Variations of the Sega Mega Drive
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During its lifespan, the Sega Mega Drive and Genesis quite possibly received more officially licensed variations than any other console. While only one major design revision of the console was created during its lifespan, each region has its own peculiarities and unique items, while other variations were exercises in reducing costs (such as the removal of the little-used 9-pin EXT. port) or expanding the capabilities of the Mega Drive/Genesis. A list of these variations can be found below.
[edit] Sega Mega Drive
[edit] Japan
- Japanese-language settings
- Headphone jack
- AUX port marked A/V OUT
- 9-pin EXT. port
- No internal RF modulator
- Has a cartridge lock
- On the circular molding, in purple is the text "AV Intelligent Terminal High Grade Multipurpose Use". At the bottom of the circle is a purple square section with a red power indicator LED.
- "Mega Drive" is printed in white on the lower right of the console to the left of the Sega logo.
- The reset button and start button on the joypad are blue.
- Model number HAA-2510
[edit] Europe, Australia, and New Zealand
- Converted to display PAL 50 Hz signal
- English-language settings
- Unable to play Japanese Mega Drive games due to shape of cartridge and console. However, adapters were sold to play Japanese games in the European model.
- Cartridge lock removed
- The text "High Definition Graphics · Stereo Sound" located behind cartridge port (only found on earlier models).
- The reset button and the start button are white.
- Model number 1600-03 (original model), 1601-03 (second variation without "High Definition Graphics - Stereo Sound" text or EXT port)
[edit] Brazil
- Converted to display PAL-M (60 Hz) signal
- English-language settings
- Unable to play Japanese and European Mega Drive games due to region limitation. However, adapters were sold to play Japanese and European games in the Brazilian model.
- Cartridge lock removed
- Toymaker Tec Toy manufactured and distributed the console.
- The text "High Definition Graphics · Stereo Sound" located behind cartridge port (only found on earlier models).
- The reset button and the start button are white.
[edit] Asia
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This console is a variant of the European Mega Drive and often mistaken for a Japanese Mega Drive.
- No text printed around circle
- Larger "16-Bit" logo used
- Power panel magenta instead of white.
- "Start" and "Reset" button are blue
- Identical to European Mega Drive with PAL or NTSC output
- Used Japanese Mega Drive logo and packaging similar to the Japanese version
- Games packaged the same as European with the same labeling. However, the cartridges are shaped like Japanese Mega Drive games.
- Model number: 1601-15 (revision without the EXT port)
[edit] Sega Genesis (North America)
- Headphone jack
- AUX port marked A/V OUT
- 9-pin EXT. port on early models
- Reset and start buttons are gray
- "Sega Genesis" in white on top of machine below cartridge slot
- Model number MK-1601 is made in Japan, newer revisions were made in Taiwan to cut production costs
[edit] Samsung Super Gam*Boy (수퍼겜보이, South Korea)
- The official Korean release was licensed and marketed by Samsung Electronics, as were the games.
[edit] Sega Mega Drive 2
[edit] Japan
- New square shape
- No headphone jack
- One custom multi-output for picture and sound
- Red colored flaps on cartridge port
- The text "High Grade Multi Purpose Intelligent Terminal" located behind cartridge port.
- Packaged with six-button controller.
- No power LED
- NOTE: This model was also released in Europe / Australia in certain packages.
[edit] Europe, Australia, and New Zealand
- New square shape
- No headphone jack
- A/V port switched to one custom multi-output for picture and sound (previously, only mono sound was used, as the stereo sound came through the headphone jack)
- Push-button power switch
- Power port smaller, and different AC adapter used
- RF modulator removed
- Has a red power LED between the power and reset buttons
- Auto-switching RF lead included
- Model number MK-1631-50
[edit] Sega Genesis (North America, second model)
Note: This model was not officially named "Genesis 2".
- New square shape
- No headphone jack
- One custom multi-output for picture and sound
- Has a red power LED between the power and reset buttons
- "Genesis" in square above cartridge slot
- Model number MK-1631
[edit] Samsung Super Aladdin Boy (transliterated from 수퍼알라딘보이, South Korea)
- Officially licensed Korean version of Sega Mega Drive 2
- Licensed and distributed by Samsung Electronics
[edit] Sega Genesis 3 (North America)
Announced in 1997 as a "budget" version, the Genesis 3 was manufactured by Majesco. In order to cut costs, the expansion port and circuitry were omitted, which made the Genesis 3 incompatible with the Sega CD, Sega 32X, Power Base Converter and Virtua Racing. Also, due to a correction of a bug in the memory controller, some games which exploited this bug are also incompatible, namely Disney's Gargoyles. It was released in 1998 as the "Genesis 3" in North America only. It originally retailed for $50 and was later lowered as far down as $19.99. The smaller size and weight of the unit proved problematic in normal use, as a single controller proved heavy enough to drag the system with it if left hanging.
