Here are some of the consoles we would have loved to see get the high def mini, form factor, plug & play treatment:

N64 Mini

When Nintendo quickly followed up the NES Classic Edition with the SNES, many of us hoped we were witnessing the birth of a new trend.  Perhaps they’d go back into the archives and create retro mini consolized Game Boy units, Game Boy Color, Game Boy Advance, Virtual Boy.  The possibilities were endless.

The most exciting of these of course would be an N64 Mini.  When Sony went ahead and released a Playstation Classic in 2018, it seemed the 5th generation of home consoles were ready for a new war of living room supremacy.  Unfortunately neither Nintendo nor Sega took the bait, leaving Sony’s entry into the classic edition segment the most recent console to receive such treatment.

As for Nintendo, it makes sense why they didn’t go all in with an N64 Mini – and the reason is their own Nintendo Switch Online service, which hopes to attract gamers of all disciplines to their Switch platform through the availability of abundant retro titles (many from the N64).  It’s a shame too because an N64 Mini would have been spectacular.

CD-i

While CD-i refers to a media format more than a single piece of hardware, Phillips replied to Tweets from users begging for a CD-i Mini with a response that sounded like such an announcement might actually follow.  Sadly, at present, it never has.

The CD-i library is surprisingly robust – with 214 total games released from 170 different developers.  Perhaps most famous among these coming in the form of the officially licensed Nintendo titles:  Hotel Mario, Link: The Faces of Evil, Zelda: The Wand of Gamelon, and Zelda’s Adventure.

3DO

From afar 3DO is remarkably similar to CD-i; it refers to a media format that could be licensed so that actual console hardware could be manufactured and distributed by a wide variety of brands.

While CD-i encompassed a wide variety of multimedia applications (encyclopedias on CD, edutainment titles, etc.), 3DO was more game-centric.  Over 200 titles were officially released by the end of its run, including some very faithful ports of arcade titles like Super Street Fighter II Turbo.

Amiga CD-32

Did you know that back in 1993 Commodore tried its hand at a 32-bit console to do battle with the likes of Sony, Nintendo and Sega?  The CD-32 was based upon their Amiga computer line but failed to make much of a dent in the market.

Now here’s where things get interesting from a Mini perspective.  Retro Games Ltd. has already done all the heavy lifting in creating an HDMI mini version in their Amiga A500 Mini.  All they would need to do to drive we console gamer types crazy with desire is develop a second shell shaped like the CD-32 and give the A500 controller a black paint job.  Here’s hoping they’ll consider it.

PC Classic

Back in 2019 a company called Unit-e announced a PC Classic console, one that would come chock full of games from the DOS era of home computing.  Despite a very strong public reaction, the PC Classic has yet to manifest and even updates from the company have gone cold.

Of all the possible mini classic editions, the PC would certainly be the easiest to achieve as there would be no licensing to procure from a hardware or branding standpoint.  The only licensing involved would be that of the games themselves and with tens of thousands to choose from even from a single era, finding a few dozen titles interested in participating is all but a given.

Here’s hoping Unit-e sees this one through to fruition.

Sega Saturn

We’ll end this list with what is perhaps the system most likely to see the light of day.  When Sega threw its hat in the classic edition ring with the Genesis Mini back in 2019, the talk of where they could go from there was immediate.  After all, why not go on with a Sega CD Mini, a Saturn Mini, a Dreamcast Mini?  To the surprise and delight of many, Sega listened and, in 2022, followed up with the Genesis Mini 2, a unit packed with different Genesis and some Sega CD titles (and a 6-button controller rather than the 3-button of the original Genesis Mini).

All of this to say, Sega clearly gets the demand here and, of all the brands mentioned on this list, has everything needed (including the massive back catalog of titles) to continue producing these things.  And, unlike Nintendo, doesn’t have any current hardware on the market to be concerned with competing against.

The post A Look At Those Mini Classic Editions We (Probably) Won’t Be Getting appeared first on Old School Gamer Magazine.

Sega has finally released the Genesis Mini 2 through Amazon exclusively and the initial feedback has been very positive.  Perhaps even more fascinating, the inner box flap of the Japanese edition includes a QR code that leads to a survey asking buyers if they’d like Sega to continue producing retro minis and if so, which console they would like to see done next.  The options include all of the usual suspects – Saturn, Dreamcast but the list also extends back to Sega’s earlier hardware entries: The SG-1000, 1000 II and the Mark III (Master System to we American types).

If given my vote, I’d be all for the continued Sega evolution: Saturn, Dreamcast and it would be great if they pulled a Nintendo and gave us the 8-bit Master System as well.  Another option was for a Genesis 3 Mini; as, after all, the original Genesis did end up being offered in three different hardware packages and a library of games (especially when sprinkling in offerings from the Sega CD and 32X) large enough to fill at least three minis.

All of this to talk not just about Sega but about an interesting little system we almost got just prior to the pandemic.

This device was going to be called the PC Classic from a company called Unit-e.  In 2018 they built the prototypes and attempted to go through the crowdfunding route of realization.

