Dreamcast VMU Variants
The Visual Memory Unit (VMU) is a much beloved part of the Dreamcast's legacy, from its beep when the console boots up (it simply means no/low battery in the VMU) to displaying useful information or just the game logo on its screen. Sometimes even playing minigames! Like many Dreamcast-related accessories, it came in various colors. This is what this page is dedicated to, Visual Memory Unit variations. The North American models will be in model number order.
Standard White VMU (NTSC)
Sharing the same color as the basic console and controller, the plain white VMU is by far the most common version of the Dreamcast's memory card found in the wild. However, even this most basic of models has an interesting fact attached to it. The Japanese and North American VMUs have the swirl before the "Dreamcast" text (see image). Instead of mentioning it on every page, every VMU, unless mentioned otherwise, has blue-grey buttons and d-pad. Every VMU also came with a cap to protect the plug.
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Model Number:MK-50120 Price:$19.95
Standard White VMU (PAL)
Virtually identical to the NTSC Visual Memory Units, the PAL VMUs come with a very minor difference, the absence of the swirl before the "Dreamcast" text which on the PAL VMU is a bit bigger. A bizarre note to make is that even the European versions of the VMU have the FCC logo on the back, despite FCC approval being an American requirement. This model was also the model available in Australia with no noticable differences.
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Model Number:MK-55120 Price:£19.99—59.95 DM
Clear Blue VMU
Formally known as "Clear Blue", the transparent blue VMU is not to be mixed up with the lighter colored "Aqua Blue" VMU exclusive to Japan, the Aqua Blue plastic is the same as the Millennium 2000 Blue controller while the Clear Blue VMU is the same plastic as the standard Blue NTSC controller found in the United States. However, Japan also got the ability to purchase the "US Blue" VMUS. This model and the Green one below are by far the most plentiful of the Dreamcast VMU color variations in North America.
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Model Number:MK-50121 Price:$19.95
Clear Green VMU
Formally known as "Clear Green", unlike its Clear Blue counterpart, the Clear Green VMU shares the same plastic as the Green Millennium 2000 controller and the standard green North American controller.
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Model Number:MK-50122 Price:$19.95
Clear Red VMU
The Red VMU, also known officially as "Clear Red" was also available for purchase in Japan. It is matching with the US Clear Red controller.
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Model Number:MK-50123 Price:$19.95
Clear Yellow VMU
The rarest of the North American VMUs, the Yellow VMU (and the last of the North American VMUs I'm looking for), formally known as "Clear Yellow" wasn't even available in Japan.It is matching with the equally rare Clear Yellow controller. An interesting thing about the Yellow VMU is that since they sold so badly, they never got issued in the second variant of VMU packaging, the "Blue Horizon" style that came around late-Summer of 2000. This means they were only available in the "Long Box" form.
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Model Number:MK-50124 Price:$19.95
Clear Charcoal VMU
The transparent grey VMU has a naming issue, it is either "Charcoal" or "Clear Grey", both terms have been used by Sega to describe this model of VMU. Clear Grey is matching in plastic to both the US Clear Grey controllers and the Japanese Grey Millennium 2000 controller.
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Model Number:MK-50125 Price:$19.95