Megadrive Version 1

1988

Sega beat Nintendo to the 16-bit market with the megadrive and the machine established itself as being the cool machine to own. Games were notably more violent that the SNES, with less influence over of what was released there are loads of average games amongst the classics.

Megadrive Version 2

1989

Headphone jack removed, A/V port changed to a custom multi out port that provides stereo sound to T.V’s, RF port removed, Different AC adapter used, Push button power switch.
A third version genesis 3 was released in the US.

Genesis 3

1997

A new handheld version which plugged into a TV was released in the US, came with 2 6 button pads and Sonic Compilation. Unfortunately incompatible with the 32X and Mega/Sega CD

Wondermega

1993

Wondermega was a combined Megadrive and Mega CD by J.V.C that had improved sound capabilities, MIDI connections, a karaoke function, 2
inputs for microphones and SVHS connector. Cost £350 when released.

Nomad

1995

Americans were lucky enough to receive a handheld version of the megadrive with a built in 3-Inch colour L.C.D screen that could also be connected to a television.

Multimega

1995

Multimega is the European version of the CDX combo distributed in USA. It could also be used as a portable CD player.

Mega PC

1993

Amstrad made the MegaPC was a normal PC with the addition of a Megadrive built in. It was a 386 33Mhz with 4Mb of Ram. Later released the Mega Plus with improved specs 486, 33Mhz with 4 Meg RAM.

Terradrive

199?

Only released in japan and a failure there. Basically a Genesis built into a VCR.

Megajet

Handheld Megadrive that could be rented for use on Japan airlines
flights and plugged into the L.C.D television in the armrest.

Laser Active

Laser disc player from Pioneer that could take plug in modules this is the Megadrive and Mega CD games. Other Modules included PC Engine HU Cards and CD's and karaoke.

Megadrive Specs

Processor

Motorola M68000 16 bit processor
running at 7.67Mhz

Memory

64 Kb RAM
20 Kb ROM

Display

Palette 512
Onscreen colours 64
Maximum onscreen sprites 80
Resolution 320 x 224

Sound

Yamaha YM2612 6 channel FM.
Additional 4 channel PSG

Ports

separate R.F aerial and R.G.B outputs
(AUX connector - Megadrive 1 only),
stereo headphone jack (original model only)
9 pin EXT port (Early original model only)

Megadrive Peripherals and Accessories

Mega CD. CD add on which sat underneath a megadrive. Version 1 pictured.

'Menacer' shoulder-mounted light gun. Supported by games such as Terminator.

Megadrive 3D headset.

As with the Master system it is possible to get a 3d headset for the Megadrive.

Sega PowerBase Converter, fits over the top of the original Megadrive / Genesis, and includes a cart slot and card slot for Master System Games. There is also a Megadrive version 2 model called the PowerBase Convertor 2 which doesn't have the card slot.

Megadrive Multi player adaptor. Allows up to 5 players to play on the MD at once. Some carts also came with additional joypad ports such as micro machines from code masters.

Megadrive Modem, Japan only.

MegaDrive Games

A very popular format for RPG games the megadrive boasts some classics such as Phantasy Star and the Shinning Force series as well as the traditional ADD releases.

Still a popular platformer today dynamite heady shows there's more to Megadrive platform games than Sonic the hedgehog.

Konami also made Probotector for the Megadrive, rates along with Gunstar Heros as some of the best platform shoot-em's ever made.