Sega Mega Drive in HD – The Analogue Mega Sg
When it comes to gaming, there are basically two different types of player – the computer gamer and the video console gamer. I had never been a real console-guy, my first computer has been a Schneider (Amstrad) CPC464, followed by a Commodore C64 and Commodore Amiga, before I went into the world of PC computers. Somewhere between the Amiga or shortly after, I had bought a Super Nintendo, but I never went further than the one game I had bought with it – F-Zero. The SNES was sold at a certain point (which I totall regret today) and a silver Gameboy Pocket found it´s way into my home after that. Friends and family where into Sega Mega Drive gaming – at that time it was not really appealing to me.
The time it got (to) me
I think it was in 2022, I fell in love with retro video gaming. Those 16-Bit pixelart games are never really getting old. If you check on Steam, do have a come back for modern PC Hardware. I bought a Super Nintendo in good condition, a good RGB-cable to hook it up in good quality to our (also now old) flat tv and had fun. A Nintendo Entertainment System NES and a modded OG Gameboy with backlight added to the original display came to my collection. Then I added a Sega Mega Drive II and ordered an Everdrive to preserve my original cartridges, of course.
Then came the day when I was drawn into Analogue products. I managed to order an Analogue Super Nt from the second wave (more on that one another time), and now the world of FPGA and super sharp HDMI gaming was open for me. An Analogue Pocket followed (black), and I was drawn into the beautiful SHMUP world of the Sega Mega Drive. That was the point I wanted an Analogue Mega Sg, and the regret was big, why did I not order one, when I ordered the Super Nt. Long story short, I was lucky. After getting another Pocket limited edition (smoke black) I did a posting on (ebay) Kleinanzeigen – swap my Analogue Pocket Black for a Mega Sg.
And here it is now, joining my Analogue Super Nt and the world of 16Bit-Retro-Gaming.
The Analogue Mega Sg
What can I say – the Analogue Mega Sg is beautifully crafted. My version is the new interpretation of the Sega Genesis Japan, with the blue reset button and red font on the mirror black ring. It comes with a good weight and sits firm on the table. It is a real gem, looks awesome and is well build.
The cartridge slot is working like an original Mega Drive/Genesis slot, with dust flaps that offer some protection if no cartridge is slotted. It takes all three region cartridges and comes with an adapter for playing your original Sega Master System games – how cool is that. On the front you have two controller ports and an audio jack for headphones, just like the original – with one caveat, there is no volume slider. You have to do this in the menu.
There is a SD card slot on the left side, intended for applying patches – but you could also jailbreak the Mega Sg and load your games from SD card. My Mega Sg runs games from cartridges. This is what it has been build for and this what I like about it. I started to collect original and re-released games. I just like the feel of the old boxes and cartridges, and they sit nice on the shelf, as well.
Why would you need one?
So what is it about the Analogue Mega Sg? Simple – hardware emulation. Not like many other clone consoles or PC emulators, that come with software emulation (and the lag it adds), the Analogue products are based on an FPGA hardware architecture, that replicates the hardware of the Mega Drive. Allowing lag free gaming, with original cartridges, region free and in crisp sharp quality through HDMI on your big screen. Play your games like they are meant to be played!
Saying that, here are a few of my most favorite games:
Over time I also bought some hardware around the Mega Drive. I own a working Arcade Power Stick (unfortunately not the japanese version, which comes with microswitches), 8-bitdo M30 bluetooth and 2.4ghz wireless controllers. And of course an original Mega Drive wired controller – which has not really great button action any more. I am still open to replace my Arcade Power Stick for the japanese version, it is such a cool arcade pad. The 8-bitdo Arcade Stick, which I also own is nice, but the nostalgia of the black hardware offers just the better vibe for me.
With the collection of retro video consoles and games, came also a quite nice library of related books. One of them is coming soon to my collection. I managed to pre-order a copy of the Mega Drive Pixelbuch in the 2nd run, which I also own the SNES version.
What is your favorite 16-Bit-console? Let me know and why in the comments.
