Difference between revisions of "Advanced Pico Beena"

From Sega Retro

 
(10 intermediate revisions by 5 users not shown)
Line 1: Line 1:
 
{{ConsoleBob
 
{{ConsoleBob
| logos=[[File:AdvancedPicoBeena Logo.png]]
+
| logo=AdvancedPicoBeena Logo.png
 
| consoleimage=AdvancedPicoBeena.jpg
 
| consoleimage=AdvancedPicoBeena.jpg
| imgwidth=300
 
 
| name=
 
| name=
| maker=[[Sega Toys]]
+
| maker=[[Sega Toys]], [[Applause Technologies]]
 
| variants=
 
| variants=
 
| add-ons=
 
| add-ons=
 
| processor=
 
| processor=
 
| releases={{releasesBeena
 
| releases={{releasesBeena
| beena_date_jp=2005-08-05
+
| beena_date_jp=2005-08-06{{ref|https://web.archive.org/web/20050622023947/http://www.beena.jp:80/index.html}}
 +
| beena_rrp_jp=12,800e{{ref|https://web.archive.org/web/20050622023947/http://www.beena.jp:80/index.html}}
 
}}
 
}}
 
}}
 
}}
{{stub}}<section begin=intro />The '''Advanced Pico Beena''' (アドバンスピコ・ビーナ) is a video game console released by [[Sega Toys]] in August of 2005 and the successor to the [[Sega Pico]]. Similar to its predecessor, the Advanced Pico Beena is aimed at children between the ages of 2 and 8 and stands primarily as an educational device. It has since been streamlined further, and is now commonly referred to simply as the '''Beena''' (ビーナ) or '''BeenaLite''' (ビーナLite).
+
{{stub}}<section begin=intro />The '''Advanced Pico Beena''' (アドバンスピコ・ビーナ), meaning "Be Natural"{{ref|https://web.archive.org/web/20050622023947/http://www.beena.jp:80/index.html}} is a video game console jointly developed by [[Sega Toys]] and [[Applause Technologies]]{{ref|https://web.archive.org/web/20090105185333if_/http://www.applause-tech.com/pdfs/news/pr20050405_e.pdf}}. It was released in August of 2005 and is the successor to the [[Sega Pico]]. Similar to its predecessor, the Advanced Pico Beena is aimed at children between the ages of 2 and 8 and stands primarily as an educational device. It has since been streamlined further, and is now commonly referred to simply as the '''Beena''' (ビーナ) or '''BeenaLite''' (ビーナLite).
  
Unlike the Sega Pico, the Advanced Pico Beena has not been released outside of Japan, and is maintained entirely by the Sega Toys division of the company (which also took control of the original Pico later in its lifespan). Though the console has not been officially discontinued, no games have been released for the system since July 2011.<section end=intro />
+
Unlike the Sega Pico, the Advanced Pico Beena has not been released outside of Japan, and is maintained entirely by the Sega Toys division of the company (which also took control of the original Pico later in its lifespan). The final game released for the platform was ''[[Cars 2 Racing Beena: Mezase! World Champion!]]'' in 2011. The Beena continued to be produced after the release of its final game until it was officially discontinued two years later in 2013.<section end=intro />
  
 
==Hardware==
 
==Hardware==
Line 25: Line 25:
 
Newer Beena models can be powered by batteries as well as through an [[AC adaptor]], and unlike the Pico, all Beenas have built-in speakers (similar to the [[Wii]] Remote). The system is also compatible with SD cards which can be used to save game progress. The Beena also offers score ranking and playtime which can be set by a parent, as well as superior graphics and sound.
 
Newer Beena models can be powered by batteries as well as through an [[AC adaptor]], and unlike the Pico, all Beenas have built-in speakers (similar to the [[Wii]] Remote). The system is also compatible with SD cards which can be used to save game progress. The Beena also offers score ranking and playtime which can be set by a parent, as well as superior graphics and sound.
  
