This was my first console! I was 7 years old, and my father said he was getting me a video game system. He looked at the SNES, Genesis, and the X'Eye at a local Radio Shack. I remember him saying that "CD was the wave of the future", and it would pay off to have a system that would be an all in one solution. I have very fond memories with the X'Eye. I still have it and it is in working condition. :)
My dad worked at an AV shop and we got one for free. I never knew what "SEGA Genesis" referred to because I grew up thinking the X'EYE was the official SEGA console.
Thanks for this little history lesson! My dad used to work for JVC (Victor Company of Japan) and NIVICO (Nippon Victor Corporation) as an electronic repairman in the late 70s and early 80s, he used to repair TVs and VCRs. This is in Greece. Later on he started selling them as a wholesaler instead of fixing them. He also imported Fisher Electronics products. Man, I was privileged to be raised in a house filled with the latest consumer electronics. He still has his old workshop filled with old JVC manuals, schematics and components on vintage electronics scattered all over the place. Today it serves as a storage room cluttered with myriads of things one accumulates in his life...
Fisher electronics ahh that's my childhood Family TV we did most of our SNES Saturn and N64 gaming at.. That TV never stopped working we eventually just upgraded but it saw heavy use from 1990 - 2013.. damn good TV ! 👍
+Larry Bundy Jr I mean i woulden't mind having one system rather than stacking three freaking consoles on top of each other xD I mean i know theres this snes console that is like two other systems in one which can plug into the tv (obvisouly) sorry for the grammar-
I'm hoping to do a lot more videos on hardware this year. First up is the JVC X'Eye! I also added a new outro after the video ends. It seemed fitting given my style. Hope you like it!
+Gaming Historian Just curious... as the letter X is sometimes read as the JVC [Cross] Eye? No clue if that was the case, and I can't tell if it is funnier as an accident or intentional name.
Ah man, I got one of these for Christmas in 2001, and it only cost about $30 at the time. Unfortunately, the laser failed about a year later, and I ended up trading it. But it was a really neat piece of hardware, and I wish I'd had the acumen to fix it back then.
The timing on this video being released is great! I just went to a gaming convention this past weekend and saw two of these systems for the first time but did not know anything about them, thanks! :D
I actually had one of these around 94-95: I have no clue where or how my Aunt got it for me, but I did enjoy playing Final Fight CD on this thing. This thing was really cool! Thanks for doing a feature on this!
+Joe Johnson Can you recall per chance if your Aunt was a catalog shopper? I remember seeing these in both Service Merchandise and Best! Catalog Showroom as a kid, and do believe I read that they were heavily marketed through sales catalogs. I wouldn't be surprised if the Sears and J.C. Penney catalogs had them too.
The ability to play karaoke cd-Roms is such a feature that would appeal to the Asian market. Karaoke has never been as popular in the US as in Japan, China, Korea, the Philippines and Thailand.
@John Sabp Not as much in other part of the world as in Asia Or at least that's the "rumour",is like common knowledge but i haven't been able to find a source
I loved watching this one. I have 2 X'Eyes. I bought my first one with a stack of games from a friend of mine about 10 years ago for $50. That was my first Sega CD. Then, a few years ago, I happen to stumble upon another X'Eye in a salvage store around the corner from my old house. It was just the system itself, but it was only $10 and was in perfect working condition! I got a lot of awesome stuff from that salvage shop. My Intellivision with the Voice Synthesis Mod, my second Turbografx-16 and all the games I own for it (around 17), and some really rare Genesis like The Hyperstone Heist and Castlevania Bloodlines as well as the Sega CD version of Lords of thunder. Every game was $3, regardless of platform.
Never realized how unique this was. I bought mine at Best Buy (day after Thanksgiving, 1994) for $79.00. The Genesis alone was selling for $150 at the time. Still like new and I'm glad I kept the box and all the packing material.
I gotta say, the "funding for gaming historian.." bit at the end of each video really hearkens back to the old PBS model. As a huge fan of historical documentaries and of course PBS I say hats off to you, nicely done. And of course yet another solid, well structured and informational video.
Thank you for letting me know that the 32X works. I have a JVC X'Eye and because I'm a collector with limited space I have my Sega CD and Genesis stored, and wasn't sure if the 32X would work when I eventually buy one.
So I just wanted to tell you thank you good sir, for posting this video (even though I'm 2 years late to watching it lol). As a kid, my mom's then-boyfriend brought an X'Eye home for me while I was visiting her one weekend (My parents are divorced and I went over every second weekend) and I always kindof thought of it as a curiosity. "What is it?" I remember thinking. "This isn't a REAL Sega Genesis!" I played for a few months, but we lost the power cord at some point and could never find a replacement, so when they broke up and he moved out, she converted his electronics room (where the X'Eye lived) into a better bedroom for me and I forgot all about having it. Truthfully, I never really considered myself a Genesis owner precisely because I didn't have it for long, nor did I really know what it was. And then your video happened...and I realized 'holy shit! I have one of these!" So recently, while visiting my mom, I plumbed the depths of her garage and found the X'Eye, in its original box, with JVC branded controller sitting by its lonesome in a blue bin behind/beneath a bunch of other shit. I was ecstatic! I got it home and confirmed it works perfectly (once I managed to find a compatible universal AC adapter...that was a battle in and of itself). I now have my $300.00 rare console sitting in a place of honour as my main Genesis/Sega CD in my TV unit, and it's all thanks to you! :D Keep up the epic work - as one historian to another, you'll always have a fan in me!
