed by their Japanese counterparts.

Sega began their marketing campaign for project Mars and called the device Sega 32X to emphasis its 32-bit capabilities. The device, which connected through the Genesis / Mega Drive cartridge port, combined its 32-bit processor with the consoles existing processor. Gamers could play 32-bit cartridge games, use the 32X slot as a pass through to play Genesis / Mega Drive games and even play enhanced 32-bit CD games if the Sega CD was attached. The 32X was released in mid-November 1994 in America for the US. Japan got the console in December (Super 32X) and Europe and Australia received it in January 1995 (Mega 32X). With the added power, Sega was able to port their 3D arcade titles for console users and other third party developers began jumping aboard.

All was not good with planet Mars. The 32X was off to a bad start from the beginning. The 32X was launched with no games initially available. Although it was marketed at a decent price it was not packaged with a pack in game, but came with 10 coupons toward the purchase of 32X software (coupons....meh!). Retailers submitted a demand for over 1 million units, but only half of the amount was made available. In there efforts to meet demand, Sega produced 32X units with various defects. Customers reported incompatibilities with their Genesis / Mega Drive models or TVs. Once again Sega began to scramble to create adapters to alleviate the compatibility problems. They also began to develop an all in one unit combining both the Genesis / Mega Drive and the 32X and dubbed it project 'Neptune'.

By 1995 news of a 32-bit CD-based Sega Saturn began stirring from Japan. Developers lost interest in 32X and abandoned development for 32X carts for a more favorable 32-bit CD format. Gamers also caught wind of the news and quickly began losing interest in the Sega 32X.

By 1996 the 32X saw a total of 31 cart based games and five 32X enhanced Sega CD games. Most of the games were developed by Sega themselves or were color enhanced versions of existing Genesis titles. Sega ceased all support for 32X that year in order to focus on the Sega Saturn. It would seem that the 32X was merely meant to fill the time gap for its CD based counterpart. 32X would also be Sega's final attempt at add on enhancing devices.

FACT: The 32X appeared to be the downturn of Sega. The lack of developer support, device incompatibilities and defects, and the sheer abandonment of support for 32X owners was enough to damage Sega's reputation. This mistake could possibly have contributed to problems in Sega's later years.

A year prior, Sega fell into issues with congress over a game called "Night Trap". The game that stirred up the hornets nest over videogame violence was pulled off retail shelves. This prompted much curiosity and interest in gamers that never got the opportunity to play it. Sega wisely seized an opportunity to cash in by releasing a 32X enhanced version of Night Trap. A major cash in on an otherwise mediocre game.

Sega Genesis with Sega CD and 32X (Battleship)

Sega Genesis Model 1 with Sega CD and the 32X

Affectionately known as the Battleship, each one of the units required its own power supply (external brick). Take caution when firing up this fearsome formation - you may notice the lights at your home dim a bit.

HANDS ON REVIEW

Coming soon...

Pictures & Media

Various picture\media for this console. Click pictures to enlarge.

Sega 32X - Front

Sega 32X - Complete Box Contents

Sega 32X - Back

Nice technical pictures of the Mega Drive 32X
Images courtesy of Charles Lee

Sega 32X Advertisements. Click images to enlarge.

Specs & Manuals

For the hardware enthusiasts out there - all the detail you\we love.

Processor Type	Processor Speed	Other Processor Information	RAM \ Video RAM
Twin Hitachi (SH2) 32-bit RISC processors	23 MHz at 40MIPS (in addition to the Genesis \ Mega Drive CPU)	Genesis 68000, Z80, Genesis 32X VDP	512 KB (in addition to the Genesis \ Mega Drive RAM)
Screen Resolution	Color Palette	Polygons \ Sprites	Audio
320 x 224	32,768 on screen	50,000 texture-mapped polygons\sec	Stereo PCM chip (two channel) (combines with the existing 12)
Media Format	Media Capacity	Games Released	Other Supported Formats
Cartridge \ CD * (* if CD add-on is present)	32 MB \ 240 MB	39	Sega Genesis, Sega CD (if CD add-on is present)
Internal Storage	External \ Removable Storage	Game Controllers	Other Game \ Peripheral Devices
Same as the Sega Genesis (cart)	None	Not applicable	None
Controller Ports	Network Ports	Other Ports	Audio \ Video
Not applicable	None	None	Composite (9-pin DIN connector)
Power Supply - External	Other Outputs	Other Details \ Notes
Input: AC 120V, 60 Hz Output: DC 10V	None	Compatible with the Sega Genesis \ Mega Drive Model 1\2, JVC X'Eye, Victor Wondermega, Sega Multi-Mega, Sega CDX. This add-on is not compatible with the Majesco Genesis or the Sega Mega Jet.
Manuals
Sega 32X Owners Manual (PDF) - 0.94 MB

Games & Emulation

Games, media format, emulators and screen shots for titles released on this system.

Sega 32X - Night Trap - Disc
Software for the Sega 32X was primarily distributed in the ROM cartridge format, with a small number of titles released on CD.

The cartridges are the same exact size as those utilized with the Sega Genesis. This was necessary since the 32X acted as a pass-through for existing games within the Genesis library. Most titles were distributed in tall, cardboard that were prone to being crushed. The 32X logo is vertically displayed on the front cover.

There were only five (5) 32X CD games that were released in North America, with a sixth title being an exclusive to the Brazil market (Surgical Strike). These are identified accordingly on the front of the box (Sega CD 32X). As the name implies, these games require the optional Sega CD in addition to the 32X for game play. These CD titles are pretty much FMV affairs that were popular in the early 1990s.

One of the best Sega 32X games is Blackthorne, an upgraded version of the classic platformer previously released for the PC and Super Nintendo.

Sega 32X Game Boxes

Sega 32X Game Screenshots

After Burner

Blackthorne

Corpse Killer

Doom

FIFA 96

Golf Magazine's 36 Greatest Holes

Knuckles Chaotix

Knuckles Chaotix Screenshot

Kolibri

Mortal Kombat 2

Mortal Kombat 2 Screenshot

Motocross Championship

Motocross Championship Screenshot

NBA Jam Tournament Edition

NBA Jam Tournament Edition Screenshot

NFL Quarterback Club

NFL Quarterback Club Screenshot

Pitfall - The Mayan Adventure

Primal Rage

Primal Rage Screenshot

Spiderman: Web of Fire

Spiderman: Web of Fire Screenshot

Star Wars Arcade

Virtua Fighter

Virtua Fighter Screenshot

Virtua Racing Deluxe

Virtua Racing Screenshot

World Series Baseball

WWF Wrestle Mania

WWF Wrestle Mania Screenshot

Zaxxon's Motherbase 2000

Zaxxon's Motherbase 2000 Screenshot

Third Party Emulators
Program	Website	Description
GENS	http://gens.consolemul.com/screenshots.shtml	This is an amazing emulator for Windows. It requires Direct X 8.0. There are other emulators available for other platforms, but this one is one of our favorites.

Models

Additional authorized releases for this console.

Sega 32X - North America Release

Sega 32X - North America Release

Sega Super 32X - Japanese Release

Sega Super 32X

Sega Mega Drive 32X - European Release

Sega Mega Drive 32X

Clones

Non-licensed releases (clones).

No clones were released for this system.

Links

Highly recommended additional sites\resources for this system.

Name	Website	Description
SegaFans	http://www.segafans.com/	Great site for everything Sega

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Page last updated 11-Dec-2011

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