Difference between revisions of "Mega Drive consoles in North America"

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The Sega Mega Drive debuted in North America in August 1989, with a regionwide release in September of that year. Due to trademark issues, it was renamed the "Sega Genesis", and has always operated under this name under this region.

In the US, the console was distributed by Sega between 1989 and 1997. It was then passed to Majesco, who kept the system alive for an extra two years before it was shelved. In Canada, the Mega Drive was distributed by Irwin Toy in its early years, however Sega inevitably took back the distribution rights when the console proved successful. Many Canadian units and games were imported from the US.

All North American units output an NTSC signal.

United States

Name	Distributor	Date & Price	Console	Hardware	Software	Documentation
Genesis	Sega of America	US: $200.00200.00 (1989-08-14)	??	Control Pad	Altered Beast
Genesis Value Pak	Sega of America	US: (≥ 1991)	??	Control Pad (x2)	Altered Beast
Genesis	Sega of America	US: $149.99149.99 (1991)	??	Control Pad	Sonic the Hedgehog
Genesis Value Pak	Sega of America	US: (≥ 1991)	??	Control Pad	Sonic the Hedgehog
Genesis up to $200 Value Pak	Sega of America	US: (≥ 1991)	??	Control Pad	Sonic the Hedgehog
Genesis	Sega of America	US: (≥ 1991)	??	Control Pad	Sonic the Hedgehog
Genesis Sonic System	Sega of America	US: $129.99129.99^[1] (1992-04-29)	??	Control Pad	Sonic the Hedgehog
Genesis: The Core System	Sega of America	US: $99.9999.99^[1] (1992)	??	Control Pad
Genesis Fighting System	Sega of America	US: (1993)	??	Control Pad	Streets of Rage 2
Genesis Coming Soon Eternal Champions	Sega of America	US: (1993)	??	Control Pad
Genesis: The Core System	Sega of America	US: (≥ 1993)	??	Control Pad
Genesis: Sonic 2 System	Sega of America	US: (≥ 1993)	??	Control Pad	Sonic the Hedgehog 2
Genesis: The Core System	Sega of America	US: (≥ 1993)	??	Control Pad
Genesis: Sonic 2 System MK-1614S	Sega of America	US: (≥ 1993)	??	Control Pad	Sonic the Hedgehog 2
Genesis: Sonic 2 System	Sega of America	US: (≥ 1993)	??	Control Pad	Sonic the Hedgehog 2
Genesis: X-Men System	Sega of America	US: (≥ 1993)	??	Control Pad X-Men T-Shirt	X-Men
Genesis: Wal-Mart Special Buy	Sega of America	US: (≥ 1993)	??	Control Pad	Greatest Heavyweights Wimbledon Championship Tennis
Genesis	Sega of America	US: (≥ 1993)	??	Control Pad	Sonic Spinball
Genesis	Sega of America	US: (≥ 1993)	??	Control Pad	Sonic Spinball
Genesis	Sega of America	US: (≥ 1993)	??	Control Pad	Eternal Champions
Genesis: Sonic 2 System	Sega of America	US: (≥ 1994)	??	Control Pad	Sonic the Hedgehog 2
Genesis: Sonic 2 System 5 Free Game Rentals	Sega of America	US: (≥ 1994)	??	Control Pad	Sonic the Hedgehog 2
Genesis: Sonic 2 System Free Vision Magazine Included	Sega of America	US: (≥ 1994)	??	Control Pad	Sonic the Hedgehog 2	Vision magazine
Genesis: Sonic 2 System Value Pack	Sega of America	US: (≥ 1994)	??	Control Pad	Sonic the Hedgehog 2
Genesis: Sega Sports System	Sega of America	US: $149.99149.99^[2] (1994)	MK-1631	Control Pad (x2) Stadium Cushion	NFL Football '94 Starring Joe Montana
Genesis NFL Pack	Sega of America	US: (≥ 1994)	??	Control Pad	NFL '95
Genesis Lion King Pack 1945	Sega of America	US: (1994)	??	Control Pad	The Lion King
Genesis	Sega of America	US: (≥ 1994)	??	Control Pad	The Lion King Disney's Aladdin
Genesis	Sega of America	US: (≥ 1994)	??	Control Pad	Sub-Terrania Sonic the Hedgehog 3
Genesis Sonic System	Sega of America	US: (≥ 1994)	??	Control Pad	Sonic the Hedgehog Taz in Escape from Mars
Genesis: College Football's National Championship Pack	Sega of America	US: (≥ 1994)	??	Control Pad	College Football's National Championship
Genesis 1969	Sega of America	US: (≥ 1995)	??	Control Pad	6 Pak
Genesis Garfield: Caught in the Act Pack	Sega of America	US: (≥ 1995)	??	Control Pad	Garfield: Caught in the Act
Genesis College Football's National Championship II Pack 1437	Sega of America	US: (≥ 1995)	??	Control Pad	College Football's National Championship II
Genesis 1960	Sega of America	US: (≥ 199x)	??	Control Pad	Columns
Genesis	Sega of America	US: (≥ 199x)	??	Control Pad	Mighty Morphin Power Rangers (Mega Drive) Columns
Genesis NFL '95/Comix Zone Pack	Sega of America	US: (≥ 1995)	??	Control Pad	NFL '95 Comix Zone
Genesis Super Sports Pack	Sega of America	US: (≥ 1995)	??	Control Pad	NBA Action '94 NFL '95 NHL All-Star Hockey '95
Genesis Touchdown Pack	Sega of America	US: (≥ 1995)	??	Control Pad	Prime Time NFL Starring Deion Sanders
Genesis: SuperSonic System	Sega of America	US: $139.99139.99 (1996-04^[3])	??	Control Pad	Sonic the Hedgehog 3 Sonic and Knuckles
Genesis Homerun Pack	Sega of America	US: $99.9999.99^[3] (1996-05^[3])	??	Control Pad	World Series Baseball '95
Genesis 1426	Sega of America	US: $99.9999.99^[3] (1996-10^[3])	??	Control Pad	Sonic & Knuckles
Genesis 1427	Sega of America	US: $99.9999.99^[3] (1996-10^[3])	??	Control Pad	Vectorman
Genesis: 6 games inside 1969	Sega of America	US: $129.99129.99^[3] (1996-11^[3])	??	Control Pad	6 Pak
Genesis: 6 games inside + bonus Bugs Bunny Double Trouble	Sega of America	US: (≥ 1997)	??	Control Pad	6 Pak Bugs Bunny in Double Trouble
Genesis Includes Vectorman 2	Sega of America	US: (≥ 1997)	??	Control Pad	Vectorman 2
Genesis: The Core System	Majesco Sales	US: (≥ 1998)	??	Control Pad

