Sega 32X (Sega)

Sega 32X
Sega
1994 - 1995

Sega really shot themselves in the foot with the 32X.  It was originally slated as a stand alone console, developed to be the "poor man's" entry into the next gen of consoles.  However, head of research and development for Sega of America, Joe Miller convinced Sega of Japan to instead create the console as an add on to the Sega Genesis.

With poor marketing, a rushed release, an outrageous $200.00 price tag and an already announced Sega Saturn which was scheduled for release the following year, the Sega 32X failed to attract both developers and consumers.  In the end it was a commercial failure for Sega.

 

Because developers were hesitant, if not flat out refusing to produce games for a system they felt would be obsolete in less than twelve months, the 32X only sports thirty to forty games in total, most of which are atrocious.  Five of the games required the player to own not just the 32X, but also the Sega CD.

The 32X seemed to be the first nail in the coffin for Sega, and with their future releases of the Sega Saturn and finally the Sega Dreamcast, things just seemed to get steadily worse before the company dropped out of the console wars, and these days focuses strictly on developing games.

Join us next time when we take a look at TurboGrafx 16!

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Sega CD (Sega)

Sega CD
Sega
1993 - 1996

The Sega CD, or Mega CD as it's known in most regions outside of the US was an add on console that brought with it a lot of joy to some gamers, and disgust from others.  Even for its time, a lot of games looked just awful - Specifically those that were designed using live action footage.

The first version of the Sega CD was designed to sit underneath the Sega Genesis, and loaded via a tray which opened and closed from the front.  The second version incorporated a tray into the mix, and shrank down the console to that of an oversized portable CD player.  This particular version had a spring loaded tray that opened from the top.

The console was initially designed to compete with the power of the Super Nintendo which was luring gamers away from Sega with its launch in 1991.  Sega hoped that by utilizing CD's for their games that they could up the graphics and size of games, making much more enriching games for players.

Things were rocky from the get go.  Not only was Sega of Japan not sharing working prototypes of the console with Sega of America, but their quality control was having great difficulties with the system.  The biggest was that it had a tendency to burst into flames.  In addition, Sega delayed too long in getting developer kits out to game developers, and as a result the system was quickly rendered obsolete by later CD based consoles such as the 3DO Interactive Multiplayer and Philips CD-I.

By 1995 Sega announced that the system would be discontinued, and all focus moved towards the upcoming Sega Saturn.  In 1996 the final games for the console were released.

 

Despite CD games quickly becoming the wave of the future, the games were crippled by incredibly long load times which left many gamers frustrated with the concept of the console.  This was not simply limited to load screens prior to levels starting, but also mid game, which brought games to a screeching halt as it would suddenly freeze and load to keep up.  The perfect example of this is the long delay between imputing and finally seeing the fatalities on screen in Mortal Kombat.

 

In its three year run, the Sega CD saw approximately 150 games released in the US.  One of the most controversial - Night Trap - went on to become one of its biggest sellers as a result of attention being brought to the game by congress for its violent and sexual themes.  Below is our presentation of every Sega CD game released in the US.

 

 



The Sega CD was definitely a sign of things to come in the world of gaming.  Unfortunately, technology limitations really hindered the console from being all that it really could have been.

Join us next time when we finish up the Sega Genesis era with their add on console, the Sega 32X!

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Sega Genesis (Sega)

Sega Genesis
Sega
1989 - 1999

"Genesis does what Nintendon't."

It was a loud and clear challenge to Nintendo by Sega as the console wars officially began in August of 1989.  Yes there had been prior console skirmishes ever since Magnavox's Odyssey in 1972, and yes Sega had first stepped into the ring in 1986 with their original Sega Master System, but many a gamer don't feel that the true war for the number one spot of video game console began until the Genesis Vs. Nintendo Entertainment System (NES) era of gaming.

The Sega Genesis (known as the Mega Drive in Japan) was the first 16 bit console of the eighties released in the US, being released just five days prior to NEC's Turbografx 16 - Though technically the Turbografx 16 was released first in Japan in 1987, with the Sega Genesis being released there in 1988.  The console brought with it twice the graphics capabilities of the NES as well as Sega's own mascot, Sonic the Hedgehog.  This in turn sparked the schoolyard debate of which mascot was better - Sonic or Mario.

The Genesis brought with it a unique concept of upgrades which were released periodically as an add on throughout 1989 to 1999.  The first was the Sega CD, which brought with it a whole new era of compact disc gaming.  The second, the not so popular 32X which showcased 32 bit cartridge and a few CD games.

Because Nintendo was court ordered to release its developers from their contractual obligation of only producing games for their system, many games that were available on the NES were also available on the Sega Genesis.  However, in a lot of cases, both games were very different from each other.

Over nine hundred games were produced for the console.  Below is a visual guide to all of those which were released in the US.

Though Nintendo inevitably came out on top of the console wars, there's no doubt that Sega didn't give them a run for their money.  Many a gamer was lured away from Nintendo by the additional graphics, and what many felt were games for a more mature audience.  It may have not been number one, but there's not question about it -  Sega Genesis was a fantastic gaming machine.

Join us next time when we continue our look at Sega with their add on console, the Sega CD!

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