Facts
- Manufacturer: Sega
- Type: Video game console
- Generation: Fourth generation era
- Release date: JP: June 1993, NA: November 1994, EU: 1994, KOR: 1995
- Introductory price: JP¥13,440, US$139, CN¥690, US$49.95 (Majesco)
- Discontinued: JP: 2005, NA: February 1998, EU: 1998
- Units sold: JP: 3.4 million: NA: 400,000 (as of January 1996)
- Media: “Storyware” (Cartridge)
- Successor: Advanced Pico Beena
- CPU: Motorola 68000 (same as in Mega Drive)
- Memory: 64 KB of system RAM
- Video RAM: 64 KB
- Graphics: YM7101 ASIC (FQ8007 ASIC in later units)
- Input: a pen with a button at the tip, four button directional pad and one action button.
- Sound: Texas Instruments SN76489 and NEC µPD7759 PCM chip
Released 1993 (EU 1994): The Sega Pico, also known as Kids Computer Pico, is an educational video game console by Sega. Marketed as “edutainment”, the main focus of the Pico was educational video games for children between 3 and 7 years old. The Pico was released in June 1993 in Japan and November 1994 in North America and Europe, later reaching China. It was succeeded by the Advanced Pico Beena, which was released in Japan in 2005. Though the Pico was sold continuously in Japan through the release of the Beena, in North America and Europe the Pico was less successful and was discontinued in early 1998, later being re-released by Majesco Entertainment. Releases for the Pico were focused on education for children and included titles supported by licensed franchised animated characters, including Disney and Sega’s own Sonic the Hedgehog series. Overall, Sega claims sales of 3.4 million Pico consoles and 11.2 million game cartridges, and over 350,000 Beena consoles and 800,000 cartridges.
Cartridges for the system were referred to as “Storyware”, and take the form of picture books with a cartridge slot on the bottom. The Pico changes the television picture and the set of tasks for the player to accomplish each time a page is physically turned. Sound, including voices and music, also accompanied every page.
My Sega Pico: When I got it, the plastic lid half was fractured and loose, and I glued it together with super-glue, it seems to hold without being to noticeable. I also got a few “Storyware” cartridges/books for it in their original boxes, like “Lion King” and “A Year at Pooh Corner”.
