WELCO METOT HENEX TLEVEL - The Colors of Modern Rock
Publisher: Sega Developer: Digital Pictures Released: 1993
This is a bit of an odd one. Those who remember the launch of the Sega CD in the US might also remember that the pack-in software bundle included two music CDs – a regular music sampler and a CD+G disc. Right from the start it seemed that Sega was serious about pushing their new hardware to be everything to everyone. In Japan, the thing even had an optional Karaoke attachment. And let's not forget Sony's much-maligned Make My Video series.
The Colors of Modern Rock is kind of an extension of that whole philosophy. On this disc were six different music videos from artists signed to the Warner Music label – 'Donna Everywhere' by Too Much Joy; 'Backdoor Romeo' by T-Ride; 'Outshine The Sun' by The Belltower; 'Hooker' by Xtra Large; 'Haven't Got A Clue' by Dramarama; and 'To Be With You' by Mr. Big, which is undoubtedly the biggest mainstream hit on the disc. In fact, it's likely most folks haven't even heard of the other five songs listed, though people who remember that original Sega CD bundle might also remember that Dramarama made an appearance on those discs, as well.
The Colors of Modern Rock features very little in the way of interactivity. You can watch the six videos in order (complete with an on-screen set of VCR controls like play, pause, fast forward, and slo-mo), you can watch the six videos in random order, and you can take snapshots from each video, which can then be viewed in a separate menu.
Riveting, right?
Of course, all six songs are presented in the standard postage-stamp, screen-door video the Sega CD was well known for. So even if the idea had enough merit to make the Virtual VCR a series of discs, the visual quality of the product killed any of that potential anyway.
Couple of interesting things to note: when the picture gallery browser is loading, the text on the screen states “Relax...pretend it's a game!” This is a semi-famous line from the opening of Sewer Shark (also from Digital Pictures) – one that became a bit of a tag-line for the system as it was used at the end of the earliest commercials for the console.
More interesting, though, is what was left off this disc. Digital Pictures and Warner Music had apparently lined up the artist Prince to appear on this disc. He would have been the biggest draw by far out of the included groups. Unfortunately, the disc was produced right around the time the mercurial singer was in the midst of a contract dispute with the label, changing his name to an unpronounceable symbol and putting out a quick succession of albums in order to run out his contract.
Hard to say whether it would have made a difference in the sales of the Virtual VCR, but Prince's inclusion definitely couldn't have hurt.
Normally I include a video at the end of these posts, but I'm unable to find one on Youtube, most likely due to the whole licensed tracks thing.