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[[Image:Sega Pirate.png|thumb|right|The Sega Pirate, a popular marketing icon for the console in Europe]]
[[Image:Sega Pirate.png|thumb|right|The Sega Pirate, a popular marketing icon for the console in Europe]]


The European release was on [[November 30]], [[1990]]. In the United Kingdom and [[Republic of Ireland]] it was priced at £189.99. Following on from the European success of the [[Sega Master System]], the Mega Drive became a very popular console in Europe. Unlike in other regions where the [[Nintendo Entertainment System|NES]] had been the dominant platform, the [[Sega Master System]] was the most popular console in Europe at the time. In the United Kingdom the most well known of Sega's advertising slogans was "To be this good takes AGES, to be this good takes SEGA". Unfortunately the word 'sega' has vulgar connotations in Italian and marketing campaigns there were fraught with difficulty. <ref>Definition of 'sega' in Italian can be found at http://www.wordreference.com/iten/sega</ref>Some of these adverts employed adult humour and innuendo with sentences like "The more you play with it, the harder it gets" displayed with an illustration of the waggling of a joystick.<ref name="SegaVizAds">{{Cite web|url=http://www.ukresistance.co.uk/2006/03/segas-bizarre-early-1990s-viz-adverts.html|title=SEGA'S BIZARRE EARLY 1990S VIZ ADVERTS|accessdate=2007-10-20|year=2006|work=http://www.ukresistance.co.uk}}</ref> A prominent figure in the European marketing was the "Sega Pirate". This character was a talking one-eyed skull that starred in many TV adverts with a generally aggressive and humorous attitude. In terms of release timing, the relatively late release of the Mega Drive in Europe assured a strong launch line-up in comparison with other regions. The [[porting|ports]] of arcade titles like ''[[Altered Beast]]'', ''[[Golden Axe]]'' and ''[[Ghouls 'n Ghosts]]'', available in stores at launch, provided a strong image of the console's power to deliver an arcade-like experience (even though these games were not identical to the arcade versions) when compared to other home conversions of these games.<ref name="MegaDriveLaunch">{{Cite web|url=http://www.vc-reviews.com/news/60/hardware-focus-sega-megadrive-genesis.php|title=Hardware Focus - Sega Megadrive / Genesis|accessdate=2007-10-19|year=2007|author=McFerran, Damien |work=http://www.vc-reviews.com}}</ref> The arrival of ''[[Sonic the Hedgehog (16-bit)|Sonic the Hedgehog]]'' in 1991 was just as successful as in North America, with the new Sega mascot becoming popular throughout the continent.<ref name="MegaDriveLaunch">{{Cite web|url=http://www.vc-reviews.com/news/60/hardware-focus-sega-megadrive-genesis.php|title=Hardware Focus - Sega Megadrive / Genesis|accessdate=2007-10-19|year=2007|author=McFerran, Damien |work=http://www.vc-reviews.com}}</ref>
The European release was on [[November 30]], [[1990]]. In the United Kingdom and [[Republic of Ireland]] it was priced at £189.99. Following on from the European success of the [[Sega Master System]], the Mega Drive became a very popular console in Europe. Unlike in other regions where the [[Nintendo Entertainment System|NES]] had been the dominant platform, the [[Sega Master System]] was the most popular console in Europe at the time. In the United Kingdom the most well known of Sega's advertising slogans was "To be this good takes AGES, to be this good takes SEGA". Unfortunately the word 'sega' has vulgar connotations in Italian and marketing campaigns there were fraught with difficulty. <ref>Definition of 'sega' in Italian can be found at http://www.wordreference.com/iten/sega</ref>Some of these adverts employed adult humour and innuendo with sentences like "The more you play with it, the harder it gets" displayed with an illustration of the waggling of a joystick.<ref name="SegaVizAds">{{Cite web|url=http://www.ukresistance.co.uk/2006/03/segas-bizarre-early-1990s-viz-adverts.html|title=SEGA'S BIZARRE EARLY 1990S VIZ ADVERTS|accessdate=2007-10-20|year=2006|work=http://www.ukresistance.co.uk}}</ref> A prominent figure in the European marketing was the "Sega Pirate". This character was a talking one-eyed skull that starred in many TV adverts with a generally aggressive and humorous attitude. In terms of release timing, the relatively late release of the Mega Drive in Europe assured a strong launch line-up in comparison with other regions. The [[porting|ports]] of arcade titles like ''[[Altered Beast]]'', ''[[Golden Axe]]'' and ''[[Ghouls 'n Ghosts]]'', available in stores at launch, provided a strong image of the console's power to deliver an arcade-like experience (even though these games were not identical to the arcade versions) when compared to other home conversions of these games.<ref name="MegaDriveLaunch">{{Cite web|url=http://www.vc-reviews.com/news/60/hardware-focus-sega-megadrive-genesis.php|title=Hardware Focus - Sega Megadrive / Genesis|accessdate=2007-10-19|year=2007|author=McFerran, Damien "Damo" |work=http://www.vc-reviews.com}}</ref> The arrival of ''[[Sonic the Hedgehog (16-bit)|Sonic the Hedgehog]]'' in 1991 was just as successful as in North America, with the new Sega mascot becoming popular throughout the continent.<ref name="MegaDriveLaunch">{{Cite web|url=http://www.vc-reviews.com/news/60/hardware-focus-sega-megadrive-genesis.php|title=Hardware Focus - Sega Megadrive / Genesis|accessdate=2007-10-19|year=2007|author=McFerran, Damien |work=http://www.vc-reviews.com}}</ref>


