Sega Genesis/Mega Drive

Sega was the very first company to go for the older audience with the Sega Genesis/Mega Drive, and insult Nintendo constantly in their commercials. The Sega Gensis/Mega Drive got off to an excellent start in the non-Japanese markets and a fair start in Japan, and was ahead of the TurboGrafx16/PC Engine in regions outside of Japan, but was behind the old but still popular NES/Famicom system in every market. In 1990, after learning that Nintendo was making a next-gen system, the president of Sega requested that Sega should create a new mascot to replace Alex Kidd and compete with Mario and Nintendo's upcoming next-gen machine. This character eventually became Sonic the Hedgehog, and was released months before the Super NES came out outside of Japan. Sega marketed Sonic as being cooler and faster than Mario, and the advertisements for the game were very successful, putting the Genesis/Mega Drive in 1991 ahead of the Super NES/Super Famicom in terms of sales and market share. Sega's market share increased in 1992 when Sonic the Hedgehog 2 was released. In 1993, Sega's market share dropped 10%, giving both Nintendo and Sega a very even market share. Nintendo ultimately came out on top of the Genesis/Mega Drive in early 1994, due to the arrival of several popular franchises, most notably Super Metriod and Donkey Kong Country. The 32X add-on also was a failure for Sega, and ruined Sega's once thriving reputation. Because of all of that, Sega's market share dropped from 55% to 35% in 1994, which meant that the Genesis had ultimately lost the most competitive console war ever, but still finished relatively close in a solid 2nd place.

American Name: Sega Genesis

Worldwide Name: Sega Mega Drive

Market Share in Beginning of Lifespan: Unknown

Market Share in Middle of Lifespan: 65%

Market Share in End of Lifespan: 35%

Best-Selling Game: Sonic the Hedgehog 2 (6 million copies)

A 16-Bit System

Price at Launch: $200.00

Number of Units Sold: 29 million

Slogans:

You can't do this on Nintendo!

Sega does what Nintendon't

Genesis does!

Welcome to the next level

Blast processing.

SEGA!!!

To be this good takes AGES. To be this good takes SEGA.

Released Worldwide in: 1989

Released in Japan in: 1988

Discontinued in: 1998

Popularity Compared to Competitors:

In Japan:

1st-Super Famicom

2nd-TurboGrafx16/PC Engine

3rd-Sega Genesis/Mega Drive

In America:

1st-SNES/Super Famicom

2nd-Sega Genesis/Mega Drive

3rd-TurboGrafx16/PC Engine

In Europe:

1st-Sega Genesis/Mega Drive

2nd-SNES/Super Famicom

3rd-TurboGrafx16/PC Engine

Graphics Comparison:

1st-SNES/Super Famicom

2nd-Sega Genesis/Mega Drive

3rd-TurboGrafx16/PC Engine