[Update #1] Could AtGames’ new Mini Mega Drive actually rival the NES Classic?
[Update #1: A poster on the Atari Age forums posted the above image of what’s supposedly the official Mini Megadrive box. According to the poster, the system will also have a suspend/restore feature. Also, the list of pre-installed SEGA games (see below) has been updated with the latest information.]
Several months back, the Internet went crazy over the news that Tectoy would begin manufacturing Genesis systems once again. More annoyingly, many websites falsely led people to believe SEGA was somehow behind this new system and was taking on Nintendo’s NES Classic, thus signaling the beginning of “Console War II.”
The Tectoy Genesis looks great and all, with it using original hardware, including built-in games and ability to play actual Genesis cartridges, but the fact that it didn’t include HDMI meant that it couldn’t truly rival Nintendo’s mini NES, at least in the average consumer’s eyes.
But we’ve learned that AtGames will release a new Genesis, called the Mini Megadrive, that could actually be that contender, and it’s coming later this year. The new system is designed to look like a Model 1 Genesis and will come with 85 pre-installed games, 2.4G wireless controllers, a cartridge slot and an HDMI out that will output video at 720p. It’s now available to pre-order for a $10 limited-time discount at 79.99 Euros and is scheduled to begin shipping on Sept. 15.
Even though Sega has been strict on not branching out their games to online casinos, you’ll find many Sega inspired slots, such as Flame Busters and Arcader. You can find these games in most real money casinos, and for Sega lovers, this might be the closest thing to the real deal there ever will be.
Of course, we know that AtGames’ previous efforts in manufacturing Genesis clone systems have left a lot to be desired, especially in the sound department, so the jury is still out on whether this system is truly worth your investment.
List of included games :
- Mortal Kombat I, II, III
- Virtua Fighter 2
- Altered Beast
- Phantasy Star series
- Sonic Series
- Golden Axe
- Mortal Kombat
- Phantasy Star IV
- Shadow Dancer: The Secret of Shinobi
- Sonic & Knuckles
- Sonic the Hedgehog
- Alex Kidd in the Enchanted Castle
- Alien Storm
- Altered Beast
- Arrow Flash
- Bonanza Bros.
- Chakan: The Forever Man
- Columns
- Columns III
- ComixZone
- Crack Down
- DecapAttack
- Dr. Robotnik’sMean Bean Machine
- ESWAT: City Under Siege
- Eternal Champions
- Fatal Labyrinth
- Flicky
- Gain Ground
- Golden Axe II
- Golden Axe III
- Jewel Master
- Kid Chameleon
- Phantasy Star II
- Phantasy Star III
- Ristar
- Shinobi III: Return of the Ninja Master
- Sonic Spinball
- Sonic the Hedgehog 2
- Sonic 3D Blast
- Sword of Vermilion
- The Ooze
- Vectorman
- Vectorman2
- Virtua Fighter 2
- Shining Force: the Legacy of Great Intention
- Shining Force II: the Ancient Seal
- Shining in the Darkness
- Super Thunder Blade
- Mortal Kombat II
- Mortal Kombat 3
Non-SEGA games:
- Adventure in the Park
- Air Hockey
- Black Sheep
- Bomber
- Bottle Taps Race
- Brain Switch
- Break a Fireline
- Bubble Master
- Cannon
- Checker
- Chess
- Cross the Road
- Curling 2010
- Dominant Amber
- Fight or Lose
- Flash Memory
- Hangman
- Hexagonos
- Hidden Agenda
- Hide and Seek
- Jack’s Pea
- Jewel Magic
- Jura Formula
- Lost World Sudoku
- Maze 2010
- Mahjong Solitaire
- Memory
- Mirror Mirror
- Mr.Balls
- Mya Master Mind
- Naval Power
- Panic Lift
- Plumbing Contest
- Skeleton Scale
- Snake
- Spider
- T-Rex Memory Match
- Wall-Breaking
- Warehouse Keeper
- Whack-A-Wolf
[Via JournalDuGeek]
I think that Arrow Flash is the only SEGA game listed that I don’t currently have a legal way to play.