====Brazil====
====Brazil====

Revision as of 09:13, 12 April 2008

Sega Mega Drive / Sega Genesis
Mega Drive Logo (Europe & Australasia)
Mega Drive Logo (Europe & Australasia)

Genesis Logo (North America)
Genesis Logo (North America)
Sega Mega Drive, European/Australasian (PAL) version.
ManufacturerSega
TypeVideo game console
GenerationFourth generation era
Units soldWorldwide: 29 million[1]
United States: 15.4 million[2][3]
Brazil: 2 million[4]
MediaCartridge
CPUMotorola 68000
Online servicesSega Meganet, Sega Channel, XBAND
Best-selling gameSonic the Hedgehog 2,
6 million (as of June 2006)[5]
PredecessorSega Master System
SuccessorSega Saturn

The Sega Mega Drive (メガドライブ, Mega Doraibu) is a 16-bit video game console released by Sega in Japan in 1988, North America in 1989, and the PAL region in 1990. Led by Tom Kalinske, it was sold under the name Sega Genesis in North America as Sega was unable to secure legal rights to the Mega Drive name in that region. The Mega Drive was Sega's fifth home console and the successor to the Sega Master System.

The Mega Drive is part of the fourth generation era of consoles, and the first of its generation to achieve notable market share in Europe and North America. It was a direct competitor of the TurboGrafx-16 (which was released one year earlier) and the Super Nintendo Entertainment System (SNES) (which was released two years later). The Sega Mega Drive began production in Japan in 1988 and ended with the last new game being released in 2002 in Brazil.

History

Although the Sega Master System had was a success in Europe, and later also Brazil, it failed to ignite much interest in the North American or Japanese markets, which, by the mid-to-late 1980s, were both dominated by Nintendo's large market shares.[6][7] Meanwhile in the arcades, the Sega System 16 had become a success. Hayao Nakayama, Sega's CEO at the time, decided to make its new home system utilize a similar 16-bit architecture.[8] The final design was eventually also used in the Mega-Tech, Mega-Play and System-C arcade machines. Any game made for the Mega Drive hardware could easily be ported to these systems.[9]

The first name Sega considered for its console was the MK-1601, but it ultimately decided to call it the "Sega Mega Drive". The name was said to represent superiority and speed, with the powerful Motorola 68000 processor in mind.[10] Sega used the name Mega Drive for the Japanese, European, Asian, Australian and Brazilian versions of the console. The North American version went by the name "Genesis" due to a trademark dispute,[11] while the South Korean versions were called Super Gam*Boy (수퍼겜보이) and Super Aladdin Boy (transliterated from 수퍼알라딘보이; this was the Korean version of the Mega Drive 2).

