TheTeraDrive(テラドライブ,TeraDoraibu)is anIBM PC compatiblesystem with an integratedMega Drive,developed bySegaand manufactured byIBMin 1991. The TeraDrive allowed for Mega Drive games to be played the same time as the PC section is being used, as it is possible for the Mega Drive and PC hardware to interact with each other.
 | |
| Developer | Sega |
|---|---|
| Manufacturer | IBM |
| Type | Video game console/Personal computer |
| Generation | Fourth generation |
| Release date |
|
| Media | Cartridge,diskette |
| CPU | 16-bitIntel 80286 Motorola 68000 Zilog Z80 |
| Backward compatibility | Mega Drive |
| Successor | Amstrad Mega PC(3rd party product developed on licence by Amstrad) |
The system was only released inJapan.Sega hoped that integrating the then popular Mega Drive console into an IBM PC would attract potential customers wishing to purchase a PC, but the system proved unpopular and was a commercial failure.
Design
editOne of the main processors used for the system is theIntel 80286,which was released in 1982. However, by the time the TeraDrive was released in 1991, this processor was almost 10 years out of date - the more powerful 25 MHzIntel 80486had been released in 1989, making the TeraDrive's central processor 2 generations behind its time. The system also contains aMotorola 68000and aZilog Z80,the same processors which were used in the Mega Drive, that ran at 7.67 MHz and 3.58 MHz respectively.[3]
The machine's front panel ports included two Mega Drive pad ports which were similar in design to 9-pin maleserial ports,and 2PS/2 portsto the right side of the unit to accommodate for the mouse and keyboard. The system also contained several ports to its rear. In order from left to right: 9-pin male serial port, 25-pinparallel portfor connection to a printer, stereoRCA jacksandcompositeNTSCvideo output for connection to a TV,analogueRGBfor monitor connection, and a 2nd 9-pin male serial connector labelled "EXT", similar to that found on the rear of an original Mega Drive base unit.
Themotherboardalso had a spareISAslot available for expansion, with a hole at the rear of the unit to accommodate this.
Interface
editItsinterfaceconsisted of a start-up menu with several options, including afile manager,DOS,a clock and Mega Drive mode.[4]
The machine included IBM drivers bundled on afloppy disk,which enabled properly written software to operate in the machine's RAM and then run on the native Mega Drive hardware. A good example of this shown in thePuzzle Constructionprogram, one of the very few software titles included with the TeraDrive, which included a PC-side editor suite for changing the features of a falling-block puzzle game, then playable on the Mega Drive side. The operating system shipped with the system was IBM's DOS J4.0/V, which was similar toPC DOS.[3]
There was often speculation that the TeraDrive was specifically designed as a purpose-madedevelopment kit,to allow software makers to develop their software titles for the Mega Drive. However, given the release date of the TeraDrive (some years after the initial Mega Drive release), as well as the availability of Sega's own game development hardware, it is unlikely the TeraDrive was designed for this purpose.[3]
Peripherals
editThe system's peripherals which were included or available separately, included 2 × Mega Drive pads, 1 ×PS/2Mouse, 1 × Sega branded PS/2 IBM keyboard and 1 × 3-button joystick. The Mouse and Mega Drive pads were practically identical to those found on the Mega Drive console version.
A monitor which was manufactured by a 3rd party company but with Sega branding, was available separately at a price of ¥79,800 (estimated US$600/GBP £300 at the time), which was capable of displaying 15 kHzRGBvideo signals from the Mega Drive hardware and a 31 kHzVGAoutput from the PC hardware, both from the VGA connector.[3]
Models
editThree models were available, ranging from ¥148,000 (US$1100/GBP £580) to ¥248,000 (US$1840/GBP £950).
| Model | Model 1 | Model 2 | Model 3 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Price (at launch) | ¥148,000 | ¥188,000 | ¥248,000 |
| Processor | Intel 80286(10MHz),Motorola 68000,Zilog Z80 | ||
| RAM(available / maximum) | 640 KB/2.5 MB | 1 MB/2.5 MB | 2.5 MB/2.5 MB |
| Storage | 1FDD | 2 FDDs | 1 FDD, 1 30MBHDD |
| Graphics modes |
| ||
| I/O ports |
| ||
| Operating system | IBM DOSJ4.0/V | ||
Sales
editThe system proved unpopular with the Japanese market and ultimately failed. Production numbers are unknown.
The system is moderately rare in Japan, although prices are rising rapidly due to collector demand. The price to buy a TeraDrive in June 2003 was triple the price it was 2 years prior.[3]
A new PC was also in the discussion stages to be developed by Sega under the leadership of ex-IBM executive Narutomi.[6]but this likely never got past the discussion stages due to the failure of the TeraDrive.
Similar products
editA similar, but unrelated system was manufactured byAmstradand sold under the nameMega PCinPALareas such asEuropeandAustralia.Although it boasted a higher specification than that of Sega's TeraDrive, it was unable to act as aSoftware Development Kitdue to the inability to interact both the PC and the Mega Drive together, as it was essentially just a PC with a Mega Drive bundled inside.
See also
editReferences
edit- ^"OLD-COMPUTERS.COM Museum ~ Sega Teradrive".Archived fromthe originalon 2019-09-11.Retrieved2006-11-22.
- ^"Original page".Archived from the original on June 17, 2006.Retrieved2007-07-22.
{{cite web}}:CS1 maint: bot: original URL status unknown (link) - ^abcdef"Sega / IBM TeraDrive".Retrieved2006-11-22.
- ^"Old-Computers".Archived fromthe originalon 2017-09-14.Retrieved2007-07-24.
- ^"Official specifications on Sega website".Quan liền ・ chu biên máy móc | メガドライブ | セガハード đại bách khoa | セガ(in Japanese).Retrieved2021-06-21.
- ^Ex-IBM man joins Sega to push game machinesFindArticles, 19 August 1991
External links
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