SNES CD history discussion

Whilst it's great that the thread on the newly-discovered machine has sparked much debate in a matter of days, it's getting rather large and off-topic... so let's keep discussion not specifically related to that machine here.

To start you off, here are some articles and pictures...

Nintendo Power articles (go back in gallery for more pages / articles):
[GALLERY=media, 102]NP35p70 by retro posted Jul 4, 2015 at 11:00 PM[/GALLERY]

Tchoin posted some scans of the South American version of Club Nintendo, issue 5:

He has kindly provided a translation of the text, which can be seen here

Miscellaneous articles (if you can identify magazines/issues or indeed know any more, comment and I'll see if I can locate and add proper scans):








Various concept pictures:







Dev unit:

 

Sony pre-production units:









US patent for Sony Play Station (go back in gallery for the other pages):
[GALLERY=media, 96]USD349519-1 by retro posted Jul 4, 2015 at 10:55 PM[/GALLERY]

Japanese patent for Nintendo "information processor using optical storage medium (browse gallery for the other pages):
[GALLERY=media, 140]06-168212p8 by retro posted Jul 4, 2015 at 11:41 PM[/GALLERY]

Japanese patent for Nintendo "game machine system using ROM cartridge and optical disk memory" (go back in gallery for the other pages):
[GALLERY=media, 150]04-303488p1 by retro posted Jul 4, 2015 at 11:56 PM[/GALLERY]

Japanese patents for Nintendo "disk cartridge" (go back in galleries for the other pages):

[GALLERY=media, 161]05-182394p1 by retro posted Jul 5, 2015 at 12:05 AM[/GALLERY]
[GALLERY=media, 176]05-225740p1 by retro posted Jul 5, 2015 at 12:10 AM[/GALLERY]
[GALLERY=media, 186]06-168561p1 by retro posted Jul 5, 2015 at 12:15 AM[/GALLERY]
[GALLERY=media, 196]06-168566p1 by retro posted Jul 5, 2015 at 12:19 AM[/GALLERY]
[GALLERY=media, 205]06-215526p1 by retro posted Jul 5, 2015 at 12:22 AM[/GALLERY]
[GALLERY=media, 215]06-215527p1 by retro posted Jul 5, 2015 at 12:26 AM[/GALLERY]

Japanese patent for Nintendo "optical disk device" (go back in gallery for the other pages):
[GALLERY=media, 225]06-251554p1 by retro posted Jul 5, 2015 at 12:30 AM[/GALLERY]

Nintendo documentation:
https://docs.google.com/file/d/0B4cc2TZRufDtWERQV2FHZFhFaU1odEdTbWlTTHB1REJRNXdr/preview

 

Woah, tons of good information. Thanks, retro. This thread will definitely help simplify matters and streamline the other thread.

 

I'm liking this thread already. My gosh the MSF-1 looks so rudimentary!

 

You're welcome... and I'll placeholder this post just in case further picture space is required!

 

Thanks so much for this thread!

I have only seen fragmented bits and pieces on the SNES CD, nice to see a lot of it all in one place.

 

Great repository of photos and info.

 

I have the Nintendo Power where they talked about the cd rom technology. I have to dig it up. I feel like it was different than the screenshot above, and I believe it mentioned Sony.

 

Look through that album, as I put up several. However, I think there must have been information in issues prior to 35. When I have time, I might have a look. Not to mention dozens of other magazines from all over the World of that era!

 

For some reason, I'm thinking vol 27 (MM: Dr Wily's Revenge cover). I'll have to check into it tomorrow. That was Aug 1991.

EDIT: I found this link. I was off a little. It is in Vol 25 (June 1991 - Battletoads cover). It's listed in the sources at the bottom of the linked page. I think I have this volume, I'll have to find it.

http://www.snescentral.com/article.php?id=0089

 

I'll have to scan this magazine. Will look for it tomorrow.

 

That MFS-1 unit use a h500c? I was thinking, the first time of h500c was the h500 and that was after the prototyping with nintendo and co.
Btw really nice collection of pictures and informations. thanks for sharing retro!

 

Great thread!

So what's the story with the MFS - clearly a prototype, but did it function? People are trying to get the discovered of the latest SNES-Play Station to crack his open so people can see the PCB. Was that not possible with the MFS?

What does MFS stand for, anyway?

 

Great job researching all this. Thank you so much!

-doulomb

 

I wonder what happened to the other consoles they made. Do all of them where destroyed as the order says? If this was found there has to be others around too to be found, or already in private collectors hands.

 

Nice, thanks! I'd like to see page 21. I have no idea which issues of EGM these were, sadly.

 

Great work digging this up retro! I can translate those scans I had provided and add them to this thread if you guys want.

 

That would be most appreciated!

 

That would indeed be handy, thanks!

 

Ah the very early test of feasibility/hardware... I was looking all over for these pictures of Pulsetech prototype...

For those oblivious of it i made my researches back then and it's a prototype company in japan that was pioneering optical disc drives... I did mail them in english but never got an answer... I wonder if they are still alive and if any of our japanese users can contact them, maybe by phone...