This particular retro system targeted PC games (as the name suggests) of the DOS era – think Commander Keen, Jill of the Jungle, Doom, and Quake II.  The software list, as is often the case with these systems, was far from finalized, though many suspected it would contain other classics of the era such as Oregon Trail, Civilization, Myst, etc.

Sadly, the system was set to debut just as the pandemic swept the world and the resulting economy/ global chip shortage has left Unit-e struggling to devise a strategy to get the machines to the public.  The project has not been canceled, however.

We’ve been following along with updates on the company’s Facebook page and those interested can watch the initial video presentation for the PC Mini here.

Here’s hoping as the world settles into a new rhythm and chips become increasingly more available, the PC Classic will come to join the ever-expanding fray of retro mini plug ‘n plays.

The post PC Classic – A DOS Era Plug n Play appeared first on Old School Gamer Magazine.

In the time since many, many brands have followed suit – everyone from arch-rival Sega to Konami (flying the NEC flag) to SNK with the Neo Geo and even a pair of Commodore computers turned HDMI-equipped mini.

It’s become a bit of a guessing game around here to try and figure out what retro hardware will be the next to receive the modern treatment (we keep hoping for CD-i and 3DO) but it looks like the next big one to arrive will be another 80s era personal computer – this time 1987’s Sharp X68000.

The Japan-only computer originally boasted a Motorola 68000 CPU running at 10 MHz, 1 MB of RAM, custom sprite hardware and an 8-channel sound chip (later iterations of the line would increase these specs).  While that may sound pretty limiting by today’s standards, the original 68000 was known for some of the most accurate home arcade ports of the era.

In fact, so in line with the arcade hardware of the era, the Sharp X68K actually served as Capcom’s CPS system development machine at the time.

Like with most computers of the era, the actual number of game titles released is fuzzy (there was no need to seek the official seal of approval to develop and release computer games, unlike the contemporary console counterparts), there are still several hundred officially recognized games.  Some of the machine’s big hitters include Gradius, Strider, Final Fight, Alien Syndrome, Street Fighter II: Champion Edition, and Castlevania Akumajo Dracula (ported to the PlayStation as Castlevania Chronicles).

While the final games list to be included on the mini is yet to be announced, it looks like Zuiki Inc. would be responsible for the manufacture and release of the new unit (they may not sound familiar to you but they actually produce most of the mini consoles on the market today for the commonly known brands).

While the pics released on Zuiki’s Twitter feed (shown here) seem to show a very completed hardware design, it’s not clear whether or not the US will ever receive an official release (after all, the original upon which it’s based never left Japan).

We’re hopeful, however, that Amazon of Japan will make ordering the hardware as easy as it has been to import systems like Sega’s Astro City Arcade Mini to the US.

Expect updates here as more information is released.

The post Sharp X68000 Retro Mini Edition Announced appeared first on Old School Gamer Magazine.

In the event that you missed it, Sega has confirmed a new retro mini console follow-up to its 2019 Genesis Mini. While the new Mega Drive 2 looks a lot like the second iteration of the Mega Drive (Genesis) hardware, the real claim to fame over the first is an entirely new list of preinstalled games, this time taking from both the Genesis Cartridge and Sega CD libraries.

They initially announced 11 game titles (click here for a refresher), and now they’ve followed up with an official announcement naming games 12-22.

Genesis Cartridge Games:

After Burner II
Columns III: Revenge of Columns
Megapanel
Nadia: The Secret of Blue Water
Out Run
Puzzle & Action: Ichidant-R
Splatterhouse 2
Star Mobile

SEGA CD Games:

Night Striker
The Ninja Warriors
Starblade

Also of note is that while Sega has announced an official Japanese release date for the new system (October 27) for roughly $70 US, they have yet to officially announce a North American counterpart to the Mega Drive 2. It’s a safe bet they will give the success of the 2019 Genesis Mini and, given that some of the text-heavy RPG titles would be extremely difficult to play without localization, simply importing a Japanese unit isn’t a foolproof workaround.

The post Sega Announces 11 More Titles For Upcoming Mini appeared first on Old School Gamer Magazine.

I envisioned a miniature standalone piece of hardware that does its best to look like an actual Sega CD to plop next to your Genesis Mini chock full of Sega CD titles. What Sega is apparently putting out is another Genesis (Mega Drive), this time mimicking the Genesis Model 2 hardware.

The Model 2 Genesis was what we now call a “slim” incarnation of a console – a more cost-effective, scaled-back version of the original hardware with a smaller form factor. The original was released in 1993 and eliminated the headphone jack, used a smaller AV-out, and ran off a simpler, cheaper board.

However, separating the new Genesis 2 Mini from its predecessor will be the inclusion of a preinstalled library of 50 different titles from the 42 games that came on 2019’s Genesis Mini, among these several Sega CD exclusives such as Sonic CD and Popful Mail.

While the entire list is yet to be finalized, Sega is promising the inclusion of more 3rd party titles this time around and some of the more hardware-intensive Genesis titles like their 1992 home arcade port of Virtua Racing.

It looks to aim for around a $79 MSRP (the same as the 2019’s asking price) and, while it will include 7 additional games, will only include a single 6-button controller this time compared to the former’s inclusion of a pair of 3-button units.

