Genesis: 20 Years Young

[Aarzak]

Awesome article, Melf! Your dad probably wasted more money driving around than he could have ever saved by finding a lower price. Was $5 or maybe $10 worth that much to him?


Did YOU write that USENET review back in the day, Parallaxscroll?

Nah, that was just a USENET review from late August, 1989 that I quoted for an earlier thread.

Great list of first and second-gen titles BTW parallaxscroll. Must've been some trying times for early adopters who blazed through the early offerings while third-party support was nonexistent up until mid-1990 ("Air Diver" & "Super Hydlide".....whoopee). Still, I doubt that its as bad as what Japanese MD owners had to endure in its first year:


Space Harrier II 29 October 1988 (Launch Title)
Super Thunder Blade 29 October 1988 (Launch Title)
Altered Beast 27 November 1988
Osomatsu-kun 24 December 1988
Alex Kidd in the Enchanted Castle 10 February 1989
Phantasy Star II 21 March 1989
Super League (Tommy Fuckin' Lasorda Baseball) 22 April 1989
Super Daisenryaku 29 April 1989
Thunder Force II 15 June 1989
Hokuto no Ken 2 (Last Battle) 15 June 1989


Now how's about THAT for a sparse lineup? Sega did well in waiting almost a year to release the console in the U.S. They probably were waiting for more games to be produced.

For those wondering what "Osomatsu-Kun" is:

[havok666]

Still, I doubt that its as bad as what Japanese MD owners had to endure in its first year:


Space Harrier II 29 October 1988 (Launch Title)
Super Thunder Blade 29 October 1988 (Launch Title)
Altered Beast 27 November 1988
Osomatsu-kun 24 December 1988
Alex Kidd in the Enchanted Castle 10 February 1989
Phantasy Star II 21 March 1989
Super League (Tommy Fuckin' Lasorda Baseball) 22 April 1989
Super Daisenryaku 29 April 1989
Thunder Force II 15 June 1989
Hokuto no Ken 2 (Last Battle) 15 June 1989

Yeah with that list it's easy to see how the Mega Drive didn't catch on in Japan. Phantasy Star II is the only game on that list that has really stood the test of time. The amazing PC Engine library probably didn't help SEGA's cause.

[Zebbe]

Don't forget Nintendo's illegal licensing contracts...

[retrospiel]

Sega did well in waiting almost a year to release the console in the U.S. They probably were waiting for more games to be produced.

Yeah, but this wasn't unusual back in the day. NES and TG-16 were released two years after their Japanese launches, SNES ten months after its Japanese launch. Same for Saturn, PlayStation, and Dreamcast. (N64 being an exception with only three months delay between its Japanese and US launch)

I think Nintendo Wii was the first with a simultaneous worldwide launch.

For those wondering what "Osomatsu-Kun" is:

Holy shit. I never realized how amazing this game looks for '88! O_O

[Joe Redifer]

Osomatsu-Kun is only impressive for its scrolling (for its time), in my opinion. I remember renting that game back in '89. Very strange.

[Cornugon]

I think Nintendo Wii was the first with a simultaneous worldwide launch.

No it wasn't actually, it released a month later in Europe, and one-and-a-half year later in Taiwan and South Korea (according to wikipedia).
But it's comparable to X-Box 360 which had a similar launch dates (but different countries ), but that one also did have a window of just a month between North-America, (most of) Europe and Japan.

[otaku]

For some reason I find it very strange/interesting that I am 1 year older than the genesis (more or less) WIsh I was a bit older so I could have experienced it when new and as titles came out etc. oh well. Great system and great article

[Splattervania]

Great article, and yes! Ehthrone Megadrive Triumphant!!!.. It does look great under the telly but coupled with the model one MegaCD it is amazing!..Silpheed anyone?..

[Melf]

I went to play Silpheed today, but my model 2 Sega CD wouldn't recognize the disc. My modded Xbox showed the love though.

[Gentlegamer]

Ken, I didn't know you had lived in Houston. Are you a native Houstonian?

[Melf]

Nah. My dad lives there. I sometimes visit him in summer or for the holidays.

[Baloo]

Nah. My dad lives there. I sometimes visit him in summer or for the holidays.

Aren't you a Native Brooklyn?

[Gentlegamer]

Nah. My dad lives there. I sometimes visit him in summer or for the holidays.

If there is time during such a visit, we ought to organize a Genny/old-school video gaming party.

Houston is also a hub of the modern old school Dungeons & Dragons scene, which may interest you.

[Milkymagic]

The Genesis is my favorite system bar-none, only the Sega Saturn comes close for me!

Gotta say, if it isn't Sega's own games (Sonic, Phantasy Star, Shining Force, SoR, etc), it's certainly those great third-party titles (Gunstar Heroes, Rocket Knight Adventures, etc) that really helped make this system memorable. The add-ons are also loved by myself as well. Long live Sega!

My Genesis got to chill with his pals Sega CD and 32X on that day, and much fun was had by all.

They also said "hi" by the way!

[Kollision]

Yet another awesome heartfelt article.
Wish I could also remember my first days with the Mega Drive so well...