Also worth mentioning is the proprietary and expensive power supply of the X'Eye that is often missing from used models. Easily one of the favorite consoles in my collection.
Love the X'Eye. I found one at a pawn shop nearly 15 years ago, and it's been my main Sega Genesis console since then. Lots of love for my model 1 and Sega CD, but the X'Eye is just very convenient. Great video, man.
Fun fact: Because it uses the standard Mega Drive 2 A/V output, you can use Mega Drive 2 RGB cables too. S-video output might even be useable without needing to mod it, assuming the video output hardware is the same and it’s just the port that got removed.
Yes sir. They aren't around much anymore unfortunately. But in the 90s and up til around 2012 or so, JVC was my first choice for anything they made. Home Theater, Car Audio, and I had a sweet 24" flat crt...wish I had kept that TV. They were generally a hair cheaper than Sony or Panasonic, and every bit as good. Miss them being in the market more prevalently. They've now merged with Kenwood. Also a brand I've grown to trust.
I remember seeing this console heavily discounted at Best Buy. It was priced at just $30. I passed up on it, because I had sold all of my Genesis and Sega CD stuff so I could get import games for my Saturn.
My pops won this x'eye in a raffle sealed nib @ an employee function & gave it to me as a kid. Wish I still had the box, but I've kept it mint all these yrs & still play it to this day!🎮💥💪🏽😁
Well when I was younger I watched your channel now I’m 10 years old and I still love your channel because of your amazing content and you’ve got me into learning lots about different things like gaming and technology and I’ve passed that knowledge to loads of people and I’ve started to watch geography content as well so you can be a backup source just in case I’m bored of geography for a bit
I had one of these! I loved it and it was my introduction to the genesis after being with the SNES for a while. Also introduced me to Popful Mail one of my favorite games
My first Genesis was the X'Eye. My parents got it for me for Xmas at only $300 at EB Games. I still have it. My 32X is still attached to the top. Playing games like Farenheit 32X, where you had to switch discs was complicated; I had to angle the 32X but not remove it in order to get the disc drive open wide enough to swap discs! The karaoke element was awesome tho. Didnt just play CD-g, but had a feature to make ANY CD karaoke. It turned down the vocal track while boosting the rest of the audio. It wasn't perfect (it guessed which was which and sometimes the cds had the vocals on a track it didnt expect and you'd end up turning off the guitar instead). It's what I used to record my first song parodies to send to Dr Demento.
+Gaming Historian, you've truly turned into of the best content providers on RUclips over the years! Thank you for all of the hard work and dedication you put towards making them! Looking forward to seeing what's to come!
I remember running into this JVC X'Eye at a Best Buy back in the mid 90s, this was a current video game historian's dream, in their video game section they had top loading NES consoles running Wario Woods, a shelf with 3DO games, a Philips CD-I section running those horrible Zelda "games", and of course the "new" JVC X'Eye proudly on display, I don't remember it being so high, so maybe it was when they were closing out the systems. I was just there getting Super Metroid so I think we all know who won.
***** Heh, yeah, I've had mine for years. Maybe I just got really luck because I haven't had any problems yet. Granted I haven't played it every single day. Lately though I actually have been playing some Android Assault just to hear that kick-ass music! I've even been thinking about replaying Lunar or Snatcher. Anyway, the possibility of it failing is now going to be in the back of my mind. I'd really hate for that to happen as I love the slimness and convenience of it.
why did i immediately feel how satisfying it was to push the power and reset button as soon as you pressed them though? almost like i could feel the action in my fingertips myself
My cousin had one of these! I remember visiting him and playing games together when I was really little, and being absolutely confused as to why it had a cartridge slot and a CD slot both. (I only had Nintendo consoles as a kid) I couldn't figure out why it had both, but we only used one of them for games. I remember playing Sega games on it, but no Sega console looked like it, so I could never figure out just what the hell was wrong with my memory.
these were going for 60$ canadian in the montreal area in 95-96, they were on sale at a local furniture retail chain store called Brault et Martineau!! still got it!
300! Dag. I found one of these at a yard sale back around '99/'00, and for years it was my only option for playing SEGA CD releases since I never had the actual CD addon for any of my genesises (genesi?) That said, when I left home back in '07 I had to sell my game collection, including this thing, and of all the hardware I lost at that time, this is probably the piece I regret most, if for no other reason than that Genesis video cables are pretty hard to find 'round where I'm at so the standard composite support was nice. Another good video, sir.
Yeah, but an Iphone 7 is stare of the art. This is a frankenstein machine thrown together very late in the consoles lifespan. That would be more like paying almost 800 bucks for an iPhone 5/6 hybrid 3 months before the 7s release
Jeremiah Payte iphone work of art? Lol they cost 300 to make and sell for 1200. The only thing the iphone is is marketing and millions of dumb sheep falling for it.
Never realized these were so rare! My family had one, and so did the next door neighbors, living in Honolulu around 1995/96. Whenever I've tried to tell people about it in the decades since, however, no one has ever heard of it.
