Unlicensed Mega Drive clones
From Sega Retro
The Sega Mega Drive was a commonly cloned console during the 1990s, especially in smaller markets. There are potentially hundreds of different models, though few have been documented on the internet. This page covers some of the consoles that we know exist, but don't know much else about.
This list covers consoles whose origins are not yet confirmed, were sold in multiple markets, or whose known details are not yet sufficient to warrant its own page. Most were manufactured in the far East, however it is not always known which markets they were sold in.
- Unlicensed Mega Drive clones (Russia)
- Unlicensed Mega Drive clones (South America)
- Unlicensed Mega Drive clones (South Korea)
Contents
- 1 BBK
- 2 Mega Drive 2
- 2.1 Genesis
- 2.2 Macro Drive
- 2.3 Mega Drive 2 (Kontorland)
- 2.4 Mega Drive 2 (MG Electronics Industry Co., Ltd)
- 2.5 Mega Drive 2 (Neon)
- 2.6 Mega Drive 2 (Sego)
- 2.7 Mega Drive 2 (unknown)
- 2.8 Mega Drive 2 (unknown)
- 2.9 Mega Drive 2 (Unknown)
- 2.10 Mega Drive 2 (unknown)
- 2.11 Mega Drive 2 (unknown)
- 2.12 Mega Drive 2 (unknown)
- 2.13 Mega Drive 2 (unknown)
- 2.14 Mega Drive 2 (unknown)
- 2.15 Mega Drive 2 (unknown)
- 2.16 Mega Drive 2 (unknown)
- 2.17 Mega Game II
- 2.18 Sedaa
- 2.19 Star Drive 2
- 2.20 16 Bits ("The Alien System")
- 2.21 Nicom
- 2.22 Super Alpha II
- 3 Genesis 3
- 4 Others
BBK
Mega Drive in a Playstation-like case. Made by BBK (步步高). Compatible with Mega CD.This Model clone was release in 1996 by BBG company (a Chinese company and has renamed to "BBK" now, it is the "VIVO" and "OPPO Digital" parent company).Because the Sony Playstation design patent, it was saled only in China and not be experted to Russia and Brazil.
Mega Drive 2
From the mid-to-late 90s the Mega Drive template of choice predictably became the cost-reduced Mega Drive 2. Similar to before clones of this system became popular in South America, although there was also a following in parts of Asia. The simplified design of the Mega Drive 2 makes it very easy to reproduce - the number of Mega Drive 2 clones worldwide far exceeds that of other Sega clones, and was even the basis for some Famiclones.
Genesis
These "hybrid" Mega Drive 2s borrowing elements from both the Japanese and North American releases of the console are relatively common in South America. They shipped in Genesis 2 boxes (based on the Canadian packaging), however the instruction manuals call the system "Mega Drive 2".
Macro Drive
Originates from Taiwan.
Mega Drive 2 (Kontorland)
Asian born clone found in South America. Shipped with PlayStation-style controllers.
Mega Drive 2 clone by Kontorland
Mega Drive 2 (MG Electronics Industry Co., Ltd)
Chinese-born Mega Drive 2 clone with slight colour differences. The board is dated 19th October 2001.
Mega Drive 2 (Neon)
Neon also made Mega Drive controllers. The box is similar to a North American Genesis model 2.
Mega Drive 2 (Sego)
Mega Drive 2 (unknown)
This is perhaps the mother of all Mega Drive 2 clones. Not only is it fairly common, it sticks as closely as possible to the original Mega Drive 2 design so is very difficult to spot. Although build quality (and weight) are an obvious giveaway to its illegitimacy, from still photographs the situation is far less clear, as the box design mimicks that of the rarely seen West Asian variety, seen prodominently in Turkey and the Gulf states (Japanese-style console, European-style packaging).
