Visual Memory Chō Hatsumei Boy Kanipan Asonde Kid DCDC

Description

Chō Hatsumei Boy Kanipan Asonde Kid DCDC is a Japan-exclusive mini-game bundled into a themed Visual Memory Unit (VMU) for the Sega Dreamcast. It features branding from the anime Chō Hatsumei Boy Kanipan and was produced in a translucent green colour. When connected to the Dreamcast controller, it operates as a conventional VMU for saving data and displaying auxiliary game information, while detached its pre-installed application provided a standalone game themed around the anime, often described as a digital pet or novelty game.

The gameplay reflects a training game featuring the robot Kid. The player can allocate schedules, raise children, play minigames and battle with friends. The title was described as a pre-release to the full Dreamcast game Chō Hatsumei Boy Kanipan: Bōsō Roboto no Nazo!?, which would be released three months later. Data could be transferred to the Dreamcast title.

The time is estimated to have had a limited production run between 1,000 and 5,000 units. It stands out as an example of Sega’s experimental approach to hardware and promotional partnerships, being one of only five standalone released Visual Memory games. Given the popularity of Tamagotchi’s and Digital Monster standalone games of the era, the Visual Memory had lot of potential that was not commercially realised.