Sega Genesis / Mega Drive
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About
The Sega Genesis — known as the Mega Drive outside North America — was the console that made video gaming a two-horse race. Before the Genesis, Nintendo’s NES monopolized the market so thoroughly that “Nintendo” was practically a synonym for video games. Sega shattered that dominance through aggressive marketing, arcade-quality hardware, and a blue hedgehog that became one of gaming’s most recognizable icons. Selling 30.75 million units worldwide, the Genesis didn’t just compete with Nintendo — it forced the entire industry to grow up. Sega’s first console, the SG-1000, launched in Japan on the same day as the Famicom in 1983 — and was immediately overshadowed. The follow-up Master System performed well in Europe and Brazil but barely dented Nintendo’s dominance in Japan and North America. Sega needed a generational leap, and they needed it fast. The Mega Drive launched in Japan on October 29, 1988, powered by the same Motorola 68000 CPU that ran Sega’s popular arcade boards. This wasn’t coincidence — it was strategy. By using arcade-compatible architecture, Sega made porting their hit arcade games to the home console straightforward. Altered Beast, Golden Axe, and Streets of Rage could look and feel remarkably close to their coin-op originals. The Japanese launch was modest, but Sega’s real target was North America. The Genesis arrived in the US on August 14, 1989 at $189 USD, rebranded because “Mega Drive” was trademarked in the US. Sega of America, under the leadership of CEO Tom Kalinske (appointed in 1990), launched one of the most aggressive marketing campaigns in gaming history. The tagline “Genesis does what Nintendon’t” was confrontational, directly attacking Nintendo by name — something unheard of in the relatively genteel console market. Sega positioned the Genesis as the cool, mature alternative to Nintendo’s family-friendly image, targeting teenagers and young adults with edgier advertising and content. The arrival of Sonic the Hedgehog in June 1991 was
Specifications
- Cpu
- Motorola 68000
- Gpu
- Yamaha YM7101 VDP
- Ram
- 64 KB + 64 KB VRAM
- Audio
- Yamaha YM2612 FM + TI SN76489 PSG
- Games
- 915
- Colors
- 512 palette (61 on-screen)
- Rating
- 7.9/10
- Av Output
- RF, Composite, S-Video (Model 1 only), RGB
- Cpu Speed
- 7.6 MHz
- Units Sold
- 30.75 million
- Generation
- 4th Generation
- Resolution
- 320x224 / 256x224
- Console Type
- Console
- Launch Price
- 89 USD
- Media Format
- Cartridge
- Release Date
- 1988-Oct-29
- Media Capacity
- 4 Mbit to 40 Mbit
- Controller Ports
- 2
References
Variants
Sega Mega Drive Kiosk [JP]1988Sega Genesis Mega Drive Mega Anser1990Sega Triton Toys Genesis Game Master1991Sega Mega Drive Sonic the Hedgehog Sticker Bundle1991Sega Genesis 'Non High Definition Graphics' Console1991Sega Master System Action Chair1992Sega Mega Drive Sonic The Hedgehog Bundle1992Sega Amstrad Mega PC1993Sega LaserActive Genesis/Megadrive Controller1993Sega Mega Drive David Robinson*s Supreme Tour Bundle1993Sega Genesis Mega Drive Super Sonic Set1993Sega Genesis Mega Drive Japan AirLinea MegaJet1993Sega Amstrad Mega PC Controller1993Sega Heartbeat Genesis Personal Trainer1993Sega Genesis + Game Gear Kiosk1994Sega Megadrive + Master System Kiosk1994Sega Mega Drive Ten Key Pad1994Sega Genesis Mega Drive Tabletop Kiosk1994Sega Super Bitman Console1994Sega Genesis Mega Drive Sansan Mega Modem1994Sega Mega Drive Star Drive Russian clone1994Sega Genesis Mega Drive Sonic + Jurassic Park Bundle1994Sega Mega Drive Channel1995Sega Mega Drive 2 Fifa 96 Bundle1996Sega Tec