I LOVE MY X'EYE!!! It's the preferred way of playing all my Sega cartridges, but I do have a small problem. The console can't load Sega CD games, it just freezes completely when I try to load them. It's not the laser/reader, because the console can play music CDs just fine and the cartridge slot works perfectly, too. Could it be the capacitors need replacing?
Awesome video. Got one a few months ago with all hook-ups and two controllers and about 4 games for $65 at Goodwill. The ONE decent Goodwill I have ever found.
@@ModernDayMagus Aha, yea, sure. It's a player's fault that this "engine" (it's not an engine, it's a game) is poorly coded, not elecbyte's (whos bad at coding) fault.
Bought my husband the JVC X'Eye for Valentine's Day this year. He loves your channel and collects a lot of esoteric game systems and games. Thanks for your content!
is the space between the controller ports the same as the other mega drive? I know some adapters for multiplayer games and such plug into both ports however if the spacing is different it would of course not work.
+Animated Freak Excellent question! I measured from the beginning of the first port to the end of the 2nd port and it's about 2 inches, which is about the same as all the other Genesis consoles too.
All your videos are great! Thank you for your quality films. I also like your laid back style, it seems like all the other retro youtubers scream at the viewers.
I have an X'Eye and it's FANTASTIC. My favorite part about the power/reset buttons is that you can use the tip of the Genesis controller to press them!
I have one in the box. Got a lot of use out of it. Brand new for $99 from Good Guys when they were clearing them out. I'll have to dig it out this weekend. Had a JVC game with it "Wonder Dog".
I had one of these and left it at home when it moved out. Years later my mom asked about it and I didn't know it was rare so I just told her to donate it. I hope she did, and some collector got a hell of a lucky find at Goodwill or something.
+Rave Raptor Know that feeling man. Around half a year ago, I stumbled upon an advert for someone selling a ps2 slim new, like completely new with the plastic still on. Worst part was that he was selling it for about 15$, and I didn't take the chance :(
This seems like it would have been better sold at $350-400 instead of the rather outrageous $500 they were asking for. Shame it sold so poor, it looks nice and is apparently really good.
@@babybuussj4 Because Sega may have been willing to license third-party hardware, but they weren't about to license their brand name for the product to a competitor, because that would have been completely insane...?
I got my X'Eye in the mail on Monday, June 5th, and you're right, Norman. The Power and Reset buttons are pretty satisfying to press, but the Open button is also a wonder. I couldn't stop pressing that button and listening to that loud click. As I said earlier, however, it'll be a stand-by spare for when my SEGA CDX breaks down. Even so, I don't think I would've known about this system without you. I thank you for letting us know about this amazing system.
I actually bought my boxed X'Eye off eBay last year for about $220 and the thing was "mint"...I doubt anyone played the darn thing. Now I need to see if I still have those CD-G discs laying around that my CDi wasn't able to read and annoy my wife some more.
awesome video as always norm! i actually have a jvc x'eye...i got it back in the day from someone in grade school for $5 lol and i've had it ever since...somethings don't work on it i actually should fire it up sometime soon haven't turned it on in a while
How is it possible to have a downvote already? It has only been up for like 10 minutes. So someone just subscribes to this channel and once a video is out, he/she just dislike it immediately?
Purchased this at a Best Buy for the low price of $89 back in October '95. Sold the box, manual games and proprietary composite cable the system originally came with over the years but still kept the system itself. 26 years later both cartridge port and cd laser still work great. Oh and the sound on this system is amazing. Easily on par with the original HDG Genesis model 1. The picture is pretty crisp too with proper RGB cables.
When I was young I always wanted a Sega CD. I had the Genesis but my parents didn't understand the idea of an add-on component so they wouldn't get it for me. I had to wait until PlayStation to play Lunar Silver Star Story and to this day I haven't had the chance to play Lunar Eternal Blue. I wasn't even aware that X'Eye even existed until your video. Thanks for sharing!
I have one of these. I am considering selling it, it is working great. However, the convenience of having a genesis and sega cd at the same time with one power supply is great, and the system actually works with a 32X unlike the CDX. However, I might consider keeping it if I could do an RGB mod for it, as I want to both be able to get the best possible video quality as well as be able to use a SCART to HDMI convertor so I could record gameplay.
I'm glad to finally find some info on this little gem! I lucked into mine in pristine condition a few years back at a GoodWill for $5 and have enjoyed it thoroughly. Funny enough I've never thought to try my 32X on it. Good to know it works.
This is an interesting console and weird to see S-Video removed but the port RGB scart cables attach to in PAL land still there. I've seen one at an Expo but never seen one for sale anywhere - I'll make do with my Multi Mega, if only it was region free with a 60hz switch.
+8-Bit Eric its not gay so long as u "Grapple" in the ring, wear as lil as possible (speedos are ok), be a lil flamboyant and let ALOT of people watch ;-) If you do that, then its fun family sports entertainment!
EBsessed And yet his best episodes were always those where he actually talked coherently about a game instead of just spending the entire episode literally shitting on it and screaming.
+DGneoseeker1 In case you have not seen those videos yet, try james and mike mondays which I in general find more enjoyable as they go deeper into the games they are playing and its background/history as well as their own memories and experiences around the time.