Does that make it worth nearly $100? Well, the non-SEGA game list does include a title called Mr. Balls…
Why separates “Sonic Series” with “Sonic & Knuckles” and “Sonic The Hedgehog”? Aren’t the later belongs to “Sonic Series”?
….But it’s the same innards as all their previous attempts, so the audio will be atrocious.
Actually, AtGames announced ages ago that they were retiring the Firecore clone in favor of an ARM and an emulator. And save states, HDMI, and bluetooth controllers kinda proves this is that project.
Heh, I’ll believe it when I see (er… hear?) it.
Will the cartridge slot be big enough to fit carts from all regions (like a genesis 3 for example) or will it be region locked… if the latter then sorry, no sale.
On my US Genesis I cut away the corners of the cart slot so I could play MD games. hopefully that kind of mod would work on this
No. You’d be better off modding a Wii.
As soon as I read At Games all I can think of is… *BARF*
But I am willing to be optimistic and give them a second chance at this. Seriously, where the fuck is SEGA not making it’s own SEGA mini version!? They would get a lot of money for it by now.
The reason why Sega is not doing their own mini Genesis is because they know how badly Nintendo fucked up with the NES Classic especially since they just discontinued it
Sorry. But I’m going to have to disagree with that. Nintendo in the first month has made some serious sales when the NES Mini console got launched. They even stated that they are trying to make more in meeting with the insane high demand.
Now there are couple of reasons and they are all valid but it is really tough to pin point it out as to why Nintendo pulled the plug on the NES classic.
1- They have met their sales quota in a very short period.
2- We all know how very well Nintendo hates any of their consoles getting hacked. Good chance they pulled the plug on that part because the NES Classic Edition got hacked and allows you to put in more games. And Nintendo hates that.
3- Stopping other people from making profit out of it. Because Nintendo wants the money gains for itself. So scalpers who purchase multiple devices are to blame for making Nintendo stopping production.
4- Nintendo pulled the plug to give more attention for sales for its latest hybrid console the Nintendo Switch.
5- Nintedo pulled the plug for a possibility in rolling out an SNES Mini in the near future.
6 – Nintendo doesn’t want to admit that it can’t meet the high demand in production of the NES classic and therefore it cut it off to put all its resourses on their new hygrid console the Nintendo Switch.
What ever the reason, they all seem valid one way or another. Bottomlines the NES Classic Edition proved to be a success. But Nintendo just like to be a giant cock block.
So if SEGA was to make its own SEGA mini and say they put in a lot of focus to what made the SEGA Genesis shine and that’s sound. If they can plug in a small or a micro FM with PSG chip, tweaked the damn thing to sound like the original console and the only way that console can read games is through an internal memory with an HDMI output. I can’t even imagine how much money it would make out of it. And most probably its going to topple down the NES Mini or SNES if it ever does come out.
BOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOORING!
Translation: I’m gonna mask the fact that you owned my ass by being a sarcastic twit.
Good for you, Shaun. You’re a real winner.
Translation:I’m gonna feed the troll and he’s gonna make my life
a living hell. Good for you,Darrell You’re a real loser,you goddamn jew.
Previously this site had an article about why to avoid buying products from ATGames.
Any reason to think this will be better?
I like the idea of the device but if it is not good on all fronts I am better off sticking with my current emulation setup.
What a putrid games list. No Strider, Streets of Rage, Shining Force, Shinobi (and don’t give me any nonsense about Shadow Dancer), Alien Soldier, Gunstar Heroes, Contra Hard Corps, or Castlevania Bloodlines. At least the NES Mini has most of the best games from the NES. This would be like Nintendo releasing a SNES mini without Super Metroid or any of the Mega Man X games.
No Shining Force? Did you not look at the game list? It has all three of the Shining Series that was released on the Genesis/Mega Drive.
And the Classic Edition didn’t have some of the best NES Games. There was no Contra one, no CastleVania III, no BattleToads, no Metal Gear Solid.
