Today is Genesis 20th anniversary! \o/ From Kotaku: http://kotaku.com/5337569/happy-20th-sega-genesis Today marks the 20th anniversary of the U.S. release of the Sega Genesis, the game console that briefly put Sega on the video game hardware map. Sega shook the very foundations of the newly reborn U.S. gaming industry on August 14th, 1989, when the Sega Genesis made its North American debut in New York and Los Angeles. Due to a trademark dispute, the console that was known as the Mega Drive to the rest of the known world was rechristened, the new name evoking conflicting notions of biblical import and small, balding British musicians. While the Mega Drive trailed behind the Super Famicon and NEC's PC Engine in Japan, it gave the Super Nintendo a run for its money in the states, with titles starring big-name sports celebrities like Pat Riley, Joe Montana, and James "Buster" Douglas. Even the late Michael Jackson put in an appearance, saving the children of the world with his dance moves. In 1991, the Genesis birthed Sonic the Hedgehog, one of the most recognizable and beloved video game characters in the world, despite a run of rather dismal games as of late. The Genesis eventually gave under the weight of its own add-ons, with the Sega CD and 32X selling far worse than expected. Sega moved on to the Saturn and finally the Dreamcast, but they never quite recaptured the level of support they saw with the Genesis, eventually giving up the console business altogether. A testament to cartridge-based console reliability, my original Sega Genesis sits on a shelf behind me, ready to be hooked up and played at a moment's notice. They just don't build them like that anymore. Happy 20th, Sega Genesis! Long may your lovely red LED shine.
Some of these articles have stated, and I seem to remember from 20 years ago, that the USA Genesis had a limited launch in NY & LA only, on August 14th, 1989. Does anyone here know when the wider release happened? I think I got mine in late August/early September '89, but it's all pretty cloudy. Oh, and Happy Birthday, My Love.
Wow.. doesn't seem that long ago.. I rememebr the "spoiled" kid (I was 12 at the time) on the block got one before anyone... it was quite amazing to see the graphics this thing could put out... good times indeed.. . and dang am i starting to feel old.. LOL
Playing arcade perfect Space Harrier 2 and Ghouls n Ghosts made for some great times Winter of 1989. When the Genesis launched in the US in September, there were no tv ads and the airwaves were filled with Turbo Grafix 16 ads. I remember showing the Genesis to my neighbor after picking it up from the Toys R Us and he was totally blown away. Heres to Sega who will comeback someday to their greatness...
I remember that in the Edge Retro special it was said in an interview that retailers believed TG-16 would kick the Genesis' ass, so they were wary about carrying it :lol: But happy birthday, even though the Mega Drive is a much better name! The Sonic games, Gunstar Heroes and Streets of Rage 2 alone make this one of the best consoles ever :110:
Happy birthday! I just turned 4 years old when it came out, so I did not really care about video games at the time ^^
One of my best gaming moments was trying out the headphone jack for the first time, with Thunder Force II. It was the first console with stereo sound. When that title screen booted up, I could hardly believe what I was hearing. For some reason, just hearing sounds travel from one ear to the other - in a video game (for the first time) - was amazing.
Those were the days. I still remember seeing the Genesis in the glass display case at the local Toys R US during the hot summer of 1989. I was mesmerized at how beautiful and high tech the thing looked in person...prior to this I had only seen blurry pics in EGM magazine. A week later, I bought one and never looked back. So good.
I still play my Genesis from time to time. It's probably my favorite console. I had saved up my money as a kid and wanted to buy "the "Core System" and Jurassic Park. My mom talked me out of it and into buying the Sonic 2 bundle. Proof that all kids are stupid and mother really does know best.
I didn't think that the Mega Drive was so great really, until recently. Bought myself a copy of Thunder Force IV. I love the console now.
Well compared to what we were used to seeing and playing on the NES/SMS games of the time, the Genesis/MD truly offered an experience leaps and bound above. As a kid in 1989, I just didn't think gaming could get any better.
My Genny is currently the most used console in my house Since I managed to get some official eprom boards (something about official over homemade) and some am28f040 flash chips (pin compatible to orig eproms) I've been playing with the hardware and seeing what all I can do.
