Mega Play
From Sega Retro
- This article is about the arcade system. For the US magazine, see Mega Play (magazine).
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| Mega Play | |||||
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| Manufacturer: Sega | |||||
| Variants: Mega-Tech System, System C, System 18, Mega Drive | |||||
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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. Like Mega-Tech hardware, Mega Play hardware saw a release throughout Asia and the PAL regions, but was not released in North America.
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 he or she wants 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. Like Mega-Tech it was designed with two monitors in mind, one for game selection (top) and one for the game itself (bottom), however once a game is selected the top screen will display the contents of the bottom screen, allowing passers by to see the game in action and hopefully persuade them to have a go.
List of Games
There are twelve games known to exist for the Mega Play hardware:
- Bio-Hazard Battle (1992)
- Columns III (1993)
- Golden Axe II (1991)
- Grand Slam (1993)
- Gunstar Heroes (1993)
- Mazin Wars / Mazin Saga (1993)
- Shinobi III (1993)
- Sonic the Hedgehog (1991)
- Sonic the Hedgehog 2 (1992)
- Streets of Rage (1991)
- Streets of Rage II (1992)
- Tecmo World Cup (1992)
Image Gallery
Arcade flyer.
Sega Mega Play PCB.
Magazine Article
Mean Machines Sega #22 (August 1994) (AOU Show 1994)
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