Sega opted mainly for boxes that flipped open from the top, while typically these clones open from the side. Predictably it is frequently confused with the real thing, made worse by the fact it is likely more common than its official counterparts
Both one and two control pad variants exist. It is only assumed at this stage that they were both made by the same company. Sightings suggest they may only accept RF video connectors, but may support the Sega Mega-CD.
- MD2Clone9 Box Front.jpg
- MD2Clone23 MD Box Front.jpg
Mega Drive 2 (unknown)
Similar to the above. Copied European packaging showing a Japanese-style system, however here all Sega branding is removed. Common in Russia.
Mega Drive 2 (Unknown)
This one is from South America and it's very telling of the state of the unlicensed game market in the region - this one is labeled "NEW 2009" so there must still be a demand for these things.
Mega Drive 2 (unknown)
These Mega Drive 2s from Chinese based, Dubai owned Gigatron were produced with minimal changes and distributed in the Middle East in the mid-2000s the present day. Each one comes with a "132-in-1" multicart (later raised to 368) (which of course has far fewer than the advertised number of games).
Mega Drive 2 (unknown)
North Amercan-style packaging, but same knock-off Japanese console you'll find elsewhere. Some adopt the North American colour scheme however.
Mega Drive 2 (unknown)
Here an 368-in-1 multicart gets a mention on the system itself.
Mega Drive 2 (unknown)
A close copy of the "green" Asian model, but with a number of subtle differences.
Mega Drive 2 (unknown)
Mega Drive 2 (unknown)
More Chinese-built Arab-sold Mega Drive 2s. Poor picture quality makes it difficult to deduce where they're from - could be StarGame, could be Gigatron. Other colours exist.
Mega Drive 2 (unknown)
Mega Game II
Released exclusively in Portugal, this is a unofficial Mega Drive II console licensed (contrary to belief) by Sega and manufactured by Ecoplay.There are two known versions of Mega Game II,both are region free, one is autoplay (once the cartridge is inserted the region is self-detected),the other (the rarest of the two) has a switch (located under the console) and curiously can force PAL games to run at 60hz.Both versions came bundled with one 6 Button Control Pad,a SCART Cable similar to SCART Cable (Mega Drive 2) and a AC adaptor .Official Sega Mega Drive 3 button control pads are compatible with the console,6 button control pads are not compatible.
Sedaa
Spotted in South America although likely originates from Taiwan or China.
Star Drive 2
A clone from Asia. Three variants exist - whether they were produced by the same company has not been determined.
16 Bits ("The Alien System")
A Mega Drive 2 without any Mega Drive 2 branding, in a Genesis 2-like box. Model number AL-9901.
- 16 Bits Alien System Box Front.jpg
Nicom
Super Alpha II
Found in Taiwan, model number SB-003. This one has a slightly different shell and is more akin to the European model.
Genesis 3
Despite its late arrival, the redesigned and further cost-reduced Genesis 3 unit became a popular item in South America... despite not being officially released there. Though some were imported from North America, many more clone consoles were manufactured on the cheap (the Mega 3 for example is extremely common in Argentina). Unlicensed Genesis 3 clones were manufactured well into the 2000s and may still be in production to this day.
16 Bits ("The Alien System")
A Genesis 3 without any Genesis 3 branding, also sold in South America.
Century Japan
Dream Play
Genesis 3 (16-Bit")
Genesis 3 minus Sega branding, sold in South America.
Genesis 3 (unknown)
Genesis 3 (unknown)
There are many Genesis 3 clones, all with subtle changes.
Others
"16 Bit Game"
Dodgy looking Mega Drive clone from China, complete with crazy light gun.
16 Bit TV Game
Also from China, two clones by a company known as "Gap International Limited". One looks like a Mega Drive 2 in white, the other is completely new. Model numbers GA-16B1 and GA-16B2 respectively.
Mega Drive III
Sega Mega Drive clone with custom body shape
Unsorted
- SuperMegaDriver MD Box Front.jpg
- MD2Clone9 Box Back.jpg