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The story of the Genesis began in the late '80s, in the wake of Sega's first attempt at a home console in the Master System. While a hit in Europe, the 8-bit Master System could not compete with rival Nintendo in the U.S. or Japan. However, Sega still dominated in one key area -- arcades. Sega's coin-op hardware was the most advanced around, and games like Shinobi, Space Harrier, and After Burner lit up arcades worldwide. Logically, Sega's next foray into the home market would try to bring the arcade experience home. The result was the Genesis Video Entertainment System.
The Genesis was launched in August of 1989. It featured a powerful 16-bit processor capable of delivering nearly arcade-perfect graphics, a six-channel stereo sound chip, and contoured three-button controllers. It also boasted backwards compatibility with the Master System with a device called the Power Base Converter. The system even came with a version of the arcade hit Altered Beast packed right in the box. With its rich sound, expanded colors, and sheer processing muscle, the Genesis hardware truly heralded a new era of gaming.
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| | The Genesis really hit the big time with the release of Sonic the Hedgehog. Challenged with the task of creating a character to rival Nintendo's Mario, Yuji Naka and Naoto Oshima designed a spiky blue hedgehog named Sonic. This character was something of an anti-Mario -- fast, cool, and full of attitude. The game itself was equally as groundbreaking, with unique worlds, intuitive control, and unprecedented speed. Sonic the Hedgehog was an instant success, and helped propel Sega to the top of the U.S. video game market in the early '90s.
Sonic is not the only franchise that gained prominence in the 16-bit days. RPG fans were treated to three more games in the Phantasy Star series, and there were continuations of arcade hits such as Shinobi and Golden Axe. Many of Sega's most beloved series had their start on the Genesis, including Streets of Rage, Ecco the Dolphin, and the Shining series of RPGs.
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| | There were three models of Sega Genesis hardware released, with each revision becoming more compact and affordable. There was even a portable version of the Genesis (called the Nomad) that featured a backlit LCD screen. | |  | |
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Last updated Nov 3 2003 | |
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