Launch

The Mega Drive was released in Japan on October 29 1988 for ¥21,000,[12] almost exactly a year after the NEC PC Engine. Although this initially caused slow sales, the Mega Drive soon eclipsed the earlier machine in popularity and sales.[13]

North America

In 1987, Sega announced a North American release date for the system (under the name of Sega Genesis) of January 9 1989.[14] Sega was not able to meet the initial release date and U.S. sales began on August 14, 1989 in New York City and Los Angeles[15] with a suggested retail price of US$200 at launch. The Genesis was released in the rest of North America on September 15 of the same year with the price reduced slightly to $189.99.

Europe

File:Sega Pirate.png
The Sega Pirate, a popular marketing icon for the console in Europe

The European release was on November 30, 1990. In the United Kingdom and Republic of Ireland it was priced at £189.99. Following on from the European success of the Sega Master System, the Mega Drive became a very popular console in Europe. Unlike in other regions where the NES had been the dominant platform, the Sega Master System was the most popular console in Europe at the time. In the United Kingdom the most well known of Sega's advertising slogans was "To be this good takes AGES, to be this good takes SEGA". Unfortunately the word 'sega' has vulgar connotations in Italian and marketing campaigns there were fraught with difficulty. [16]Some of these adverts employed adult humour and innuendo with sentences like "The more you play with it, the harder it gets" displayed with an illustration of the waggling of a joystick.[17] A prominent figure in the European marketing was the "Sega Pirate". This character was a talking one-eyed skull that starred in many TV adverts with a generally aggressive and humorous attitude. In terms of release timing, the relatively late release of the Mega Drive in Europe assured a strong launch line-up in comparison with other regions. The ports of arcade titles like Altered Beast, Golden Axe and Ghouls 'n Ghosts, available in stores at launch, provided a strong image of the console's power to deliver an arcade-like experience (even though these games were not identical to the arcade versions) when compared to other home conversions of these games.[18] The arrival of Sonic the Hedgehog in 1991 was just as successful as in North America, with the new Sega mascot becoming popular throughout the continent.[18]

Brazil

The Mega Drive was released by Tec Toy in 1990, only a year after the Brazilian release of the Sega Master System. Tec Toy also ran the Internet service Sega Meganet service in Brazil as well as producing games exclusively for the Brazilian market — including a port of Duke Nukem 3D.[19] On December 5 2007, Tec Toy released a portable version of Mega Drive with 20 built-in games.[20][21]

Console wars

Main article: Console wars

The Sega Mega Drive initially competed against the aging 8-bit NES, over which it had superior graphics and sound. Nonetheless, it had a hard time overcoming Nintendo's ubiquitous presence in the consumer's home. Sega forced the theoretically competitive TurboGrafx-16 system into relative obscurity, thanks in part to NEC's poor North American marketing campaign.[22] However, after the release of the Nintendo Super Famicom, the Mega Drive soon lost ground in the US market.[10]

In an attempt to build itself a significant consumer base, Sega decided to focus on slightly older buyers, especially young men in their late teens and early 20s who would have more disposable income and who were eager for more "grown-up" titles with more mature content and/or more in-depth game play.[23]

File:SegaGenesis-NintendontAd.jpg
One of Sega's most famous advertisements in North American media was its slogan "Genesis does what Nintendon't",[24] which showcased the graphics advantage that the Genesis held against the aging NES.

To compete with the release of the SNES in the US, Sega promoted the console with "Blast Processing", a term invented to suggest that the Mega Drive was capable of handling games with faster motion than the SNES. Eventually, Nintendo's 16-bit SNES became the Mega Drive's main rival, though the Mega Drive had a head start in terms of user base and number of games, reversing the problem Sega had faced against the NES. The Mega Drive continued to hold on to a healthy fan base, being still the most popular console together with the SNES in 1995.[25] The release of Sonic the Hedgehog in 1991 began to threaten Nintendo's stranglehold on the US console market. Sonic was released to replace former mascot Alex Kidd, and to provide the "killer app" that Sega needed.[12]

The console did not have a major competitor in Europe until the launch of the SNES in 1992. But unlike in North America and Japan, Nintendo's 16-bit console did not outsell the Mega Drive in Europe. In the United States, the Genesis sold 13 million units in five years.[26]

32-bit era and beyond

After the release of the Mega-CD (Sega CD in North America) and 32X add-ons for the Mega Drive, Sega's last big announcement came in the form of a partnership with Time Warner in the U.S. to offer a subscription-based service called Sega Channel that would allow subscribers to "download" games on a month-by-month basis.[27]

The poor performances of the Mega-CD and 32X, a lack of effective advertising, and disputes between Sega of America and Sega of Japan took their toll on the company.[28] By mid 1994, Sega's market share had dropped from 65% to 35%,[28] and the official announcements of newer, more powerful consoles, such as the Sega Saturn, PlayStation, and Nintendo 64 signaled that the 16-bit era was drawing to a close.

