Difference between revisions of "Mega Drive consoles"

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(Replaced content with "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 ...")
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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.
 
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.
 
=Japan=
 
 
=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]]''.
 
<gallery>
 
File:SgenAB US Box Front.jpg|Front of box
 
File:SgenAB US Box Back.jpg|Back of box
 
</gallery>
 
 
==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.
 
<gallery>
 
File:SGen2Majesco US Box Front.jpg|Front of box
 
</gallery>
 
==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.
 
<gallery>
 
 
</gallery>
 
 
=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.
 
<gallery>
 
 
</gallery>
 
==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.
 
<gallery>
 
File:SMD2NTSC Asia Box Front.jpg|Front of box (NTSC)
 
File:SMD2NTSC Asia Box Back.jpg|Back of box (NTSC)
 
</gallery>
 
 
==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 color scheme. A second control pad was added.
 
<gallery>
 
File:Asian md2 box front.jpg|Front of box (PAL)
 
File:Asian md2 box back.jpg|Back of box (PAL)
 
File:Asian md2 box inside.jpg|Contents of box (PAL)
 
</gallery>
 
 
=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.
 
<gallery>
 
File:SMD EU Box Front.jpg|Front of box
 
File:SMD EU Box Back.jpg|Back of box
 
</gallery>
 
 
==Mega Drive (with ''[[Sonic the Hedgehog (16-bit)|Sonic the Hedgehog]]'')==
 
Like its North American and Japanese cousins, the Mega Drive was bundled with ''[[Sonic the Hedgehog (16-bit)|Sonic the Hedgehog]]'' in mid-1991, and was also sold with an extra control pad.
 
<gallery>
 
File:SMDS1 EU Box Front.jpg|Front of box
 
File:SMDS1 EU Box Back.jpg|Back of box
 
</gallery>
 
==Mega Drive (with ''[[Sonic the Hedgehog (16-bit)|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.
 
<gallery>
 
File:SMDS11G EU Box Front.jpg|Front of box
 
File:SMDS11G EU Box Back.jpg|Back of box
 
</gallery>
 
==Mega Drive (with ''[[Sonic the Hedgehog (16-bit)|Sonic the Hedgehog]]'' and ''[[Mega Games 1]]'')==
 
The two control pad bundle had ''[[Mega Games 1]]'' added to the set in 1992.
 
<gallery>
 
File:SMDS1MG1 EU Box Front.jpg|Front of box
 
File:SMDS1MG1 EU Box Back.jpg|Back of box
 
</gallery>
 
==Mega Drive Combat Pack (with ''[[Mega Games 2]]'')==
 
''[[Mega Games 2]]'' replaces ''Mega Games 1'' and the bundle is renamed "Mega Drive Combat Pack"
 
<gallery>
 
File:SMDCP EU Box Front.jpg|Front of box
 
File:SMDCP EU Box Back.jpg|Back of box
 
</gallery>
 
==Mega Drive II==
 
Back to square one with the Mega Drive II re-release, with two control pads but no games included.
 
<gallery>
 
 
</gallery>
 
==Mega Drive II==
 
And again there was a single control pad option without much change to the box outside of a sticker.
 
<gallery>
 
File:SMD21G EU Box Front.jpg|Front of box
 
File:SMD21G EU Box Back.jpg|Back of box
 
</gallery>
 
==Mega Drive II (with ''[[Sonic the Hedgehog 2 (16-bit)|Sonic the Hedgehog 2]]'')==
 
The first Mega Drive II bundle threw in ''[[Sonic the Hedgehog 2 (16-bit)|Sonic the Hedgehog 2]]'' with two control pads.
 
<gallery>
 
File:SMD2S2 EU Box Front.jpg|Front of box
 
File:SMD2S2 EU Box Back.jpg|Back of box
 
</gallery>
 
==Mega Drive II (with ''[[Sonic Compilation]]'')==
 
A smaller than usual box with ''[[Sonic Compilation]]'' added.
 
<gallery>
 
File:SMD2SC EU Box Front.jpg|Front of box
 
File:SMD2SC EU Box Back.jpg|Back of box
 
</gallery>
 
==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.
 
<gallery>
 
File:SMD2Aladdin EU Box Front.jpg|Front of box
 
File:SMD2Aladdin EU Box Back.jpg|Back of box
 
</gallery>
 
==Mega Drive II (with ''[[The Lion King]]'')==
 
Another bundle, but now with ''[[The Lion King]]' as the pack-in game.
 
<gallery>
 
File:SMD2TLK EU Box Front.jpg|Front of box
 
File:SMD2TLK EU Box Back.jpg|Back of box
 
</gallery>
 
==Mega Drive II (with ''[[Sonic the Hedgehog 3]]'')==
 
Another bundle, but now with ''[[Sonic the Hedgehog 3]]' as the pack-in game.
 
<gallery>
 
File:SMD2S3 EU Box Front.jpg|Front of box
 
File:SMD2S3 EU Box Back.jpg|Back of box
 
File:Megadrive2 box1.jpg|Alternate box (front)
 
</gallery>
 
 
==Mega Drive II (with ''[[Sonic & Knuckles]]'')==
 
Another bundle, but now with ''[[Sonic & Knuckles]]' as the pack-in game.
 
<gallery>
 
File:SMD2SaK EU Box Front.jpg|Front of box
 
File:SMD2SaK EU Box Back.jpg|Back of box
 
</gallery>
 
==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.
 
<gallery>
 
File:SMD2VR EU Box Front.jpg|Front of box
 
File:SMD2VR EU Box Back.jpg|Back of box
 
</gallery>
 
==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.
 
<gallery>
 
File:SMD2M61 EU Box Front.jpg|Front of box
 
File:SMD2M61 EU Box Back.jpg|Back of box
 
</gallery>
 
==Mega Drive II (with ''[[Toy Story]]'')==
 
Another bundle, but now with ''[[Toy Story]]'' as the pack-in game.
 
<gallery>
 
File:SMD2TS EU Box Front.jpg|Front of box
 
File:SMD2TS EU Box Back.jpg|Back of box
 
</gallery>
 
==Mega Drive II (with ''[[Mega Games 6 Volume 2]]'')==
 
Another bundle, but now with ''[[Mega Games 6 Volume 2]]'' as the pack-in game.
 
<gallery>
 
File:SMD2 MG6V2 EU Box Front.jpg|Front of box
 
File:SMD2 MG6V2 EU Box Back.jpg|Back of box
 
</gallery>
 
 
==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.
 
<gallery>
 
File:SMD2B6P EU Box Front.jpg|Front of box
 
File:SMD2B6P EU Box Back.jpg|Back of box
 
</gallery>
 
 
  
 
[[Category:Sega Mega Drive]]
 
[[Category:Sega Mega Drive]]

Revision as of 07:17, 23 January 2011

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.