The technical specifications of the Beena are not currently known, however the system is known to have a 32-bit ARM7TDMI CPU clocked at 81MHz.
+
===Technical Specifications===
 +
The following specifications originate from a product catalog provided by the on-board LSI chip's manufacturer [[Applause Technologies]]{{ref|http://web.archive.org/web/20070517042956/http://www.applause-tech.com/en_US/products/ap2010.html}}{{ref|http://web.archive.org/web/20060110211908/http://www.applause-tech.com/ja_JP/products/ap2010.html}}.
 +
 
 +
{{multicol|
 +
* LSI chip: Sega Toys 9H0-0008 (Applause Technologies AP2010)
 +
:* CPU: 32-bit ARM7TDMI clocked at 81MHz (Input Clock: 27MHz)
 +
:* On-Chip ROM: 128KB
 +
:* On-Chip RAM: 16KB
 +
* Graphics: Composite Video Output
 +
:* Resolution: NTSC (704×480), PAL (704×576 / 704×480)
 +
:* Color palette: 32768 colors (BGR555)
 +
:* Sprite plane: 128 sprites on screen
 +
* External RAM: 512KB x 16-Bit x 2 Banks (16MB) SDRAM (ICSI IC42S16100-7TG{{ref|https://www.semiee.com/file/EOL/ICSI-IC42S16100.pdf}} / ESMT M12L16161A-7T{{ref|https://www.esmt.com.tw/upload/pdf/ESMT/datasheets/M12L16161A(2Q).pdf}})
 +
* Pen Tablet
 +
:* Resolution: 176×122 / 352×244
 +
* Audio
 +
:* Input: 8-bit Mono
 +
:* Output: 12-bit Stereo
 +
:* MIDI: SMF format, 32-voice polyphony
 +
:* Speech coding: CELP (8kHz / 16kHz) encoded with Speex-1.0.4
 +
* Serial interface: UART (RS-232C, 16-byte FIFO × 1ch, 1.152Mbps maximum baud rate)
 +
* Debug interface: JTAG
 +
}}
  
 
===Models===
 
===Models===
:''See also: [[Beena consoles]]''.
+
{{mainArticle|Beena consoles}}
  
 
==History==
 
==History==
 
===Release===
 
===Release===
Translation issues mean that little is known about the Beena's performance in Japanese markets. It is assumed to have been unsuccessful - Sega Toys expected to ship 250,000 units before the end of 2005, but by November 2006 had only sold 150,000 units. By May 2008 more than 350,000 units had been sold.
+
Sega Toys expected to ship 250,000 units before the end of 2005, but by November 2006 had only sold 150,000 units. By May 2008 more than 350,000 units had been sold.
  
==List of Games==
+
The Beena's poor sales were presumably caused by the success of the [[Nintendo DS]], which was released a year earlier.
 +
 
 +
==Games==
 +
===List of games===
 
<!--Note: Romanisations may be incorrect.-->
 
<!--Note: Romanisations may be incorrect.-->
 
{{multicol|
 
{{multicol|
Line 70: Line 95:
 
*''[[Meet Bub: Bub to Eigo Tanken]]'' (2010)
 
*''[[Meet Bub: Bub to Eigo Tanken]]'' (2010)
 
*''[[Soreike! Anpanman Waku Waku Eigo Game!]]'' (2011)
 
*''[[Soreike! Anpanman Waku Waku Eigo Game!]]'' (2011)
*''[[Suite Precure: Happy Oshare Harmony]]'' (2011)
+
*''[[Suite PreCure: Happy Oshare Harmony]]'' (2011)
 
}}
 
}}
  
===[[SD Card Reader]] Support===
+
===[[SD Card Reader]] support===
 
{{multicol|
 
{{multicol|
 
*''[[Anpanman no Waku Waku Game Oekaki]]'' (2007)
 
*''[[Anpanman no Waku Waku Game Oekaki]]'' (2007)
 
*''[[Juuken Sentai Gekiranger: Niki Niki! Kazu Katachi ni Challenge!]]'' (2007)
 
*''[[Juuken Sentai Gekiranger: Niki Niki! Kazu Katachi ni Challenge!]]'' (2007)
 
*''[[Omoiyari o Hagukumu Katarikake Ehon Miffy to Asobou Utaou]]'' (2007)
 
*''[[Omoiyari o Hagukumu Katarikake Ehon Miffy to Asobou Utaou]]'' (2007)
*''[[Yes! Precure 5: Asonde Oboeyou Hiragana!]]'' (2007)
+
*''[[Yes! PreCure 5: Asonde Oboeyou Hiragana!]]'' (2007)
 
*''[[Disney Tanoshii Oekaki: o-Mise-ya-san o Tsukutchaou!]]'' (2007)
 