Its so funny that you made this video. I went into my local mom and pop game store and saw one of these for the first time. I had no idea this thing even existed. Keep up the great work!
![Seungmin "그렇게, 천천히, 우리(As we are)" | [Stray Kids : SKZ-PLAYER]](http://i.ytimg.com/vi/kAzmhLHePqU/mqdefault.jpg)
This was my first console! I was 7 years old, and my father said he was getting me a video game system. He looked at the SNES, Genesis, and the X'Eye at a local Radio Shack. I remember him saying that "CD was the wave of the future", and it would pay off to have a system that would be an all in one solution. I have very fond memories with the X'Eye. I still have it and it is in working condition. :)
Too cool man!
Great story. Great dad.
You've got a great Dad.
Wow
Great dad.
My dad worked at an AV shop and we got one for free.
I never knew what "SEGA Genesis" referred to because I grew up thinking the X'EYE was the official SEGA console.
Didn't you buy Any games for it? All of the games say genesis on the label.
"Free" just like the soap and to T paper he bought home to
Why were they selling X'Eyes at an Adult Video Shop? Did they sell 16bit pornos?
@@BizarreBazaarBW It's Audio Video
@@BizarreBazaarBW he means audio video store 😂 but that's really funny
Thanks for this little history lesson! My dad used to work for JVC (Victor Company of Japan) and NIVICO (Nippon Victor Corporation) as an electronic repairman in the late 70s and early 80s, he used to repair TVs and VCRs. This is in Greece. Later on he started selling them as a wholesaler instead of fixing them. He also imported Fisher Electronics products. Man, I was privileged to be raised in a house filled with the latest consumer electronics. He still has his old workshop filled with old JVC manuals, schematics and components on vintage electronics scattered all over the place. Today it serves as a storage room cluttered with myriads of things one accumulates in his life...
Hey! I'm looking for a remote for a JVC 4mm-1000 amplifier radio unit. Can you ask your dad if he has one? and if he's willing to part with it?
My father also worked for JVC. That’s how I got mine.
Thise manuals may be worth something especially if no one bothered tp uplpad them on the internet.
Fisher electronics ahh that's my childhood Family TV we did most of our SNES Saturn and N64 gaming at..
That TV never stopped working we eventually just upgraded but it saw heavy use from 1990 - 2013.. damn good TV ! 👍
Never saw the logic in selling an "all-in-one" system, then charging 50% more than it would cost to buy them separately.
+Larry Bundy Jr Well that's easy, because, well, euh...... logic?
Yeah, but that goes back to "profit."
BlueComet001 Look behind you, that's the joke that just passed you by.
+Larry Bundy Jr I mean i woulden't mind having one system rather than stacking three freaking consoles on top of each other xD I mean i know theres this snes console that is like two other systems in one which can plug into the tv (obvisouly) sorry for the grammar-
CitternIndex But are you prepared to pay almost twice as much for the privilege?
I'm hoping to do a lot more videos on hardware this year. First up is the JVC X'Eye!
I also added a new outro after the video ends. It seemed fitting given my style. Hope you like it!
+Gaming Historian I hope that you do a video on the LaserActive.
+Gaming Historian Loved the "PBS" type ending
+Gaming Historian Just curious... as the letter X is sometimes read as the JVC [Cross] Eye? No clue if that was the case, and I can't tell if it is funnier as an accident or intentional name.
and I just had my learn something new moment of the day I should look into getting one of these it would help me out with something
+Gaming Historian Eh I find it a little weird.
Ah man, I got one of these for Christmas in 2001, and it only cost about $30 at the time. Unfortunately, the laser failed about a year later, and I ended up trading it. But it was a really neat piece of hardware, and I wish I'd had the acumen to fix it back then.
What games did you play on it?
The timing on this video being released is great! I just went to a gaming convention this past weekend and saw two of these systems for the first time but did not know anything about them, thanks! :D
+MrMario2011 I saw one at Game Nut in Lawrence this summer and had no idea what it was.
+MrMario2011 I just got my gateway card up and running thanks to your videos. Thanks.
I actually had one of these around 94-95: I have no clue where or how my Aunt got it for me, but I did enjoy playing Final Fight CD on this thing. This thing was really cool! Thanks for doing a feature on this!
+Joe Johnson Can you recall per chance if your Aunt was a catalog shopper? I remember seeing these in both Service Merchandise and Best! Catalog Showroom as a kid, and do believe I read that they were heavily marketed through sales catalogs. I wouldn't be surprised if the Sears and J.C. Penney catalogs had them too.
So ironic that it's a JVC machine but doesn't have S-video!
I'm surprised it didnt have a VHS-C slot
The ability to play karaoke cd-Roms is such a feature that would appeal to the Asian market. Karaoke has never been as popular in the US as in Japan, China, Korea, the Philippines and Thailand.
@John Sabp Not as much in other part of the world as in Asia
Or at least that's the "rumour",is like common knowledge but i haven't been able to find a source
I loved watching this one. I have 2 X'Eyes. I bought my first one with a stack of games from a friend of mine about 10 years ago for $50. That was my first Sega CD. Then, a few years ago, I happen to stumble upon another X'Eye in a salvage store around the corner from my old house. It was just the system itself, but it was only $10 and was in perfect working condition! I got a lot of awesome stuff from that salvage shop. My Intellivision with the Voice Synthesis Mod, my second Turbografx-16 and all the games I own for it (around 17), and some really rare Genesis like The Hyperstone Heist and Castlevania Bloodlines as well as the Sega CD version of Lords of thunder. Every game was $3, regardless of platform.
