Support NeoGAF

[cireza]

Still pretty bitter that we missed out on some games because SoA at the time didn't think they would sell (lucky escape for Gunstar Heroes).

Things like Phantasy Star 4 being put at $100/£70 to show that it won't sell and promoting Sports over their own stuff kind of irks me as I heard that Surging Aura is AMAZING!

I still think of the scenario where we got these games plus the likes of Cotton, Pulseman, The Hybrid Front (which is shocking we never got as it looks very Western oriented), , Bahamat Senki, Langrisser 2 (since we needed RPGs badly) and Rent-A-Hero if SoA and SoE tried to promote both Western and Japanese games rather than picking what they assumed the audience wanted.

I am too shy to put up a Tweet about my experiences with the Mega Drive, but it was mostly playing at a Friend's House all the SEGA games he borrowed from his own friend such as OutRun, Wonder Boy in Monster World, Revenge of Shinobi, Ranger X, Streets of Rage 2 and Golden Axe. He himself owned Alex Kidd, Altered Beast, Bruce Lee Story and Streets of Rage 1.

My cousins got the Mega Drive later and had World of Illusion, Terminator vs Robocop, Kid Chameleon, Taz: Escape from Mars and T2 the Arcade Game that I borrowed. (my other cousin owned Aladdin)

I owned mostly all of the Sonic games and Disney games (Jungle Book, Lion King & Mickey Mania because for some reason my parents assumed I liked those games) but I was also given Ecco: Tides of Time, Hellfire (first Shmup I owned), Desert Strike and Prince of Persia (those two games didn't resonate with me as much, probably due to the controls and difficulty).

I think I started to look into the library more after I owned the Wii and used the Virtual Console Service far more than I realized. (all the systems, not just the Mega Drive). I also played Monster World 4 to completion on the 360 about 7 years ago now.

I got to play Ristar and Pulseman for the first time using this service and started to actively look for some more games via eBay a few years after.

Thanks to that, I got to find Rocket Knight Adventures, Sparkster (not as good), Strider, Vectorman 1, Alisia Dragoon, Puyo Puyo 1, Super Fantasy Zone, Steel Empire, Sub Terraria and Dynamite Headdy for cheaper prices (mostly between £5 to £15 range, with the exception of Sparkster and Sub Terraria which is £20).

I also managed to buy Pier Solar on a Reprint a year after it released. That game is so so hard!

In my more recent searches, I managed to snag Soliel (UK version) for £16.50, The Story of Thor for £35 and Castlevania: The New Generation for £50 (it's gone up since), Chiki Chiki Boys for £30 (not really worth that price) and Arrow Flash (Cart Only) for £6 that I recommended to @DunDunDunpachi (it's seen as a Sequel to Transbot on the Master System).

I am still trying to find Valis and War Song at a decent price and one day hope that Panorama Cotton is released in some form!!! Other than that, I would love Rent-A-Hero, Langrisser 2, Bahamat Senki and Surging Aura in English too.

You do know that Rent a Hero, Langrisser 2 and Surging Aura have English fantrads ? Can be played on official hardware with an Everdrive.

The Hybrid Front has a translation in the works. I would also like to see translated Lord Monarch.

Honestly for old consoles a CRT TV can be found for pretty much 0 dollars by searching a bit in the family, the consoles don't cost much at all and you get an Everdrive and you are good to go. Still the best way to play.

Combine this with buying the Megadrive Mini to give money to Sega (and not used games resellers).

 

[Starlight Lotice]

You do know that Rent a Hero, Langrisser 2 and Surging Aura have English fantrads ? Can be played on official hardware with an Everdrive.

The Hybrid Front has a translation in the works. I would also like to see translated Lord Monarch.

Honestly for old consoles a CRT TV can be found for pretty much 0 dollars by searching a bit in the family, the consoles don't cost much at all and you get an Everdrive and you are good to go. Still the best way to play.

Combine this with buying the Megadrive Mini to give money to Sega (and not used games resellers).