It gave us Ice Climbers, Bubble Bobble, and a slew of other complete crap. Only about 10 of the games on the NES Classic are any good.
I’m gonna level with ya, I prefer Eternal Champions to Virtua Fighter, any day.
Don’t Forget Electronic Arts Games & EA Sports Games On Mega Drive HD Mini AtGames
Supposedly it’s a new emulator, so the sound problems of the previous 10 years of AtGames stuff should be fixed. I’m a little surprised to see all the filler games in there. There’s some discussion at AtariAge about this. http://atariage.com/forums/topic/259236-2017-flashback-speculation-thread/page-6#entry3735144
Will wait for the reviews.
FPGA? Moddable? HW specs?
We haven’t seen any specs yet, but we’re hoping to get more info from AtGames soon.
Thanks, I guess I’ll have to wait 🙂 It’ll be a good alternative if the Retroengine Sigma doesn’t pan out!
Looks like they’re pulling the same bullshit with “85 games” — half of which are complete and utter garbage.
Get rid of the joke games! Price it at 99.99 $USD. Include 100 games for Genesis for Sega CD , Sega 32x , and the Sega master system 🙂 It will Sale, Sale , and Sale. Hopeful the system specs is up a raspberry pie!
Streets of rage 2 landstalker and tyrants or gtfo.
My SNES Mini finally arrived yesterday. The thing I disliked the most is that Sega isn’t smart enough to make its own Mega Drive Mini (not this AtGames “class B” device). Seriously Sega, what are you waiting for? You know the NES Mini sold well, and so the SNES Mini. This is “free money” for you to make.
Ninten-does what Sega don’t, one more time -_-
Picked up their previous version of the ‘Sega Megadrive’ and found it felt horrible to play, with blurry image and terrible, slowed down audio. Miles off my photographic memory of hours spent sat in front of my mega drive in the 1990s and given that you are buying this primarily for nostalgia, the whole experience is massively hampered. I would be cautious about this next version.
I recently sent an email to AtGames, as I noticed that next years marks the Mega Drive’s 30th anniversary, and it would be cool if they released a quality product for once. Based on this Flashback model, here’s what I’d do:
1.- Remove any non-Mega Drive games. This would make a difference, seriously. The shovelware makes this console look cheaper than it already is.
2-. Get rid of that old Android OS. Go to something like RetroPie. Whatever, but get a good emulator. The current one still plays some sounds bad (Sonic’s ring sound effect is still distorted, check it) and I’m sure that’s why Streets Of Rage 1, 2 and 3 and some other games are not here. I’m sure there are many talented developers out there to make a great simple OS and interface.
3.- If they’re not going to add essential games like Sonic 3 or Streets Of Rage, at least add an USB connection that allows people to hack it to add more games if they want to (that’s why I got the SNES Mini). If that USB was also the power supply, that would be awesome (I don’t like the AC plug). This could also lead to removing the cartridge support. I mean, this console doesn’t “support” cartridges. It just dumps cartridges into the console. If I could add my own roms, I wouldn’t need this at all.
4.- Make good USB controllers. The current 2GHz controllers are a bit laggy, feel cheap, use AA batteries and you need to remove a screw to change them. Really… Just make a good copy of the original 6button pad. The Nintendo and Super Nintendo Mini controllers use the same original material.
5.- Make a good user interface. The navigation and organization is absurd (“Mortal Kombat” category?). Just check Nintendo Mini’s menus. Or if you want to be a bit original from the Nintendo Mini, you can classify the games by genre and by single player/multiplayer.
This, and we have a good product. To me the key would be the USB connection, so it could be hacked and modified.
If they can’t do this, they should make Genesis cases for Raspberry Pi 3. This case was actually pretty good. Although that Genesis USB Hub was even better: https://retropie.org.uk/forum/assets/uploads/files/1481312612394-genesis-hub.jpg?v=i2v8u91272g
I hope we can have a proper Mega Drive Mini some day. It really hurts how cool the NES and SNES Mini are, and how cheesy the “Sega” (AtGames) Mega Drive is 🙁