Difference between revisions of "Mega Play"

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[[Image:megaplay.jpg|frame|right|Sega MegaPlay hardware.]]
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:''This article is about the arcade system. For the US magazine, see [[Mega Play (magazine)]].''
The '''MegaPlay''' is an arcade console, created alongside [[Sega]]'s then-new [[Sega Genesis|Genesis]] hardware. The unit was developed in Japan, and hit coin-op arcades worldwide in 1989.
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| logo=MegaPlay logo.png
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| consoleimage=Megaplay2.png
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| maker=[[Sega]]
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The '''Mega Play''' is the name of a [[wikipedia:Japan Amusement Machinery Manufacturers Association|JAMMA]]-based [[arcade]] board with the ability to run [[Sega Mega Drive]] games. It was the second attempt by [[Sega]] to bring the home console to the arcades, following the [[Mega-Tech]] arcade system. Mega Play hardware saw a release throughout Asia and the PAL regions, but was not released in North America.
  
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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==Hardware==
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On first glance, a Mega Play machine is very similar to a Mega-Tech one, but there are a number of key differences. Both allow the user to select from a number of built-in games via a menu, however whereas Mega-Tech can hold up to eight cartridges, Mega Play hardware can only store four. Mega-Tech and Mega Play cartridges are not interchangeable, and both systems contain modifications to stop arcade owners from purchasing and running cheaper retail Mega Drive cartridges instead. Also unlike Mega-Tech hardware, no [[Sega Master System]] games were released for Mega Play hardware.
  
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 (Genesis)|Sonic the Hedgehog]] to this selection. 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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Though there were fewer games released for Mega Play hardware than Mega-Tech hardware, each game was modified for use in the arcades. With Mega-Tech, the user inserts coins for time, and can die as often as they want without repercussions. Mega Play differs in that a user pays for lives and is generally not hindered by time, similar to other arcade systems. All Mega Play games were modified to limit the number of extra chances (for example, ''[[Sonic the Hedgehog (16-bit)|Sonic the Hedgehog]]'' replaces all the extra life monitors).
  
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.
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The Mega Play system was seen as an upgrade to Mega-Tech, and could be housed within a Mega-Tech cabinet, which displays the contents of the bottom screen on the top screen. This is because the Mega Play only gets video output from JAMMA and connector CN8 (JST 6P) - CN8 is directly connected to the JAMMA video. On Mega-Tech, CN9 (JST 5P) would have the secondary video, however on Mega Play, that connector has data signals instead. Mega Play does not have a choice menu, and this is why the "Take Control" screen shows up before each demo when no credits are inserted, and when there's a credit inserted it just prompts the user to press the {{Select}} button to cycle through games. As a result, there's no other use for the second monitor besides mirroring the first one. Mega Play is made compatible with the Mega-Tech cabinet because it was sold as conversion hardware. There was no "Mega Play Cabinet" but rather repurposed Mega Tech cabinets.
  
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.
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==List of games==
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There are twelve games known to exist for the Mega Play hardware:
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{{multicol|
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{{CargoReleaseList
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| table=releases
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| query=console="megaplay"
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}}
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}}
  
[[Category:Genesis Hardware]]
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==Magazine articles==
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{{mainArticle|{{PAGENAME}}/Magazine articles}}
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==Promotional material==
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<gallery>
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MegaPlayFlyer.jpg|EU flyer
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</gallery>
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==Photo gallery==
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<gallery>
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megaplay.jpg|PCB (top)
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</gallery>
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==References==
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<references/>
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{{Sega Arcade Boards}}
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{{MegaDrive}}
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[[Category:Mega Drive hardware]]
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[[Category:Sega System series]]

Latest revision as of 09:59, 14 July 2024

This article is about the arcade system. For the US magazine, see Mega Play (magazine).
MegaPlay logo.png
Megaplay2.png
Mega Play
Manufacturer: Sega
Release Date RRP Code
Arcade
World
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The Mega Play is the name of a JAMMA-based arcade board with the ability to run Sega Mega Drive games. It was the second attempt by Sega to bring the home console to the arcades, following the Mega-Tech arcade system. Mega Play hardware saw a release throughout Asia and the PAL regions, but was not released in North America.

Hardware

On first glance, a Mega Play machine is very similar to a Mega-Tech one, but there are a number of key differences. Both allow the user to select from a number of built-in games via a menu, however whereas Mega-Tech can hold up to eight cartridges, Mega Play hardware can only store four. Mega-Tech and Mega Play cartridges are not interchangeable, and both systems contain modifications to stop arcade owners from purchasing and running cheaper retail Mega Drive cartridges instead. Also unlike Mega-Tech hardware, no Sega Master System games were released for Mega Play hardware.

Though there were fewer games released for Mega Play hardware than Mega-Tech hardware, each game was modified for use in the arcades. With Mega-Tech, the user inserts coins for time, and can die as often as they want without repercussions. Mega Play differs in that a user pays for lives and is generally not hindered by time, similar to other arcade systems. All Mega Play games were modified to limit the number of extra chances (for example, Sonic the Hedgehog replaces all the extra life monitors).

The Mega Play system was seen as an upgrade to Mega-Tech, and could be housed within a Mega-Tech cabinet, which displays the contents of the bottom screen on the top screen. This is because the Mega Play only gets video output from JAMMA and connector CN8 (JST 6P) - CN8 is directly connected to the JAMMA video. On Mega-Tech, CN9 (JST 5P) would have the secondary video, however on Mega Play, that connector has data signals instead. Mega Play does not have a choice menu, and this is why the "Take Control" screen shows up before each demo when no credits are inserted, and when there's a credit inserted it just prompts the user to press the  SELECT  button to cycle through games. As a result, there's no other use for the second monitor besides mirroring the first one. Mega Play is made compatible with the Mega-Tech cabinet because it was sold as conversion hardware. There was no "Mega Play Cabinet" but rather repurposed Mega Tech cabinets.

List of games

There are twelve games known to exist for the Mega Play hardware:

  • (199x)
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  • (199x)
  • (199x)
  • (199x)
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  • (199x)
  • (199x)
  • (199x)
  • (199x)

Magazine articles

Main article: Mega Play/Magazine articles.

Promotional material

Photo gallery

References


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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