The images of the Sega Genesis are categorized and show the console and joystick controllers. You will also find detailed close-ups of the ports and connections available on the Genesis.
The front of the Sega Genesis console showing the cart slot, power & reset buttons and 2 joystick ports. The Sega Genesis, aka the Mega Drive in most regions outside North America, is a 16-bit game console developed by Sega Enterprises. The Genesis is Sega's 3rd console and the successor to the Master System.
The left side of the Sega Genesis console. Sega first released it as the Mega Drive in Japan in 1988, followed by a North American debut as the Genesis in 1989. In 1990, it was released as the Mega Drive by Virgin Mastertronic in Europe, by Ozisoft in Australasia, by Tec Toy in Brazil and South Korea it was distributed by Samsung.
The right side of the Sega Genesis console. The Genesis hardware was adapted from Sega's System-16 arcade board, centered around a Motorola 68000 processor as a primary CPU and a Zilog Z80 as a secondary processor.
Rear of the Sega Genesis console showing the A/V port and Power port. In Japan, the Mega Drive did not fare well against its two main competitors, Nintendo's Super Famicom and NEC's PC Engine. However, it achieved considerable success in North America and in Europe, capturing the majority of the 16-bit market.
Overhead shot of the rear of the Sega Genesis console. Success of the Genesis was its library of arcade game ports, the popularity of the exclusive Sonic the Hedgehog series and several popular sports games.
Bottom of the Sega Genesis console showing the dual air vents. Though Sega dominated the market in North America and Europe for several years, release of the SNES created a real battle for market share.
Serial number label on the bottom of the Sega Genesis console. By the end of 1994, a new generation of 32-bit consoles made the Genesis obsolesce. It had sold 29 million units worldwide.
The power button on the top face of the Sega Genesis power button. Many Genesis games have been re-released in compilations for newer consoles and offered for download on online services, such as the Wii's Virtual Console, Xbox Live Arcade, PlayStation Network, and Steam.
The reset button on the top face of the Sega Genesis reset button. Sega announced a North American release date for the Genesis before having a North American sales / marketing organization and was distributing its Master System through Tonka.
Sega Genesis Controllers
The Sega Genesis controller joystick has the same pin-out and shape as the Atari 2600. Consequently, Genesis controllers can be used on the 2600. And whereas the Atari 2600 controller will fit the Genesis controller port (obviously) it's a few buttons short to be very useful :)
The Sega Genesis controller joystick. When Sega needed a new partner to market the Genesis in North America, they offered the rights to Atari, which did not have a 16-bit system. Jack Tramiel declined to acquire the new console, deciding it too expensive and opted to focus on the Atari ST.
This 3rd party Sega Genesis controller shipped with the used Genesis 3 console and has no branding, so I'm not sure how made it. It features six 3-position slide switches on the top for Off, Turbo and Auto features for each of the 6 buttons (X,Y,Z,A,B & C) as well as the Mode and Start buttons.
3rd party Sega Genesis controller showing the D-pad side of the controller. Sega launched the Genesis through its own Sega of America subsidiary, with a limited launch on August 14, 1989, in New York City & Los Angeles. It was released in the rest of North America later in the year.
Bottom of this unknown 3rd party Sega Genesis controller showing the Slow Motion toggle switch (on/off) settings.
Close-up of Slow Motion toggle switch on this 3rd party Sega Genesis controller. With Genesis' head start, a lower price, and more games, Sega was able to outsell Nintendo 4 Christmas holiday seasons in a row. At the time, the Genesis had 10 games for every game on SNES,
Sega Genesis Ports & Connections
The rear ports of the Sega Genesis - A/V and Power. Sega's advertising positioned the Genesis as a cooler console than the SNES. They coined the term "blast processing" (an obscure programming trick via the graphics hardware) suggesting the Genesis' processing capabilities were superior to the SNES.
The front controller ports on the Sega Genesis, 2-player. Sega needed to develop an mascot with a games series to compete with Nintendo's Mario. Several character designs were submitted including an armadillo, a dog, a Theodore Roosevelt look-alike in pajamas and a rabbit.
Player 1 controller port on the Sega Genesis
Player 2 controller port on the Sega Genesis
Game cartridge slot on the Sega Genesis
Open game cartridge slot on the Sega Genesis showing the pin-connection.
Sega Genesis Accessories
Genesis Power Base Converter.
Genesis 3 RF box and cables.
Genesis 3 RF box info and specs.
Genesis 3 A/C adapter. When buying used gaming consoles, always be careful of the included power adapters. Very often they get separated and sellers will often toss in any old adapter. Since they vary in voltage, it's important to make sure you get the correct one and don't over-power your console - this can damage the console.
