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Sega Genesis Mini 2 stock will be extremely limited in the US
Sega fans who plan to buy the Genesis Mini 2 will need to import the retro console from Japan.
Sega's Genesis Mini 2 hits North America on October 27th
It looks like you'll get a six-button controller this time.
Sega's Mega Drive Mini 2 includes Sega CD games
The company's latest retro console is only confirmed for Japan for now.
'Sonic Origins' brings four remastered games to console and PC on June 23rd
The first four 'Sonic the Hedgehog' games will be available in remastered versions when 'Sonic Origins' arrives on June 23rd.
Sega is becoming its weird and wonderful self again
Sega is in an unexpectedly good place right now. The company was never on top of the industry; it's been beaten by Nintendo, by Sony, by the decline of the arcade. It spent years nursing the wounds from its fall from grace in the '90s, and through the '00s and early '10s could seemingly do little right.
Sega's Genesis Mini lineup will include 'Tetris'
The Genesis Mini's lineup keeps growing, and this time in an unusual direction. The retro console (known as the Mega Drive Mini in some countries) will carry two more games, the side-scrolling Darius and... Tetris. Yes, the game that's virtually synonymous with the Game Boy (and has been absent in Nintendo's roster) will be playable on the reborn Sega machine. It's an odd choice, but you might not complain if you're looking for a quick, nostalgic Tetris fix.
Sega Genesis Mini will launch on September 19th with 40 games
Last year Sega showed off its own miniaturized retro console to join Nintendo and Sony, but unfortunately it was delayed. Now the company announced during this year's Sega Fest that the Genesis Mini / Mega Drive Mini will launch in the US and Japan on September 19th. It appears this console will feature different localized versions of certain games. Among the 40 games it will have, the company confirmed (at least in Japan) classics like Sonic the Hedgehog 2, Shining Force, Gunstar Heroes and Comix Zone, Space Harrier II, Puyo Puyo 2, Rent-a-Hero, Castlevania Bloodlines and Powerball.
Sega's 8-bit universe beats itself up in Master System Brawl
If the upcoming Super Smash Bros. for the Nintendo Wii U and 3DS has you jonesing for a similar arena fighter featuring Sega's classic characters, you'll want to check out Sega Master System Brawl (direct download link), a recently updated homebrew release for the Sega Genesis and Mega Drive. Kids who grew up on the Sega Master System (our own Alexander Sliwinski among them) will recognize several featured cast members, including Alex Kidd, Wonder Boy in Monster Land star Tom-Tom, and Shinobi's Joe Musashi. The latest version's roster also includes characters and backdrops from a selection of lesser-known Master System greats like Kung-Fu Kid and the Castlevania-inspired Vampire: Master of Darkness. Creator "Bonaf" tells Sega Nerds that future updates will add playable characters like JJ from Zillion, Dynamite Dux's Bean, and Sonic the Hedgehog himself. Sega Master System Brawl is available as a downloadable ROM file, and is playable via emulation and on original Sega Genesis hardware using a flash cartridge. [Video: Bonaf]
'Project Unity' is 15 fully-functional consoles in one giant box
Constructed by evil genius/mad scientist/hardware hacker Bacteria, Project Unity is a single, unified gaming console that can play Sega Master System, Neo Geo MVS, GameCube, Dreamcast, Saturn, Intellivision, Colecovision, Atari 7800, Turbografx 16, PS1/PS2, Mega Drive, NES, Super NES, Game Boy Advance, Nintendo 64 and Amstrad GX4000 games.Project Unity's most impressive feature, besides the fact that it works, is that it was constructed entirely out of authentic hardware and does not make use of emulators or combo units like the FC Twin. It also manages to use a single power supply, video output and custom-built controller, regardless of the system selected.Jump to 09:30 in the video above for a demonstration of this behemoth in action, including the repurposed NES cartridges that contain different circuit boards for each controller type, or start from the beginning for some deliciously chaotic wiring shots.
