WonderMega/ JVC X'Eye A History

WonderMega/ JVC X'Eye A History

February 8th, 2009, 14:23 Posted By: wraggster

Continuing our network wide feature for just about every console thats emulated and that we own, in time it can be used as a reference point for people to look at what games are the very best on each system

Firstly heres a look at each system and a description to remind you of the history of the console.

WonderMega/ JVC X'Eye

JVC had helped Sega by delivering the most advanced sound made by a gaming console. A wider range of sounds not only gave the CD games more of an impact, but it was better then most audio CD players at the time. In return for their work, Sega gave JVC the "OK" to create this console. This system could play both Sega Genesis carts and Sega CD games in a single unit.

The Victor WonderMega (Model RG-M1) was released in Japan in April of 1992. At a debut price of 82,800 yen, the WonderMega was a costly version of something you could buy much cheaper by getting a Genesis and Sega CD separately. So why the heck was this machine built? (In case your wondering...JVC is also known as Victor Company of Japan. The letters are flopped of course)

JVC's higher price tag came with some added features. Not only could you play your Sega Genesis and Sega CD games from a single unit, but you could play your games with better video and sound. JVC added audio components such as a Digital Audio Processor and bass enhancer that would improve music clarity and explosive effects on Sega's CD games. JVC also added Super VHS output (SVHS another JVC created standard) that would provide a much improved display then other standards of its time. JVC also added numerous Karaoke features (popular in Japan), and MIDI (Musical Instrument Digital Interface) output. The MIDI interface could later be used with a keyboard add-on called "Piano Player".

The WonderMega came with a compilation CD containing four games ( Flicky, Pyramid Magic, Paddle Fighter, and Quiz Scramble). It also came with Karaoke software that took advantage of the Sega CD CD+G capabilities.

In August of 1993, JVC released a cheaper scaled down version of WonderMega (Model RG-M2). The new model removed the motorized CD tray, and the easily accessible Karaoke buttons. The redesign also stripped away the SVHS and MIDI outputs , but it sold for a cheaper 59,000 yen. The new design did come with a 6-button controller infrared wireless controller though. The redesigned model would make it to America in September of 1994 under the name JVC X'Eye.

The JVC X'Eye sold in the US for $499USD. The console came with the Sega CD game "Prize Fighter", Compton's Interactive Encyclopedia, and a Karaoke CD. It did not have the wireless controllers.

Unfortunately, the CDX, Sega’s much smaller and cheaper Sega CD/Genesis combination had been released in the US just 5 months earlier. With the combined unit no longer being a novelty, as well as it’s higher price tag, the JVC X’EYE fell out of the public view.

FACT: Sega saw that JVC had a good concept. So they put out their own Sega WonderMega-S. It was virtually the same as JVC's RG-M1, but sold for a slightly cheaper 79,800 Yen.

Another interesting fact is that the Sega CD had another capability not exploited by more developers. The console had limited 3D polygon capability. The only Sega CD title that took advantage of this capability was Silpheed released in 1993.

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