The confirmed games list so far:

• Silpheed (CD)
• Shining Force CD (CD)
• Sonic CD (CD)
• Mansion of Hidden Sls (CD)
• Popful Mail (CD)
• Virtua Racing (Genesis)
• Bonanza Bros (Genesis)
• Shining in the Darkness (Genesis)
• Thunder Force IV (Genesis)
• Magical Taruruto (Genesis)
• Fantasy Zone (Genesis)

Here’s where things get interesting. While the unit itself may again look like a miniature Genesis, Sega plans on offering a miniature Sega CD add-on that can attach, to look just like the original Genesis/CD combo (complete with replica cartridge for the slot and disc for the drive). This will, of course, all be non-functional as the board inside the Genesis will be responsible for the game emulation but collectors will likely appreciate the ability to have a complete miniature for nostalgia. The add-on will cost $35.

I’m really thrilled that Sega is going to continue on with producing miniature incarnations of their legacy hardware and have felt all along that after the Genesis, the Sega CD was a very natural course of progression. I’m not, however, thoroughly convinced the way they are approaching it will be entirely clear to users. The idea of being able to purchase the mini CD drive add-on is neat but it would have made more sense to me to either produce the unit out of the box with the two combined or even just make this unit a miniature CD attachment that hooks up to 2019’s Genesis Mini. And while it’s cool they are mixing and matching titles from both platforms, I think it would have been even better if it just included 50 Sega CD titles.

The Sega CD is one of those systems that is falling away to obscurity at an alarming rate, some purity in its Mini incarnation would have been very welcome here.

All such minor complaints aside, that Sega is returning to the retro mini ranks like this is a very encouraging sign that fans may get a Saturn and Dreamcast Mini yet.

The post So We’re Getting a Sega CD Mini – Sorta appeared first on Old School Gamer Magazine.

As hard as it is to imagine now, when the Amiga line of computers came on the scene in 1985, the Commodore 64 was only three years old. And, contrary to common misconception, the two Commodore personal computer platforms coexisted all the way until 1994, when the C64 was finally discontinued. The Amiga line would go on another two years, finally getting its plug pulled in 1996.

What makes its early debut so impressive is that when you go back to personal computers of the early to mid 1980s, they feel, for the most part, like computers from the early to mid 80s. Interfaces were clunky and complex, tasks were difficult to achieve, processing was painfully slow. And, by and large, the specs out of the box were what you’d be working with for the duration of the hardware’s life cycle.

Amiga turned a lot of these institutions on their head – they came packing 16 or 32-bit processors in 85, packed in 256kb of RAM (compared to the 64k for which the C64’s name was derived), and incorporated a mouse-based, visual click operating system interface; one that, not unlike Windows, is still being used and updated to this very day.

If you’re wondering why any of this matters, Retro Games LTD, the guys behind 2018’s THEC64 Mini (then later the full-size variant THEC64) are at it again. This time they’ve turned their attention toward the Amiga in an all-new piece of miniaturized, emulation-based plug and play hardware: THEA500 Mini.

The naming in this one is a bit complex, so let’s break that one down right away. The first Amiga from 1985 was called the 1000 – the 500 didn’t come on the scene until 1987. We’re guessing this was the model for which the new mini classic edition was named because it quickly became the best-selling Amiga model.

However, while THEA500 Mini looks just like the original Amiga 500 (only much, much smaller – 10x7x3 inches) and boasts perfect emulation of the Amiga 500, Retro Game LTD had the presence of mind to design the new architecture around the later Amiga systems as well including the Advanced Graphics Architecture (AGA) of the A1200 (which didn’t come out until late 1992). Why does this matter? Simple – it gives the player access to Amiga’s entire game library. And like most long-standing personal computer lines, it is a massive library.

Unboxing and Setting Up

When you dig into THEA500’s box, you get the HDMI output, high definition console (25 games preinstalled), USB gamepad, USB optical mouse (each with 6-foot cords), HDMI and USB (A-C) cable and documentation. Everything you need to get underway except for the wall adapter, but in this, the era of the smartphone, having a cube or two laying around is all but a given. Note that the recommended wall adapter should output 5 volts/ 1 amp.

Setting the system up is as simple and plugging it into the wall, running the HDMI to the back of your TV and plugging the controller and mouse into two of the three available USB 2.0 ports. That’s all there is to it – game on.

Interface

The graphical user interface harkens back to some design cues of the original AmigaOS but much more simplified and user-friendly. Out of the box, the system comes with 25 games from which to select from a rotating carousel. Games launch with console-like efficiency. However, some (as is commonplace with computer gaming) request that the player input a name – for this an onscreen keyboard that can be operated with the controller is but a button-press away, or that third USB port can be used to support any USB keyboard. Keep in mind that the keyboard on the unit itself is far smaller than it appears in photos and is thus non-functional.  Also of note – THEA500 Mini is designed to support most USB game controllers out of the box as well so your favorite PlayStation or PC controller can likely follow you over).