That's good to know at least, but I hope one day they can put these online digitally to purchase on whatever console they plan to put it on.

I sadly have little room to CRTs so I just use the TV I have with AV output instead which I am perfectly happy with.

Saw more of that video and had to laugh at the "this is not targetted at us"....like really? Alisia Dragoon is pretty expensive without the Mini for one.

 

[JORMBO]

 

[ultrazilla]

So there's an "expansion port" on the mini. My guess? 32X mini incoming....

 

[EightBit Man]

Some excellent hands-on video guys, thanks. Hopefully non-functioning controllers won't be a widespread phenomenon.

 

[EightBit Man]

Any news on the SoC itself?

There's a update on this: it contains a ZUIKI Z7213 (Allwinner-based) chip. No technical info has been found about it, yet.

 

[Tarin02543]

These will sell like hot cakes. Retro gaming has a bright future.

 

[KellyM]

You do know that Rent a Hero, Langrisser 2 and Surging Aura have English fantrads ? Can be played on official hardware with an Everdrive.

The Hybrid Front has a translation in the works. I would also like to see translated Lord Monarch.

Honestly for old consoles a CRT TV can be found for pretty much 0 dollars by searching a bit in the family, the consoles don't cost much at all and you get an Everdrive and you are good to go. Still the best way to play.

Combine this with buying the Megadrive Mini to give money to Sega (and not used games resellers).

Just saw this,, yes Rent a Hero, Langrisser 2 have translations you can add to roms, Surging Aura has a French one but no English fan translation that I know of.

 

[TheDuskwalker]

 

[cireza]

Surging Aura has a Frenc

You are right. I am French I tend to not make the difference anymore between French and English content. Often I don't even remember if I watched a movie in French or English.

 

[Bullet Club]

 

[EightBit Man]

 

[TLZ]

I'm more interested in what these guys have to say:

 

[Fat Frog]

I want reviews of Asian and Japanese mini too.

 

[EightBit Man]

 

[Bullet Club]

 

[Bullet Club]

 

[EightBit Man]

By the time it arrives at my home, it'll be half a year and three days after I pre-ordered it. It's one hell of a wait.

 

[Starlight Lotice]

By the time it arrives at my home, it'll be half a year and three days after I pre-ordered it. It's one hell of a wait.

Damn...and i am considering whether to pre-order the PC Engine mini as well! Amazon changed their policies on pre-ordering though.

 

[EightBit Man]

Damn...and i am considering whether to pre-order the PC Engine mini as well! Amazon changed their policies on pre-ordering though.

You're not sure about the PC Engine Mini? Oh, what did they change?

 

[Starlight Lotice]

You're not sure about the PC Engine Mini? Oh, what did they change?

No. I want to pre-order but I might not be in a job after this week due to some bullying on my superiors part so I am cautious about Amazon charging me.

Amazon EU charge upon pre-orders now and it takes a week to get a refund if you cancel. Seems only in Europe at the moment but the US may follow.

 

[EightBit Man]

No. I want to pre-order but I might not be in a job after this week due to some bullying on my superiors part so I am cautious about Amazon charging me.

Amazon EU charge upon pre-orders now and it takes a week to get a refund if you cancel. Seems only in Europe at the moment but the US may follow.

Ah, I see. Understandable, in such situations it's smart to adjust just in case. I'm sorry to hear about your situation.

They lost their trust in their customers or something? Never ordered something on amazon so don't know about their overall treatment of customers. Probably wouldn't like it myself.

 

[Starlight Lotice]

Ah, I see. Understandable, in such situations it's smart to adjust just in case. I'm sorry to hear about your situation.

They lost their trust in their customers or something? Never ordered something on amazon so don't know about their overall treatment of customers. Probably wouldn't like it myself.

Thanks man. It's been going on 6 months and I am pretty much done after I was told my job costs them money (no shit? I get paid for this). Being a clown basically.