Genesis 3

Main article: Genesis 3.

Canada

Name	Distributor	Date & Price	Console	Hardware	Software
Genesis	Irwin Electronics	CA: (≥ 1989)	??	Control Pad	Altered Beast
Genesis	Irwin Electronics	CA: (≥ 1991)	??	Control Pad
Genesis	Irwin Electronics	CA: (≥ 1991)	MK-1601-22	Control Pad	Sonic the Hedgehog
Genesis: The Core System	Irwin Electronics	CA: (≥ 1992)	??	Control Pad
Genesis: The Sonic System	Irwin Electronics	CA: (≥ 1992)	??	Control Pad	Sonic the Hedgehog
Genesis: The Core System	Sega of Canada	CA: (≥ 1993)	??	Control Pad
Genesis: Sonic 2 System	Sega of Canada	CA: (≥ 1993)	??	Control Pad	Sonic the Hedgehog 2 Ecco the Dolphin
Genesis: The Core System	Sega of Canada	CA: (≥ 1993)	??	Control Pad
Genesis: Sonic 2 System	Sega of Canada	CA: (≥ 1993)	??	Control Pad	Sonic the Hedgehog 2
Genesis: Sonic 2 System	Sega of Canada	CA: (≥ 1993)	??	Control Pad	Sonic the Hedgehog 2 X-Men
Genesis: The Core System	Sega of Canada	CA: (≥ 1993)	??	Control Pad	NFL Football '94 Starring Joe Montana
Genesis Bonus Offer	Sega of Canada	CA: (≥ 1993)		Control Pad	Sonic the Hedgehog 2 NFL Football '94 Starring Joe Montana
Genesis	Sega of Canada	CA: (≥ 1993)	??	Control Pad	Sonic Spinball
Genesis	Sega of Canada	CA: (≥ 1993)	??	Control Pad	The Ren & Stimpy Show Presents Stimpy's Invention
Genesis	Sega of Canada	CA: (≥ 1994)	??	Control Pad
Genesis	Sega of Canada	CA: (≥ 1994)	??	Control Pad	The Lion King
Genesis	Sega of Canada	CA: (≥ 1995)	??	Control Pad	6 Pak
Genesis Mega Deal	Sega of Canada	CA: (≥ 1995)	??	Control Pad	6 Pak

Mexico

Name	Distributor	Date & Price	Console	Hardware	Software
Genesis	DISAM	MX: (≥ 1991)	??	Control Pad	Altered Beast
Genesis	DISAM	MX: (≥ 1992)	??	Control Pad	Sonic the Hedgehog
Genesis: The Core System	DISAM	MX: (≥ 1993)	??	Control Pad

