Sega Mega Drive

E38951

16-bit video game console home video game console

The Sega Mega Drive is a 16-bit home video game console released by Sega in the late 1980s, known for popularizing franchises like Sonic the Hedgehog and competing directly with Nintendo’s Super Nintendo Entertainment System.

Aliases (3)

Statements (71)

Predicate	Object
instanceOf	16-bit video game console → home video game console →
alternateName	Sega Genesis →
alternateNameRegion	Brazil → North America →
audioChannels	6 FM channels plus PSG →
backwardCompatibilityWith	Sega Master System (via Power Base Converter) →
colorPalette	512 colors →
competedWith	Neo Geo AES → Super Nintendo Entertainment System → TurboGrafx-16 →
controllerPorts	2 →
controllerType	3-button gamepad → 6-button gamepad →
cpu	Motorola 68000 →
cpuClockSpeed	7.67 MHz →
developer	Sega →
discontinuedBySega	1997 (most markets) →
generation	fourth generation of video game consoles →
graphicsProcessor	VDP (Video Display Processor) →
introducedFranchise	Sonic the Hedgehog →
legacy	helped establish Sega as a major console manufacturer in the early 1990s →
lifecycleStatus	discontinued →
manufacturer	Sega →
marketPosition	Sega's most successful home console worldwide →
maxOnScreenColors	64 colors →
maxResolution	320×224 pixels →
mediaFormat	ROM cartridge →
notableAddOn	Sega 32X → Sega CD →
notableFeature	blast processing marketing term → support for up to 80 sprites on screen →
notableMarketingCampaign	Genesis Does What Nintendon't →
notableVariant	Sega Genesis Model 2 → Sega Genesis Model 3 → Sega Mega Drive II →
popularFranchise	Ecco the Dolphin → Golden Axe → Phantasy Star → Shining Force → Sonic the Hedgehog → Streets of Rage →
popularGame	Aladdin → Castlevania: Bloodlines → Comix Zone → Contra: Hard Corps → Earthworm Jim → Gunstar Heroes → Mortal Kombat → NBA Jam → Phantasy Star IV → Ristar → Road Rash II → Shining Force II → Sonic the Hedgehog 2 → Sonic the Hedgehog 3 → Streets of Rage 2 → ToeJam & Earl →
powerSupply	external AC adapter →
predecessor	Sega Master System →
regionLocking	yes →
releaseDateBrazil	1990 →
releaseDateEurope	1990-11-30 →
releaseDateJapan	1988-10-29 →
releaseDateNorthAmerica	1989-08-14 →
secondaryCpu	Zilog Z80 →
secondaryCpuClockSpeed	3.58 MHz →
soundChip	Texas Instruments SN76489 → Yamaha YM2612 →
successor	Sega Saturn →
unitsSoldWorldwide	over 30 million units →

Referenced by (11)

Subject (surface form when different)	Predicate
Sega CD ("Sega Genesis") → Sega CD ("Mega Drive") →	platformFor
Motorola 68000 family → Motorola 68000 family ("Sega Genesis") →	usedIn
Sega Mega Drive ("Sega Genesis") →	alternateName
Neo Geo AES →	competitor
Sega CD ("Sega Genesis") →	introducedOpticalDiscGamingFor
Sega CD ("Sega Genesis") →	launchPlatform
Sega Mega Drive ("Sega Mega Drive II") →	notableVariant
NBA Live ("Sega Genesis") →	platform
Sega Sports ("Sega Genesis") →	platformPublishedFor