New Mega Drive
From Sega Retro
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The South Korean "New Mega Drive" is an unusual Sega Mega Drive console sold only in South Korea. Very little is known about the product aside from the photographs shown on this page. It appears to have been another cost-reduced Sega Mega Drive console, going along side the Mega Drive Model II and the Genesis 3. It is assumed that it was released into the South Korean market quite late and was less successful than previous models, hence its absence from western gaming media.
This Mega Drive is unusual as it bears the Sega logo, uses the name "Mega Drive" and does not appear to have been distributed by Samsung. Tensions between Japan and South Korea meant that Samsung were previously responsible for distribution of Sega's consoles within the region, releasing their rebranded Super Gam*Boy, Super Aladdin Boy and Super Aladdin Boy II in the place of the Japanese Sega Mega Drive (2). By the end of the decade it became less of a sin to promote the Sega brand, and several South Korean Mega Drive games (such as Sonic Classics, seen in the above photo) were distributed by other companies.
It is currently unknown who is responsible for this console or whether it had official backing (only that it is "Powered by Sega"). The console's shell has not been seen in use outside of South Korea, however the controllers appear to be derived from Japanese model six-button control pads.
Gallery
Front of box
- MegaDrive Korea 2.jpg
Contents of box