Genesis 3 A/C adapter info and specs. Input: 120V AC, 60Hz, 15W. Output: 10V DC.
Sega Genesis 3 Console
The front of the Sega Genesis 3 console showing the cart slot, power & reset buttons and 2 joystick ports. Announced in 1997 as a "budget" version, the Genesis 3 was manufactured by Majesco.
The front of the Sega Genesis 3 console showing the cart slot, power & reset buttons and 2 joystick ports.In order to cut costs, the expansion port and a few connections on the cartridge slot were omitted, which made the Genesis 3 incompatible with the Sega CD, Sega 32X, Power Base Converter and Virtua Racing.
The left side of the Sega Genesis 3 console showing the A/V Out and power ports. Since the expansion port and a few connections on the cartridge slot were left out, a bug in the memory controller caused some games which exploited this bug to be incompatible, namely Disney's Gargoyles.
The right side of the Sega Genesis 3 console. It was released in 1998 as the "Genesis 3" in USA and South America.
Rear of the Sega Genesis 3 console. The smaller size and weight of the console caused issues during aggressive play when the whole unit could be yanked off a shelf by the controller cable.
Rear of the Sega Genesis 3 console showing the buttons at the front of the unit and the cartridge slot towards the rear.
Bottom of the Sega Genesis 3 console showing the serial number and specs.
Close-up of the bottom of the Sega Genesis 3 console showing the serial number and specs.
Sega Genesis 3 Close-Ups
Close-up of the Sega Genesis 3 console's Power button.
Close-up of the Sega Genesis 3 console's Reset button.
Close-up of the Sega Genesis 3 console's cartridge slot with the dual spring-loaded flaps covering it.
Close-up of the Sega Genesis 3 console's cartridge slot showing the internal pin connector.
Sega Genesis 3 Ports & Connections
Close-up of the Sega Genesis 3 console's controller ports on the front of the lightweight unit.
Close-up of the Sega Genesis 3 console's left-side ports showing the A/V Out and Power port.
Sega Genesis Power Base Converter
Power Base Converter with a few Domos. This is the first picture I took of the unit when it arrived.
Power Base Converter - front view. Functionally, this unit will allow you to play Master System games on your Genesis. However, due to the housing, it only fits onto the original Genesis. The later models are shaped differently and don't allow it's insertion/connection.
Power Base Converter - 2 top views showing the cartridge slot door in the open position. Your Master System carts would insert into the slot and the hardware of the Genesis console would play the games.
Power Base Converter - left side showing the cart slot open. Power Base Converter - left side showing the angle with the cart slot closed. Power Base Converter - full left side view.
Power Base Converter - rear view. Rumor has it that the original Genesis had a chip capable of running Master System games, which means there isn't software emulation in place to replicate the Master System.
Underside of the Power Base Converter. Bottom of the Power Base Converter showing the depth of the connection that inserted in the the Genesis console. Bottom of the Power Base Converter showing the model number info. Model No. 1620.
Detail of the Power Base Converter's cartridge slot.
Sega Genesis Firecore Console
This remodeled Sega Genesis console with 20 built-in games was announced in 2008 as the "Firebox" and "Sega Genesis 4" then released in 2009 as the "Firecore". The Genesis Firecore was manufactured by ATGames without an expansion port, which makes the Firecore incompatible with all the typical expansion accessories. It accepts Genesis game carts, but can't always properly emulate the in-game music on original game carts.
JVC Wondermega / X'Eye Game Console
Working with Sega of Japan, JVC released the Wondermega on April 1, 1992, in Japan. It played both Sega Genesis and Sega CD games as well as music CDs. The system was later redesigned by JVC and released as the X'Eye in North America in September 1994. JVC released the X'Eye in North America in September 1994. It was designed by JVC to be a Genesis and Sega CD combination device with high quality audio, but it's high price kept it out of the hands of average gamer. It's cost was higher than simply buying the original Sega consoles.
Ad for the JVC X'Eye. Where Mona Lisa Meets "The Kid".
AtGame's Genesis Classic Game Console
The Genesis Classic Game Console is a product manufactured under license by AtGames. It is a miniature version of the Genesis, but it contains 8 built-in games. It also has a functional cartridge slot for Genesis games and ports for original Genesis controllers. We have more images of the Genesis Classic Game Console in our Miscellaneous area.
Genesis Promotional Ads
Now you can hook the Turtles up to your Sega Genesis. Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles Hyper Stone Heist game ad.
Now you can hook the Turtles up to your Sega Genesis. Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles Hyper Stone Heist game ad.
"The more you play with it, the harder it gets". Controller, Altered Beast game and Genesis console bundle ad.
"Your world will never be the same" ad. Subtitled: "Twice the Intelligence. Twice the Power. Twice the challenge. Twice the fun."
