Difference between revisions of "Sega Pico"
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Scarred Sun (talk | contribs) (I need to track down the rest of my Pico cartridges and change more of these to their real names) |
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Pico cartridges are affectionately called "storyware", as each cartridge is shaped like a book. The console plugs into a TV, and when the book pages are turned, the TV's screen changes to an animated replica. Games are controlled using a "magic pen" similar to the stylus on a [[Nintendo DS]] or a tablet. A touch screen controls an on-screen cursor, though there is also a d-pad and a button on the left hand side of the unit. | Pico cartridges are affectionately called "storyware", as each cartridge is shaped like a book. The console plugs into a TV, and when the book pages are turned, the TV's screen changes to an animated replica. Games are controlled using a "magic pen" similar to the stylus on a [[Nintendo DS]] or a tablet. A touch screen controls an on-screen cursor, though there is also a d-pad and a button on the left hand side of the unit. | ||
| − | The Pico won critical acclaim amongst Toy and Edutainment companies in the US [http://www.thefreelibrary.com/Sega%27s+PICO+sweeps+1995+awards%3b+top+honors+and+accolades+from...-a017815970][http://www.thefreelibrary.com/Sega%27s+Pico+once+again+recognized+as+the+leading+children%27s...-a018958803] and by 1996 the Pico had an installed base of 400,000 units[http://www.thefreelibrary.com/Sega%27s+Pico+edutainment+system+drives+ELA+category+growth%3b+Pico+grows...-a017981909]. Like the [[Sega Mega Drive]], the North American distribution rights were picked up by [[Majesco]] after the console's popularity began to dwindle, and in 1999, Majesco reissued Sega Pico systems at the reduced price of $49.99, $100 less than the previous asking price[http://www.thefreelibrary.com/Majesco+Signs+Licensing+Deal+to+Distribute+Sega+Pico+Educational...-a055353637]. | + | The Pico won critical acclaim amongst Toy and Edutainment companies in the US [http://www.thefreelibrary.com/Sega%27s+PICO+sweeps+1995+awards%3b+top+honors+and+accolades+from...-a017815970][http://www.thefreelibrary.com/Sega%27s+Pico+once+again+recognized+as+the+leading+children%27s...-a018958803] and by 1996 the Pico had an installed base of 400,000 units [http://www.thefreelibrary.com/Sega%27s+Pico+edutainment+system+drives+ELA+category+growth%3b+Pico+grows...-a017981909]. Like the [[Sega Mega Drive]], the North American distribution rights were picked up by [[Majesco]] after the console's popularity began to dwindle, and in 1999, Majesco reissued Sega Pico systems at the reduced price of $49.99, $100 less than the previous asking price [http://www.thefreelibrary.com/Majesco+Signs+Licensing+Deal+to+Distribute+Sega+Pico+Educational...-a055353637]. |
==Pico Models== | ==Pico Models== | ||
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Pico emulation is notoriously difficult as even though the hardware is similar to that of the [[Sega Master System]] and [[Sega Mega Drive]], each game page needs to be scanned and represented digitally. | Pico emulation is notoriously difficult as even though the hardware is similar to that of the [[Sega Master System]] and [[Sega Mega Drive]], each game page needs to be scanned and represented digitally. | ||
| − | In May | + | In May 2008 a PC Emulator capable of emulating the controls and games of Pico was released under the name of [[PicoDrive]]. It came about due to the release of several prototype Pico ROMs which were released by drx just over 2 months earlier. |
== List of games == | == List of games == | ||
Revision as of 03:23, 11 January 2012
The Sega Pico, known as Kids Computer Pico (キッズコンピューター・ピコ) in Japan, is a video game console made by Sega aimed at young children between the ages of 2 and 8. It was first launched to a Japanese audience in 1993 before being brought to North America and Europe a year later.
The console has seen a wealth of success in Japan, so much so that games are still being produced for the console to this day. In the western world, however, the Pico was less successul, with developers abandoning the system by early 1997. As of April 2005, 3.4 million Pico consoles and 11.2 million software cartridges had been sold.
Pico cartridges are affectionately called "storyware", as each cartridge is shaped like a book. The console plugs into a TV, and when the book pages are turned, the TV's screen changes to an animated replica. Games are controlled using a "magic pen" similar to the stylus on a Nintendo DS or a tablet. A touch screen controls an on-screen cursor, though there is also a d-pad and a button on the left hand side of the unit.
The Pico won critical acclaim amongst Toy and Edutainment companies in the US [1][2] and by 1996 the Pico had an installed base of 400,000 units [3]. Like the Sega Mega Drive, the North American distribution rights were picked up by Majesco after the console's popularity began to dwindle, and in 1999, Majesco reissued Sega Pico systems at the reduced price of $49.99, $100 less than the previous asking price [4].
Pico Models
- Main article: Sega Pico Models/Revisions
Emulation
Pico emulation is notoriously difficult as even though the hardware is similar to that of the Sega Master System and Sega Mega Drive, each game page needs to be scanned and represented digitally.
In May 2008 a PC Emulator capable of emulating the controls and games of Pico was released under the name of PicoDrive. It came about due to the release of several prototype Pico ROMs which were released by drx just over 2 months earlier.
List of games
This is a list of the Sega Pico games released in the US and PAL territories. For Japanese games, see Japan Region Pico games.
- A Year at Pooh Corner
- Adventures in Letterland With Jack and Jill
- Alex and Alice
- Berenstain Bears' A School Day
- Crayola: Create a World
- Disney's 101 Dalmations
- Ecco Jr. and the Great Ocean Treasure Hunt!
- The Great Counting Caper With the 3 Blind Mice
- The Lion King: Adventures at Pride Rock
- Magic Crayons
- Math Antics with Disney's 101 Dalmations
- Mickey's Blast Into the Past
- Muppets on the Go
- Musical Zoo
- Pepe's Puzzles
- Pink Panther's Magic Island
- Pink Panther's Shapes and Colors
- Pocahontas Riverbend Adventures
- Richard Scarry's Huckle and Lowly's Busiest Day Ever
- Scholastic's The Magic School Bus
- Sesame Street
- Sonic the Hedgehog's Gameworld
- Tails And The Music Maker
- Sonic Jr. (unreleased)
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| 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 |
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| 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 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||