Sega Mega Drive / Genesis

The 16-bit powerhouse that challenged Nintendo's dominance

Quick Facts

Released: 1988 (Japan); 1989 (North America); 1990 (Europe)
Discontinued: 1995 (Japan); 1997 (North America)
Units Sold: 30.75 million worldwide
Best-selling Game: Sonic the Hedgehog (15 million)

Overview

The Sega Mega Drive (Genesis in North America) was Sega's entry into the 16-bit era, offering arcade-quality graphics and sound. It successfully challenged Nintendo's market dominance and established Sega as a major player in the console gaming industry.

Technical Specifications

CPU

Motorola 68000 @ 7.6 MHz
Zilog Z80 @ 3.58 MHz (sound)

Graphics

Resolution: 320 × 224 pixels
512 colors available
Sprites: up to 80 on screen
Sprite size: up to 32×32 pixels

Audio

Yamaha YM2612 FM synthesizer
Texas Instruments SN76489 PSG
6 FM channels
3 PSG square waves
1 noise channel

Memory

64 KB Main RAM
64 KB Video RAM
8 KB Sound RAM

Iconic Games

Sonic the Hedgehog

1991

The game that gave Sega its mascot and demonstrated the console's processing speed with fast-paced gameplay.

PlatformSega15M units

Streets of Rage 2

1992

A benchmark in beat 'em up gaming, featuring outstanding graphics, music, and gameplay.

Beat 'em upSega1.5M units

Phantasy Star IV

1993

The culmination of Sega's sci-fi RPG series, featuring innovative combat and storytelling.

RPGSega0.75M units

Sonic the Hedgehog 2

1992

Improved upon its predecessor with the addition of Tails, multiplayer, and the iconic spin dash move.

PlatformSega6M units

Gunstar Heroes

1993

A technical showcase featuring fast-paced action and innovative weapon combination system.

Run and GunTreasure0.3M units

Ecco the Dolphin

1992

Unique underwater adventure game with atmospheric gameplay and environmental message.

Action-AdventureNovotrade0.5M units

Shining Force II

1993

Beloved tactical RPG featuring strategic battles and character progression.

Tactical RPGCamelot0.4M units

Castlevania: Bloodlines

1994

Mega Drive exclusive entry in the series with unique characters and gothic horror.

Action PlatformKonami0.4M units

Comix Zone

1995

Innovative beat 'em up set within the panels of a comic book with unique visual style.

Beat 'em upSega0.3M units

Legacy

The Mega Drive/Genesis established Sega as a major competitor in the console market and introduced several innovations:

Arcade-perfect home conversions
Aggressive marketing strategies
Regional game design focus
Blast Processing marketing concept

Many of the franchises born on the Sega Mega Drive / Genesis continue to be major forces in gaming today, demonstrating the lasting influence of this revolutionary console.