Toy Super Mega Drive 3 10 Super Games and 2 Turbo Controllers Bundle1998Sega New Mega Drive Console1998Sega Majesco Genesis 3 Green Box Console1998Sega Tec Toy Super Mega Drive 3 10 Super Games and 2 Normal Controllers Bundle1998Sega Majesco Genesis 3 Console1998Sega Tec Toy Super Mega Drive 3 30 Super Games Bundle2002Sega Tec Toy Super Mega Drive 3 43 Super Games Bundle2003Sega Tec Toy Super Mega Drive 3 60 Super Games Bundle2004Sega Toys Arcade Legends Sensible Soccer Plus2005Sega Genesis Mega Drive Code Breaker2006Sega Tec Toy Mega Drive 3 81 Super Games Console2007Sega Tec Toy Mega Drive 3 86 Super Games Console2008Sega Tec Toy MD Play Console2009Sega Megadrive 25Th Pix'n Love Custom Console2014Sega Tec Toy Mega Drive 22 Games Console2017Sega Genesis Franco American Spaghetti Shapes AdapterSega Mega Drive Genesis SNASM2Sega Genesis Edge 16 AddonSega Genesis Sonic the Hedgehog Bundle [NA]Sega Mega Driver II Mega Games 1 & 2 BundleSega Mega Drive II Rocket Knight Adventures + Castlevania BundleSega Tianli Mega Drive TL-K989GESega Genesis Mega Drive Sonic BundleSega Mega Drive Mega Tech Value ConsoleSega Genesis Mega Drive Magic Key IIISega Genesis Mega Drive Development Cartridge BoardSega Genesis Mega Drive Demo System DS-16Sega Genesis Mega Drive Prototype KeyboardSega Genesis Mega Drive Kidzpace KioskSega Genesis Lion King Soundtrack BundleSega Genesis Comix Zone NFL 95 BundleSega Genesis Mega Drive Xmen BundleSega Genesis Power Rangers Columns BundleSega Genesis Value PakSega Genesis Model 2 Vectorman 2 BundleSega Toys Arcade Legends Street Fighter II Special Champion EditionSega STD Entertainment Genesis Mega Drive SG ProPad 6Sega Mega Drive III Mortal Kombat 3 BundleSega Mega Drive II Mortal Kombat BundleSega Mega Drive II Sonic Triple PackSega Mega Drive II Mortal Kombat 3 Bundle [GR]Sega Mega Drive 6 Button Fightning PadSega Mega Drive II Sonic 3 BundleSega Mega Drive Mini Console [EU]Sega Genesis Model 2 Sonic Spinball BundleSega Genesis Model 2 Columns BundleSega Genesis Model 2 6-Pak BundleSega Mega Drive Arcade Power Stick 6BSega Mega Drive SNASM 68K console interfaceSega Laser Active Sega Genesis PAC UnitSega Toys Arcade Legends OutRun 2019Sega Genesis Model 2 Mega Deal BundleSega Genesis Model 2 SuperSonic SystemSega Genesis Model 2 Ren & Stimpy BundleSega Dendy Pro 16 Bit ConsoleSega Genesis Model 2 Sonic 2 System Coupon BundleSega Mega Drive HAA-2654 Remote Arcade PadSega Mega MouseSega Magistr Titan III ConsoleSega Mega Drive II Mega 6 PackSega Mega Drive 25 Anniversary ConsoleSega Genesis Classic AtGames ConsoleSega Mega Drive II Street Fighter II Champion BundleSega Genesis Model 2 Sega Sports NFL PackSega Genesis Model 2 Sonic Spinball Sticker BundleSega MegaDrive Altered Beast BundleSega Mega Drive Coca Cola ConsoleSega Genesis Model 2 Aladdin + Lion King BundleSega Mega Drive Pionner LaserActive ConsoleSega Mega Drive II NBA Jam Bundle [AUS]Sega Mega Drive Bundle Street Fighter BundleSega Genesis Flashback ConsoleSega Mega Drive Street Fighter II BundleSega Tec Toy Mega Drive 4 Guitar Idol 100 Games ConsoleSega Mega Drive Arcade Power Stick IISega Tec Toy Mega Drive II Sonic the Hedgehog BundleSega Tec Toy Mega Drive III Street Fighter II Special Champion Edition BundleSega Tec Toy Mega Drive III FIFA International Soccer BundleSega Tec Toy Mega Drive III 6 Games Included Genesis Series BundleSega Tec Toy Mega Drive III 10 Games Included BundleSega Tec Toy Super Mega Drive 3 10 Super Games + 2 Show Do Milhão Games BundleSega Mega Drive Mini [AUS]Sega Mega Drive II ConsoleSega Mega Drive Jump! 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