As is all but standard fair these days with retro minis, the unit, which outputs in 720p with selectable 50/60Hz refresh rates (meaning the same unit was released for PAL and NTSC regions) comes standard with a variety of filter and aspect ratio options to play with.

The Games

If, like us, the original Amiga glory days managed to pass you by while you obsessed over NES then Genesis and SNES then finally PlayStation, let us assure you that gaming on the Amiga line had ironed out all of the rough spots of its computing contemporaries.

The polish that really became standard fair by the latter portion of the 16-bit era of consoles is present here in terms of graphics, scrolling, control and difficulty. The 25 games selected represent a pretty decent sampling of the spectrum – with everything from a flight sim, a pinball entry, Worms, a few race titles, pool, Battle Chess, California Games, even a couple of mascot platformers in Titus the Fox and Zool: Ninja Of The “Nth” Dimension.

More useful than trying to tell you which of the included games will be your favorite, let me instead comment that we’ve tried each and every one and they ran beautifully. We don’t have an original Amiga around here for comparison sake, but found no artifacting, glitches or tearing. Everything felt tight, precise.

The included controller is surprisingly adequate for gaming as well. We spent a lot of time with THEC64 Mini and, while the second incarnation of the Competition Pro joystick (with the microswitches) was a vast improvement over the first, often found that the precision required for many games was additionally frustrating due to the imprecise nature of the joystick concept.

Such concerns are null and void this time around. The 8-button gamepad is easily on par with what Sega and Nintendo were doing at the time. In fact, we’re impressed enough to where the long-term plan around here is to use this new pad on our C64 Mini when we tire of the Amiga. Going back with this type of input precision should make a lot of those games much more playable.

Save states are also present with THEA500 Mini, so starting over again at the start of each play session is completely left to the user’s discretion.

The 25 Included Titles:

Alien Breed 3D • Alien Breed: Special Edition 92 • Another World • Arcade Pool • ATR: All Terrain Racing • Battle Chess • Cadaver • California Games • Dragon’s Breath • F-16 Combat Pilot • Kick Off 2 • Paradroid 90 • Pinball Dreams • Project-X: Special Edition 93 • Qwak • Simon the Sorcerer • Speedball 2: Brutal Deluxe • Stunt Car Racer • Super Cars II • The Chaos Engine • The Lost Patrol • The Sentinel • Titus the Fox • Worms: The Director’s Cut • Zool: Ninja Of The “Nth” Dimension

Game Library Access

What separates THEA500 Mini (and THEC64 family) from just about any other modern plug-and-play retro mini console on the market is the ability to add games from the system’s library. The process here is drag and drop files onto a USB drive simple using the WHDload package, which, when installed includes a free 26^th game in the first person shooter Citadel.

In the event that you tire of the included titles, do keep in mind the Amiga has amassed a library of some 2,200 official games and estimates placing the real-world number closer to 6,000.

Conclusion

THEA500 Mini takes everything we’ve come to expect from Retro Games LTD (excellent build quality, bulletproof performance, plug and play simplicity, spot-on emulation) and elevates it to the next level.

The only downside we could find after two straight days of playing nonstop is that the $140 MSRP places it at the top of the modern retro plug-and-play hardware chart. The cost of entry might be a bit steep for some in these trying times but the way we look at it is video gaming hardware remains on the lower end of the entertainment spectrum in even the worst case scenarios (after all, the PS5 is $499 and Sony can’t get one to reach a store shelf due to demand).

Another way to say it? If you can swing the $140, you will find countless hours of quality gaming entertainment here – and, for us, across a library of titles that we had no prior experience playing. Like traveling back in time. If you’re a fan of retro gaming in general, this is a must-buy.

And though this next one is a long shot – we’d love to see a further iteration of this hardware available in the CD32 shell as well. What’s a CD32 you ask? In September of 1993 Commodore entered the console video game market by releasing their own CD-based 32-bit home video game system based on their Advanced Graphics Architecture chipset from the Amiga 1200 personal computer – exactly like the setup of THEA500 Mini. A CD32 Mini, even if it was no different from the internals and game selection of THEA500 would be a console collector’s dream.

Specs

All Winner H6 ARM processor (Cortex A53)

512mb Ram DDR3

3 x USB 2.0 ports

HDMI Port

USB-C Port (Power )

256mb Flash Rom (OS/25 games)

$139.99 / Available Now

https://retrogames.biz/products/thea500-mini/

The post Console Review: THEA500 Mini appeared first on Old School Gamer Magazine.

The saga thus, for those who care, is well documented throughout the web, so I will not spend much of my column space reiterating the multiple hardware delays, the cringy tactics of selling people empty boxes to serve as the (vague) promise of forthcoming games, and the recent CEO swap-a-roo that, to the eyes of many, represents the final nail in the coffin for the system’s ever seeing the light of day.

The finger of blame for what is turning into quite a disaster can be divvied up to point in several directions, and, while it seems most rewarding to blame Tallarico entirely, the truth of the matter (according to SEC filings) is the company, despite several successful crowdfunding campaigns, has been chasing zero from the onset.