*''[[Disney Tanoshii Oekaki: o-Mise-ya-san o Tsukutchaou!]]'' (2007)
 
*''[[1-nichi 10-pun de E ga Jouzu ni Kakeru Beena]]'' (2008)
 
*''[[1-nichi 10-pun de E ga Jouzu ni Kakeru Beena]]'' (2008)
 
*''[[Hello Kitty no Hiragana Katakana o-Namae Kaitemiyou!]]'' (2008)
 
*''[[Hello Kitty no Hiragana Katakana o-Namae Kaitemiyou!]]'' (2008)
 
*''[[Engine Sentai Go-onger Mach de Oboeru! Aiueo!!]]'' (2008)
 
*''[[Engine Sentai Go-onger Mach de Oboeru! Aiueo!!]]'' (2008)
*''[[Yes! Precure 5 GoGo!: Lovelove Hiragana Lesson]]'' (2008)
+
*''[[Yes! PreCure 5 GoGo!: LoveLove Hiragana Lesson]]'' (2008)
 
*''[[Kamen Rider Kiva Hiragana Suuji Chie Battle!!]]'' (2008)
 
*''[[Kamen Rider Kiva Hiragana Suuji Chie Battle!!]]'' (2008)
 
*''[[Anpanman o Sagase!]]'' (2009)
 
*''[[Anpanman o Sagase!]]'' (2009)
Line 91: Line 116:
 
*''[[Doraemon Waku Waku Sekai Isshuu Game: Asonde Oboeru Chizu Kokki]]'' (2010)
 
*''[[Doraemon Waku Waku Sekai Isshuu Game: Asonde Oboeru Chizu Kokki]]'' (2010)
 
*''[[Tensou Sentai Goseiger Super Battle Daishuugou!]]'' (2010)
 
*''[[Tensou Sentai Goseiger Super Battle Daishuugou!]]'' (2010)
*''[[Oshare ni Henshin Heartcatch Precure!]]'' (2010)
+
*''[[Oshare ni Henshin HeartCatch PreCure!]]'' (2010)
 
*''[[Pocket Monsters Best Wishes! Chinou Ikusei Pokémon Daiundoukai]]'' (2010)
 
*''[[Pocket Monsters Best Wishes! Chinou Ikusei Pokémon Daiundoukai]]'' (2010)
 
}}
 
}}
  
===With Accessories===
+
===With accessories===
 
{{multicol|
 
{{multicol|
 
*''[[Disney Tanoshii o-Benkyou Series: Mic de Kantan ABC]]'' (2005)
 
*''[[Disney Tanoshii o-Benkyou Series: Mic de Kantan ABC]]'' (2005)
Line 111: Line 136:
 
}}
 
}}
  
 +
==Magazine articles==
 +
{{mainArticle|{{PAGENAME}}/Magazine articles}}
 +
 +
==Promotional material==
 +
{{gallery
 +
|{{gitem|Beena lite cm 2009.flv|BeenaLite CM (circa 2009)}}
 +
|{{gitem|Beena lite pv 2009.flv|BeenaLite PV (circa 2009)}}
 +
}}
 +
 +
==Gallery==
 +
<gallery>
 +
AdvancedPicoBeena Logo.png|Older logo
 +
BeenaLite logo.png|Newer logo
 +
</gallery>
 +
 +
==Patents==
 +
<gallery>
 +
WO2006107071A1.pdf|WO2006107071A1
 +
WO2006107072A1.pdf|WO2006107072A1
 +
</gallery>
 +
 +
==References==
 +
<references/>
  
{{Clear}}
 
 
{{Sega_Consoles}}
 
{{Sega_Consoles}}
 
[[Category:Hardware]]
 
[[Category:Hardware]]
 
[[Category:Advanced Pico Beena]]
 
[[Category:Advanced Pico Beena]]

Latest revision as of 21:38, 24 October 2023

AdvancedPicoBeena Logo.png
AdvancedPicoBeena.jpg
Advanced Pico Beena
Manufacturer: Sega Toys, Applause Technologies
Release Date RRP Code
Advanced Pico Beena
JP
¥12,800e[1] ?

This short article is in need of work. You can help Sega Retro by adding to it.