Sega introduces line of console-themed laptops
It's not quite the return to hardware production that some Sega loyalists may be hoping for, but Sega's new line of retro console-themed laptops are expensive and doomed to obsolescence, so it's kind of the same thing.Manufactured in conjunction with Japanese retailer Enterbrain, the Sega Note PC laptops come in four styles: Generic Sega, Mega Drive, Sega Saturn and Dreamcast. Your choice of style can be ordered in one of four hardware configurations, with ascending prices ranging from ¥99,750 ($1075.47) to ¥194,250 ($2094.35). The base model comes equipped with the 64-bit version of Windows 8, a 1920x1080 display, 4 gigs of RAM and a 500 gig HD, all powered by a Pentium 2020M processor, according to our friends at Engadget.It's kind of a lot of money for not a lot of computer, but each laptop is packed with Sega-branded Windows 8 themes, replete with custom system sounds. Shipment is expected to begin in June for those who either live in Japan or are brave enough to import.%Gallery-178981%
Sega-themed notebooks beckon Japanese Mega Drive and Dreamcast lovers
"I don't care about the specs, I want one." That Neogaf user's comment likely sums up how other retro-gaming aficionados will feel about a new notebook PC from Japanese PC retailer Enterbrain, built in conjunction with Sega. The model sports covers themed in three of the classic consoles, namely Mega Drive, Saturn and Dreamcast, along with a generic Sega-branded model. We do care a little about the specs ourselves, so you'll get a 64-bit version of Windows 8, 15.6-inch 1,920 x 1,080 screen, Intel Pentium 2020M processor, 4GB of RAM and 500GB of HDD storage, as a minimum configuration. That'll start at a whopping ¥99,750 ($1,100) when it arrives in June, provided you live in Japan -- but if so, all you'd need to go with it for a full '90s game blast would be a cartridge adapter like this one.
Genesis RPG 'Pier Solar' goes HD via Kickstarter
Pier Solar was developed for the Sega Genesis and released on cartridge in 2010. With the benefit of fifteen years or so of technological advancements, developer WaterMelon Co. was able to put it on a 64MB cart, making it the biggest Genesis RPG ever. It's a traditional role-playing game about a botanist named Hoston on a quest to find a rare herb and cure his sick father. Now, the developer wants to update its turn-based throwback RPG for platforms people still use ... and Dreamcast too.Pier Solar HD is planned for Xbox 360, PC, Mac, Linux, and Dreamcast – that last one won't actually be in HD. The style is reminiscent of the original, but places more detailed 16-bit style sprites on hand-drawn HD backgrounds. To fund the redrawing of assets and licensing for new platforms, WaterMelon is seeking $139,000 on Kickstarter.Backers get a copy of the game for PC, Mac, Linux, or Xbox 360 by pledging at least $15; $49 is required for the Dreamcast CD or a physical copy on the other platforms. Naturally, there are more expensive collector's editions, as well as luxury items like a Pier Solar branded Dreamcast or arcade stick.
Steam adds Genesis Classics Collection 5: Beyond Oasis, Phantasy Star 2 and more
The fifth Genesis Classics Collection is now available on Steam, perfect for PC players who want to relive the glory of their Sega-oriented youths. The same goes for Nintendo-aligned Console War veterans, who now, wise beyond their years, look to experience what life was like on the other side of the trenches.The Genesis Classics Collection 5 boasts 10 games for $7.99, or $2.99 a piece if you'd rather go a la carte. Amongst the recommissioned relics from yesteryear are Phantasy Stars II through IV, Wonder Boy in Monster World, Vectorman 2, and Beyond Oasis. Jump past the break for the full list, which also includes Dynamite Headdy, one of the best, weirdest games ever made for Sega's classic warhorse.
OOP Tetris cartridge begs you to buy it now for $1 million
It may shock you to know that you're a simple lottery win away from picking up a Like New copy of Tetris for the Sega Mega Drive (that's the Genesis to us Yanks). That's right, for the low price of $1 million American, you can pick up an original Japanese Mega Drive cartridge signed by the game's creator, Alekséi Pázhitnov on eBay. No word on whether the Russian game designer will actually hand deliver the red-boxed piece of gaming history if you're the lucky winner.
