Sega Genesis Is 20 Today!
As if the Dreamcast’s impending 10th birthday wasn’t making me feel old enough today it’s the anniversary of another Sega console; The Sega Genesis. That’s right, 20 years ago on August 14th 1989 the Sega Genesis was released in the US, nearly one year after its Japanese release on October 29th, 1988. The Genesis would initially struggle for market dominance trailing behind Nintendo’s already established ‘Nintendo Entertainment System’ or NES for short.
It took a very risky strategy to propel Sega from last to first place in the console war until eventually the Genesis’ price was cut and a packaged with a game featuring a familiar looking speedy blue hedgehog. This coupled with an advertising campaign claiming “Sega does what Nintendon’t” and the promise of ‘Blast Processing’ meant that the Genesis surpassed the NES in popularity and was the most desirable console in the US for a time. Nintendo would eventually fire back with the SNES which would eventually reclaim the top spot for them but Sega’s edge and bravery won them many life long fans.
Of course Europe would have until November 30th 1990 for the console; more than two years after Japan. Released there under its proper name, the Mega Drive enjoyed considerably more success thanks to the popularity of the Master System. Unlike the US and Japan the Master System was more popular than the NES in Europe which meant the Mega Drive was an instant success, especially as it came bundled with Sonic soon after launch and already had a huge back catalogue thanks to the delayed launch.
Many gamers have fond memories of Sega’s little console that could, whichever name they knew it by. It went up against an institution and beat them for a while. Sega would eventually loose their way with ill-fated add-ons and a lack of direction leading up to the launch of the Saturn. As far as hardware goes Sega never managed to maintain a lead for any significant amount of time and have had to evolve to avoid death. The blue brand still lives and for many the same childhood passion for their early consoles still lingers today.
Sega aren’t letting the occasion pass them by either. They want you to tell them which Genesis game you want to see next on Xbox Live. Click here to see the list and let us know which game you’ve chosen in the comments. The winning game will be released for download so make your votes count!
I also want to hear your Mega Drive/Genesis related stories. Did you own one? Did you grow up with one or are you a new fan and never had the chance? What were your favourite games? What console did you get after it? Write away!
Post originally written by the author for TSSZ News.
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I’m going to get the ball rolling! Some of you probably know I was born in the UK so my parents bought me a Master System for my 6th birthday in March 1991. I was obsessed with my dad’s ZX Spectrum but this was the first console I could call my own. I fell in love with Sega and Sonic then and there and was upgraded to a Mega Drive the following year, finally getting a chance to play the ‘real’ Sonic 1. Since then I’ve been pretty much obsessed with Sega ever since. I owned a Saturn and I won a Dreamcast at launch from Sega thanks to a competition on the Sega Europe webpage. Good times!
My favourite game for the Mega Drive would have to be Sonic 3 & Knuckles. Technically that’s two games but I can’t even remember how many times I cleared that game in various different ways. With Sonic & Tails, Just Sonic, Just Tails and Just Knuckles.
Other than Sonic I enjoyed Earthworm Jim which is the game I’ve voted for in Sega’s poll. It’s sequal was even better. Micro Machines was greatness and Streets of Rage 1 & 2 always had my friends at my house. So did ‘Mega Bomberman’. But that’s enough about me for now, tell me about you!
Owned a Genesis since it released. Mega Bomberman, Ristar, Sonic 2, S3&K, Wiz n Liz, and Gunstar Heroes is just a small sample of some of my most played games. Stayed a loyal SEGA fan till the day the DC died.
“…especially as it came bundled with Sonic from day one and already had a huge back catalogue thanks to the delayed launch.”
Correction: If the Mega Drive was released in Europe in 1990, it couldn’t have been bundled with Sonic from day one, since the first Sonic game for MD was released on June 23, 1991.
(Edit – Paul) ASS! LOL, Oh well. I’ve made a subtle correction. So when did you get yours GerbilSoft?
I must have played the living heck out of my mega drive ( I was a little late to the party, being born in ’93 and introducing myself at about 7 or 8), and I remember being so upset when it finally broke when I was about ten or eleven. Missed out on the Dreamcast unfortunately…shame on me 🙁
But happy birthday to you Genesis! Without you, and the Mega Drive you predecessed, I wouldn’t be the crazed gamer and Sega fanatic I am today!
So cheers, big ears!
I have no clue when I got my Genesis, I just remember it being there. I had a NES and evena Super NES, but it was all about the Genesis for me. I sadly (thankfully?) never owned or played a 32x or CD though. I had a Saturn too (albeit a bit late) but never a Dreamcast (until this year). My favorite Genesis games had to be (in order): Sonic 3 & Knuckles, Sonic 2, Comix Zone, Mighty Morphin’ Power Rangers the movie, and Vectorman (although I didn’t play this until Gems Collection).