In fact, according to the latest intel, not only has Intellivision reported having made no revenue since its resurrection in 2018, but it may also not be able to operate beyond July of this year. Not only has it apparently been unable to turn a profit, it seems they’ve managed to chock up a chunk of debt to the tune of $3.1-million in outstanding loans in that same period of time.

This is, of course, very bad news to anyone who put up cash to fund the project. Whether or not they would be entitled to any sort of recompense should the whole company fold this summer is yet to be determined.

Additionally baffling is what happens to consumers who preordered the Amico hardware from reputable gaming dealer franchises like Gamestop or through Intellivision’s official site.

Aside from the obvious investor financial turmoil, the fact that the hardware is degenerating toward the realm of vaporware in a hurry is a loss for the entire industry. Why? Well, mostly because it was attempting something that seems so logical on paper: To offer a piece of modern technology designed to replicate the gaming experience of yesteryear.

So what, you say? There are dozens of ways to do that on the market already? You wouldn’t be wrong. Anyone with a Nintendo Switch or a Steam account can tell you about retro game titles (both old and original alike) at the modern gamer’s disposal. Yet even still, we know the market for modern (HDMI-ready) equipment designed to play retro video games is red-hot. One need look no further than at the ongoing list of “retro mini” consoles released in recent years for confirmation.

Why is this, you ask, given that most any modern system is both capable of playing and typically has libraries of retro games collections available? Well, I can think of a few reasons. First of all, it’s self-contained. There’s something very different about plugging in a Super NES Classic Edition and gathering around the big screen when compared to the process of docking a Switch, syncing up multiple controllers, going through your personal game library, hoping nobody erases any of your save files.

Next is the appeal of the original hardware coupled to modern amenities. For many of us purists, playing on the original hardware represents much of the experience. The trouble is the original equipment is often quite old now and mostly incompatible with modern displays. Modern systems account for the advances in technology with HDMI output and aspect ratios not only designed to fill the much-larger screens of today but to also reduce input lag that is present with composite/ RGB connections outside of a CRT.

The Amico, of course, functions a bit differently than the retro minis in that while it owes its namesake and some design cues to the classic Mattel Intellivision, it is a fully modern piece of hardware. Sure, it had a host of Intellivision classic collections (as well as modern reimaginings) announced, the reality is that its specs (8 core, 1.8Ghz Qualcomm Snapdragon processor with 2GB RAM, 32GB Flash) and its ability to run external software mean it’s just a modern piece of console hardware like any other.

The real restrictions placed upon it were those enacted by Intellivision Entertainment themselves – things like an MSRP under $19.99, E for Everyone ratings and inclusion of couch co-op multiplayer modes.

The idea behind this is admirable – after all, any company could slap an HDMI output jack on a smartphone board and call it a day; Intellivision was hoping to capture a bit of the good, clean simplicity of the gaming of yesteryear with its new system.

About the best news, though, for potential Amico devotees was exclusive titles. It is this, and this alone, that separates Amico from nearly every other retro targeted piece of hardware on the market. Rather than be relegated to retro titles, reimaginings and ports, the Amico promised games that would be available on no other system. Some of these games were heavy hitters, too – like the latest Earthworm Jim.

If the Amico project truly fails, this is, what I would consider, the biggest loss to the industry. A modern ecosystem designed around retro titles, complete with new exclusives, is something no one else has tried for. Even the recent Atari VCS has proved quite unable to deliver on such an idea, instead serving as a modern Linux PC designed to run emulated retro Atari titles.

If there were one company (and piece of hardware) out there truly capable of picking up the Amico torch and carrying on with the promise of its ambition should it falter, it would have to be the UK’s Blaze Entertainment and their Evercade VS.

For the unfamiliar, the system (which just released Feb 25^th) is the home console version of their popular Evercade handheld – meaning HDMI output, corded controllers with four inputs and (twin) cartridge slots for playing their impressive (and ever-expanding) library of titles.

8, 16, 32-bit and arcade game collections make up a majority of the console’s 300-game library and, of late, are even seeing releases of original titles designed for retro hardware (things like Sega Genesis’ Tanglewood, NES’ Micro Mages).

All of their games come on physical cartridges, in boxes with full-color manuals.

If these guys were to secure some developers willing to release exclusive titles via Evercade cart, they will have managed to accomplish everything the Amico set out to do. Best of all, with a retail cost of $99 with one game and $129 for the two controller and dual game bundle, they are managing to keep the concept well within the budget of the average consumer. Plus, no concerns of vaporware here, the VS is in stores as we speak.

The post What The Fall of the Amico Really Means appeared first on Old School Gamer Magazine.

The world at large is focused on the forthcoming PlayStation 5 and XBox Series X releases and amid all of the preorder frenzy, Sega quietly suggested that its next retro mini classic system is in the works.

Sega creative producer Yosuke Okunari spoke about the future of the company’s mini consoles in a Famitsu interview following the release of the Japan-only Game Gear Micro.  Putting to rest consumer fears that the next new old project to come out of the Sega camp would follow such restrictions, Okunari went on in the interview to say that the project scope for the next one (like the Genesis Mini before it) will once again be global.