In 1997, Sega licensed the Mega Drive to Majesco so that they could re-release the console.[29] Majesco began re-selling millions of formerly unsold cartridges at a budget price together with the second model of the Genesis, until they later released a third version of it. The last commercially licensed release in North America was Frogger, released in 1998.[30]

The Mega Drive was supported until 1997 in Europe, when Sega announced they were dropping support for it.[12] It was discontinued along with its predecessor, the long-lived Sega Master System, to allow Sega to concentrate on their newer console, the Saturn. The Mega Drive's add-ons, the Mega CD and 32x, were also both discontinued at this point, having been the same general failures they were in the other regions.

On May 22, 2006, Super Fighter Team released Beggar Prince, a game translated from a 1996 Taiwanese original. It is the first commercial Sega Mega Drive game since 1998 in the North American market. It was also released worldwide.[31]

Emulation

In 2004, there came a trend toward plug-and-play TV games, and Radica Games released licensed, self-contained versions of the Sega Mega Drive in both North America (as the Play TV Legends Sega Genesis)[32] and Europe (as the Sega Mega Drive 6-in-1 Plug 'n' Play), which contain six popular games in a small control box, with a permanently connected control pad. It does not have a cartridge slot, and thus is a dedicated console.[33]

The GameTap subscription gaming service includes a Mega Drive emulator, and has several dozen licensed Mega Drive games in its catalog.[34] The Console Classix subscription gaming service also includes an emulator, and has several hundred Mega Drive games in its catalog.

In 2006 a compilation of 28 Genesis/Mega Drive games, called Sega Genesis Collection, was released for the PlayStation 2 and PlayStation Portable.[35]

During his keynote speech at the 2006 Game Developers Conference, Nintendo president Satoru Iwata announced that Sega will make a number of Genesis/Mega Drive titles available to download on the Wii's Virtual Console.[36] These games are now available along with other systems' titles under the Wii's Virtual Console.[36] The 16-bit Sega selections available on the Virtual Console at launch were Altered Beast and Sonic The Hedgehog. Each title costs 800 Wii Points (US$8) except in Japan, where they are 600 Points (¥600). There are also selected Mega Drive titles on the Xbox 360 such as Sonic The Hedgehog and Sonic 2, which are both 400 MS Points.

At Tokyo Game Show on September 21 2006, Ken Kutaragi, President and CEO of Sony Computer Entertainment, announced that Sega Mega Drive game ports would be available on the PlayStation Network (network service for the Playstation 3).[37] No specific titles or price points have been confirmed as of yet, with Kutagari simply stating that these specifics will be discussed with individual publishers. This, however, was later contradicted by SEGA Japan when a short statement was issued stating "that such claims are not correct at this point".[38]

Master System compatibility

Sega Power Base Converter

One of the key design features of the console is its backwards compatibility with Sega's previous console, the Sega Master System. The 16-bit design is based upon the 8-bit design, albeit enhanced and extended in many areas. In order to achieve backwards compatibility, the Master System's central processor and sound chip (the Zilog Z80[10] and SN76489 respectively) are included in the Mega Drive, and the Mega Drive's Video Display Processor (VDP) is capable of the Master System's VDP's mode 4 (though it cannot run in modes 0, 1, 2, or 3).

As the cartridge slot is of a different shape, Sega released the Power Base Converter, a separate device that sits between a Master System cartridge and the Mega Drive's cartridge slot. The Power Base Converter does not contain any SMS components, instead functioning as a pass-through device. The converter contains a top slot for cartridge-based games along with a front slot for card-based games, as well as the 3-D glasses adapter. When a Master System game is inserted, the system puts the Z80 in control, leaving the Mega Drive's main 68000 processor idle.[10]

In Japan the device is known as the "Mega Adapter". The PAL variant is called the "Master System Converter" in mainland Europe.[39]

The Power Base Converter is not fully compatible with the redesigned Mega Drive 2. A second version, the "Master System Converter II", was released to address this problem. This second version adapter was produced in far fewer quantities and only released in Europe.[10]

The only game which does not work with this device is F-16 Fighting Falcon.[40]

Peripherals

An original 3 button controller with Genesis logo.