If a Genesis and a Wii had a baby, it would be Sega Zone
You're traveling through another dimension -- a dimension not only of sight and sound but of retro games. A journey into a wondrous console containing a bunch of old Genesis games and some generic motion-controlled games. That's the signpost up ahead. Your next stop: the Sega Zone. Pocket Lint has images of a new licensed Sega console called the Sega Zone (or the Zone Sega, according to the box), out in the UK this summer, that contains 20 Genesis classics and 30 new games, 16 of which can be played with the device's two wireless motion controllers. Essentially a Firecore Classic Console crossed with the "Zone 40," an existing knockoff Wii console, the Sega Zone also features a cartridge slot so you can play your copy of McDonalds' Treasure Land Adventure. It'll sell for £39.95 (about $60) in the UK. [Via GoNintendo]
Sega lighters: smoking will never be cool again
Lighters are more often than not outside the scope of our coverage here at Engadget, and while we don't condone smoking or lighting anything on fire... well, these are just awesome. Banpresto's launched a pre-order of these two beautiful Zippo-style lighters, a Sega Mega Drive and a Sega Saturn which runs through November 6th, with a shipping date sometime in December. Each lighter runs ¥10,500 (around $115). We'll definitely keep our eyes peeled for more of these smokers.[Via Joystiq]
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]
VC Friday: Let the Games Continue
European Wii owners this week are treated to something they must have known was coming sooner or later: Epyx's Winter Games. The multi-event Olympic games seem like canonical European games of the era, and Summer Games 2 is already out. Eventually, North American gamers will get to enjoy things like this! Personally, the last time this blogger played Winter Games, it was on the Atari 7800.Also available this week for PAL downloaders: last week's North American release, Wolf of the Battlefield: MERCS. It lacks the multiplayer of the arcade game, but it's a pretty okay action game on its own, full of ridiculous attitude and 16-bit bombast. Overall, it's not the greatest week, but neither is it Urban Champion. Winter Games -- Commodore 64 -- 500 Wii Points Wolf of the Battlefield: MERCS -- Mega Drive -- 800 Wii Points Videos of the Games: CLIPS after the break.
VC Friday: Impossible Mission II on PAL Wii Shop ... FOREVER
We've talked about our love of Impossible Mission in a previous VC Friday, and now the PAL Wii Shop has the sequel! That we never played! Oh, happy days. If you haven't downloaded the first game, why on earth not? Beyond the crude visuals lies a highly entertaining and surprisingly atmospheric puzzle-based platformer. The sequel sounds like more of the same but with a few new robots, which is fine with us.Meanwhile, Last Ninja 3 is the second C64 title available this week. Has it aged as poorly as the first two? Probably. It certainly looks similar in footage, though Reyn Ouwehand's soundrack still rocks our socks. Then there's Boogerman, which you really shouldn't download. Here's a video explaining why. Last Ninja 3* -- Commodore 64 -- 500 Wii Points Impossible Mission II* -- Commodore 64 -- 500 Wii Points Boogerman: A Pick and Flick Adventure -- Mega Drive -- 800 Wii Points * Europe only, obviously. As usual, make the jump for videos of all three.%Gallery-39158%
VC Friday: A question of value
This week's PAL Virtual Console line-up isn't short on quality, but it represents fairly awful value. As dreamy as we find any Metal Slug title, there are cheaper ways to play all three of this week's offerings. Want Metal Slug 2? We'd recommend picking up this. Fancy having your delicate gamer's ego rudely kicked in by Forgotten Worlds? There's an excellent compilation out there for a bunch of platforms that costs peanuts and comes with another 20 or so games. If you can't find Space Invaders for less than £6/€8, you're probably reading the wrong website. Better still: lavish those points on Space Invaders Get Even!. Metal Slug 2 -- Neo Geo -- 900 Wii Points Space Invaders: The Original Game -- SNES -- 800 Wii Points Forgotten Worlds -- Mega Drive -- 800 Wii Points See videos of all three (including footage of one David Hinkle showing off his skillz at Space Invaders and Forgotten Worlds) after the break.
