Press release: 1994-11-21: Sega unleashes arcade power for the home

This is an unaltered copy of a press release, for use as a primary source on Sega Retro. Please do not edit the contents below. Language: English Original source: The Free Library

NEW YORK--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Nov. 21, 1994--Today Sega, the leading innovator of the video-game business, nationally debuted Genesis 32X, the first 32-bit upgrade for its 16-bit game system.

32X delivers arcade-quality graphics, power and speed to the nearly 18 million owners of Sega CD and Sega Genesis, for under $160.

Genesis 32X employs two 32-bit RISC chips -- the type of chips often found on computer workstations costing 100 times more than a 32X -- to boost a 16-bit game system with 40 times more processing power, more than 32,000 colors, and 3-D polygon graphics.

The No.-1 PC game, id Software's "Doom," and top-draw arcade titles "Star Wars" and "Virtua Racing" are among the first titles available on Genesis 32X where they will be known as "Doom," "Star Wars Arcade" and "Virtua Racing Deluxe."

"32X does not simply add smoother graphics to the same side-scrolling games that have been around since the 1980s. Genesis 32X allows the 16-bit Genesis system to easily implement the scaling, rotation and ever-changing perspectives seen in the next generation of games -- fueled by the power of 32-bit co-processing," said Haven Dubrul, associate director of marketing for 32X.

"32X brings consumers to the next level of video gaming without emptying their pockets or junking their existing Sega 16-bit software and hardware," said Dubrul. "Our research revealed that consumers want to move beyond traditional 16-bit games, but are unsure of the viability and longevity of recently introduced and more expensive video-game machines.

"Consumers have been especially reluctant to obsolete the software they already own; 32X continues Sega's practice of providing a hardware upgrade path that allows your old software to work on your new 32X hardware. That means all of the 500 Genesis titles and all the 150 Sega CD titles will play on 32X," added Dubrul.

In addition to playing the existing Sega 16-bit titles, 32X will have a library of 20 titles -- including 32X CD games -- by March '95 and 100 more titles -- from Sega and its third-party licensees -- by December '95.

Sega of America is the arm of Tokyo-based Sega Enterprises Ltd. responsible for the development, marketing and distribution of Sega products in the Americas. Sega Enterprises Ltd. is a nearly $4 billion company known as a leader in interactive digital entertainment media with operations on five continents.

CONTACT: Manning, Selvage & Lee, Universal City, Calif.

Kelly Smith/Corey Olfert, 818/509-1840
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