I consider Ashens one of the few Youtube channels left that still manages to brings quality videos since he started, their simple and enjoyable, kind of like Mark from Classic Game Room.
He recently uploaded a review for the Sega Nomad.
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I consider Ashens one of the few Youtube channels left that still manages to brings quality videos since he started, their simple and enjoyable, kind of like Mark from Classic Game Room.
He recently uploaded a review for the Sega Nomad.
That was a fun video! Maybe next time he'll review the SEGA Mega Jet.
I like Stuart Ashens... at least I like his technology reviews (don't care much for his wonderbag- or poundland videos). He's genuinely funny and witty and still has a few smart things to say in his clips.
Also, this is one of the few "review"-videos I've seen on the net that treats the Nomad rather fairly - adressing it's shortcomings but also it's strengths for the time. Most online sources dealing with the Nomad seem to be predetermined to outright slamming it. It's not one of Ashens' best videos in my opinion, but it's pretty decent. Too bad he didn't have more decent games to try on the Nomad with (as a fellow European however I'm feeling with him; when I first got my Nomad I was pretty much in the same position, I had to get a few Genesis Games first because my Mega Drive ones didn't - properly - work with it).
Considering that the Nomad was exclusive to North America, I really don't think the Nomad was a failure in the least. The price point was tailored to the select few who wanted to enjoy their games on the go. I don't think that SEGA expected that the Nomad would sell as many units as any of their home consoles. On a side note, I had a friend who owned one BITD and it came quite handy one summer when we went camping up North. While lazing around at the dock waiting for a fish to bite our fishing line, we would play a slew of games he had in his backpack! Good times!
It's these memories of days gone by as to why I own a Nomad now! And it does come quite handy when you are testing games locally from sellers, thrift stores, or yard sales. In fact, I did that very thing today! And because of that I finally have a CIB copy of Exo-Squad! Yay for me!
Yeah, good video. I don't know why I watch all of Ashens' stuff, including the stupid toy reviews (apart from some of Mark of CGR's, I don't watch anything else like that!), but I do.
It did remind me again, though, that I very seriously doubt that "1 million" sales number. It comes from that same Gamepro article proven wrong for a bunch of other systems where it is the only source, and as far as I know it IS the only source. I'd be very surprised if Nomad sales were anywhere near a million. I've never seen any kind of real numbers though, annoyingly.
^ all i cam eup with in regards to the nomad is this rather whiny blog article
http://blog.pricecharting.com/2012/0...es-of-all.html
even the sonic wiki cites that gamestop article http://sonic.wikia.com/wiki/Sega_Nomad#Sega_Nomad
and sega retro is vauge on the subject http://segaretro.org/Sega_Nomad
The Nomad sure isn't perfect, but given when it was released, you can't expect a whole lot. It can be modernized pretty well with a new LCD/better batteries, but it's still a mid 90's portable. I like that he got that... he's not looking at it as compared to a brand new smart phone with a gorgeous LCD display.
I love my Nomad, it's a lot of fun, and what I play most of my Genesis games on now. I did put in the new LCD screen because the old one was terrible, and that bumped up my enjoyment of it a great deal.
Good review. Most youtubers who get their hands on a nomad are usually "DUR HUR BATTERIES ONLY LAST AN HOUR"
That article there is probably just using the Gamepro article as its source for the "1 million" number; it uses that same number with no mention of where it came from, after all. Sega didn't say ANYTHING back in the '90s about Nomad sales? There's one reason for me to seriously doubt the "1 million" number -- if it had in fact sold a million, wouldn't Sega have likely said so at some point? And wouldn't Nomads be MUCH easier to find today than they are? There's no way it sold that well!
For instance, a search on Ebay for the Sega Nomad in sold systems comes up with fewer results than, say, you get for the TurboAGrafx-16,. a system which probably sold (in the US) 900,000 systems, maybe a million including all models.
ElectricGroove,
If you don't mind me asking, what is your feeling with respect to the ergonomics of the handheld? Since I was so used to playing a game with a regular game pad, the face buttons took a bit getting used too.
One thing that I've yet to read about is the longevity of the handheld's d-pad and buttons. I find the build quality is quite good: My Nomad's buttons are just as receptive today as when I got it a couple of years ago! Anyone ever encounter an issue with their Nomad's d-pad or buttons?
Not at all. I have two and the buttons are great. It's also the best d pad I've used f or an MD game.
It's a solid unit. I'm not a small person, so the thing fits my hands pretty well, BUT it's obviously not an ergonomic masterpiece, especially with the battery pack in... it'll be heavy and a bit awkward after a time.
As for longevity, I don't see any issues with it... I think its buttons and pad will last as long as any good controller provided you aren't abusing it. The only part of the unit that seems a bit delicate to me is the AC input. That part could get stressed and break pretty easy if you mishandle it too much with the cord plugged in.
I like Ashens but he rambles a bit too much sometimes.