Mega Duck
{{Short description|Handheld game console}}
{{More citations needed|date=April 2008}}
{{Infobox information appliance
| name = Mega Duck
| title =
| aka = Cougar Boy
| logo = Mega Duck Console Logo.png
| logo_size = 150px
| image = Mega-Duck-Handheld-FL.jpg
| caption = The Mega Duck console
| developer =
| manufacturer = Welback Holdings
| family =
| type = Handheld video game console
| generation =
| releasedate = {{Start date and age|1993}}
| lifespan =
| price = fl 129 (Netherlands)
| discontinued =
| unitssold =
| unitsshipped =
| media =
| os =
| power = Four AA batteries or AC adapter 6VDC/300mA
| soc = Custom
| cpu = Sharp LR35902 @ 4.194304 MHz (embedded in custom made SoC)
| memory = 16 KB RAM
| storage =
| memory card =
| display =
| graphics = 160×144 pixels
| sound = Built in speaker
| input =
| controllers = 4 directional keys, A, B, Select and Start keys
| camera =
| touchpad =
| connectivity =
| platform =
| service =
| dimensions =
| weight = 249 g (w/o batteries)
| topgame =
| compatibility =
| predecessor =
| successor =
| related =
| website =
| RAMtype = Goldstar GM76C88LFW
}}
The Mega Duck WG-108 (also known as Cougar Boy) is a handheld game console that was developed and manufactured by Hong Kong–based Welback Holdings through its Timlex International division, and released in 1993.{{Cite web |date=24 September 1993 |title=WELBACK HOLDINGS LAUNCHES MEGA DUCK |url=https://www.telecompaper.com/news/welback-holdings-launches-mega-duck-game--6934 |access-date=2024-09-13 |website=Telecompaper}}{{Cite book |last=Heineman |first=David S. |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=-xM-CgAAQBAJ&dq=%22Mega+Duck%22+-wikipedia&pg=PA99 |title=Thinking about Video Games: Interviews with the Experts |date=2015-08-03 |publisher=Indiana University Press |isbn=978-0-253-01718-5 |pages=99 |language=en}}{{Cite book |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=ykgiAQAAMAAJ&q=%22Mega+Duck%22+-wikipedia |title=Asian Business |date=July 1993 |publisher=Far East Trade Press |pages=18 |language=en}}
It was marketed under various different brands worldwide including Creatronic and Videojet, and the shell of the console came in white or black plastic. It was sold for about fl 129 in the Netherlands, and for a similar price in France and Germany.
In South America (mainly in Brazil), the Chinese-made Creatronic version was distributed by Cougar USA, also known as "Cougar Electronic Organization", and sold as the "Cougar Boy". Cougar USA didn't release the Cougar Boy in its origin country.
The cartridges are very similar to those of the Watara Supervision, but slightly narrower with fewer contacts (36 pins, whereas Supervision cartridges have 40). But unlike the Supervision, the CPU architecture inside the Supervision is very similar to the Game Boy, enabling easy ports between the two systems.{{Cite web |title=MegaDuck Homebrew and ROM Hack Showcase |url=https://bbbbbr.github.io/megaduck-gallery/index.html?softwareTags=ROM+Hack&categoryTags=All&gameTypeTags=All&yearReleased=All&openSource=false&linkPlay=false&cartRelease=false&laptopOnly=false&textSearch=&sortSelector=Featured |access-date=2025-05-19 |website=bbbbbr.github.io |language=en}}{{Citation |last=bbbbbr |title=bbbbbr/megaduck-info |date=2025-03-25 |url=https://github.com/bbbbbr/megaduck-info |access-date=2025-05-19}}
The Cougar Boy came with a four-in-one game cartridge and a stereo earphone.
With an external joystick (not included) two players could play against each other simultaneously.
A variant in the form of an educational laptop for children was released in Germany by Hartung as the Mega Duck Super Junior Computer,{{cite web |last=De Chantal |first=Sylvain |date=2001 |title=The Mega Duck/Cougar Boy Frequently Asked Questions |url=https://www.digitpress.com/faq/megaduck.htm |website=Digital Press}} and in Brazil as the Super QuiQue.{{citation needed|date=September 2017}} An extra accessory called the Mega Duck Printer was also released for this variant.
Technical specifications
File:Mega-Duck-Handheld-Inside-04.jpg
The Mega Duck features a multi board design, separating the motherboard, LCD, and controller PCB into three different assemblies. The battery compartment is found on the back casing, being the contacts connected by wires and soldered onto the main board.
- CPU: Sharp LR35902 (Z80-like, embedded in the main VLSI)
- Clockspeed: 4.194304 MHz
- RAM: 16 KB in two 8K chips (Goldstar GM76C88LFW)
- System logic: 80 pins VLSI chip
- LCD: 2.7" (48 (h) × 51 (w) mm) STN dot matrix. resolution 160×144 at 59.732155 Hz
- Grayscales: 4 levels of dark blue on a green background
- Player controls: 4 directional keys, A, B, Select and Start keys
- Other controls: On/off switch and contrast and volume regulators
- Sound: Built-in speaker (8Ω 200 mW) and stereo headset output
- Dimensions: {{Convert|155|x|97|x|32|mm}}
- Weight: 249 g (w/o batteries)
- Power: Four AA batteries or AC adapter 6 VDC / 300 mA
- Current consumption: 700 mW
- Play duration: 15 hours on one set of four AA batteries
- Expansion Interface: Serial link for two player games (6 pins), or external joystick.