- Smaller square shape
- No expansion port
- No headphone jack
- No power LED, but there is a red mark underneath the power switch, which becomes visible when the Genesis 3 is turned on
- One multi-output for picture and sound. It has the necessary pin outs to be able to use the Genesis 2 Stereo A/V cable [1]; though an apparent revision of the Genesis 3 was manufactured that is incompatible with stereo sound, despite also having the pinouts
- Does not support Sega CD, Sega 32X or Power Base Converter
- "Sega Genesis 3" below cartridge slot
- Model number MK-1641
- Does not support Game Genie software
[edit] Sega Mega Drive 3 (Brazil)
Note: This model looks like the North American Sega Genesis 2.
- Lots of different versions with different built-in games.
[edit] Sega Mega Drive derived hardware
[edit] The Wondermega/X'eye
Wondermega (named X'eye in North America) - A combined Mega Drive and Mega-CD sold by Victor (known as JVC outside Japan) - Never released in Europe
- Improved sound capabilities
- MIDI port
- 2 microphone inputs
- S-video out (only in Wondermega, not in later X'eyes unless modded by user)
- Packaged with a CD called Game Garden that had Flicky and Pyramid. The CD player is compatible with CD-Gs.
- Another release came with Compton's Interactive Encyclopedia, Prize Fighter, and a Karaoke CD+G demo CD.
- Later Japanese pack had a platform game called 'Wonderdog' by Core.
- Supported the "Wonder CD" peripheral that allowed one to create music and connect to MIDI-enabled devices.
- Supported a music keyboard called the "Piano Player" that allowed users to create music and learn to use the keyboard.
- Later given a redesign with a softer, more curved look. Some of the extra features were removed, and the joypads were remodeled infrared joypads.
[edit] Sega Multi-Mega/CDX
Sega Multi-Mega (named the Sega CDX in North America) - An integrated Mega Drive/Genesis and Mega-CD/Sega CD console with the capability of also functioning as a portable CD player, aimed at the more affluent market. The British release sold at £350.
- No built-in screen.
- Could function as a portable CD player. CD control buttons are on the front of the console. A back-lit LCD displayed the track number. An extra line out port was provided for stereo equipment.
- Powered by 2 AA batteries when operated as a portable CD player. The unit must be powered by an AC adapter to play video games.
[edit] The Mega-Tech and Mega Play
The Sega Mega-Tech was an arcade machine that featured eight interchangeable Mega Drive or Master System games in an arcade cabinet, similar to Nintendo's PlayChoice-10.
- First released in 1989 with some of the best titles at the time, such as Thunder Force II, Altered Beast, Tetris, Last Battle, Space Harrier II, and Golden Axe.
- Games could be changed at any time, and more titles, such as Sonic the Hedgehog, were made available. The games were identical to their non-arcade counterparts, and all cheat codes were functional.
- Games were supplied by a Japanese-shaped Mega Drive cartridge, although slightly heavier. The labels were silver and red and only had "Mega-Tech" printed on them. These cartridges are not compatible with a regular Mega Drive/Genesis due to the extra information on them stored to run the second monitor, and differences in the length of the edge connector, number of pins, pinouts, and spacing.
- A second, smaller nine-inch monitor is located at the top of the cabinet. It displayed instructions for each of the games and also a game listing, allowing the user to swap between games at any time using a button on the control panel.
- The user pays to play for a certain length of time. When time was starting to run out, the screen flashed green to notify the user that additional credits are needed should he or she want to play more of that game.
The Mega Play was another arcade system like the Mega-Tech, but this only had four cartridge slots and could not play Master System games. Cartridges were shaped like those for the Japanese Mega Drive, but incompatible with consumer Mega Drive or Mega-Tech systems.