I think it is because customers pre-order only to cancel when they see a better deal (myself included). They want to clamp down on it.

 

[EightBit Man]

Thanks man. It's been going on 6 months and I am pretty much done after I was told my job costs them money (no shit? I get paid for this). Being a clown basically.

I think it is because customers pre-order only to cancel when they see a better deal (myself included). They want to clamp down on it.

Fully understandable. I wouldn't feel appreciated either under such circumstances. Wish you all the best going through all of this, because these situations are pretty big upheavals in our lives.

Ah, yeah that would make sense.

 

[Kazza]

No. I want to pre-order but I might not be in a job after this week due to some bullying on my superiors part so I am cautious about Amazon charging me.

Amazon EU charge upon pre-orders now and it takes a week to get a refund if you cancel. Seems only in Europe at the moment but the US may follow.

I'm sorry to hear about your work troubles, I hope things work out for you. The Happy Console Gamer recently made a video about a time when he was in a similar sort of situation as you are potentially facing. Sometimes it helps us feel better when we hear someone talk about a similar experience:

 

[Starlight Lotice]

Fully understandable. I wouldn't feel appreciated either under such circumstances. Wish you all the best going through all of this, because these situations are pretty big upheavals in our lives.

Ah, yeah that would make sense.

I'm sorry to hear about your work troubles, I hope things work out for you. The Happy Console Gamer recently made a video about a time when he was in a similar sort of situation as you are potentially facing. Sometimes it helps us feel better when we hear someone talk about a similar experience:

Thanks for the well wishes guys.

Been there for 8 years but has become intolerable due to false accusations of bullying and stating I play on my Autism.

Currently doing a course in another area of work so that should help me!

Another video is always welcome!

 

[EightBit Man]

From siliconera.com:

Dengeki Online has released an interview with Sega’s Yosuke Okunari, who talked a bit about trouble with gauging demand for the Mega Drive Mini/Genesis Mini, as well as how M2 got involved.

Here are the highlights:

Just in case, are there any other hidden things that haven’t been revealed?

Hiroyuki Miyazaki, producer: “Nope, we’ve revealed everything!”

Within Japan, the Mega Drive Mini is quite popular, but what about overseas?

Miyazaki: “We’ve only seen the reactions of those at E3, but the fans there had a welcoming reaction to the Genesis Mini (Mega Drive Mini). However, E3 is a special event where most who come are media, buyers, or hardcore fans. How the end users will see the Genesis Mini when it lines store shelves is something we can’t be sure about yet.”

Yosuke Okunari, producer: “On the other hand, we were only half-certain about the Mega Drive Mini. We were reasonably confident that readers of Dengeki would be happy, but at first we were like, “How many people remember the Mega Drive?” When preorders rolled in, we were relieved.”

On the Mega Drive Tower Mini:

Okunari: “This was something we joked about later on, saying that “it would be funny to release something like this.””

Miyazaki: “Originally, the price was higher, but we felt it wouldn’t sell and so lowered the price, and when many preorders came in we were like, “Oh crap!””

On M2’s involvement:

Okunari: “Before the announcement, it was top secret, so we didn’t tell M2. However, from the beginning of the project, I knew it had to be M2 to do it.”

Naoki Horii, M2 president: “It was around that timing, that Okunari-san contacted me behind closed doors regarding the project. If I remember, it was around Sega Fes 2018.”

Okunari: “Around Sega Fes it wouldn’t be overstating it to say the project had just begun. It was around the beginning of the year that I contacted Horii-san hinting at it, and at the Sega Fes announcement we contacted them saying that we wanted them to do it.”