References

↑ ^1.0 ^1.1 Sega Visions, "August/September 1992" (US; 1992-xx-xx), page 6
↑ VideoGames, "July 1994" (US; 1994-0x-xx), page 82
↑ ^3.0 ^3.1 ^3.2 ^3.3 ^3.4 ^3.5 ^3.6 ^3.7 ^3.8 Sega FY 1997 Brand Review, page 3

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

[:File:SegaVisions_US_09.pdf_p6-1] 1.0 ^1.1 Sega Visions, "August/September 1992" (US; 1992-xx-xx), page 6

[:File:VideoGames_US_66.pdf_p82-2] VideoGames, "July 1994" (US; 1994-0x-xx), page 82

[:File:SegaFY1997BrandReview_US.pdf_p3-3] 3.0 ^3.1 ^3.2 ^3.3 ^3.4 ^3.5 ^3.6 ^3.7 ^3.8 Sega FY 1997 Brand Review, page 3

[1]

[2]

[3]

@@ Line 2: / Line 2: @@
 The [[Sega Mega Drive]] debuted in North America in August 1989, with a regionwide release in September of that year. Due to trademark issues, it was renamed the "Sega Genesis", and has always operated under this name under this region.
-In the US, the console was distributed by Sega between 1989 and 1997. It was then passed to [[Majesco]], who kept the system alive for an extra two years before it was shelved. In Canada, the Mega Drive was distributed by [[Irwin Toy]] in its early years, however Sega inevitably took back the distribution rights when the console proved successful. Many Canadian units and games were imported from the US. The [[Genesis 3]] was also released in this region.
+In the US, the console was distributed by Sega between 1989 and 1997. It was then passed to [[Majesco]], who kept the system alive for an extra two years before it was shelved. In Canada, the Mega Drive was distributed by [[Irwin Toy]] in its early years, however Sega inevitably took back the distribution rights when the console proved successful. Many Canadian units and games were imported from the US.
 All North American units output an NTSC signal.
@@ Line 39: / Line 39: @@
-| dateprice={{DatePrice|US||{{gte}} 1989}}
+| dateprice={{DatePrice|US||{{gte}} 1991}}
 | console=Genesis HD.png
@@ Line 1,059: / Line 1,059: @@
 }}
 }}
+===Genesis 3===
+{{mainArticle|Genesis 3}}
 ==Canada==
@@ Line 1,092: / Line 1,095: @@
 | distributor=[[Irwin Electronics]]
-| dateprice={{DatePrice|CA||{{gte}} 1989}}
+| dateprice={{DatePrice|CA||{{gte}} 1991}}
 | console=Genesis1.jpg
@@ Line 1,187: / Line 1,190: @@
 | name=Genesis: Sonic 2 System
 | distributor=[[Sega of Canada]]
-| dateprice={{DatePrice|CA||{{gte}} 1992}}
+| dateprice={{DatePrice|CA||{{gte}} 1993}}
 | console=Genesis2.jpg
@@ Line 1,239: / Line 1,242: @@
 {{ConsoleRelease
-| front=
+| front=Notavailable.svg
+| back=
+| spinemissing=yes
+| square=yes
+| name=Genesis: Sonic 2 System
+| dateprice={{DatePrice|CA||{{gte}} 1993}}
+| distributor=[[Sega of Canada]]
+| console=Genesis2.jpg
+| consolecode=??
+| hard1=Pad gen v3.jpg
+| hard1name=[[Control Pad (Mega Drive)|Control Pad]]
+| soft1=Notavailable.svg
+| soft1name=''[[Sonic the Hedgehog 2 (16-bit)|Sonic the Hedgehog 2]]''
+| soft2=Notavailable.svg
+| soft2name=''[[X-Men]]''
+| sof3=Notavailable.svg
+| sof31name=''[[Evander Holyfield's "Real Deal" Boxing]]''
+}}
+{{ConsoleRelease
+| front=Notavailable.svg
 | back=
 | spinemissing=
@@ Line 1,298: / Line 1,325: @@
 | soft1=Notavailable.svg
 | soft1name=''[[Sonic Spinball]]''
+}}
+{{ConsoleRelease
+| front=Notavailable.svg
+| back=
+| spinemissing=yes
+| square=yes
+| name=Genesis
+| dateprice={{DatePrice|CA||{{gte}} 1993}}
+| distributor=[[Sega of Canada]]
+| console=Genesis2.jpg
+| consolecode=??
+| hard1=Pad gen v3.jpg
+| hard1name=[[Control Pad (Mega Drive)|Control Pad]]
+| soft1=Notavailable.svg
+| soft1name=''[[The Ren & Stimpy Show Presents Stimpy's Invention]]''
 }}
 {{ConsoleRelease
@@ Line 1,355: / Line 1,402: @@
 {{ConsoleRelease
-| front=
+| front=Notavailable.svg
 | back=
 | spinemissing=