[edit] The Mega Jet and Sega Nomad
The original technology behind the Genesis Nomad traces back to the Mega Jet, which was a semi-portable version of the Mega Drive that was used for in-flight entertainment by Japan Airlines. The device lacked its own screen, but could play Mega Drive cartridges when hooked up to a small monitor used on Japan Airlines flights. The unit featured a directional pad on the left side and six buttons on the right, similar to the layout of a game controller.
A consumer version of Mega Jet was released by Sega of Japan on March 10, 1994 at the cost of US$123. It was essentially the same as the unit that was used on JAL flights, meaning that it still lacked a screen and could not be powered on without an AC adapter. A mono DIN plug cord was added and the necessary AC adapter was included with the unit. No other additions or improvements were made. Sega followed it up in October 1995 with the Genesis Nomad for the American market, essentially a Mega Jet featuring a 3.25 inch color LCD screen, and a battery pack attached to the rear of the system, holding six AA batteries, making it completely portable, as opposed to simply being a small Genesis system. In addition to its other improvements over the Mega Jet, an A/V output plug was added to the top of the unit, allowing owners to play games on a television screen with a separate A/V cable. One particularly interesting feature was the ability for one player to play using a connected TV while another watched on the Nomad. The directional pad on the unit controlled all one-player games, and a port on the bottom allowed a second controller to be plugged in for two-player games. This meant that the Nomad could be a fully functional home system as well as a completely portable handheld solution with a pre-existing library of games available for it.
While the Nomad won praise for its screen resolution and features, there were some problems. The 32X and Sega CD were not compatible with the unit, and Sega's Power Base Converter, used to play Sega Master System games on the Genesis/Mega Drive, was also incompatible. On paper, the Nomad was the perfect color portable. It had a full color, backlit display, and supported an estimated 600 titles already on the shelves in addition to being a functional home system. But despite the price falling from $179 to $79.99, rendering moot any complaints of overpricing, the handheld did not garner enough support to continue.
[edit] Pioneer LaserActive with Mega Drive module
LaserActive was the name given to Pioneer's CLD-A100 LaserDisc player. The player was both a Laserdisc and CD player right out of the box, while the addition of add-on modules manufactured by Sega and NEC could make the unit function as a gaming system as well. Sega's PAC-S1 module, released at a price of 39,000 Yen, allowed users to play Mega Drive, Mega-CD and specially created Mega LD games through the player. The Mega LD games were briefly thought to be the next evolution in gaming, mainly because the massive storage capacity of the Laserdiscs they were printed on meant that games could be multiple times larger than before and include broadcast quality full-motion video and digital audio as well as surround sound, all features that have become commonplace on modern DVD-ROM based systems.
An NEC module, PAC-N1, gave the unit the capability to play Turbografx 16 games. The addition of either module also made the unit compatible with either Sega or NEC brand control pads. A later module was released for the unit by Pioneer, allowing it to function as a full-feature Karaoke machine.
Pioneer later engineered 3D glasses for the system (Kit GOL-1), the glasses required an adapter to be attached before they could function with the player, but each adapter could support a pair of the goggles, allowing 2 users to play in 3D simultaneously.
The LaserActive unit unfortunately did not survive for long. Its high cost and the general market disinterest in Laserdisc made the system a hard sell.
[edit] The TeraDrive
The TeraDrive was an 80286 PC manufactured by IBM with an integrated Mega Drive. The system was released in Japan only. Three models were available, ranging from ¥148,000 to ¥248,000. Only the top-of-the-line model was supplied with a hard disk. A special monitor (sold separately) was available, which could display both 15 kHz RGB video signals from the Mega Drive hardware and the 31 kHz VGA output of the PC hardware, both from the VGA connector. The system also contained composite NTSC video and stereo RCA jacks for connection to a TV. Additionally, Mega Drive games could be played at the same time as the PC section is being used, and it was possible for the Mega Drive and PC hardware to interact with each other, as shown with the Puzzle Construction program. It was also possible for Mega Drive software to be run from the PC's RAM.
Etymologically, TeraDrive is a pun on the terms "Mega Drive" and "tera", which equals 1*mega*mega.
[edit] Amstrad Mega PC
The Mega PC was a system produced by Amstrad under license from Sega with Mega Drive and IBM-compatible PC functionality in one. The Mega PC was similar in concept to the Teradrive, but was an unrelated project.
- The PC section used an Intel i386SX running at 25 MHz. It had 1 MB of RAM and a 40 MB hard disk drive.
- Released in Europe and Australia around 1992-1993
- Cream-colored, with a sliding cover on the front to change between Mega Drive and PC modes.
