Unlicensed Mega Drive clones (Mega Drive)
From Sega Retro
In the early 1990s, Sega were unable or unwilling to release the original Sega Mega Drive in multiple markets at once. Instead the release was staggered across the globe between 1988 and 1995. Taiwanese firms often made their own clones to capitalise on this shortage. By the time this skill had been mastered, however, much of the world was supplied with the console by official vendors.
Contents
China
Beta
By Shanghai Huze Electronics Co.
New Star
By Tianjing Newstar Electronics., Ltd.
New Star Series
Other version of above one.
SB-16A
Made by Subor.
Shiba Super Game
By Beijing Aipu Electromechanical Development Co. Ltd.
India
Media Grand Master
Made for the Indian market by Media Entertainment System known for making Nintendo 8-bit clones.
Indonesia
Mega Drive (unknown)
Mega Drive with 20 built in games.
21 game variant
Genesis (unknown)
A Japanese-style Mega Drive with "Genesis" labeled on top.
Middle East
Gamestar
cartridge of the built in menu
alt
alt (Bruce Lee with hat)
the hat
Mega Drive (unknown)
Sold by S&M.
Console
Rear
Rear label
Internals
Mainboard
Controller
Box
Mega Drive 2000
Rinco New Home Computer Super Mega III
The 16-bit successor of Rinco Home Computer 3600, a famiclone popular in the region.
Star Drive
(1995)
(1996)
Poland
Hunt 16 bit
Sold by E-Moll.
Macro Drive
Sold by ElektroTEL.
Label
Label (alt)
Russia
Fugi Star Drive
Released around 1994, advertised as Russian-made clone by a Moscow-based company Teplostar. It cost about 300,000 RUB. The console was presented in the Russian TV show Computer Hall. It's successor is Fugi Star Drive 2.
Serbia and Montenegro
Star Drive II
South America
Mega Drive (Argevision)
Argevision made knock-off video game consoles and accessories for Argentina. This is their stab at the Mega Drive.
Super Songa
One of several attempts to crack the Mega Drive clone market by Songa. The box is based on KW-501 clone named Super Mega 16 Bit. Available in Argentina.
King Karol
Distributed in Argentina by King Karol Argentina.
King Karol mascot as Sonic the Hedgehog
The Best NG-16 (YS-750)
Mega Drive (Kinyo)
Bog standard Mega Drive clone by Kinyo.
Mega Drive (NASA)
Taiwan
Dr Super Star Drive
Mega Drive clone by Songtly Enterprise Co, Ltd.. It's successor is Dr Super Star Drive 2.
DrSUPER Star Drive
Back label
Internals
Turkey
SB-001/Niysa Assai P5
Made by "Family Game" in Taiwan and "Niysa IT Company" in Turkey. Standard Mega Drive clone with Mega CD support, but with no region encoding and a 50-60Hz switch. Despite the box art it is thought to have shipped with fairly standard three button controllers. PAL-B, PAL-D, PAL-I, PAL-N and NTSC variants supposedly exist. Includes built-in DOS-like operating system.
alt
Worldwide
Mega Drive (unknown)
A fairly boring Mega Drive clone which appears from time to time which can be identify by lack of Sega logo on controller in the front box and physically. Shipped with two odd-looking six button controllers and a multicart of some description, and the colours are off.
| Clone (Example) | Original (Example) |
|---|---|
Z series
A205 series
Siga Miga Drive
One of the earliest clones.
Others
35 Games Mega Drive
Console branded by 35 in 1 Golden Mega Game.
Generation 2
Mega 16 Plus
Mega Drive with a different label. The underside calls it a Dr. Super Star Drive, however it has a different to the console described above.
Mega 16 Plus
PCB
Megastar
Mega Drive (unknown)
Box design based on Genesis 3 style.
Super Creation
It has the Mega CD connector and and a secondary internal cartridge slot where a multicart pcb is plugged in. When there is no cartridge inserted into the main cartridge slot, it runs whatever cartridge is inserted into the internal cartridge slot. Uses a 5-pin DIN connector for the av-out, so it only outputs composite video (and rf). This one shipped with three button turbo controllers. Some models have been spotted lacking the internal cartridge slot.
Alt
Variant without internal cartridge slot.
Samba Super Game
Super Mega
Laser Flash
Gentry IQ-1600
Branded by Gentry, sold in China or Hong Kong.
Super Mission SM-2001
It's successor is Super Mission 2.