When I was 3 my sister got me a Sega Genesis & got me Sonic 1 & 2 along with a Ren & Stumpy game forgot what the name was… I always played Sega Genesis every Saturday Night & Sunday Mourning … but then we lost the Sega Genesis…. 8 years later I brought the dreamcast… funny thing these 2 were the only 2 Sega Consoles I had… only I had them right now 🙁
Wow 20 years? Well at least I still have one 😀
And I don’t want any game on XBLA. It’s called Sonic’s Ultimate Genesis Collection, go get it. Make Sonic 4
F*** YEAH EARTHWORM JIM!!
When I was 2 years old I went to a daycare at a friend of the family’s house and she had a Genesis. Sonic 2 was the first game I ever played, and I preferred it infinitely over Sonic 1, 3 and Knuckles, which she also had. When everyone else was taking a nap I stayed up playing Sonic with my cousin. My favorite level was (and still is) Chemical Plant Zone. We loved going over there and playing that, EarthWorm Jim, Ristar, and all that other good stuff.
Unfortunately I stopped going there less than a year later and I didn’t play (or own) a Sega console again until my neighbor/best friend got a Dreamcast.
“This poll powered by Blast Processing”
HAHA! Genesis did indeed do what Nintendidn’t.
I voted Earthworm Jim for XBLA. I did enjoy Earthworm Jim 2 more though!
As a kid my best friend had a Mega Drive II and Mega CD. I used to play it all the time, especially Sonic 3 & Knuckles, Earthworm Jim 2, Micro Machines II: Turbo Tournament, Cool Spot and Streets of Rage. (on the Mega CD’s Sega Classics Arcade Collection)
My friend stopped being a gamer and became very sporty. He just gave me his Mega Drive and I played it all the time. I still have it along with all the Sonic games, Ristar and Sega Classics Arcade Collection. (Although the Mega CD broke)
Aaa? Coool!
EARTHWORM JIM FTW!
20 years? wow seams like the Genesis had come out yesterday hehe SEGA SHOULD MAKE DREAMCAST AND GENESIS SUPER COLLECTION, with SA1,2,3 lol
My parents bought one, Sonic 2, and a bunch of other games when I was about 3. In the longrun, we got a couple menacers which worked great with arcade shooters like T2. Also Sega Channel. Anyone remember that?
Through the years Sega has brought us many systems and games worthy of the title “Legendary”. The Dreamcast was pure class, while it lived for a short time, its impact on the Sonic and Sega community is still felt till today. I have to admit that the Genesis was by far the most loved and remembered system. From the catchy S-E-G-A ! ! ! title screen to the Final Zone showdown in Sonic 1, the Genesis is by far legendary. This day is filled with cheerful memories and deep gratitude for Sega and Sonic Team, for being a legendary company and producing wonderful systems and games, for the young, the old and the loyal Sega-Sonic fans.
Cheers Sega ! ! !
Happy 20th ! Legendary Genesis.
Sonic 1 did i played soooooo much. It was THE fitst gmae ive ever played. Sonic 2 is THE best on Genesis
Happy 20th Birthday, Genesis! It was the first console I ever owned and Sonic 2 was the first game I ever played on it. Though newer systems have come and gone, the Genesis’ charm still lives on for those who like a retro fever (like yours truely). So again, happy 20th Genesis.
Also, who could forget the famous logo screen: SEEEEGGGGAAAA!
I was kind of surprised to see Earthworm Jim on that list. I’m a huge EWJ fan (next to Sonic of course) BUT don’t vote for that game. You can easily find the EWJ1&2 Can of Worms Collection at gog.com for only 5 bucks. You get the refined graphics and the updated superior music by Tommy Tallarico. Besides, I always felt the SNES version was more superior to the Genesis version, but that’s just my opinion.
If anything, vote for ToeJam and Earl. That game ROCKED.
I didn’t get a Genesis until sometime around 1999. However, I was fiddling around with emulation before then, specifically Genecyst and KGen’98. Several years later, I bought a Sega Genesis 1 with Sega CD 1 and 32X on eBay, and I currently have it with me at college.
I have copies of all the original Genesis Sonic games on cartridge, as well as some other games, including NBA Jam TE, the only *good* sports game.
(Fun fact: The first console I ever owned was a 2600, and that was the only console I ever had until we got an N64 around 1997. I still have an original E.T. cartridge somewhere, but I don’t know where the box or manual went.)