- Game medium: 36 pins ROM cartridge, 63 (l) × 54 (w) mm and 7 mm thick, 17 gram.
List of games
File:Mega duck cougar boy and games Lighter Sharper.jpg
This is an (incomplete) list of Mega Duck/Cougar Boy games.{{Cite web |title=Railway - Promotional leaflet scan |url=https://www.vgdb.com.br/cougar-boy/jogos/railway/ |access-date=2024-09-13 |website=Vídeo Game Data Base |language=pt-br}} Each Mega Duck/Cougar Boy game is similarly labeled as the same games were marketed for both systems, although not all games were released for the Cougar Boy. The notation MDxxx is used for Mega Duck Games, and the notation CBxxx for a Cougar Boy Games. A MD002 is exactly the same game as the CB002, even to a point that some "Cougar Boy" games start up with a Mega Duck logo. Some notation numbers go unused, going up to 037, but missing 012 and 023 for example.
With the exception of the pack-in game for the Mega Duck (The Brick Wall) which was developed by the manufacturer, all games were developed by Thin Chen Enterprise under the "Sachen" and "Commin" brand names, and were later re-released for the Game Boy in 4-in-1 and 8-in-1 cartridges without the license from Nintendo.
Although 24 cartridges (not counting Cougar Boy variants or add-ons for the Super Junior Computer) are known to exist, another game is listed on various websites called Tip & Tap, however, it is not known if the game was ever released, or if it existed at all.
:{{legend|{{{1|#b6fcb6}}}|size=50%| Background shading indicates games that have a Cougar Boy variant. }}
:{{Legend|| outline = #FFFFFF|size=50%|# followed by a/b/c/d/e indicates included games in # cartridge. }}
| class="wikitable sortable" border="1" | ||||
| scope="col" | #
! scope="col" | Title ! scope="col" | Developer ! scope="col" | Release year ! scope="col" | Notes | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 001 | The Brick Wall | Timlex International | 1993 | |
| style="background:#b6fcb6; | 002 | Street Rider | Commin | 1993 | Rally-X clone |
| style="background:#b6fcb6; | 003 | Bomb Disposer | Commin | 1993 | Dr. Mario clone |
| style="background:#b6fcb6; | 004 | Vex | Commin | 1993 | KLAX clone |
| style="background:#b6fcb6; | 005 | Suleiman's Treasure | Commin | 1993 | Anteater clone |
| style="background:#b6fcb6; | 006 | Arctic Zone | Commin | 1993 | A horizontal Quarth clone |
| style="background:#b6fcb6; | 007 | Magic Maze | Commin | 1993 | Also released as Dancing Block on NES and Watara Supervision |
| style="background:#b6fcb6; | 008 | Puppet Knight | Commin | 1993 | Bomberman clone |
| style="background:#b6fcb6; | 009 | Trap and Turn | Commin | 1993 | Reversi game |
| style="background:#b6fcb6; | 010 | Pile Wonder | Commin | 1993 | Sokoban clone |
| 011 | Captain Knick Knack | Sachen | 1993 | Vertical shoot-em-up similar to TwinBee |
| style="background:#b6fcb6; | 013 | Black Forest tale | Commin | 1993 | Similar to Sachen's earlier Little Red Hood game |
| style="background:#b6fcb6; | 014 | Armour Force | Commin | 1993 | Horizontal shoot-em-up |
| style="background:#b6fcb6; | 018 | Snake Roy | Sachen | 1993 | A Snake variant |
| style="background:#b6fcb6; | 019 | Railway | Sachen | 1993 | Pipe Mania clone |
| 021 | Beast Fighter | Sachen | 1993 | Side-scrolling beat-em-up |
| 026 | Ant Soldiers | Sachen | 1993 | Lemmings clone |
| 028 | 2nd Space | Sachen | 1993 | A game similar to Pac-Man |
| style="background:#b6fcb6; | 029 | Magic Tower | Sachen | 1993 | A platforming game with a Rock paper scissors element |
| 030 | Worm Visitor | Sachen | 1993 | Frogger clone |
| 031 | Duck Adventures | Commin | 1993 | Wani Wani World clone |
| style="background:#b6fcb6; | 035 | Four in One | Sachen | 1993 | Compilation of 4 games: Virus Attack, Electron World, Trouble Zone, Dice Block |
| style="background:#b6fcb6; | 035a | Virus Attack | Sachen | 1993 | Space Invaders clone |
| style="background:#b6fcb6; | 035b | Electron World | Sachen | 1993 | Maze action game |
| style="background:#b6fcb6; | 035c | Trouble Zone | Sachen | 1993 | Puzzle game |
| style="background:#b6fcb6; | 035d | Dice Block | Sachen | 1993 | QBillion clone |
| 036 | Commin Five in one | Commin | 1993 | Compilation of 5 games: Store Tris 1 and 2, Taiwan Mahjong, Japan Mahjong, Hong Kong Mahjong |
| 036a | Store Tris 1 | Commin | 1993 | Tetris clone |
| 036b | Store Tris 2 | Commin | 1993 | Tetris variant with irregular shapes |
| 036c | Taiwan Mahjong | Commin | 1993 | |
| 036d | Japan Mahjong | Commin | 1993 | |
| 036e | Hong Kong Mahjung | Commin | 1993 | |
| 037 | Zipball | Sachen | 1993 | Action puzzle game |
References
{{reflist}}
{{commons category|Mega Duck}}
{{Fourth generation game consoles}}
{{Handheld game consoles}}
Category:Discontinued handheld game consoles
Category:Handheld game consoles