Sega-licensed "Retro Gen" might have you hunting for cartridges

Sega's already given its seal of approval to a few Genesis / Mega Drive-based handhelds, but never one like this new "Retro Gen" device from Innex, which makes use of actual, dust-collecting cartridges instead of just some mere on-board memory. Of course, not everyone has a stack of Genesis carts at their disposal (a sad state, indeed), so the handheld also apparently comes pre-loaded with 20 unspecified games, and you'll supposedly even be able to eventually load some "licensed ROMs" onto an SD card using a special cart. While it's still not clear exactly how widespread of a release it'll get, at least one retailer does already has it up for pre-order for just $49.99 (discounted from $59.99), and it's promising a ship date of July 25th.

[Via Softpedia]

[elefant @ Jun 26th 2009 5:39PM]

Contra: Hard Corps is still one of the greatest games ever made

[The Police @ Jun 26th 2009 6:49PM]

Damn straight! One of, if not THE hardest Contra game in my opinion.

[Quantumphysics @ Jun 26th 2009 7:24PM]

I perfer Shattered Soldier to Hard Corps. Hard Corps looked too whacky.

There should be no argument whatsoever than Contra 3: Alien Wars was the best side shooter ever.

[ash chapman @ Jun 26th 2009 5:40PM]

Sega Nomad + SD Card

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sega_Nomad

[Zuwxiv @ Jun 26th 2009 5:52PM]

Best part about the Nomad was the second controller port and video out. So much fun.

Of course, you got about five minutes of battery life out of seventeen batteries. Whatever.

Anyone ever beat Lion King for genesis?

[Kevlar @ Jun 26th 2009 7:59PM]

When I was younger, my Sister and I played the HELL out of Lion King for Genesis. Beat it 3 or 4 times, as I recall, often leaving the Genesis turned on and paused overnight, so we could play more the next day.

I actually found it recently in an old ROM collection I had forgotten about (burned on a CD :D) that I decided to put on my Wii. Brought back some memories... for sure.

[Eddie @ Jun 26th 2009 5:42PM]

Let me know when a legit emulator is available for the Pre, then we're talking.

[Bernie @ Jun 26th 2009 5:48PM]

Why would I want this when I still have my awesome and TOTALLY PORTABLE Nomad?

[bernie16wb @ Jun 26th 2009 7:02PM]

In case it wasn't apparent. I was simply noting that by today's standards the Nomad is hardly portable. I need to stop trying to use sarcasm through the internet.

[jonasthebonus @ Jun 26th 2009 10:23PM]

OMG I have one too, and it rocks, but oh the batteries! It sucks them dry in 35 minutes! (and it's huge) I would totally buy this.

[cayton @ Jun 26th 2009 5:52PM]

I have a genesis emulator on my Nokia E71. Flawless emulation. The keyboard isn't ideal for gaming, but mapping the keys differently makes it easy.

[VLDragon @ Jun 26th 2009 6:22PM]

Just Genesis? Damn I still have my old Sega Master System Games but the system doesn't work any more...

[Benjamin @ Jun 26th 2009 6:33PM]

Just attach your Master System Converter and you'll be in business!

Now excuse me while I go play some 32X on mine.

[rhett @ Jun 26th 2009 6:12PM]

I still have all of my genesis cartridges (over 20 in fact). With my original Sega hooked up still and my nomad with 3 spare batteries, why would this be of any use? you can buy a nomad on ebay for 30 bucks.

[HektikLyfe @ Jun 26th 2009 6:17PM]

I do still have a lot of cartridges in the Garage. But I'm not buying this. XD

[Torokun @ Jun 27th 2009 2:56AM]

you wanna sell me those cartridges?

[Eric @ Jun 26th 2009 6:39PM]

I do have a Nomad, but this could be fun, since I won't have to carry my belt-clip Game Gear rechargable battery around.

[kal326 @ Jun 26th 2009 6:57PM]

So how long till somebody makes a hack to the device or creates an app to not require licensed roms or "license" roms you might just having sitting around already.

[ecco6t9 @ Jun 26th 2009 7:40PM]

I'm willing to bet that the 20 games are the same 20 Sega whores out for every plug n play Genesis device.

[Orbital @ Jun 26th 2009 8:24PM]

Golden Axe, Sonic 1, Columns and those weird motorcycle games that are fun but you never remember the name of it come to mind.

[slyd3z @ Jun 29th 2009 9:56AM]

Road Rash?

[Neil @ Jun 26th 2009 7:45PM]

anyone up for skitchin'?

[peepeepants @ Jun 26th 2009 8:22PM]

The 6 buttons are nice.

[Eddie @ Jun 26th 2009 8:33PM]

I don't see the point in this when you can emulate it on DS, PSP, and many cell phones. Unless you really want to carry carts around for nostalgia's sake...

[kevin @ Jun 26th 2009 10:43PM]

Mutant League Football cartridge? Check.
Mutant League Hockey cartridge? Check.
Michael Jackson's Moonwalker cartridge? Check.

Yeah, I think I'll buy one of these.

[Emmanuel @ Jun 27th 2009 1:31AM]

Michael Jackson is everywhere
*sobbing*

[Fubuki @ Jun 27th 2009 6:05AM]

It's useless i think, there is the dingoo A320 which do the same thing + have 4 go dd + is more portable + can read movies and mp3 and radio...

Ok it is more expensive, but juste a little, seriously !

[the4thheat @ Jun 27th 2009 9:21PM]

I have a nomad and it was great except for the fact that so many Genesis games had no save feature and took a lot longer than an hour to beat (about as long as the batteries would last). And I seem to recall that if I tried to use the AC adapter port I would often bump the plug and the system would reset and make me scream in rage =(

On modern NiMH rechargeables the Nomad is actually a lot more usable though, with decent battery life, although you still have to try and beat all those saveless games before the battery dies.

I think I must have played the first half of Aladdin about 900 times trying to beat the game before the batteries died, lol.

[Miles @ Jun 28th 2009 8:47AM]

Why does it look like ass though? That's a shame.

[Zorque @ Jun 28th 2009 10:57AM]

Yeah, I came here to say the build quality looks really poor. I hope that's just a prototype and not the actual to-market device.

[chandlerwitherspoon @ Oct 19th 2009 6:40PM]

Got the RetroGen.. Nice lil gadget. I have been getting Sega Genesis cartridges for it from a website called www.VideoGameCentral.com. They have a nice selection and the Gen games have been hard to find. Some games are pricey though since they are collectibles at this point but I really appreciate playing them again. I just got finished playing Eternal Champions, fun stuff...