The Advanced Pico Beena (アドバンスピコ・ビーナ), meaning "Be Natural"[1] is a video game console jointly developed by Sega Toys and Applause Technologies[2]. It was released in August of 2005 and is the successor to the Sega Pico. Similar to its predecessor, the Advanced Pico Beena is aimed at children between the ages of 2 and 8 and stands primarily as an educational device. It has since been streamlined further, and is now commonly referred to simply as the Beena (ビーナ) or BeenaLite (ビーナLite).

Unlike the Sega Pico, the Advanced Pico Beena has not been released outside of Japan, and is maintained entirely by the Sega Toys division of the company (which also took control of the original Pico later in its lifespan). The final game released for the platform was Cars 2 Racing Beena: Mezase! World Champion! in 2011. The Beena continued to be produced after the release of its final game until it was officially discontinued two years later in 2013.

Hardware

The Advanced Pico Beena is built similarly to the original Sega Pico, though is more powerful from a technology point of view and has a much more streamlined design. Similar to the Pico, the Beena is a large, plastic foldable unit which acts as a hybrid between traditional cartridge-based video game consoles, tablets and electronic book readers. Cartridges are book shaped and the system keeps track of which pages have been turned, and the device connects to a television, with the users manipulating the game with the touch screen, magic pen and face buttons.

Like later models of the Pico, the Beena does not have a solid base to keep the top half of the unit upright, instead relying on a much thinner retractable plastic stand. Beenas can, however, be flipped 360 degrees, and every page of the cartridge can be manipulated by the magic pen (as opposed to just the last page as seen with the original Pico). This effectively creates a tidier, tabletop touch-screen device, hiding the buttons for games which do not need them. The Magic Pen can also be removed in the Beena, and a second can be aded for two player play.

Unlike the Sega Pico, the Advanced Pico Beena caters for both left and right handed children, with two sets of Red, White, Green, Orange and Purple buttons.

Newer Beena models can be powered by batteries as well as through an AC adaptor, and unlike the Pico, all Beenas have built-in speakers (similar to the Wii Remote). The system is also compatible with SD cards which can be used to save game progress. The Beena also offers score ranking and playtime which can be set by a parent, as well as superior graphics and sound.

Technical Specifications

The following specifications originate from a product catalog provided by the on-board LSI chip's manufacturer Applause Technologies[3][4].

  • LSI chip: Sega Toys 9H0-0008 (Applause Technologies AP2010)
  • CPU: 32-bit ARM7TDMI clocked at 81MHz (Input Clock: 27MHz)
  • On-Chip ROM: 128KB
  • On-Chip RAM: 16KB
  • Graphics: Composite Video Output
  • Resolution: NTSC (704×480), PAL (704×576 / 704×480)
  • Color palette: 32768 colors (BGR555)
  • Sprite plane: 128 sprites on screen
  • External RAM: 512KB x 16-Bit x 2 Banks (16MB) SDRAM (ICSI IC42S16100-7TG[5] / ESMT M12L16161A-7T[6])
  • Pen Tablet
  • Resolution: 176×122 / 352×244
  • Audio
  • Input: 8-bit Mono
  • Output: 12-bit Stereo
  • MIDI: SMF format, 32-voice polyphony
  • Speech coding: CELP (8kHz / 16kHz) encoded with Speex-1.0.4
  • Serial interface: UART (RS-232C, 16-byte FIFO × 1ch, 1.152Mbps maximum baud rate)
  • Debug interface: JTAG

Models

Main article: Beena consoles.

History

Release

Sega Toys expected to ship 250,000 units before the end of 2005, but by November 2006 had only sold 150,000 units. By May 2008 more than 350,000 units had been sold.

The Beena's poor sales were presumably caused by the success of the Nintendo DS, which was released a year earlier.

Games

List of games

SD Card Reader support

With accessories

Magazine articles

Main article: Advanced Pico Beena/Magazine articles.

Promotional material

BeenaLite CM (circa 2009)
BeenaLite PV (circa 2009)

Gallery

Patents

References

Sega Home Video Game Systems
83 84 85 86 87 88 89 90 91 92 93 94 95 96 97 98 99 00 01 02 03 04 05 06 07 08 09 10 11
SG-1000 SG-1000 II Mega Drive Mega Drive II
SC-3000 Mega-CD Mega-CD II Genesis 3
Sega Mark III 32X Dreamcast
Master System Master System II
AI Computer Game Gear
Saturn
Pico Beena