The Mega Drive, known as Genesis in the United States due to legal reasons, is a video game console released by Sega in 1988. Designed by Hideki Sato, this 16-bit system was built to be similar to the System 16 arcade board, allowing for more accurate arcade game conversions. As one of the most influential consoles in video game history, the Mega Drive made a significant impact in Western markets, particularly in the United States, where it was the first console to challenge Nintendo's market dominance.
Competing fiercely with the Super Nintendo, the Mega Drive was a protagonist in one of the earliest video game console wars. It boasted notable arcade titles like Shinobi, Street Fighter II, Mortal Kombat, and Golden Axe, and introduced iconic franchises such as Sonic the Hedgehog, ToeJam & Earl, and FIFA.
The Mega Drive marked a pivotal shift in the gaming industry, by appealing to an older audience than the typical children’s market of that era. This strategy led to the development of games targeting teenagers and adults, featuring many fighting and sports titles. Sega's marketing approach became more agressive and competitive, employing provocative advertising and substantial campaigns.
This shift also brought an increase in violent content, which sparked controversy and led to conflicts with competitors like Nintendo. Controversial games such as Night Trap and Mortal Kombat contributed to the creation of the Video Game Rating Council (VRC), the first age rating system for games. However, due to disagreements between companies, the VRC was soon replaced by the Entertainment Software Rating Board (ESRB), that became standard for the industry.
Despite its commercial failure in its home country of Japan, the Mega Drive achieved remarkable success globally, selling between 30 to 40 million units. It gained immense popularity in America, Brazil, Europe, and Oceania. Although Sega officially discontinued the Mega Drive in 1997, production continued in some regions for several years.
- Hardware type
- console
- Development
- Sega
- Generation
- 4th
- Release date
- Japan 29th Oct, 1988
- United States 14th Aug, 1989
- South Korea 1990
- Europe 1990
- Brazil 1st Sep, 1990
- India 1994
- Preceded by
- Master System
- Succeeded by
- Saturn
- Discontinuation:
- World 1995
- CPU
- Motorola MC 68000 7.64Mhz 16-bit
- Zilog Z80 3.58Mhz 8-bit
- GPU
- Sega 315‑5313 VDP 13,423294Mhz 16-bit
- Graphics
- 224p 59.92274Hz NTSC
- 240p 49.701459Hz PAL
- 448i 59.92274Hz NTSC
- 480i 49.701459Hz PAL
- Colors
- 512
- Memory
- RAM 64 KB
- VRAM 64 KB
- Audio RAM 8 KB
- TMS RAM 2 KB
- Net
- Meganet
- Sega Channel
- XBAND
- Telebradesco
- Storage
- RAM cartridge 64 MB
- CD (with Sega CD) 450 MB
- Connections
- 2x DB-9 male
- 1x DB-9 female
- 1x expansion port
- Units sold
- 47,00 mi
- Best-selling game
- Sonic the Hedgehog (15,00 mi)
- Designer
- Hideki Sato
- Masami Ishikawa
- Áudio
- Yamaha YM2612, 6 channels
- Periféricos
- 3 button control pad
- 6B control pad
- Menacer light gun
- Activator
- 4-Way-Play
- Power Base Converter
- 32X
- Sega CD
- Konami Justifier
- Game Genie
- Retrocompatibilidade
- Master System
Images
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