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Sega Mega-CD5555555
The '''Sega Mega''' ([[Japanese language|Japanese]]: '''&#12513;&#12460;CD''') is an add-on device for the [[Sega Mega Drive]] released in [[Europe]], [[Australia]] and [[Japan]]. The [[North America|North American]] version is called the '''Sega CD'''. The device allow the user to both play CD audio discs and specially designed game CDs. It can also play [[CD plus G|CD+G]] discs.

The development of the Mega-CD was top secret; game programmers didn't know what they were designing for until the Mega-CD was finally revealed at Tokyo Toy Show in Japan. The Sega Mega-CD in Japan was designed to compete with the [[PC Engine]], which had a separate CD-ROM drive.

The Sega Mega-CD was not meant to compete with the [[Super Famicom]] ([[Super Nintendo Entertainment System]] outside Japan).

At first, the Mega-CD was a CD tray unit that sat under the console. The Sega Mega-CD 2 was a smaller, cheaper top loading drive that plugged next to the Sega Mega Drive.

==Markets==

===Japan===
The Sega Mega-CD was released first in Japan in [[1st December]] [[1991]]. Its retail price was about &yen;49,800. Initially, it was a great success because of the inherent advantages of CDs (high storage capacibility and the low cost of media). The fact that it had a nice [[Role-playing game|RPG]] catalog also helped. 

The system sold 100,000 units during the first year of release in Japan. However, cost issues prevented more units from being sold. 

===United StatesNorth America===
Sega of Japan did not speak to Sega of America about their Mega-CD plans for that market until a few months later. 

The Sega CD had been announced at the [[Chicago]] CES on November [[1992]].

In the end, the Sega CD failed to convince American gamers, mostly due to the cost of the console. There just was not enough value for the price. Moreover, the game experience was little improved. 

(contracted; show full)*[http://www.segacd.org/expression/site_3/segabase/CD/SegaBase-SegaCDGames.html SegaCD.org complete game listing]

[[Category:Video game consoles]]
[[Category:Sega hardware]]

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