Now I want to go there.
Psh, me too. They closed shop a little over a year ago.
Never realized how unique this was. I bought mine at Best Buy (day after Thanksgiving, 1994) for $79.00. The Genesis alone was selling for $150 at the time.
Still like new and I'm glad I kept the box and all the packing material.
I assume the Compton Encyclopedia has a detailed entry on NWA
whats that mean
cool it just appeared as a square to me
It's mostly street knowledge I hear.
you have it backwards the group basically came straight out of it...
They do. I was the Notary.
I gotta say, the "funding for gaming historian.." bit at the end of each video really hearkens back to the old PBS model. As a huge fan of historical documentaries and of course PBS I say hats off to you, nicely done. And of course yet another solid, well structured and informational video.
Speaking of Sega: i can remember a time when i walked into wal mart
and there was a stack of Genesis'- each costing 40$.
Thank you for letting me know that the 32X works. I have a JVC X'Eye and because I'm a collector with limited space I have my Sega CD and Genesis stored, and wasn't sure if the 32X would work when I eventually buy one.
Yooo, I saw this at a Goodwill a few years ago for 15 dollars, but I didn't think it was anything special!
+riggis mafom I clearly need to do more console shopping at Goodwill.
+riggis mafom Unfortunately it is easily mistaken for a standard CD player!
So I just wanted to tell you thank you good sir, for posting this video (even though I'm 2 years late to watching it lol). As a kid, my mom's then-boyfriend brought an X'Eye home for me while I was visiting her one weekend (My parents are divorced and I went over every second weekend) and I always kindof thought of it as a curiosity. "What is it?" I remember thinking. "This isn't a REAL Sega Genesis!" I played for a few months, but we lost the power cord at some point and could never find a replacement, so when they broke up and he moved out, she converted his electronics room (where the X'Eye lived) into a better bedroom for me and I forgot all about having it. Truthfully, I never really considered myself a Genesis owner precisely because I didn't have it for long, nor did I really know what it was. And then your video happened...and I realized 'holy shit! I have one of these!" So recently, while visiting my mom, I plumbed the depths of her garage and found the X'Eye, in its original box, with JVC branded controller sitting by its lonesome in a blue bin behind/beneath a bunch of other shit. I was ecstatic! I got it home and confirmed it works perfectly (once I managed to find a compatible universal AC adapter...that was a battle in and of itself). I now have my $300.00 rare console sitting in a place of honour as my main Genesis/Sega CD in my TV unit, and it's all thanks to you! :D Keep up the epic work - as one historian to another, you'll always have a fan in me!
I saw one of these at a flea market once... but I had no money... sad thing is... IT WAS ONLY 25$!!! :'(
I'm more upset of not buying a pikachu n64 for $10 with smash and both Zelda games
should've taken your ass back to the store w/ that
+94unclechuck I went to one of those mega thrift store selling a snes and Sega Genesis for like 60 bucks
DarkshadowXD63 thats still expensivei got a nes for 3 bucks with no cords or games but everything else was just under 20 bucks for it
+94unclechuck I got nes and snes for 15 each and 11 nes games for 99¢ each at goodwill last year.
Also worth mentioning is the proprietary and expensive power supply of the X'Eye that is often missing from used models. Easily one of the favorite consoles in my collection.
+Bubblun , pass this on; The Asus EEE-PC 701 power supply works great for an X'Eye.
Ahh, I was expecting you to test mic out by singing. "Achy Breaky Heart"
I love my X'Eye! It's nice to know some more about it.
Love the X'Eye. I found one at a pawn shop nearly 15 years ago, and it's been my main Sega Genesis console since then. Lots of love for my model 1 and Sega CD, but the X'Eye is just very convenient. Great video, man.
Best Gaming channel. I don't play games but love history and these are interesting.You have good voice and calm prescense.
Fun fact: Because it uses the standard Mega Drive 2 A/V output, you can use Mega Drive 2 RGB cables too. S-video output might even be useable without needing to mod it, assuming the video output hardware is the same and it’s just the port that got removed.
Never knew this existed. Great video.
Bennnnnffffffff
Check out the first Playstation. The nintendo Playstation that never got released
JVC makes amazing products, especially their car audio.
Yes sir. They aren't around much anymore unfortunately. But in the 90s and up til around 2012 or so, JVC was my first choice for anything they made. Home Theater, Car Audio, and I had a sweet 24" flat crt...wish I had kept that TV. They were generally a hair cheaper than Sony or Panasonic, and every bit as good. Miss them being in the market more prevalently. They've now merged with Kenwood. Also a brand I've grown to trust.
These Videos are slowly becoming like a Video Game version of PBS shows. I love it.
I really love the PBS -styled outro.
the new VO at the end about funding is an excellent touch.
I remember seeing this console heavily discounted at Best Buy. It was priced at just $30. I passed up on it, because I had sold all of my Genesis and Sega CD stuff so I could get import games for my Saturn.
