Sega Genesis

The Sega Mega Drive (Japaneseメガ ドライブ, Mega Doraibu, in North America: Sega Genesis) is a 16- bit video game console of the Japanese manufacturer Sega.

Origin and development

At the end of the 1980s, 16 -bit computers such as the Amiga and the Atari ST, as well as 16 -bit arcade devices running the 8- bit video game console from the rank. In addition, Sega's rival Nintendo held 95 percent of the North American video game market and 92 percent of the Japanese market, only in Europe Nintendo's 8- bit and 16 -bit devices were not so successful. Sega knew that the Sega Master system would not be able to challenge that position in North America and Japan, so it was decided to initiate the establishment of a new console.

Sega System 16 arcade games had made ​​the company very well known, so that Hayao Nakayama, Sega's CEO at that time, to decided to produce the new console as a 16- bit device. The current design was great, and so we used three new arcade boards: The Megatech, the mega play, and the system C. All games made ​​for these systems could operate on the new console.

The first name that Sega took for the new console eye was MK -1601, but it was decided in the final analysis for the name Mega Drive. Mega exuded superiority, and drive consumers to let the speed and power think. This name was used for the Japanese, European, Asian and Australian versions of the console. Of trademark issues, the unit on the North American market, which accounted for about half of total sales, was called Genesis ( Greek: for " creation" ).

As NEC released the PC Engine on October 30, 1987 in Japan, she appeared as a threat to Sega and Nintendo. However, they cared only for little swirl on the Japanese market, barely more than the Mega Drive.

The Sega Mega Drive (then about 295, - DM or about 150 € ) in Japan on October 29, 1988 at a price of ¥ 21,000 published. The European release was on 30 November 1990 in the UK, priced at £ 190.

The Mega Drive was initially in competition with the 8 -bit Famicom system in Japan and its equivalent Nintendo Entertainment System in Europe and North America.

The Japanese players were more fixated on the Famicom. When the Mega Drive began to take over the market, the Super Famicom came and exceeded the Mega Drive in Japan. The Super Famicom has held about 80 percent of the market there. The Mega Drive in the Japanese market suffered a worse fate than the PC Engine, despite its technical superiority over PC Engine and Famicom.

The European NES market was very confused, various companies marketed the NES in different markets. The Sega Megadrive was therefore as the Sega Master System no problems to establish themselves in Europe. Unlike other markets, Sega continued marketing point here but not in a direct confrontation with Nintendo senescent system. Due to the late release of the Mega Drive in the European market, it was here rather in competition with Nintendo's Super Nintendo Entertainment System.

An unusual market on which had the Mega Drive Success, Brazil, where it was in 1990, published only a year after the Sega Master System was. Both systems were able to hold there until 1998 and beyond. Thanks Tec Toy, which Brazilian distribution companies, both systems held there occupied 75 % of the market. And the Mega Drive is not yet dead, because only published in December 2007, Tec Toy a new portable version with 20 built-in games. Since November 2009, the mail order Pearl is a licensed replica of the company BLAZE is to obtain with 15 games and 2 controllers. This is compatible with all modules of the Sega Mega Drive and Genesis consoles from all regions.

Since 2006 some new Sega Mega Drive games have been released on module again. The first was the role play Beggar Prince, which is an English translation of the developed in Taiwan in 1996 Xin Qi Gai Wang Zi. This release of Super Fighter Team was the first outside Brazil published commercial game for the console since 1998. 2008 followed by the same manufacturer with Legend of Wukong another translation of an older game from Taiwan, with Star Odyssey stands for the beginning of 2011 the first game of the company with Japanese in origin. The homebrew developer scene has promoted the release of new games in the past few years. Frog Feast 2007 was the remake of an Intellivision game, then development time appeared in 2010 with Pier Solar and the Great Architects after six years until now with 64 megabits most extensive game for the console. Moreover, it was this fan development with innovation come up the first time to work as a combination between the module and CD -ROM. If the optional CD, PCM music is inserted in the mega- CD is playing from there while the rest of the game by the module takes. If there is no CD or any Mega CD hardware available, however, the music is played normally on the sound chip of the Mega Drive.

Extensions and peripherals

Several add-on components released in Japan for the Mega Drive, part of which also appeared in the other markets. The Sega Mega - CD was released worldwide for all versions of the console, the North American version, however, was marketed under the name Sega CD. Also, the 32X, the 32- bit extension of the Mega Drive, which was later referred to by many as Sega's biggest flop and could not compete with the 32- bit consoles Sega Saturn and Sony Playstation was launched worldwide.

The original console was slightly modified shortly after launch, including the EXT port ( port for the modem Meganet ) were removed at the back and the BIOS extended by a patented startup sequence whereby only licensed games could be started. 1993 was brought to the market with the Sega Mega Drive 2 is a redesign of the console. It reduced costs by compressed chips, reduces the board and the headphone jack has been removed. Shortly after, a cheaper version of the Mega - CD was released, the Mega - CD 2 (or Sega CD 2 in North America). Was a toploader no longer completely under, but part was also next to the main unit from the front loader.

With the Mega Drive 2 6 - button controllers are standard, but all the games continued to support the existing 3- button controller.

A master system adapter was available for the Mega Drive. The Power Base Converter is plugged into the module bay of the console. As with the master system of the pause button on the controller but was not on the device. Sämtliches master system accessories including light gun and 3D glasses are compatible with this converter. Because design did not fit this adapter on the Mega Drive 2, a new version was released in Europe. Here, too, was saved, the card slot was removed, leaving only module games could be used. The Mega Master was a master system converter of Fire and Datel, which appeared in England. It looked like the official Sega Mega Drive 2 Converter, but the pause button was attached to the side as a switch.

Although Sega Game Gear had a converter in conversation ( " Mega Game Gear" ), this was never produced.

Versions and variants

In the product life cycle of the Sega Mega Drive, there were a number of different versions and variations. Starting with removal of the 9-pin EXT- Portes at the back via the process known as Mega Drive 2 new design to independent third-party developments such as the Mega PC Amstrad there is a relatively wide range of products. In addition, same appliances also distinguished otherwise in the various markets a little.

Specifications

• Primary CPU: 16- bit Motorola 68000 16 bit processor with 7.67 MHz ( NTSC), 7.61 MHz ( PAL) The processors came from Motorola and Hitachi, initially by Signetics.

• By the limited communication with other components of the Z80 is used almost exclusively as a sound processor.
• In the Mega Drive 2, he was installed as a " custom chip ".

• Maximum colors at once: 64

• Main Sound Chip: Yamaha YM2612 6 channel FM @ 4 MHz
• Additional Sound Chip: Texas Instruments 4-channel PSG (Programmable Sound Generator ) SN76489
• Z80 RAM: 8KB (total address space for the Z80, often as a sound RAM used )
• Inputs and Outputs: only Mega Drive 1: Stereo headphone output, front ( Only Model 1 )
• Antenna output
• 8-pin DIN connector for RGB video and mono audio
• 9-pin EXT port (only in earlier original version)

• 9-pin Mini - DIN connector for RGB Video and Stereo Audio