Controllers

The standard Mega Drive controller features three main buttons and a "start" button usually used for pausing mid-game. The controller itself has a distinctive rounded shape.[41] Sega later released a six-button version which is slightly smaller and features, as well as three more face buttons, a "mode" button to allow the controller to work with certain older games which it would otherwise be incompatible with.[42]

Mega-CD

Main article: Sega Mega-CD

The Sega Mega-CD became available in 1991, 1992 and 1993 in Japan, North America, and Europe respectively.[43][44] It plugs into the side of the Mega Drive and sits underneath the console (later models of the Mega CD sit alongside the console) and provides access to CD games as well as allowing the user to play music CDs.[10]

Original three button joypad with later six button version

32X

Main article: Sega 32X

The Sega 32X allows the user to play technically superior 32-bit games on the Mega Drive. It was released in 1994 in Japan and North America and 1995 in Europe. The 32X plugs into the Mega Drive's cartridge slot and the game cartridges are then plugged into the 32X.[10]

Sega Mega Modem

Main article: Sega Meganet

The Megamodem, a modem with a speed of 1,600 to 2,400 bit/s, can be connected to the DE-9 port on the back of the Mega Drive and used to play games online with other players. This was supported by the Sega Meganet service, a network service in Japan for people using the Sega Mega Drive.[45]

Other

A number of other peripherals for the Mega Drive were released that add extra functionality. The Menacer Light Gun was developed in response to the Super Scope for the SNES and is only compatible with the Menacer 6-game cartridge and a few other games.[46] The Sega Mouse and Sega Mega Mouse were also released for the Mega Drive, the latter being available in North America while the other served the Japanese and European markets.[47] A foam-covered bat called the BatterUP and the TeeVGolf golf club were both released for the Mega Drive and SNES and provide support for similar games.[48][49] One of the most unsuccessful peripherals released was the Sega Activator; an octagonal device that lays flat on the floor and reads a gamer's physical movements as he/she would trigger infrared laser beams that translate the movement to react on screen.[50] As well the official Mega Drive peripherals, the console is also compatible with Sega Master System accessories through use of the Power Base Converter.[51][12]

Both Electronic Arts (EA) and Sega released multitaps for the system to allow more than the standard two players to play at once.[52] Initially, EA's version, the 4-Play, and Sega's adapter, the Team Player, only supported each publisher's own titles. Later games were created to work on both adapters. Codemasters also developed the J-Cart system, providing two extra ports with no extra hardware, although the technology came late in the consoles life and only featured on a few games.[53]

Variations

Main article: Variations of the Sega Mega Drive
Sega Wondermega incorporates the Mega Drive and Mega CD in one unit

The Mega Drive 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.[10]

The Model MK-1631 (Mega Drive/Genesis 2) does have a Z80 CPU.[54] Depending on the board revision, the system has either a Zilog Z84C00 or a Custom Sega 315-5676 or similar. Because the Z80 is used for sound production by many games, it is a necessary component.

Majesco's Genesis 3 (single-chip and dual-chip versions) retains the Mode 4 support but has the Master System compatibility removed from the bus controller logic.[12] This renders the Power Base Converter or any other adapter useless. 68000 software can still enable and use Mode 4, however.[10] One of the 68000's instructions, TAS, is intended for semaphore communication in multiprocessor machines and locks the 68000 bus during memory access.[55]

Technical specifications

Mega Drive 1 mainboard (PAL)

CPU

Main article: Motorola 68000

The Sega Mega Drive's CPU is a 16/32-bit Motorola 68000[56] which is is a 32 bit microprocessor sitting on a 16-bit-wide data bus. The maximum addressable memory is 16 megabytes (the M68000 is located to the left of the picture). The 68000 Runs at 7.61 MHz in PAL consoles, 7.67 MHz in NTSC consoles.[41] The Mega Drive also includes a Zilog Z80 as the sound CPU.[10] The Z80 Runs at 3.55 MHz in PAL consoles, 3.58 MHz in NTSC consoles.