God, I want to go the hell back in time....
My pops won this x'eye in a raffle sealed nib @ an employee function & gave it to me as a kid. Wish I still had the box, but I've kept it mint all these yrs & still play it to this day!🎮💥💪🏽😁
I remember seeing this thing on display at a Montgomery Ward.....God I feel so old.... -_-
I know how you feel, I'm 33.
Well when I was younger I watched your channel now I’m 10 years old and I still love your channel because of your amazing content and you’ve got me into learning lots about different things like gaming and technology and I’ve passed that knowledge to loads of people and I’ve started to watch geography content as well so you can be a backup source just in case I’m bored of geography for a bit
I had one of these! I loved it and it was my introduction to the genesis after being with the SNES for a while. Also introduced me to Popful Mail one of my favorite games
My first Genesis was the X'Eye. My parents got it for me for Xmas at only $300 at EB Games. I still have it. My 32X is still attached to the top. Playing games like Farenheit 32X, where you had to switch discs was complicated; I had to angle the 32X but not remove it in order to get the disc drive open wide enough to swap discs!
The karaoke element was awesome tho. Didnt just play CD-g, but had a feature to make ANY CD karaoke. It turned down the vocal track while boosting the rest of the audio. It wasn't perfect (it guessed which was which and sometimes the cds had the vocals on a track it didnt expect and you'd end up turning off the guitar instead). It's what I used to record my first song parodies to send to Dr Demento.
+Gaming Historian, you've truly turned into of the best content providers on RUclips over the years! Thank you for all of the hard work and dedication you put towards making them! Looking forward to seeing what's to come!
I remember running into this JVC X'Eye at a Best Buy back in the mid 90s, this was a current video game historian's dream, in their video game section they had top loading NES consoles running Wario Woods, a shelf with 3DO games, a Philips CD-I section running those horrible Zelda "games", and of course the "new" JVC X'Eye proudly on display, I don't remember it being so high, so maybe it was when they were closing out the systems. I was just there getting Super Metroid so I think we all know who won.
0_0 The CDX's laser can fail?! I've had mine for years and haven't had any trouble with it....yet....
All lasers can fail, dumbass...
Aaaand you changed the comment.... Really classy.
LOLOL, I know you changed it. You said "I didn't know lasers could fail!"
+Son of Tiamat Unfortunately! But hey, that's good yours is still kicking. I have come across 3 CDX consoles and all 3 lasers were bad.
***** Heh, yeah, I've had mine for years. Maybe I just got really luck because I haven't had any problems yet. Granted I haven't played it every single day. Lately though I actually have been playing some Android Assault just to hear that kick-ass music! I've even been thinking about replaying Lunar or Snatcher.
Anyway, the possibility of it failing is now going to be in the back of my mind. I'd really hate for that to happen as I love the slimness and convenience of it.
why did i immediately feel how satisfying it was to push the power and reset button as soon as you pressed them though?
almost like i could feel the action in my fingertips myself
My cousin had one of these! I remember visiting him and playing games together when I was really little, and being absolutely confused as to why it had a cartridge slot and a CD slot both. (I only had Nintendo consoles as a kid) I couldn't figure out why it had both, but we only used one of them for games. I remember playing Sega games on it, but no Sega console looked like it, so I could never figure out just what the hell was wrong with my memory.
THIS IS ONE OF MY FAV CHANNELS!!!!! love it
these were going for 60$ canadian in the montreal area in 95-96, they were on sale at a local furniture retail chain store called Brault et Martineau!! still got it!
Sell it for 300 bucks and buy an 8 ball of cocaine. More fun than Sega cd games
300! Dag.
I found one of these at a yard sale back around '99/'00, and for years it was my only option for playing SEGA CD releases since I never had the actual CD addon for any of my genesises (genesi?) That said, when I left home back in '07 I had to sell my game collection, including this thing, and of all the hardware I lost at that time, this is probably the piece I regret most, if for no other reason than that Genesis video cables are pretty hard to find 'round where I'm at so the standard composite support was nice.
Another good video, sir.
Just for refence, Te JVC X'Eye retailed for $500 in 1995. thats $789.52 today
Jeremiah Payte My friend has TE X'Eye
Yeah, but an Iphone 7 is stare of the art. This is a frankenstein machine thrown together very late in the consoles lifespan. That would be more like paying almost 800 bucks for an iPhone 5/6 hybrid 3 months before the 7s release
Jeremiah Payte iphone work of art? Lol they cost 300 to make and sell for 1200. The only thing the iphone is is marketing and millions of dumb sheep falling for it.
drunkensailor112 you’re one of THOSE guys
I don't own any apple stuff.
"This is so cool! I want one!"
**checks ebay**
Nevermind...
I don’t get it
@@jadsi meaning its more expensive now then it ever was
@@anthonygiovanni8434 its actually cheaper than its release price
Never realized these were so rare! My family had one, and so did the next door neighbors, living in Honolulu around 1995/96. Whenever I've tried to tell people about it in the decades since, however, no one has ever heard of it.
I LOVE MY X'EYE!!! It's the preferred way of playing all my Sega cartridges, but I do have a small problem. The console can't load Sega CD games, it just freezes completely when I try to load them. It's not the laser/reader, because the console can play music CDs just fine and the cartridge slot works perfectly, too. Could it be the capacitors need replacing?
