VMU

The VM ( Visual Memory ) is actually a memory card for game console Dreamcast by Sega. Unlike other memory cards it serves not only as a memory card, but can also be used as an additional display in the gamepad or even as a standalone handheld.

Technology

• Connections: 2 × 7 pin on the upper side with a serial interface
• CPU: 8- bit sub- Clock: 32 kHz, RC clock: 600 kHz Main Clock: 6 MHz ( Sanyo LC8670 "Potato" ), a specially produced for Sega processor, but with the Sanyo LC86104C is largely compatible
• Memory: 128 KB of which 24 KB Flash ROM and 1 KB as a RAM for data storage, for example for savegames available to the user 100 KB divided into 200 blocks available and 64 KB/128 blocks thereof for the execution of stand-alone VM application programs that are mostly small mini-games. There are another 41 blocks on each VM, but you have to unlock manually.
• Screen: 48 × 32 pixels four icons at the bottom of the screen, monochrome 1 -bit
• Screen Size: 37 mm wide × 26 mm high
• Sound: 1-channel pulse width modulation ( PWM)
• Case Size: 47 mm wide x 80 mm high x 16 mm thick (1.85 in × 0.63 in × 3.15 in )
• Power supply: 2 x CR2032 button battery, automatically turns itself off
• Weight: 45 g

Functionality

The interface of the VM can be plugged into the controller of the Dreamcast, but it can be connected directly to each other, two VMs to another (eg Chao Battle of Sonic Adventure) to play games against each other or to copy saved games from one card to another. The VM can only store a playable game.

Usually the display was used only for the games logo or for short animations (for example, Virtual Tennis 2 ). In some games, such as Sonic Shuffle, however, each player had their own screen so that only he can see his cards. Resident Evil used the display for status display.

Career

After the (commercial) end of the Dreamcast there was no official developments more for the VM. Just like for the Dreamcast itself there for the VM but still a small, active development community.