Video

The Mega Drive has a dedicated VDP (Video Display Processor) for background graphic and sprite control.[57] This is an improved version of the Sega Master System VDP, which in turn is derived from the Texas Instruments TMS9918. It contains both mode 4 (for Master System compatibility) and mode 5 (for native 16-bit games).

Images can be output at 256 pixels (32 tiles) or 320 pixels (40 tiles) across and 224 scanlines (28 tiles) or 240 scanlines (30 tiles) down. The 240-line resolutions are only used on 50 Hz (i.e. PAL) displays, as the extra lines end up in the overscan of a 60 Hz (NTSC) signal. Instead, NTSC games use the 224-line resolution to free up more vertical blanking time to send more updates to the VDP. Colors are chosen from a total of 512 possible colors; some games used a small amount of flicker to simulate more colors. Graphics consist of up to 64 sprites on 3 planes. Palettes are stored in color RAM (CRAM) and consist of 16 colors each for a total of 64 colors.[58][52]

Audio

There are two primary sound chips which are both controlled by the Z80; the Yamaha YM2612 Frequency Modulation (FM) chip and the Texas Instruments SN76489 Programmable Sound Generator (PSG) chip.[59] The FM sound synthesis IC resembles the Yamaha YM2151 (used in Sega's coin-op machines) and the chips used in Yamaha's synthesizers. There is 8 kilobytes of dedicated sound RAM available to them.[58]

The Yamaha uses six FM channels, four operators each and runs at 7.67 MHz (7.61 MHz in PAL machines). The sixth channel can be used as a 8-bit digitized audio channel or as a regular FM channel.[60] The use of the digitized audio allows for stereo sound and is output only through the headphone jack on model 1 systems and through AV out on model 2 systems along with mono signal.[10]

Memory

There are 2 KB (KiB) of Boot ROM, which is also known as the "Trademark Security System" (TMSS).[61] When the console is started, it checks the game for certain code given to licensed developers. Unlicensed games without the code are thus locked out, but if a game is properly licensed, the ROM will display "Produced by or under license from Sega Enterprises Ltd." Boot ROM is not present on earlier versions of the Mega Drive and Genesis and some earlier games not designed for the TMSS may not work in later consoles. There is also ROM space in the cartridges' memory area, which contains up to 4 MB (MiB) (32 megabits) and is part of the M68000 address space.[57] Game cartridges larger than 4 MB must use bank switching.

There are also 64 KB of Main RAM. The Main RAM is part of the M68000 address space (short-word addressing was frequently used.) 64 KB of Video RAM are also present,[59] which cannot be accessed directly by CPU and must be read and written via the VDP (Video Display Processor). The Secondary RAM, which consists of 8 KB, is part of Z80 address space and is used as Main RAM in Master System compatibility mode. There are also 8 KB of audio RAM.[59]

Inputs and outputs

Two DE-9M (9-pin male D-connectors) on the front of the console are the controller input ports.[52] The EXT input port is a DE-9F (9-pin female D-connector) that was used with the Meganet modem peripheral, released only in Japan.[52] It exists on all first-model Japanese Mega Drive units, and on early American Genesis and PAL (European, Australasian and Asian) Mega Drive units. The power input is a positive tip barrel connector that requires 9-10 volts DC, or about 0.85-1.2 A, depending on the model. There is also an Expansion input port which is an Edge connector on the bottom right hand side of the console. It is used almost exclusively for connection for the Sega Mega-CD, though it was also used for the Sega Genesis 6 Cart Demo Unit (DS-16) in stores. This port is not present on the Genesis 3 model.[10]

An A/V output, which consists of a DIN connector with composite video, RGB video, and audio outputs, is present on the system.[10] The Mega Drive and the first model Genesis have an 8-pin DIN socket (same as Sega Master System) which supports mono audio only, but the Mega Drive 2, Multimega, and other models have a 9-pin mini DIN socket with both mono and stereo audio.[10] Stereo audio for the Mega Drive and the first model Genesis were supplied by the headphone jack, which is not present on later models.[10] The RF output is an RCA jack that connects to TV antenna input. It exists on original model European and Asian Mega Drive and North American Genesis only; other models must use an external RF modulator which plugs into the A/V output.[10]

