Genesis / Mega Drive modding wiki

The Sega Genesis — known as the Mega Drive outside of North America — is a 16-bit console from the fourth generation of video game consoles. The console was first launched in Japan on October 29, 1988 followed by North America (August 14, 1989) and Europe (September 1990). It offers backwards compatibility with the Sega Master System library through the Power Base Converter add-on (or through a flash cart). The console has three main model revisions: the Model 1, Model 2, and Model 3; plus a portable version (Sega Genesis Nomad). Many third party consoles were later released later in the Genesis' lifespan and well after it.

CD game support was supported with two models of the Sega CD add-on, two combination models (Wondermega and X'Eye) and one semi-portable combination model (CDX/Multi-Mega). 32-bit game support was added with the Sega 32X add-on in 1994. Online play was also supported with some titles using the XBAND service in North America or the Mega Modem (Sega Meganet/Net Work System service) in Japan.

Despite massively underperforming in Japan due to heavy competition from NEC's PC Engine and both Nintendo's Famicom and Super Famicom, the Genesis was Sega's most successful console outside Japan, becoming a massive hit in most of the world and leaving behind a massive legacy as one of the most popular and fondly remembered video game consoles of all time.

The Sega Genesis Development Wiki is a great supplemental development-focused resource to this wiki.