While it seems hopeful fans the world over immediately suspected it to be a Dreamcast Mini being hinted at in the discussion, Okunari went on to throw a clever curve:  “I think for the next one, we may go with a concept close to the Mega Drive Mini.  If I have to say some names, it could be an SG-1000 Mini or a Dreamcast Mini.”

In the event that you aren’t up on your Sega company portfolio, the SG-1000 was the company’s first official home console and the Dreamcast was their last.  In short, Okunari was simply stating in so many words that it could be any of Sega’s consoles being considered for the next one.  The big takeaway though, is that there is indeed going to be a next one.

So which is it going to be?  The internet is guessing Dreamcast but would it be wise for Sega to jump from the Genesis Mini directly to the last console the company ever produced?  Let’s look at the possibilities.

Sega SG-1000

The SG-1000 is a home video game console manufactured by Sega and released in Japan, Australia,and other markets in 1983. It was Sega’s first entry into the home video game hardware business.

Likelihood: Very Unlikely

Okunari himself stated Sega would again be targeting the whole world with this next one just like they did with the Genesis Mini.  It wouldn’t make sense to develop a mini that wasn’t even officially released to North America.  Plus the original only moved 160,000 units total.

Sega Master System

The Master System is Sega’s third-generation 8-bit home video game console. It was originally a remodeled export version of the Sega Mark III, which itself was the third iteration of the SG-1000 series of consoles.  It was released in Japan in 1985 and featured enhanced graphical capabilities over its predecessors. The Master System launched in North America in 1986, Europe in 1987, and Brazil in 1989.

Likelihood: Moderate

If Sega were doing it to keep up with the dominance Nintendo has demonstrated with the Classic Mini scene, they would have had a Master System Mini packaged up and ready to go shortly after Nintendo burned through its NES Classic inventory in mere milliseconds back in 2016.  There would still be a strong market, feeding on the retro movement now but for Sega it would seem an odd move to go from their 16-bit offering (2019’s Genesis Mini) back to the far less popular 8-bit hardware as the followup.

Sega CD

The Genesis had a mountain of peripherals and add-ons to enhance the gaming experience but perhaps none more unique and certainly none as successful as the Sega CD attachment.  The Sega CD is, as the name suggests, a CD-ROM accessory for the Genesis designed and produced by Sega as part of the fourth generation of video game consoles. It was released in 1991 in Japan, 1992 in North America, and 1993 in Europe.

Likelihood: Fairly Unlikely

What holds this one back from being a major consideration is the simple fact that it would have likely been designed and marketed as a fairly quick followup to September of 2019’s Genesis Mini.  Since, technically, it was never a stand-alone console in the first place, it would have worked best as an alternative Genesis Mini package, possibly in limited edition.  Completionists and nostalgia junkies alike would have bought up inventories in a fever pitch.  Since Okunari said it could be anywhere from one to two years before the release of the next Mini, the Sega CD seems a more distant candidate than it would have been initially.

Sega Saturn

The Sega Saturn is Sega’s fifth generation video game console and successor to the highly successful Genesis. Developed and manufactured by Sega, the Saturn released in Japan in 1994,  North America and Europe in 1995.  Boasting dual-CPU architecture and eight processors working in conjunction, it was one of the most powerful but underutilized architectures of the generation.  Its game library contains several near identical ports of arcade games as well as a plethora of original titles.

Likelihood: Very Likely

Contrary to common misconception, while the Saturn may have gotten destroyed by contemporary rival Sony with the original PlayStation (then later that generation by Nintendo with the N64), the truth is 9.6-million units moved globally compared to the Dreamcast’s 9.13-million makes it Sega’s most successful piece of hardware in North America behind the Genesis.  A Dreamcast Mini makes sense but almost like the askew logic of releasing the 16-bit Genesis Mini then trying to go back and release an 8-bit Master System Mini, Sega might be wise to keep things in order by releasing a Saturn Mini before a Dreamcast Mini.

Dreamcast

Released in 1999 as first in the sixth generation of video game consoles (preceding Sony’s PlayStation 2, Nintendo’s GameCube, and Microsoft’s Xbox).  The Dreamcast would become Sega’s final home console, marking the end of the company’s eighteen year run in the home console market.  In contrast to the expensive and complex hardware of the Saturn, the Dreamcast was designed to reduce production costs and retail pricing by running “off-the-shelf” components, including a Hitachi SH-4 CPU and an NEC PowerVR2 GPU.  Sega ended up pulling the plug only two years after release (2001), making the Dreamcast one of the shortest-lived major console life cycles in the history of home video gaming.

Likelihood: Extremely Likely

If fans had their way, the Dreamcast Mini would be the candidate hands down.  And while it makes a lot of sense to release such a console while the demand is high, the only downside is that it doesn’t leave Sega a whole lot of places to go from here.  Nintendo paved a very clear and successful path with the retro mini segment by starting with their earliest offering (the NES) then following it up with the 16-bit SNES Classic.  If the company decides to continue, it makes sense that they would release the systems in their original order.

