Sega GenesisAfter three
years of struggling to compete with the Nintendo Entertainment
System, Sega decided to change direction. Engineers incorporated
elements from Sega's 16-bit arcade technology into a home console,
and in August 1989, the Sega Genesis was released onto American
store shelves.
The Genesis (called the Megadrive in Japan) originally retailed for
$199, and featured the same 16-bit Motorolla 68000 processor that
had powered the original Apple Macintosh computer. With such a
powerful engine, it was capable of producing high quality
reproductions of popular Sega arcade titles. The pack-in game was a
home version of Sega's coin-operated hit, Altered Beast. Only a
single game controller was released with the Genesis platform, with
additional controllers retailing for $20.
The 16-bit NEC TurboGrafx-16 console had beaten the Genesis to
America by four months. Though they initially trailed the
competition, Sega knew from past experience with Nintendo that the
system that had the best variety of quality game titles would
ultimately be the most successful. Sega vigorously sought out third
party software support, and within one year, 30 outside developers
were designing games for the Genesis compared to the TurboGrafx with
four. The Genesis quickly became the dominant 16-bit system.
The first peripheral that Sega released was the Power Base Converter
-- a module that allowed the Genesis to play Sega Master System
cartridges. Its availability was important to owners of the SMS
because they were reluctant to invest in a new system that would
make their entire software library obsolete. Compatibility has
proven to be an important feature for any next generation system.
Sega programmed the Genesis to lock out foreign software. Game
cartridges produced for Japanese consoles could not be played on
American systems. Software titles were rarely released at the same
time worldwide. In order to prevent the importing of unreleased
titles into a certain country, Sega designed the Genesis so that
American titles would only play on American systems and vice-versa
with Japanese and European titles.
On September 9, 1991, after numerous delays, Nintendo finally
released their Super NES system in America. After two years as the
clear leader of the 16-bit market, Sega faced major competition.
Nintendo was investing $25 million in advertising to launch their
new console. Sega countered with a $10 million advertising campaign
trumpeting that "Genesis Does what Nintendon't!"
In the onslaught of promotion, Sega unveiled an important peripheral
to the Genesis, the Sega CD. This helped consumers maintain
confidence in the lifespan of the Genesis and helped Sega maintain a
firm foothold in the market.
Also in 1991, Sega dealt Nintendo its most powerful blow;
surprisingly it wasn't in the form of hardware. Sega unveiled a game
named: Sonic the Hedgehog. Sonic, the title character, had to
utilize his speedy power sneakers to thwart mad scientist, Dr. Ivo
Robotnik, who turned animals into evil robots. Sonic the Hedgehog
became the best selling game cartridge of 1991. Back in 1990, Sega
had sold 1.6 million Genesis consoles worldwide, but in 1991, the
year of Sonic, Sega sold 7.5 million Genesis systems. They had
finally toppled Nintendo as the top selling videogame company. Sega
went on to sell 16 million software titles in 1992, and soon made
Sonic The Hedgehog the pack-in game for the Genesis.
In 1992, Sega released a light gun peripheral called the Menacer. It
retailed for $59.99 and true to its name was large and mean looking.
An infrared receiver was placed on top of the television and plugged
into the Genesis, allowing the Menacer to be wireless.
In 1993, Sega released a controller accessory called the Activator.
It retailed for $79.99 and was a black octagonal ring that sat on
the floor. A player stood inside it and controlled on-screen action
by breaking one of the eight infrared beams it was directing upward.
The Activator sent signals to the Genesis console which were
interpreted as if corresponding controller buttons had been pressed.
Players criticized the Activator as being an unwieldy and inaccurate
game controller.
Ultimately, it wasn't the SNES which ended the life of the Genesis
system. The arrival of highly popular the next generation consoles
like the 32-bit Sony Playstation in 1995 and the 64-bit Nintendo 64
in 1996 diverted consumer interest away from the Genesis. With over
600 titles under its belt, the final Genesis system was produced in
1997.
The best games for the Sega Genesis system include Sonic the
Hedgehog, Aladdin, Castlevania: Bloodlines, Madden NFL '98,
Earthworm Jim 2 and Comix Zone
— Dave Beuscher
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