Difference between revisions of "Mega Play"

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[[Image:Megaplay2.png|thumb|right|160px|Sega MegaPlay arcade machine.]]
 
[[Image:Megaplay2.png|thumb|right|160px|Sega MegaPlay arcade machine.]]
  
The '''MegaPlay''' is an arcade console, created alongside [[Sega]]'s then-new [[Sega Mega Drive/Genesis]] hardware. The unit was developed in Japan, and hit coin-op arcades worldwide in 1989.
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The '''MegaPlay''' is an arcade cabinet, created alongside [[Sega]]'s then-new [[Sega Mega Drive/Genesis]] hardware. The unit was developed in Japan, and hit coin-op arcades worldwide in 1989.
  
The concept behind the machine was similar to SNK's multigame cabinets and the Nintendo PlayChoice 10, also available at that time.
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The concept behind the machine was similar to the Nintendo PlayChoice 10 which was also available at that time.
  
There are two known standard versions of the unit. The first contained ''Thunder Force 2'', ''Altered Beast'', ''Tetris'', ''Last Battle'', ''Space Harrier 2'', and ''[[Golden Axe]]''; the second added ''[[Sonic the Hedgehog (arcade game)|Sonic the Hedgehog]]'' to this selection. Eventually ''[[Sonic the Hedgehog 2 (arcade game)|Sonic the Hedgehog 2]]'' became available also. However, the unit could also be configured however the vendor desired - the internals consisted of a uncased Genesis PCB, a 10-slot multi-cart adapter, two built-in controllers, and the appropriate coin-op and cart-switching hardware. This meant that, in theory, any title created for the Genesis hardware could be used in the MegaPlay unit, and vice versa. However, MegaPlay cartridges differed from standard Genesis cartridges in that they contained various encryption techniques and BIOS chips, to prevent unscrupulous arcade owners simply swapping in the cheaper retail cartridges. The cartridges were also shaped like standard Japanese Mega Drive cartridges, to prevent the games fitting into American and European home systems. It should also be noted that as the internal components of the games and hardware were no different from the home units and games, that all of the Genesis cheats for these titles also worked with their MegaPlay "arcade" versions.
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There are two known standard versions of the unit. The first contained ''Thunder Force 2'', ''Altered Beast'', ''Tetris'', ''Last Battle'', ''Space Harrier 2'', and ''[[Golden Axe]]''; the second added ''[[Sonic the Hedgehog (arcade game)|Sonic the Hedgehog]]'' to this selection. Eventually ''[[Sonic the Hedgehog 2 (arcade game)|Sonic the Hedgehog 2]]'' became available also. However, the unit could also be configured however the vendor desired - the internals consisted of a uncased Genesis PCB, a 10-slot multi-cart adapter, two built-in joysticks, and the appropriate coin-op and cart-switching hardware. This meant that, in theory, any title created for the Genesis hardware could be used in the MegaPlay unit, and vice versa. However, MegaPlay cartridges differed from standard Genesis cartridges in that they contained various encryption techniques and BIOS chips, to prevent unscrupulous arcade owners simply swapping in the cheaper retail cartridges. The cartridges were also shaped like standard Japanese Mega Drive cartridges, to prevent the games fitting into American and European home systems. It should also be noted that as the internal components of the games and hardware were no different from the home units and games, that all of the Genesis cheats for these titles also worked with their MegaPlay "arcade" versions.
  
 
[[Image:megaplay.jpg|thumb|left|160px|Sega MegaPlay hardware.]]
 
[[Image:megaplay.jpg|thumb|left|160px|Sega MegaPlay hardware.]]

Revision as of 09:23, 19 February 2009

Sega MegaPlay arcade machine.

The MegaPlay is an arcade cabinet, created alongside Sega's then-new Sega Mega Drive/Genesis hardware. The unit was developed in Japan, and hit coin-op arcades worldwide in 1989.

