Mega Drive consoles

The Sega Mega Drive (or Sega Genesis in North America) was arguably Sega's most successful video game console. Similar to the Sega Master System, it was marketed in countries Nintendo refused to touch, and as it was in constant battle with Nintendo many packages were released as time went on.

North America

Genesis (with Altered Beast)

Sega failed to win the naming rights for "Sega Mega Drive" in North America, so they stuck with the term "Sega Genesis" instead. Step one for Sega was to try and prove a 16-bit console was better than an 8-bit one, so their first release of the Genesis console was bundled with the arcade conversion, Altered Beast.

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Genesis II: The Core System

In 1998 Majesco were given the rights to distribute older Sega consoles in the region. They gave all their systems a slight touch up, and can be visually identified by the use of the term "The Core System" on the front (and also because all manufacturing was done in Mexico). Otherwise, this is a standard Genesis II with no pack-in games.

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  Front of box

Genesis 3

Main Article: Genesis 3

Majesco also made a cut-down version of the console, titled the Genesis 3. The smaller shell and PCB made it incompatible with many of the add-ons and as it was released so late, it failed to sell well.

Brazil

Main article: Tectoy Mega Drive

Asia

Mega Drive

The Asian-branded Mega Drive is very similar to its Japanese counterpart aside from one key difference - it was available in both PAL and NTSC regions. Annoyingly the console is still region locked, so extra care needed to be taken when buying games.

Mega Drive II

Unlike the first edition, the revised Mega Drive II recycled the Japanese packaging rather than coming up with something unique. It was bundled with a six-button control pad though.

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  Front of box (NTSC)

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Mega Drive II (green box)

The Mega Drive II was given a new green box later on in its lifespan, along with a set of games that follow a similar colour scheme. A second control pad was added.

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  Front of box (PAL)

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  Contents of box (PAL)

Europe

Mega Drive

The original Mega Drive package for Europe, debuting in 1990. It shipped with the earlier style European gamepad and with no pack-in games. In fact, it's the only version of the console not to have any game screenshots on its box, presumably because not many had been released by this point.

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Mega Drive (with Sonic the Hedgehog)

Like its North American and Japanese cousins, the Mega Drive was bundled with Sonic the Hedgehog in mid-1991, and was also sold with an extra control pad.

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Mega Drive (with Sonic the Hedgehog (One control pad))

Oddly the above model was replaced with this cut-down version, that lacked the extra control pad. Rather than produce a brand new box, Sega simply put a sticker over the image.

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Mega Drive (with Sonic the Hedgehog and Mega Games 1)

The two control pad bundle had Mega Games 1 added to the set in 1992.

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Mega Drive Combat Pack (with Mega Games 2)

Mega Games 2 replaces Mega Games 1 and the bundle is renamed "Mega Drive Combat Pack"

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  Front of box

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  Back of box

Mega Drive II

Back to square one with the Mega Drive II re-release, with two control pads but no games included.

Mega Drive II

And again there was a single control pad option without much change to the box outside of a sticker.

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Mega Drive II (with Sonic the Hedgehog 2)

The first Mega Drive II bundle threw in Sonic the Hedgehog 2 with two control pads.

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Mega Drive II (with Sonic Compilation)

A smaller than usual box with Sonic Compilation added.

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Mega Drive II (with Aladdin)

The Mega Drive version of Aladdin was a very big deal at the time of release, and so Sega started selling an Aladdin package. Most of these bundles recycled the standard box but added an extra outer cardboard sleeve.

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  Front of box

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  Back of box

Mega Drive II (with The Lion King)

Another bundle, but now with The Lion King' as the pack-in game.

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  Front of box

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Mega Drive II (with Sonic the Hedgehog 3)

Another bundle, but now with Sonic the Hedgehog 3' as the pack-in game.

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Mega Drive II (with Sonic & Knuckles)

Another bundle, but now with Sonic & Knuckles' as the pack-in game.

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Mega Drive II (with Virtua Racing)

In an attempt to combat Star Fox on the SNES, Sega released Virtua Racing and also bundled it with a Sega Mega Drive II.

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Mega Drive II (with Mega Games 6 Volume 1)

Mega Games 6 Volume 1 was bundled with the Mega Drive II for a short period, and the box openly advertised the Sega Mega CD and Sega 32X add-ons.

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  Front of box

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Mega Drive II (with Toy Story)

Another bundle, but now with Toy Story' as the pack-in game.

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Mega Drive Big 6 Pack (with Mega 6 Volume 3)

Released late in the console's lifespan, the Big 6 pack boasts the 6-game compilation Mega 6 Volume 3 and a six button control pad.

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  Front of box

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  Back of box