Mega Play

From Sega Retro

Sega MegaPlay arcade machine.

The MegaPlay is an arcade cabinet, which used a JAMMA based system to run Sega Mega Drive hardware and software. It differs from the Mega-Tech arcade cabinet as coins increase credits instead of gameplay time. There were also no Master System game ports. Two Sonic games received ports, which are: Sonic the Hedgehog and Sonic the Hedgehog 2.

Hardware

The MegaPlay unit internals consisted of a uncased Genesis PCB, a 4-slot multi-cart adapter, two built-in joysticks, and the appropriate coin-op and cart-switching hardware. This meant that, in theory, any title created for the Genesis hardware could be used in the MegaPlay unit, and vice versa. However, MegaPlay cartridges differed from standard Genesis cartridges in that they contained various encryption techniques and BIOS chips, to prevent unscrupulous arcade owners simply swapping in the cheaper retail cartridges. The cartridges were also shaped like standard Japanese Mega Drive cartridges, to prevent the games fitting into American and European home systems.

The cabinet had two screens: a large gameplay screen, and a smaller instruction screen, located just above the main gameplay screen.

The multicart adaptor used in the MegaPlay was later adapted and sold as an accessory for the home console - the "Video Jukebox" or "MegaPlay 1010", which plugged into the console's cartridge slot.

Flyer scans


Sega Mega Drive
Topics Technical specifications (Hardware comparison) | History | List of games | Magazine articles | Promotional material | Merchandise | Cartridges | TradeMark Security System
Hardware Japan | North America | Western Europe | Eastern Europe | South America | Asia | South Korea | Australasia | Africa
EZ Games | LaserActive | Mega Jet | Mega PC | Mega Play | Mega-Tech System | Nomad | Teradrive | Mega Drive Mini | Mega Drive Mini 2
New Mega Drive | Tianli VCD/DVD Players | "Consoles on a chip" | Licensed clones (Magic 2 | Mega Game II | Power Pegasus | Super Bitman)
Unlicensed clones
Add-ons Game Box | Power Base Converter | Mega-CD | 32X (Mega-CD 32X) | Mega Modem | Demo System DS-16
Cases Sega Genesis Nomad Carrying Case | System Carry Case
Controllers Control Pad | Six Button Control Pad | 6 Button Arcade Pad | Arcade Power Stick 6B | Konami Justifier | MK-1470
Action Chair | Activator | Arcade Power Stick | Keyboard | MegaFire | Mouse | Mega Stick | Menacer | Remote Arcade System | Ten Key Pad | Third Party Controllers
Accessories 4 Way Play | Cleaning System | Control Pad Extension Cord | Genesis Speakers | Headset | HeartBeat Catalyst | Microphone | Region converter cartridges | Mega Terminal | Nomad PowerBack | RF Unit (Mega Drive 2) | SCART Cable (Mega Drive 2) | Stereo Audio Video Cable | Team Player | Video Monitor Cable | Third Party Accessories
Network services Sega Channel | Sega Game Toshokan | Mega Anser | Mega Net | TeleBradesco Residência | XB∀ND
Development tools ERX 308P | ERX 318P | Sprobe | SNASM68K | SNASM2 (Mega Drive) | SNASM2 (32X) | PSY-Q Development System (Mega Drive) | PSY-Q Development System (32X) | 32X CartDev | Sega Mars Development Aid System | Sega 32X Development Target
Unreleased Edge 16 | Floppy Disk Drive | Mega Play 1010 | Sega VR | Teleplay System | Video Jukebox