Mega Drive consoles in South America

From Sega Retro

Sega had many distribution partners for markets all over the world, but their Brazillian partner, Tec Toy is arguably the most notable. In Brazil and other countries in South America, piracy can be high and so can the prices of imported video games consoles. In the late 1980s Sega partnered with Tec Toy to deliver Sega goods at an affordable price, gaining about 80% of the Brazillian market in the process thanks to a lack of competition from Nintendo. The Sega Master System was a great success for Tec Toy, but it wasn't long until consumers wanted the Sega Mega Drive, which first went on sale in Japan in late 1988.

In order to reduce the reasons for importing Tec Toy produced several versions of the Mega Drive from the early 1990s to the present day, most exclusive to Brazil. This page documents them all.

Sega Mega Drive

Their first Mega Drive-related release was the standard Sega Mega Drive, seen in other countries. Tec Toy's original model is a hybrid between the Japanese, North American and European Mega Drive/Genesis 1s. It has the red dome base of the Japanese model, a similar logo design of the American Genesis and the packaging and other finishes of a PAL Mega Drive. It shipped with a three button controller and a copy of Altered Beast, just like in other regions.

Sega Mega Drive II (with Sonic the Hedgehog)

When the pack-in game was changed to that of Sonic the Hedgehog, so was the console's name. Now the system was called the "Sega Mega Drive II" despite offering the same hardware as the original release. The box design was changed slightly to reflect the existence of other titles, but the rest is identical.

Sega Mega Drive II (with Sonic the Hedgehog 2)

Two changes here - now the pack in game is Sonic the Hedgehog 2 and the Sega Mega CD is acknowledged. Other than that, the package is identical.

Sega Mega Drive III (with 10 game compilation cartridge)

What was known as the Sega Mega Drive II in other regions is known as the Sega Mega Drive III in Brazil, though the first release did little to advertise this. The word "Mega Drive III" is printed on the box, but only with the specifications. This particular model is not compatible with any of the add-ons (Mega CD, 32X) making it a fairly poor release in comparison to the earlier models. Because it's of the Mega Drive II design, it is also incompatible with the Master System Conveter, despite that once being a selling point of the console.

Sega Mega Drive III (with Sonic the Hedgehog 2)

Sonic 2 returns as a pack-in game, as does Sega Mega CD support. By this stage Tec Toy claim there are 150 different Mega Drive games in the region. It also clearly labels the console as MEGA DRIVE III, in the same red stylings of the game boxes Tec Toy were now using.

Sega Mega Drive III (with 6-pak)

Similar to North America, this Mega Drive III is bundled with the 6-pak compilation. Again not compatible with the Sega Mega CD.

Sega Mega Drive III (with 6-pak) Genesis Version

Possibly due to a lack of stock, Tec Toy imported a few North American Sega Genesis consoles to fill the gap. They can be identified by the 110V warnings and "GENESIS SERIES" stickers.

Sega Mega Drive III (with Mortal Kombat II)

A version bundled with Mortal Kombat II. Shipped with two six-button controllers so the game could be played to its full potential.

Sega Mega Drive III (with Mortal Kombat III)

A version bundled with Mortal Kombat III, also with six button controllers.

Sega Mega Drive III (with Street Fighter II: Special Champion Edition)

A version bundled with Street Fighter II: Special Champion Edition, also with six button controllers. Just the one controller this time around.

Sega Mega Drive III (with FIFA International Soccer)

A version bundled with FIFA International Soccer with two with six button controllers.

Sega Mega Drive III (with FIFA Soccer 95)

Exactly the same, but now with FIFA Soccer 95.

Sega Mega Drive III (with Virtua Racing)

These Mega Drive IIIs may not have expansion ports, but they still seem to be able to support Virtua Racing, as this bundle suggests.

Sega Super Mega Drive III (with 10 built-in games)

Realising that people were buying six button controllers with turbo features, Tec Toy decided to include some official ones in this Super Mega Drive III package.

This release also came with 10 built in games:

Sega Super Mega Drive III (with 10 built-in games) (blue box)

Exactly the same as above, but with a redesigned box, possibly to go with Tec Toy's redesigned logo.

Sega Super Mega Drive III (with Show do Milhão)

No built in games this time, but one of Tec Toy's original games, Show do Milhão as a pack-in.

Sega Super Mega Drive III (with 12 built-in games)

Another release. It's the same as the 10 built-in games version, but also includes Show do Milhão and its sequel, Show do Milhão 2.

Sega Super Mega Drive III (with 30 built-in games)

Tec Toy beef up Super Mega Drive III with a further 18 games, bringing the total to 30 built-in games:

Sega Super Mega Drive III (with 43 built-in games)

Another 13 games were added to the bulit-in menu, though the lineup is slightly different.

Non-cartridge releases

Tec Toy continue to produce Mega Drives today, but in recent years have closed the cartridge flap and rely completely on built-in games. The Mega Drive 3 branding would continue with the Mega Drive 3 (200X) (71 built-in games), Mega Drive 3 (200X) (81 built-in games) and Mega Drive 3 (2008) (86 built-in games). They would also eventually release the Tectoy Mega Drive 4.

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