Unlicensed Mega Drive clones (Mega Drive)
From Sega Retro
In the early 1990s, Sega were unable or unwilling to release the original Sega Mega Drive in multiple markets at once. Instead the release was staggered across the globe between 1988 and 1992/1993, which meant that for many, the only short-term option was to import Mega Drive systems from countries like Japan. This was costly, and so Taiwanese firms often made their own to capitalise on this shortage. By the time this skill had been mastered, however, much of the world was supplied with the console by official vendors, so most older Mega Drive clones were only sold in regions such as South America.
Contents
- 1 South America
- 2 Poland
- 3 Others
- 3.1 Dr Super Star Drive
- 3.2 Generation 2
- 3.3 Genesis (unknown)
- 3.4 King Karol
- 3.5 Mega 16 Plus
- 3.6 Mega Drive (Kinyo)
- 3.7 Mega Drive (unknown)
- 3.8 Mega Drive (unknown)
- 3.9 Saga
- 3.10 SB-001/Niysa Assai P5
- 3.11 Siga
- 3.12 Super Creation
- 3.13 Samba Super Game
- 3.14 Super Mega
- 3.15 Laser Flash
- 3.16 Gamestar
- 3.17 Gentry IQ-1600
- 3.18 Super Mission SM-2001
- 3.19 Super Sinca(?)
- 3.20 Game Drive
- 3.21 Mega Drive 2000
- 3.22 Super Vega
- 4 Unsorted
South America
Mega Drive (Argevision)
Argevision made knock-off video game consoles and accessories for Argentina. This is their stab at the Mega Drive.
Super Songa
One of several attempts to crack the Mega Drive clone market by Songa. The box is based on KW-501 clone named Super Mega 16 Bit. Available in Argentina.
Poland
Hunt 16 bit
Sold by E-Moll.
Macro Drive
Sold by ElektroTEL.
Others
Dr Super Star Drive
Mega Drive clone made in China by Shenzhen Jichang Elec. Co.
DrSUPER Star Drive
Back label
Internals
Generation 2
Genesis (unknown)
Found in Indonesia. A Japanese-style Mega Drive with "Genesis" labeled on top.
King Karol
King Karol mascot as Sonic the Hedgehog
Mega 16 Plus
Mega Drive with a different label. The underside calls it a Dr. Super Star Drive, however it has a different to the console described above.
Mega 16 Plus
PCB
Mega Drive (Kinyo)
Bog standard Mega Drive clone by Kinyo. Found in South America.
Mega Drive (unknown)
A fairly boring Mega Drive clone which appears from time to time. Shipped with two odd-looking six button controllers and a multicart of some description, and the colours are off.
Mega Drive (unknown)
Mega Drive with 20 built in games. Found in Indonesia.
21 game variant
Saga
We have no clue about this one. This 2011 auction from seller dxghunterchen for 1,200 TWD has the title "SAGA 16 bit 電玩 主機 整套 含 ～ 1款卡匣 兩個把手 一個搖桿" and no product description — just the three photos below. It could be just a compilation showing an official Mega Drive with unofficial peripherals in an alternate Macro Drive box, but who knows for certain. The only identifiable peripheral is the HonyU Explorer-I one. The cart shown is Ma Jiang Qing Ren: Ji Ma Jiang Zhi.
SB-001/Niysa Assai P5
Made by "Family Game" in Taiwan and "Niysa IT Company" in Turkey. Standard Mega Drive clone with Mega CD support, but with no region encoding and a 50-60Hz switch. Despite the box art it is thought to have shipped with fairly standard three button controllers. PAL-B, PAL-D, PAL-I, PAL-N and NTSC variants supposedly exist. Includes built-in DOS-like operating system.
Siga
Mega Drive with a different label.
Siga
Super Creation
It has the Mega CD connector and and a secondary internal cartridge slot where a multicart pcb is plugged in. When there is no cartridge inserted into the main cartridge slot, it runs whatever cartridge is inserted into the internal cartridge slot. Uses a 5-pin DIN connector for the av-out, so it only outputs composite video (and rf). This one shipped with three button turbo controllers. Some models have been spotted lacking the internal cartridge slot.
Alt
Variant without internal cartridge slot.
Samba Super Game
Super Mega
Laser Flash
Gamestar
- MD Gamestar.jpg
Gentry IQ-1600
Super Mission SM-2001
Super Sinca(?)
Game Drive
Mega Drive 2000
Super Vega
Unsorted
- MDClone34 Top.jpg
- MDClone34 Bottom.jpg
- MD 1601-15 bootleg.jpg
