Believe it or not, the old Mega Drive gaming console is making a comeback in a region-free incarnation, although it won't be released by SEGA.
In all actuality, the upcoming Mega Drive remake isn't the first console revived by Blaze International. Previously, the company released its version of the Sega Mega Drive as a handheld, packing in old Sega classics such as Altered Beast, Golden Axe, Sonic and Knuckles, Alien Storm, and sixteen other games. Now the company is launching the full-blown console, and unlike the handheld version, it will plug into the TV, have gamepad support, and feature a cartridge slot. Needless to say, it's definitely a clone of the original classic Sega console, however, as many sci-fi fans have come to know about cloning, sometimes the process leads to a deadly end-result.
So what's the big deal? That's a good question. Many hardcore gamers can just pick up the old Sega Mega Drive right off eBay. Of course, the benefit from picking up the Blaze International version would be that it's brand new, perhaps even improved over Sega's early 1990's technology. In addition, the Blaze version isn't region locked, meaning that owners can purchase and play Sega games from any continent, whether it's a Japanese role-playing game (granted they can read Japanese) or a rare title only released in Europe.
According to the company, the new Blaze Mega Drive will feature a slimmer design, two control pads, and fifteen games built right into the console including Altered Beast, Golden Axe and Sonic and Knuckles. However, Blaze's new offering won't come cheap when released on April 24, costing fans a whopping $53 USD (£38/ €41). At that price, it seems rather silly to get the device at all. But if hardcore gamers are anything like this one, it will wind up in the "console museum" anyway, that marvelous collection of cartridges, consoles, controllers and disks that the significant other is begging to dump in the trash.
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you can already buy a megadrive officially licences console with over 100 games built into the machine in Brazil for about USD 130.
What is with the comments on the price? It's damn cheap! Plus, as mentioned, you can pick up some of your favorite old games on ebay or garage sales. Great machine for smaller kids and to revive some good memories.
Emulators….
I use M.A.M.E and have … I dunno 4600 arcade classics. I got it on sale for $0.00
yes but some of those games that MAME have are still copyrighted. thats just like me saying i can go on the internet and download windows Vista for $0.00
mame doesn't have games, it emulates games.. also better would be to put an emulator on an old xbox or psp system, $53 seems like a waste of money to me
maybe if it was more budget priced like 19.99..
I have a SEGA Genesis console that I purchased for $10 from the Salvation Army.
It may not play Japanese or European games, but that's not a problem for me.
It's cool to see old-school being revived. It might have been cooler to maybe make a cheap IP-enabled console that you could download games into it from an online store for like $1 each or something. It's not like it would take much technology. Using modern tech the thing could be a SoC and cost a couple bucks to make. :-)
I'd like to find the handheld on this side of the world.
Old school is cool as long as they don't revive the old school crap games. Who wants a console with 100 games when 99 of them suck.
I'd rather seen a PSP version or Gameboy/Nintendo DS version of the Sega.
The price is not too expensive, but I'd not buy a chunky old plastic shoebox like that one!
These days they could create that sega the same size as the cartridge, if they wanted to!
Would've made more sense too!
Old school is cool as long as they don't revive the old school crap games. Who wants a console with 100 games when 99 of them suck.
But they aren't manufacturing or reviving any games but the few listed. You have to actually go out and buy cartridges, or find them on eBay.
Also, I've three-in-one systems with NES, SNES and Genesis (MegaDrive) cartridge slots for roughly the same price.
Just for a matter of interested, how many MegaDrives and SNES were sold worldwide? Was it more than the PS2?
[blockquote]In addition, the Blaze version isn't region locked, meaning that owners can purchase and play Sega games from any continent, whether it's a Japanese role-playing game (granted they can read Japanese) or a rare title only released in Europe. [/blockquote]
Actually this isn't true. Late Genesis/MegaDrive games checked the settings on a jumper to figure out what region they were running on. If the setting indicated the wrong region they won't play. (Pretty much any game from 92 on does that check.)
Actually this isn't true. Late Genesis/MegaDrive games checked the settings on a jumper to figure out what region they were running on. If the setting indicated the wrong region they won't play. (Pretty much any game from 92 on does that check.)
BTW, anybody want to delete my previous entry?
53 USD for my favourite console... hmm...
I picked up a Genesis with 16 games and 2 controllers for $50 on ebay a few months back. Seems like I got a pretty good deal.
Just for a matter of interested, how many MegaDrives and SNES were sold worldwide? Was it more than the PS2?
Xbox: 24 million
Xbox 360: 28 million
Genesis: 29 million
Atari 2600: 30 million
N64: 32.9 million
Wii: 44.9 million
SNES: 49.1 million
NES: 61.9 million
Playstation: 102 million
PS2: 140 million
Wikipedia
Old school is cool as long as they don't revive the old school crap games. Who wants a console with 100 games when 99 of them suck.
I'm thinking they will be reviving, because I dont see any companies wanting to release new games for 8 & 16 bit consoles. (obviously?)