SEGA Mega Drive 2 (1990)

Only two years after the presentation of Master System, Sega released his new vision of the modern console, which practically did not surprise anyone. Namely, although it is indisputable that Sega Master System has achieved great success in Europe and parts of South America (especially in Brazil) where it was dominant in relation to Nes, in other markets, Nintend's console was beaten to their feet. It was all too little for Sega's ambition, because this company has gained an exceptional reputation among the players since the mid-1980s, thanks to a large number of hits for vending machines. For that, the most credited with SYSTEM 16 which was very popular, by offering the quality of graphics and sound that no one could reach for a long time. And spend words on legendary hits such as Outrun , Hang-on , Super Hang-on , Shinobi … really not needed.

Therefore, it was decided to make a console based on this technology as well as several other vending machines that will use similar hardware, and everything is for easier conversions. After determining the technical specifications, the rest is just to solve the question of the system name. Segini managers decided to "Mega Drive" marks the term that was the term and previously called all games for Master Systems that were technically better than others, and "Drive" is a word that symbolizes speed and power. Unfortunately, Sega of America could not use that same name that was already trademark of another company, so she decided to Genesis which has the meaning of "at the beginning." Under this, the era of the Next Generation Console began to be started.

29. October 1988. Megadrive is presented in Japan, along with 4 games – Super Thunderblade , Alex Kidd and the Enchanted Castle, Altered Beast and Space Harrier 2 . The tactics changed this time, so he could no longer wait for his great Rival Nintend or any other competitor, but decided to first gain players to his side. However, the beginning was not famous. Although the console was technically far superior and from NES and from PC Engine, sales in the home country was very weak.

14. August 1989, The system is finally presented in North America, where it was initially sold for $ 190, with huge success. American players knew much more to appreciate the obvious technical superiority of the system and a great offer of action and sports games.

In the end, 30. November 1990. The console arrived in Europe as a new, improved version of the original system, called SEGA MEGA DRIVE 2 . Since this is the most famous and most popular console name in our country but also wider, we will use it below, as we also do on the entire site.

The first year for SMD2 were very difficult, because the 8-bit Nes was at the peak of glory, and Sega tried to regain the trust of players in their own products. This time, contracts with a large number of the most famous software companies that have committed them to create games for SMD2, to avoid the problem with the title of the title that destroyed Master System.

And slowly, things went for the better. Aggressive and very creative marketing campaign and above all quality selection of games, they definitely made seats for Sega Mega Drive 2 in North America, but also in Europe, where the console will rule without a real competition for more than half a decade. In the mother Japan, things didn't move from the dead spot yet. Sega did not much maril for RPG, as Nintendo did, but a lukewarm reception in this market could not shake the world's popularity that the console had achieved. Presentation of Sonic, the Company's official masco and the publication of several games in the main role (Sonic 2 achieved the greatest success) brought additional sega points, and the titles with the blue hedgehogs were sold in millions of circulations. Precisely thanks to him, Sega Mega Drive 2 was completely equal to the Rival of Super Nintendo from the start. In the meantime, it appeared. Each of these consoles had its own strong side – SNES shiny offer of RPG games, and SMD2 sports and action achievements. The appearance of the incredibly popular Mortal Kombat, Sega received even more supporters, because her version of the game was not censored, unlike the one on SNESA that did not help the fact that she looked significantly better. When Nintendo realized how much he was wrong, it was already quite late. Subsequent publishing a violent variant of the game did not change the ratio of forces, so that it was recorded that the SMD2 is the original Mortal Kombat achieved 4 times higher circulation.

What was already definitely clear then is that SNES has no chance to impose himself as he did. And in the following years, Sega Mega Drive 2 kept excellent (holding more than 50% of the market), and until the fall of his popularity came only when Sega (completely unreasonably) left this platform in 1996. And threw all the tickets to Saturn. However, the support of other manufacturers did not rule, so that the games for this console were rule until the end of 1998. year, ie until 2002, for the purposes of the obviously a very specific Brazilian market.

As for the hardware, Sega Mega Drive 2 was much more powerful than the current NEC's PC Engine and NES but it logically, lagged behind the entire two years younger SNES. Restrictions in relation to it are reflected primarily to display only up to 64 colors on the screen (256 in SNES) and much worse sound. The thing came even more to expression when Nintendo began to install special graphic chips in cartridges with individual games (say in Donkey Kong series) that allowed incredibly quality graphics. However, some miraculous, many titles made in parallel for both consoles look better on SMD2, primarily the EA Sports series, and the existence of technical masterpieces such as the graphically most impressive 16-cannon games.

Sonic
Sega Mega Drive 2 launched Sonic, and today the current segine mascot, which has improved the popularity of the system. The first segine trademark was Alex Kidd who had a few great games for Master System but still concluded that it is necessary to create a new mascot, as Alex was not nearly as popular as Mario . Sega then organized an internal competition for a new mascot and was reported about 100 papers from which 4 best were selected. One was a wolf, another bulldog, a third fat man (later recovered in Dr. Robotnica) and the fourth blue hedgehog whom he created his or her words, as a combination of Miki Maus and Cat Felix. First Sonic game appeared in 1991. and achieved huge success, just like the first extension which is valid for the best-selling SMD 2 game.