Sega has already painted themselves into a bit of a corner by starting with their 16-bit Genesis but that’s not to suggest they can’t buck the trends and bounce all over their hardware catalog as they see fit.  We’d like to see all of the above consoles get another chance to shine but if we had to pick just one, we’d say the Dreamcast has probably got the best shot at being Sega’s next retro mini system.  However, unlike the first time around, we hope it won’t end up being their last.

The post Is The Sega Dreamcast Mini Really Going Be A Thing? appeared first on Old School Gamer Magazine.

In my last column I talked about the Sega Genesis Mini and the fact that Sega actually managed to trump its arch rival of years past (Nintendo) in a few key areas of the retro mini market. In the time since, the Genesis Mini has been released to the masses and has been doing quite favorably by both the press and public alike.

As is humanity’s nature (and thanks to the added acceleration of social media), many people out there on the interwebs are voicing requests for Sega to follow up with a Dreamcast Mini. Now let me just say right here I am in full support of this concept. Sony has proven that larger, more hardware-taxing ROMs can be translated to the mini componentry just fine and Sega holds tens of thousands of titles that have been doing nothing but gathering dust for the past couple of decades.

However to have them just jump ahead from the Genesis to the Dreamcast would be a terrible move. In case nobody noticed, there is a natural progression going on with these things. The NES Classic Edition was followed by the SNES Classic Edition. If Nintendo were to do another one, it would be the N64 and not the Gamecube or Wii Classic. Once a company jumps ahead in the release order, it would be a terribly tricky sale to get customers excited about reverting.

As such Sega would be wise to continue on the retro mini path much as they originally advanced with hardware back in the day. Follow up the Genesis with a Sega CD Mini. Follow that with a Saturn Mini. Then work on a Dreamcast Mini.

Just to be clear, Sega has not made official that they will be producing ANY of these systems but it is certainly fun to imagine what they’d be like. I have been spending a lot of time imagining what a Sega CD Mini would be like. I suspect they would want to develop a case that mimicked the Model 1 design (just like they did with the Genesis) – only with USB controller inputs so that the Genesis Mini’s controllers would be fully compatible even though it would be an entirely stand-alone unit (the Genesis Mini is such that functioning add-ons will not be possible).

While the system was supported for a mere 4 years (1992-1996), it managed to amass a surprisingly robust library of 153 titles in North America alone. It went on to sell 2.24-million units globally making it the most successful peripheral for the Genesis; a system known for its multitude of add-ons.

So if I were in charge of the project, what games would I select to pack into this theoretical Mini? Well even though the Genesis Mini contained 42 games, we’ll say that for the argument of the additional memory CD-based titles demand that Sega would come in closer to what Sony did with the PlayStation Classic and lower that number a bit. The PlayStation Classic crammed 20 games so we’ll say 25 for the Sega CD Mini. But which to pick? Thankfully the Sega CD library is nowhere near as expansive as original PlayStation’s. Even still, doing better than Sony did shouldn’t be asking for too much. Here are the 25 games I would include were it my task:

1) Sonic CD – Considered by many to be one of the finest Sonic games of all time, this one would be a must-include title.

2) Sewer Shark – Considered by many to be a terrible game and a relic of the FMV era passed, this one has to be included simply because it was the pack-in game with the system and for many of us original fans, the first taste we got of that sweet CD-ROM potential.

3) Ecco The Tides of Time – Sure Ecco was an acquired taste on any of Sega’s hardware choices, the fact is it has never looked better than on the CD and the time travel element complements Sonic CD really well.

4) Lunar: Eternal Blue – This critically acclaimed role-playing masterpiece had the distinction of being developed exclusively for the Sega CD platform. It would later get ported to the Sega Saturn and Sony PlayStation but before that it was one of the exclusive Sega CD killer apps.. Long before that was a saying.

5) Eternal Champions: Challenge From the Dark Side – Just a prettier port of the Genesis title you say? Increased playable character lineup (from 9 to 25), tighter controls, more balanced game play and many more combo moves say otherwise.

6) Snatcher – This one was released very late in the Sega CD’s life cycle and was developed by none other than Hideo Kojima (of Metal Gear Solid fame). Described as a bit of an interactive comic with a complex plot and rich character development, the Sega CD was the only platform to ever get an English release.

7) Shining Force CD – This one represents another wonderful Sega CD RPG selection but with a bit more emphasis on the strategy element.

8) Silpheed – Sega was always good with their shooters and the Sega CD did get a few really good ones. Silpheed was a solid 2D entry.

9) Final Fight CD – Considered by many to be the absolute best home version of Capcom’s arcade beat em up, this one was another strong reason to own a Sega CD back in the day.

10) Flashback – Yes the Sega CD actually received PC ports back in the day because it had the storage media possible to handle it. Flashback played well and looked excellent.

11) Secret of Monkey Island – Another PC port, this one is more of a point-and-click experience but a memorable one nevertheless and a pretty fun look back to how a lot of hot PC games of the time played.

12) Mortal Kombat – It didn’t look a whole lot prettier than its Genesis counterpart but the audio was the closest to the arcade of all the home ports. Plus the blood was in tact.