+Brandon Kennedy I also have to add that the spinning X logo on the title screen doesn't appear, just a wire frame of it that spins around
+Brandon Kennedy have you tried changing out the battery backup?
+downphoenix No, but that's quite the idea! Although I can't seem to find the battery anywhere on the board
nevermind, looks like you're right with the capacitor. I assumed it was like the Sega CD or Sega Saturn where it used a watch type battery. My bad.
Awesome video. Got one a few months ago with all hook-ups and two controllers and about 4 games for $65 at Goodwill. The ONE decent Goodwill I have ever found.
Can you do the Panasonic Q system next? It was the Panasonic version of the Gamecube that played DVD's.
Very interesting vid, Norman. I quite literally never heard of this console til now.
Can you do an episode on the freeware fighting game engine M.U.G.E.N?
That would really neat
That game fucking sucked a big dick.
@@ToyStore102Dalmatians you couldn't be any more incorrect.
It's a totally customisable engine.
It only sucks if you don't know what you are doing.
@@ThatRandomFastingGuy
People who doesn't agree with you are incorrect? Dude, stop living in your imaginary world.
@@ModernDayMagus Aha, yea, sure. It's a player's fault that this "engine" (it's not an engine, it's a game) is poorly coded, not elecbyte's (whos bad at coding) fault.
Bought my husband the JVC X'Eye for Valentine's Day this year. He loves your channel and collects a lot of esoteric game systems and games. Thanks for your content!
is the space between the controller ports the same as the other mega drive? I know some adapters for multiplayer games and such plug into both ports however if the spacing is different it would of course not work.
+Animated Freak This is actually the best question in the comments section here. I'd really like to know too
+Animated Freak Excellent question! I measured from the beginning of the first port to the end of the 2nd port and it's about 2 inches, which is about the same as all the other Genesis consoles too.
***** great! then in theory it should work with things like the wireless controllers and some multitaps. thanks for the reply :)
+Animated Freak I believe that the Mark 2 has the same space but not the Mark 1.
+Animated Freak It does, multi taps will work.
Love your videos on rare products like this.
Remember years ago getting my jvc x'eye sega cd from a discount store called value city for around 50 bucks....wish I had bought them all lol
All your videos are great! Thank you for your quality films. I also like your laid back style, it seems like all the other retro youtubers scream at the viewers.
Since this uses the Model 2 video port, does this mean the X'Eye supports RGB?
I have an X'Eye and it's FANTASTIC. My favorite part about the power/reset buttons is that you can use the tip of the Genesis controller to press them!
i got one of these in 1994 for Christmas I loved it
Lucky.
The change to the intro theme is a clever improvement.
I have one in the box. Got a lot of use out of it. Brand new for $99 from Good Guys when they were clearing them out. I'll have to dig it out this weekend. Had a JVC game with it "Wonder Dog".
Wow that's cool
3:13 "Compton's Interactive Encyclopedia"
Now that's a name I've not heard in a loooong time.
A long time.
Damn...you looking quite dapper
diaper*
Farine are you saying he looks bad?
@@sonc_ buy yourself a dictionary.
Nick Hartman Yeah I was a dumb kid lmao
@@sonc_ "I was a kid 2 years ago" 😂
I had one of these and left it at home when it moved out. Years later my mom asked about it and I didn't know it was rare so I just told her to donate it.
I hope she did, and some collector got a hell of a lucky find at Goodwill or something.
I've seen one of these, didn't know what the hell it was. Shoulda got it while I had the chance, was only 20 bucks when I saw it!
+Rave Raptor :(
+Rave Raptor Know that feeling man. Around half a year ago, I stumbled upon an advert for someone selling a ps2 slim new, like completely new with the plastic still on. Worst part was that he was selling it for about 15$, and I didn't take the chance :(
***** YES! Who knew the slims were going to become so rare?
Rave Raptor Rare? Good thing I still have mine.
Omg I hate you
I never even knew this was made. That's why I love this channel, so many new discoveries.
I've never even heard of this thing.
I love your documentarys. I am an Amiga fan. Are you planing making an documentary on the Amiga CD 32?
This seems like it would have been better sold at $350-400 instead of the rather outrageous $500 they were asking for. Shame it sold so poor, it looks nice and is apparently really good.
+babybuussj4 It's definitely a nice piece of hardware. I prefer it over the CDX.
I also have to wonder about the names. "X'Eye", "CDX", I know the 90's were *X-Treme*, but why not a simpler name like "Sega Genesis+CD"?
A third-party two-in-one for a pair of systems that were on their way out? It likely would have sold poorly no matter what.
@@babybuussj4 Because Sega may have been willing to license third-party hardware, but they weren't about to license their brand name for the product to a competitor, because that would have been completely insane...?
JVC X Eye was released in North America on November 30,1993. Not 1994. And it’s SRP was $400, not $500. I should know, I had one.
I got my X'Eye in the mail on Monday, June 5th, and you're right, Norman. The Power and Reset buttons are pretty satisfying to press, but the Open button is also a wonder. I couldn't stop pressing that button and listening to that loud click. As I said earlier, however, it'll be a stand-by spare for when my SEGA CDX breaks down. Even so, I don't think I would've known about this system without you. I thank you for letting us know about this amazing system.