 

[Bar81]

Now we know why Aladdin wasn't included - Virgin is releasing its own compilation:

Disney Classic Games: Aladdin and The Lion King Will Arrive In Fall 2019 - Siliconera

Disney Classic Games: Aladdin and The Lion King, a compilation including the classic games minus the Capcom Super NES Aladdin entry, will be arriving on consoles and the PC in Fall 2019.

www.siliconera.com

 

[Kazza]

Now we know why Aladdin wasn't included - Virgin is releasing its own compilation:

Disney Classic Games: Aladdin and The Lion King Will Arrive In Fall 2019 - Siliconera

Disney Classic Games: Aladdin and The Lion King, a compilation including the classic games minus the Capcom Super NES Aladdin entry, will be arriving on consoles and the PC in Fall 2019.

www.siliconera.com

I had the same thought when I heard the news. Hopefully this means a Quackshot remaster is in the offing too.

 

[KellyM]

I had the same thought when I heard the news. Hopefully, this means a Quackshot remaster is in the offing too.

Doubtful, Sega of Japan was the one who programmed Quackshot. Quakeshot is like the two Illusion games. So unless Sega does a remaster don't expect it, Yes Disney owns the character, but it is like Disney trying to publish the Disney Capcom games without Capcom,

 

[Kazza]

 

[JohannCK]

I want reviews of Asian and Japanese mini too.

I intend on doing one for the Mega Drive (and Mega Drive Tower) later this month! Later in September (forgot it was still August)

 

[RAIDEN1]

Not sure if anyone has seen this already, but I think its appropriate to link to this, this is where the genesis/megadrive story started ie with : Hideki Sato: https://mdshock.com/2018/07/08/the-sega-mega-drive-is-here/

Just a shame that with the follow up (Saturn) all the good work was undone....and was the beginning of the end for Sega in the hardware scene....

 

[Komatsu]

I have most of the cartridges and with Analogue's Mega SG, I really have no need for the mini. That being said, I've been waiting 20 years to spend money on SEGA hardware again, so of course I will bite.

 

[Kazza]

Not sure if anyone has seen this already, but I think its appropriate to link to this, this is where the genesis/megadrive story started ie with : Hideki Sato: https://mdshock.com/2018/07/08/the-sega-mega-drive-is-here/

Just a shame that with the follow up (Saturn) all the good work was undone....and was the beginning of the end for Sega in the hardware scene....

Nice article, thanks for posting. Interesting to see much many add-ons they were already planning, even before launch:

Floppy disk attachment (never release, as far as I know):

Smoking and working at the same time - yep, that's the 80s alright:

I'm not sure how many people actually used their controller like this (not even left-handed people?):

 

[Barakov]

I'm not sure how many people actually used their controller like this (not even left-handed people?):

As someone who is left-handed I never held a controller like that. Seems uncomfortable and weird.

 

[Bullet Club]

Oh boy, look at that cover. Very sexy.

 

[Kazza]

Oh boy, look at that cover. Very sexy.

Is Retro Gamer magazine any good? I'll be back in the UK next year and might subscribe (the cover looks pretty slick). Does it avoid the bullshit of games "journalism" and just stick to the games themselves?

 

[Bullet Club]

 

[EightBit Man]

 

[Kazza]

I know people have been bitching about the West not getting the 6 button controller, but having ordered the Asian version (I'm living in Asia right now) I'm kind of jealous of those getting the 3 button one. The 3 button one holds much more nostalgia value for me, plus I like the big squishy face buttons.

 

[FranXico]

Come back, SEGA. We miss you!

 

[Starlight Lotice]

Is Retro Gamer magazine any good? I'll be back in the UK next year and might subscribe (the cover looks pretty slick). Does it avoid the bullshit of games "journalism" and just stick to the games themselves?

It is fantastic! Subbed almost 9 years ago now.

Covers almost everything, and gives SEGA games a lot of ❤

It covered the Mini a few months back and is now talking about the PC Engine Mini.

Last month was about Mega Drive Shmups.

No Journalism, talks purely about Games and history.

They have a Collector's Corner where a collector talks about their favourite game, most valuable and how much it is all worth.

They do an Unconverted and Minority Report Article where they talk about Arcade and Unknown games on certain systems.