13) Night Trap – FMV died out in this era and arguably for good reason. They were barely playable. However Sega couldn’t release a Sega CD Mini without including a few of them. Night Trap was one of the better ones and if that one was a bit too touchy for today’s politically correct society, Ground Zero Texas could pinch hit.

14) Wonderdog – In terms of cartoony 2D platformers, the second most popular behind Sonic CD would have to be Wonderdog from JVC. Amazingly it was developed by JVC exclusively for the Sega CD back in the day and was then ported to the Commodore Amiga.

15) Star Wars Rebel Assault – Like Money Island, it’s unlikely Sega would be able to get Lucas Arts to sign over this one but if they could manage it, this stiff-playing gem was the closest thing we Rebel-wannabes had to taking on the whole Empire ourselves back in the day. And on a personal note the reason I had to have a Sega CD after playing the game on my cousin’s then cutting edge PC.

16) Mickey Mania – This cartoon platformer came to a lot of home consoles (including the Genesis) but the Sega CD version’s audio may as well have been ripped straight off a Disney theatrical picture.

17) Earthworm Jim Special Edition – The anthropomorphic worm came to the Sega CD with its trademark platforming/ shooting in style and like most properties that shared cartridge versions, the audio enhancement alone made them worthy of picking up.

18) The Amazing Spiderman Vs The Kingpin – Yes well before the PlayStation 4, Spidey was doing his thing in 2D form with a great soundtrack on yet another Sega CD exclusive.

19) Heart of the Alien – The cinematic sci-fi adventure from Interplay was moody, rich and games like this really don’t exist anymore.

20) Robo Aleste – The excellent follow-up to M.U.S.H.A. on the Genesis and a shooter considered by many to be the strongest in the Sega CD’s entire catalog.

21) Dune – Frank Herbert’s science fiction masterpiece actually got a strategy title from Virgin Interactive for the Sega CD.

22) Puggsy – Long before they were known for pumping out Lego games by the dozen, Traveler’s Tales was doing puzzle platformers for the Sega CD.

23) Wild Woody – Boasting a name that must have had parents all sorts of squeamish when kids asked for it back in the day, this was another Sega CD exclusive that arrived late in the system’s life and made pretty nice use of the hardware’s potential. It was about a pencil, ya pervs.

24) Popful Mail – Weird name, great game. Somehow Working Designs combined platforming with role-playing and did so with some of the best cut-scenes on the Sega CD.

25) The Terminator CD – Imagine if Contra involved invincible cyborgs and the ability to keep things faithful to the movies (there were far fewer of those then), you’d have The Terminator CD and let’s just say a certain Tommy Tallarico made certain the riffs were ripping.

So there you have it, my choices for 25 titles that would come bundled into a Sega CD Mini. Do you agree? Disagree? Think others would be better fits? Feel free to sound off in the comments; one thing for sure though is a Sega CD Mini would make for a retro classic edition like no other.

The post RETROSPECTIVE: The Theoretical Sega CD Mini appeared first on Old School Gamer Magazine.

While the world collectively watched Nintendo in anticipation of their impending announcement of an N64 Classic Edition mini to follow their vastly successful NES and SNES Classic Editions, it looks like Sony snuck in to steal some of the thunder with an announcement of their own: A $99 PlayStation Classic.  

Unlike the Big N, who typically reserves releasing information about their systems until after they’ve finalized the included games list, Sony decided spreading the word of their next hardware release was paramount even if only a handful of the anticipated 20 title list has been confirmed. Among these: Final Fantasy VII, Jumping Flash, Tekken 3, Ridge Racer Type 4 and Wild Arms.

Pundits are hoping that the list will expand to include one of the Crash Bandicoot titles, Metal Gear Solid, Gran Turismo, Twisted Metal, Resident Evil and perhaps one of the Spyro entries.

It appears as though the package will include 2 corded controllers out of the box but don’t get excited for analog sticks; these things mimic the original PlayStation release’s with digital D-pad only affairs. Hopefully prototype shots aren’t the final spec, however, as the cords on display look quite short. If nothing else, we hope Sony would have learned from Nintendo’s faux pas with that situation on the NES Classic.

The unit is to come equipped with HDMI output only to accommodate modern displays and, like the C64 Mini before it, will be USB powered though the power cube for your wall outlet is not included.

Optimists were hoping that a port on the back could be used to install additional content but Sony has since announced that there are no plans to support the console post release. In short, unless users manage to hack this thing, it’s unlikely you’ll be able to add games to the unit later on.

While preorders are already available at most major electronic distributors, Sony promises these units will be in the hands of consumers before the holiday season with a December 3rd release date. And since they are not Nintendo, we don’t anticipate hardware shortages to be a factor.

Perhaps the most exciting aspect of this whole development stems from the fact that indeed the retro plug and play hardware trend is approaching fever-pitch proportion. In fact, as the net’s been buzzing with news of Sony’s PlayStation Classic, Sega quietly confirmed that they are planning on releasing a Genesis Classic Edition. Not to be confused with the units readily available from ATGames, this one will be an OEM affair not unlike recent Nintendo hardware.

Sony answered the call – it looks like the ball is back in Nintendo’s court.

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