- The output from the Mega Drive section was only available through the VGA connector, to the supplied dual-sync (15 kHz/31 kHz) monitor.
- Though the PC section is always running when the system is switched on, Mega Drive software cannot be used at the same time as PC software, due to the system having only one video output.
- Could also be used with a Mega CD with the use of a special connector only available from Amstrad.
- Most of the Mega Drive hardware is contained on an 8-bit ISA card, with AdLib-compatible sound on the same board.
- The Mega Plus was an updated version of the Mega PC. It used an Intel i486 at 33 MHz and 4 MB of RAM.
[edit] Firebox Mini Mega Drive 6-in-1
Developed by Firebox, the Mini Mega Drive is around the same size as an average joystick, includes 6 built-in games and can plug directly into a television set without the need for an external power supply (the unit can run off an AA battery source). A single Mega Drive pad has a direct connection to the Mini Mega Drive, allowing the player to select 1 of the 6 in-built games to play, which include: Sonic the Hedgehog 1, Golden Axe, Kid Chameleon, Flicky, Dr. Robotnik's Mean Bean Machine and Altered Beast. One of it's major drawbacks is the lack of a secondary controller, and the lack of ability to connect one, hence any 2-player games are only playable single player.
This unit was developed and manufactured by RADICA. the "Play TV® Legends Sega Genesis®" was copyrighted in 2003. (Firebox was just a re-seller, toysRus sold this among other shops.) more information can be found at: http://www.radicagames.com/playtv-legends-sega-genesis.php
[edit] Aiwa Mega CD
Probably the most unusual of any incarnation of the Mega Drive was a variant that was built around an Aiwa CD player. The unit was made up of two components - an Aiwa bookshelf-size CD radio and a dock which added the Mega Drive connections (excepting sound, which the main radio unit handled.) Oddly, Sega and Aiwa chose not to place the interface between the two on the sides that would connect, but instead opted to use a connection cable on the back. This variant of the Mega Drive is one of the rarest made, and only saw limited release into the Japanese market.
[edit] Radica Games' Legends Sega Genesis
The Sega Genesis/Mega Drive was brought back to life by the USA company Radica Games Limited under its Play TV collection. It consists of a classic Genesis joypad with a video cable ready for plugging into a television to play a variety of games. Some models actually condense the Genesis/Mega Drive system onto a single chip, allowing a cartridge slot to be added. As of March 2006, there are at least seven versions of the gadget:
- Play TV Legends Sega Genesis, with the games Sonic 1, Altered Beast, Golden Axe, Kid Chameleon, Dr. Robotnik's Mean Bean Machine, and Flicky.
- Play TV Legends Sega Genesis Volume 2, with the games Sonic 2, Ecco the Dolphin, Gain Ground, The Ooze, Columns, and Alex Kidd & the Enchanted Castle.
- Play TV Legends Street Fighter 2, a pack of two 6-button pads with Street Fighter II and Ghouls 'n Ghosts.
- Play TV Legends Menacer, a collection of light gun games from the Menacer 6-in-1 cartridge, including Pest Control, Space Station Defender, Whack Ball, Front Line, Rockman's Zone, and Ready, Aim Tomatoes.
- Play TV Legends Outrun 2019, a racing wheel with the game included.
- Play TV Legends Super Sonic Gold, a collection of Sonic games, including Sonic the Hedgehog, Sonic the Hedgehog 2, Sonic Spinball and Dr. Robotnik's Mean Bean Machine.
- Arcade Legends Sensible Soccer Plus, a pack of two 3-button pads containing games from UK developer Sensible Software, including Sensible Soccer, Cannon Fodder and Mega Lo Mania.
[edit] Miscellaneous
- Some MSX machines released only in Middle Eastern countries by a company named Universal, which along with MSX software could also (allegedly) play Mega Drive games.
[edit] Unauthorized clones
- An unauthorized Mega Drive clone called the Super Creation was sold in certain Asian markets in the early and mid 90s. The clone looks like a first-generation Japanese Mega Drive except that it lacks the Sega branding on the lower right corner of the device. It also has the expansion port, the stereo headphones jack, and joystick connectors that is compatible with official Mega Drive accessories. The clone also designed to accept cartridge from all regions and is pre-modified to bypass refresh rate checks automatically, as the PAL version of the machine is reported to run both Japanese and American NTSC software out of the box.
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