See also

References

  1. ^ Orlando, Greg (2007-05-15). "Console Portraits: A 40-Year Pictorial History of Gaming". Wired News. Condé Nast Publications. p. 21. Retrieved 2008-04-08.
  2. ^ Mega-Drive.net "Das Informationsportal rund um SEGAs 16Bitter". www.mega-drive.net. Retrieved 2008-03-06. {{cite web}}: Check |url= value (help)
  3. ^ "Das Informationsportal rund um SEGAs 16Bitter: Translated version". www.mega-drive.net. Retrieved 2008-03-06.
  4. ^ "A História do Mega Drive" (in Portuguese). http://gamehall.uol.com.br. Retrieved 2008-03-06. {{cite web}}: External link in |publisher= (help)
  5. ^ Boutros, Daniel (2006-08-04). "Sonic the Hedgehog 2". A Detailed Cross-Examination of Yesterday and Today's Best-Selling Platform Games. Gamasutra. Retrieved 2007-10-28. {{cite web}}: Check date values in: |date= (help)
  6. ^ Nintendo Official Magazine Staff (2001). Nintendo Official Magazine - Nintendo's Market Share 1988. Future Publishing. p. 35.
  7. ^ Business Week staff (1999). Business Week - Nintendo's Market Share 1990. p. 60. {{cite book}}: |last= has generic name (help)
  8. ^ "Genesis: A New Beginning". www.sega-16.com. Retrieved 2008-03-06.
  9. ^ Planet Dreamcast staff. "Sega History". http://www.planetdreamcast.com. IGN Entertainment. Retrieved 2007-10-18. {{cite web}}: External link in |work= (help)
  10. ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l m n o p Christoph Bolitz. "Sega Mega Drive information". www.skillreactor.org. Retrieved 2008-04-01. Cite error: The named reference "sreac" was defined multiple times with different content (see the help page).
  11. ^ Szczepaniak, John (2006). "Retroinspection: Sega Mega Drive". Retro Gamer. No. 27. London, UK: Imagine Publishing. pp. ??–??. {{cite magazine}}: |access-date= requires |url= (help); Unknown parameter |month= ignored (help)
  12. ^ a b c d e Console Database Staff. "Sega Mega Drive/Genesis Console Information". http://www.consoledatabase.com. Retrieved 2007-10-18. {{cite web}}: External link in |work= (help)
  13. ^ Blake Snow (2007-05-04). "The 10 Worst-Selling Consoles of All Time". GamePro.com. Retrieved 2007-05-28. {{cite web}}: Check date values in: |date= (help)
  14. ^ Sheff, David (1993). Mega Drive Release Date. p. 352.
  15. ^ Steven L. Kent, The Ultimate History of Video Games, p. 404.
  16. ^ Definition of 'sega' in Italian can be found at http://www.wordreference.com/iten/sega
  17. ^ "SEGA'S BIZARRE EARLY 1990S VIZ ADVERTS". http://www.ukresistance.co.uk. 2006. Retrieved 2007-10-20. {{cite web}}: External link in |work= (help)
  18. ^ a b McFerran, Damien "Damo" (2007). "Hardware Focus - Sega Megadrive / Genesis". http://www.vc-reviews.com. Retrieved 2007-10-19. {{cite web}}: External link in |work= (help) Cite error: The named reference "MegaDriveLaunch" was defined multiple times with different content (see the help page).
  19. ^ "Moby Games Duke Nukem page". Retrieved 2006-09-24.
  20. ^ Donald Melanson (2007-11-13). "Brazil's TecToy cranks out Mega Drive portable handheld". Retrieved 2007-01-23.
  21. ^ Luke Plunkett (2007-11-14). "Sega: Brazil Gets This Wonderful Portable Mega Drive". Retrieved 2007-01-23.
  22. ^ Blake Snow (2007-07-30). "The 10 Worst-Selling Consoles of All Time Feature on GamePro.com". www.gamepro.com. Retrieved 2008-03-06.
  23. ^ "Mega Drive - background". picodrive.acornarcade.com. Retrieved 2008-03-06.
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