I actually bought my boxed X'Eye off eBay last year for about $220 and the thing was "mint"...I doubt anyone played the darn thing. Now I need to see if I still have those CD-G discs laying around that my CDi wasn't able to read and annoy my wife some more.
awesome video as always norm! i actually have a jvc x'eye...i got it back in the day from someone in grade school for $5 lol and i've had it ever since...somethings don't work on it i actually should fire it up sometime soon haven't turned it on in a while
How is it possible to have a downvote already? It has only been up for like 10 minutes. So someone just subscribes to this channel and once a video is out, he/she just dislike it immediately?
+qwertyoscar yes, people like that exist!
+Gaming Historian Lovely. Anyway, keep up the good work!
love your videos Norm! very fun and informative. thanks for all you do, keep em coming.
I had an X'Eye we got it on clearance for like 100$
Purchased this at a Best Buy for the low price of $89 back in October '95. Sold the box, manual games and proprietary composite cable the system originally came with over the years but still kept the system itself. 26 years later both cartridge port and cd laser still work great. Oh and the sound on this system is amazing. Easily on par with the original HDG Genesis model 1. The picture is pretty crisp too with proper RGB cables.
you should do a episode on the pc engine
Norman, JVC also is known creating the first televisions in Japan. You didn't know that?
It wasn't relevant
@@MegaZeta How is creating the first TV's not relevant?
@@MegaZeta you need a tv to play video games
When I was young I always wanted a Sega CD. I had the Genesis but my parents didn't understand the idea of an add-on component so they wouldn't get it for me. I had to wait until PlayStation to play Lunar Silver Star Story and to this day I haven't had the chance to play Lunar Eternal Blue. I wasn't even aware that X'Eye even existed until your video. Thanks for sharing!
I have one of these. I am considering selling it, it is working great. However, the convenience of having a genesis and sega cd at the same time with one power supply is great, and the system actually works with a 32X unlike the CDX. However, I might consider keeping it if I could do an RGB mod for it, as I want to both be able to get the best possible video quality as well as be able to use a SCART to HDMI convertor so I could record gameplay.
I'm glad to finally find some info on this little gem! I lucked into mine in pristine condition a few years back at a GoodWill for $5 and have enjoyed it thoroughly. Funny enough I've never thought to try my 32X on it. Good to know it works.
It’s supposed to be said “JVC Cross-eye”, as in to be cross-eyed.
Why has this got lost over time
It's up to us to keep it alive!
because people are stupid.
the official ads from the time pronounce it “ecks-eye”, not cross eye
ruclips.net/video/OWlWlO0xpQA/видео.html heres their commercial clearly saying "EX" eye
the music playing in the background is from panic! in the beginning part of the video. (panic is a Sega CD game)
Good video 👍im here because i just bought one at a swapmeet with box manual and prize fighter and it $40 and i need it info
This is an interesting console and weird to see S-Video removed but the port RGB scart cables attach to in PAL land still there. I've seen one at an Expo but never seen one for sale anywhere - I'll make do with my Multi Mega, if only it was region free with a 60hz switch.
Get yourself a Genesis that can do both
great stuff mate still being a Nintendo guy ur my fave vid you made about sonic games especially on game gear continue:)
I got my eye on you norm. Oil up
+8-Bit Eric its not gay so long as u "Grapple" in the ring, wear as lil as possible (speedos are ok), be a lil flamboyant and let ALOT of people watch ;-) If you do that, then its fun family sports entertainment!
Weird to see you screeching for this channel's dick 3 years ago and you're still doing 1/100th to 1/1000th of their views. LOL
That PBS outtro tho my nigaaa
Your videos are cool and intresting. Thank you for speaking clear and slowly 👍
First thing you got wrong: the Genesis Model 3 was by Majesco, not SEGA.
Nobody asked
If it was licensed by Sega, it still counts.
Enjoyed the vid Norm. Great job!
I wish the AVGN was more like this. Actually informative instead of just toilet humour.
...Why would you want AVGN to not be the AVGN? That's the point of his show. ANGRY is in the name.
EBsessed
And yet his best episodes were always those where he actually talked coherently about a game instead of just spending the entire episode literally shitting on it and screaming.
DGneoseeker1 In your opinion.
+DGneoseeker1 In case you have not seen those videos yet, try james and mike mondays which I in general find more enjoyable as they go deeper into the games they are playing and its background/history as well as their own memories and experiences around the time.
TheDutchGhost
Same here. Those are the videos I actually bother watching these days.
Its so funny that you made this video. I went into my local mom and pop game store and saw one of these for the first time. I had no idea this thing even existed. Keep up the great work!
I think you need a new intro...
Ninja AY FUCK YOU BRUH... FUCKIN LOVE GAMIN HISTORIAN.
SUBSTITUTION TEACHER LOOKIN MUG MAKE A NIGGA CRY FROM NOSTALGIA, DAMN.
Background music is from first stage of android assoult revenge of bari-arm for sega cd
Good choice of your first song. That's from Android Assault for the Sega CD. Great game!
You have very good and very detailed videos. Keep it up!
Good job. Your reviews are very professional.