The concept behind the machine was similar to the Nintendo PlayChoice 10 which was also available at that time.

There are two known standard versions of the unit. The first contained Thunder Force 2, Altered Beast, Tetris, Last Battle, Space Harrier 2, and Golden Axe; the second added Sonic the Hedgehog to this selection. Eventually Sonic the Hedgehog 2 became available also. However, the unit could also be configured however the vendor desired - the internals consisted of a uncased Genesis PCB, a 10-slot multi-cart adapter, two built-in joysticks, and the appropriate coin-op and cart-switching hardware. This meant that, in theory, any title created for the Genesis hardware could be used in the MegaPlay unit, and vice versa. However, MegaPlay cartridges differed from standard Genesis cartridges in that they contained various encryption techniques and BIOS chips, to prevent unscrupulous arcade owners simply swapping in the cheaper retail cartridges. The cartridges were also shaped like standard Japanese Mega Drive cartridges, to prevent the games fitting into American and European home systems. It should also be noted that as the internal components of the games and hardware were no different from the home units and games, that all of the Genesis cheats for these titles also worked with their MegaPlay "arcade" versions.

Sega MegaPlay hardware.

The cabinet had two screens: a large gameplay screen, and a smaller instruction screen, located just above the main gameplay screen. Gameplay was timed via built-in hardware (the length of which could be set by the arcade owner using dipswitches inside the coin box). When you ran out of time, the gameplay screen would flash green and controller input would not be accepted, leaving the game unplayable until more credits were inserted.

The multicart adaptor used in the MegaPlay was later adapted and sold as an accessory for the home console - the 'Video Jukebox', which plugged into the console's cartridge slot.

Flyer scans


Sega Mega Drive
Topics Technical specifications (Hardware comparison) | History | List of games | Magazine articles | Promotional material | Merchandise | Cartridges | TradeMark Security System
Hardware Japan | North America | Western Europe | Eastern Europe | South America | Asia | South Korea | Australasia | Africa
EZ Games | Genesis 3 | LaserActive | Mega Jet | Mega PC | Mega Play | Mega-Tech System | Mega 6 | Nomad | Teradrive | Mega Drive Mini | Mega Drive Mini 2
New Mega Drive | Tianli VCD/DVD Players | "Consoles on a chip" | Licensed clones (Magic 2 | Mega Game II | Power Pegasus | Super Bitman)
Unlicensed clones
Add-ons Game Box | Power Base Converter | Mega-CD | 32X (Mega-CD 32X) | Mega Modem | Demo System DS-16
Cases Sega Genesis Nomad Carrying Case | System Carry Case
Controllers Control Pad | Six Button Control Pad | 6 Button Arcade Pad | Arcade Power Stick 6B | Konami Justifier | MK-1470
Action Chair | Activator | Arcade Power Stick | Keyboard | MegaFire | Mouse | Mega Stick | Menacer | Remote Arcade System | Ten Key Pad | Third Party Controllers
Accessories 4 Way Play | AC adaptor | Cleaning System | Control Pad Extension Cord | Game Factory | Genesis Speakers | Headset | HeartBeat Catalyst | Microphone | Region converter cartridges | Mega Terminal | Nomad PowerBack | RF Unit | SCART Cable | Stereo Audio Video Cable | Team Player | Video Monitor Cable | Third-party AC adaptors | Third Party Accessories
Network services Sega Channel | Sega Game Toshokan | Mega Anser | Mega Net | TeleBradesco Residência | XB∀ND
Development tools ERX 308P | ERX 318P | Sprobe | SNASM68K | SNASM2 (Mega Drive) | SNASM2 (32X) | PSY-Q Development System (Mega Drive) | PSY-Q Development System (32X) | 32X CartDev | Sega Mars Development Aid System | Sega 32X Development Target
Unreleased Edge 16 | Floppy Disk Drive | Mega Play 1010 | Sega VR | Teleplay System | Video Jukebox