VMU
The Visual Memory Unit, also referred to as the Visual Memory System in Japan and Europe, is the primary memory card produced by Sega for the Dreamcast home video game console. The device features a monochrome liquid crystal display, multiplayer gaming capability, second screen functionality, a real-time clock, file manager, built-in flash memory, and sound capability. Prior to the launch of the Dreamcast, a special Godzilla edition VMU, preloaded with a virtual pet game, was released on July 30, 1998 in Japan.
While its most basic function is as a removable storage device, the VMU may also serve as an auxiliary display during normal gameplay and, through the use of additional software, acts as a handheld game console. Console-like features of the VMU include a screen, speaker, proper directional pad, four action buttons, the ability to connect and interact with other VMUs, and the ability to download additional games. While the standard VMU is white, colors were expanded to include many variations. Japan even saw the release of branded VMUs, such as those by Sonic Team, Capcom and Hello Kitty.
Hardware
For use as a memory card and second screen, the VMU is plugged directly into one of two slots on a Dreamcast controller.Upon initial use, the player is prompted to set the date and time, and then select from a group of bitmap images to serve as the default background for the VMU. This image is displayed while the Dreamcast console is in the operating system menu.
When operated independently of the Dreamcast console, the VMU acts as a file manager, clock/calendar, and handheld game console. VMUs may also connect to each other directly to facilitate file transfer or multiplayer gaming.
The VMU runs on two CR-2032 lithium batteries which are inserted into the rear of the VMU under a screw-secured lid. Without battery power, the VMU still functions as a memory card and auxiliary display, but cannot play downloaded mini-games. Additionally, a VMU without battery power will beep when the Dreamcast is powered on.
Technical specifications
- CPU: Sanyo LC8670
- Memory: 128KB flash memory.
- Display: 48 dot width × 32 dot height, LCD
- Sound: 1-channel PWM sound source
- Switches: Digital D-Pad, 4 input buttons, 1 reset button
- Functions: Memory card, second screen, mini-games/apps, calendar, file manager
- Display size : 37 mm × 26 mm
- Case dimensions : 47 mm × 80 mm × 16 mm
- Power source: 2 × CR2032 batteries with auto-off function
- Weight: 45 g
Minigames and in-game features
Several titles for the Dreamcast include mini-games that can be downloaded onto a VMU. The Sonic Adventure series, for instance, include the Chao Adventure mini-games. In the games, players can transfer Chao eggs to the VMU and partake in various activities to increase the stats of their hatched Chao, whereupon they can upload their improved Chao back into the Dreamcast game. Sega GT includes Pocket GT, a top-down racer in the style of the 8-bit SpyHunter games.In other video games, statistics such as the current health condition are displayed on the VMU for convenience or to enhance multi-player gaming.
There are also numerous homebrew games, original creations and ports of famous games, that are freely available on the internet and can be installed and played on a VMU. These games include: Metroid,
', Breakout, Space Invaders, Tetris, VMU Fighter, ' and ', VMU Football, VMU-a-Sketch, and 3D FPS.
| Dreamcast game | VMU minigame | In-game features |
| ' | Three mini-games:
| |
| Carrier | Health condition | |
| D2 | Photo viewer | Compass |
| Dino Crisis |
| |
| ' | Four mini-games | |
| ' | Health condition | |
| ' | 12-hour clock | |
| F355 Challenge | Arcade connectivity | |
| Godzilla Generations | Three mini-games: | |
| Jet Set Radio / Jet Grind Radio | Graffiti transfer | |
| ' | Transfer characters, colors and stages | Arcade connectivity |
| Namco Museum | Pac-It | |
| NBA 2K / 2K1 / 2K2 | Team statistics | |
| NFL 2K / 2K1 / 2K2 / Blitz | Secret plays | |
| Pop'n Music series | Pop'n Music Anywhere mini-game | Virtual Pop'n Music controller |
| Power Stone | Three mini-games: | |
| Power Stone 2 | View and trade items | |
| Quake III Arena | Maze mini-game | Animation |
| Ready 2 Rumble | ||
| Resident Evil series | Health condition | |
| Sakura Wars 3 | ||
| Seaman | Organize and raise food for Seaman | Seaman microphone status |
| Sega GT | Pocket GT | |
| Sega Rally 2 | Stats and records | |
| Shenmue | Shenmue Goodies | Training instructions |
| Silent Scope | Sniper rifle scope view | |
| Skies of Arcadia | Pinta's Quest | Cham alert |
| Sonic Adventure | Chao Adventure | Chao animation |
| Sonic Adventure 2 | Chao Adventure 2 | |
| Sonic Shuffle | Revealed card numbers | |
| Soulcalibur | Three mini-games | Animated characters |
| Super Magnetic Neo | Secret area alerts | |
| Tech Romancer | Three mini-games | |
| Time Stalkers | Five mini-games | |
| Tokyo Bus Guide | Traffic Signs Quiz | |
| TrickStyle | TrickStyle Jr. | |
| Virtua Tennis | Wireframe match | |
| Zombie Revenge | Three mini-games |
Variants
Multiple Dreamcast memory cards with no VMU features have been released. The cards therefore omit a display screen, input buttons, speaker and built-in clock. Some have the same 128 KB storage as the VMU, equivalent to 200 blocks, while others have multiple "pages" with each acting as a 128 KB memory card. In the latter case, a button or switch allows the gamer to select the desired memory card. This is due to the Dreamcast having a limit of 128 KB per individual memory card.4x Memory Card
Sega released an official 4x Memory Card which offered four times the data storage of a standard VMU, with 800 blocks. It was released in Japan on December 14, 2000 as "Memory Card 4X", and in the US as "4x Memory Card". A button is used to select one of four "pages", and a series of four orange LED on the card indicates which of these is currently in use. Not all games are compatible, so Sega released a list of incompatible games.A limited edition Phantasy Star Online 4x Memory Card was also released in Japan to coincide with the game's release. It was coloured blue and featured the Phantasy Star Online logo printed onto the casing.
The 4x Memory Card did not make it to retail in Europe, despite a planned release due to the Dreamcast's unforeseeably short lifespan - although unofficial 3rd party 4x Memory Cards were released in Europe.
Third-party memory cards
The Nexus Memory Card is a third party version of the Visual Memory Unit that features four times the memory of a stock VMU with 800 blocks but lacks an LCD screen. The card is divided into 4 pages each with 200 blocks, each page can be selected using a button on the top left of the card. The Nexus Memory Card is slightly larger than the normal VMU and can be connected to a personal computer by USB, Parallel or Serial cable. A 3200 block version of the Nexus is also available, but this model has been known to be unstable.Nyko released two memory cards for the Dreamcast: the Jumbo Memory Pak X2 with twice the storage as a VMU, and the Hyperpak with four times the storage. The Hyperpak could also act as a Jump Pak by setting its switch to rumble mode.
The Performance Memory Card was a third-party basic memory card with the same 200 blocks of storage as a VMU. The Performance Mega Memory Card acted like a 4X Memory Card. It used a switch on its back to select the desired memory card "page". Unlike other memory cards however, the Performance model had to be removed from the controller before the "page" could be switched.