Sega Megadrive: Video Games, CD Roms And Emulators

Launched in the late 1980s, the Sega Megadrive was part of the fourth generation of home gaming consoles. Although it was not the first 16 bit gaming console, following on the heels of NEC's Turbografx-16, the Sega Megadrive was by far the most popular up until the release of Nintendo's SNES. Although the Super Nintendo Entertainment System's release two years later would usurp its reign, the Sega Megadrive would outsell its predecessor Turbografx-16 nearly 3 to 1,and all but bury sales of SNK's Neo-Geo 30 to 1. Evident by its early popularity and despite its declining sales with the release of the SNES, the Sega Megadrive was believed to be the superior gaming system of fourth generation gaming consoles.

Several aspects of the Sega Megadrive made it a favorite amongst home gamers. Featuring the 16 bit computer architecture found in Turbografx-16, the Sega Megadrive was as powerful as many computers of the time. It also integrated early versions of technologies expected of today's sixth and seventh generation gaming consoles like CD ROM drives and online services.

Although the Turbografx-16 was the first gaming console to feature a CD ROM, the technology would gain widespread exposure as an add-on known as the Sega Mega CD ROM drive. The Sega Mega CD ROM drive added functionality to the Sega Megadrive. The Sega Mega CD ROM allowed users to play games in CD format, was capable of playing audio compact discs and was also compatible with CD+G discs, a special type of medium that featured graphic and audio data.

Although the technological edge of the Megadrive would be the driving force behind its success, the video games offered for the system would also be a big attraction for gamers. Perhaps the most popular video games were those of the Sonic the Hedgehog franchise: Sonic the Hedgehog trilogy, Sonic & Knuckles, Sonic 3D Blast and Sonic Spinball. Sonic Megadrive has also attracted sport gamers. The Sega catalog featured video games from the ESPN franchise (including ESPN Baseball Tonight, ESPN National Hockey Night and ESPN Sunday Night NFL), FIFA franchise (like FIFA Soccer '95, FIFA Soccer '96 and FIFA Soccer '97 Gold) and perhaps the greatest franchise of all time, the Madden franchise of football games.

Despite success, the Sega Megadrive would fall from popularity with the release of the Nintendo SNES. With the release of fifth generation gaming consoles featuring 32-bit and 64-bit offerings like the 3DO, Nintendo 64, Jaguar, Saturn and PlayStation, the Sega Megadrive would become outmoded. Sixth generation releases, most notably the XBOX and PlayStation 2, and the the current generation of consoles like XBOX 360, PlayStation 3 and Nintendo's Wii would close the history books on Sega Megadrive and its fourth generation counterparts.

The latest gaming consoles leave little left to be desired in terms of performance, especially compared to the Sega Megadrive. Cutting edge technology and design as great as it may seem, has created a longing in gamers nostalgic for a simpler time. The popularity of the Sega Megadrive has created a cult like status around the video games of the catalog of the technologically obsolete, but not yet obsolete entertainment offered by the system. Unfortunately, Sega Megadrives no longer fill the shelves of retailers. Searching auction sites like eBay and Amazon may yield results for used Sega Megadrives. Of course finding Sega Megadrive games and accessories can be a herculean task. Fortunately for loyalists, new methods to access the old favorites of the Sega Megadrive are readily available.

Guaranteeing new legions of fans, Sega Mega emulators are available at the click of a mouse. Sega Mega emulators, designed to imitate the Sega Megadrive gaming console, play Megadrive favorites. Sega Mega emulators are offered for desktop computers as well as through services such as GameTap, which have created a cottage industry around the retro game phenomenon. Sega Megadrive fans can take heart that characters like Sonic the Hedgehog have been resurrected through Sega Mega emulators for new generations of gamers who may be nonplussed at the mention of the good old days gaming on the Sega Megadrive.


Sources:
“History of Video Games.” Wikipedia. 11 Mar. 2007. 11 Mar 2007. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/History_of_computer_a nd_video_games
“List of Sega Mega Drive and Sega Genesis Games.” Wikipedia. 11. Mar. 2007. 11 Mar 2007. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_Sega_Mega_Dri ve_games
“Sega Mega-CD.” Wikipedia. 11 Mar. 2007. 11 Mar. 2007. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mega_CD#Other
“Super Nintendo Entertainment System.” Wikipedia. 11 Mar. 2007. 11 Mar. 2007. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Super_Nintendo_Entert ainment_System
“Neo Geo (console).” Wikipedia. 11 Mar. 2007. 11 Mar. 2007. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Neo_Geo_%28console%29
“History of Video Game Consoles (Fourth Generation).” Wikipedia. 11 Mar. 2007. 11 Mar. 2007. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/History_of_video_game _consoles_%28fourth_generation%29
“Sega Mega Drive.” Wikipedia. 11 Mar. 2007. 11 Mar. 2007. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sega_Mega_Drive
“TurboGrafx-16.” Wikipedia. 11 Mar. 2007. 11 Mar. 2007. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/TurboGrafx-16
Foulger, Chris. “Sega MegaDrive/ Frequently Asked Questions.” 2000. 11 Mar. 2007.
http://www.angelfire.com/ny/dezmoowu/Sega/megadr ive.txt
Browse Games. GameTap. 2006. Turner Broadcasting System, Inc. 11 Mar. 2007. http://www.gametap.com/home/game_titles/browseTitl es.jsp?title=Title&type=Type&system=Genesi