They also predict future classic games which are really good (Valkyria, Yakuza, Persona and Dark Souls are all on there)

They also do a "Back in x Month, Year" where they talk about releases in the UK that year, including what games got what scores as well as what was Charting both on Conoles and the UK Music Charts!!!

 

[Kazza]

It is fantastic! Subbed almost 9 years ago now.

Covers almost everything, and gives SEGA games a lot of ❤

It covered the Mini a few months back and is now talking about the PC Engine Mini.

Last month was about Mega Drive Shmups.

Nice to know, thanks for the review. I'm very tempted to get a subscription now. Which issue is covering the PC Engine Mini? The latest one seems to be the Megadrive one.

 

[Bullet Club]

Is Retro Gamer magazine any good? I'll be back in the UK next year and might subscribe (the cover looks pretty slick). Does it avoid the bullshit of games "journalism" and just stick to the games themselves?

As StarlightLotice said, it is great. A very old school mag.

You can check out some older issues on archive.org.

Retro Gamer Issue 121-124 : Free Download, Borrow, and Streaming : Internet Archive

Retro Gamer Issue 121-124

archive.org

 

[Starlight Lotice]

Nice to know, thanks for the review. I'm very tempted to get a subscription now. Which issue is covering the PC Engine Mini? The latest one seems to be the Megadrive one.

It only skimmed it last time and will likely only say what has been revealed last month.

There was a PC Engine Article on issue 172 I think? That was interesting as it tells you about the UK Import scene back in the day and was the first instance of an Import Market.

No idea, likely in February to drum up hype or March since it comes out late March.

The Mega Drive gets a lot of articles but this month will likely focus on the games for the Mini and likely how Darius got ported. Looking forward to it!

I own from Issue 91 or thereabouts, they gave Away Issue 1 with the 100th Issue but it is very barebones.

They also covered the Neo Geo, Master System, C64 and Amstrad. If you wanted to you can send them an e-mail on what to cover next. Shin Megami Tensei hasn't been covered yet which I think needs to be. I think next month in the Retro Inspired Reviews (modern gsmes on old franchises) they may cover River City Girls too.

They used to do a Cheap as Chips article where they recommend a cheap game bit that is gone now. Now they do a price list of the games they cover and a How To at the end of the article.

 

[EightBit Man]

I know people have been bitching about the West not getting the 6 button controller, but having ordered the Asian version (I'm living in Asia right now) I'm kind of jealous of those getting the 3 button one. The 3 button one holds much more nostalgia value for me, plus I like the big squishy face buttons.

I can fully understand that. Same goes for me; I prefer the three-button controller by quite a large margin. I dunno, maybe SEGA would've satisfied everybody with giving people the choice in all regions. I decided to forget the separate six-button controller we get here, because it's required for only one game I'm interested in (Eternal Champions). Are you going to get a three-button one if possible?

 

[TheContact]

I'm more interested in what these guys have to say:

For real. If anyone can review it it's these guys. Or this guy, since I guess one of them left.

 

[Starlight Lotice]

I can fully understand that. Same goes for me; I prefer the three-button controller by quite a large margin. I dunno, maybe SEGA would've satisfied everybody with giving people the choice in all regions. I decided to forget the separate six-button controller we get here, because it's required for only one game I'm interested in (Eternal Champions). Are you going to get a three-button one if possible?

Comix Zone is easier with the 6 Button controller but the 3 button controller is iconic.

Perhaps they could have added a description in the games that state that a 6 button controller would enhance the experience, just to let people know but it is not required.

I love the 3 button controller.

 

[EightBit Man]

Comix Zone is easier with the 6 Button controller but the 3 button controller is iconic.

Perhaps they could have added a description in the games that state that a 6 button controller would enhance the experience, just to let people know but it is not required.

I love the 3 button controller.

Fully agreed. Also, Shinobi III requires it to activate certain cheats codes, and I believe Contra: Hard Corps was also compatible, though I'm not sure. Still, I'm fine with it for the moment, and maybe I'll get a pair of extra controllers later.