Sega Genesis

This is the original Japanese Mega Drive, launched in October 1988, with the gold "16-BIT" lettering Sega put front and center. North America got the same machine as the Sega Genesis in August 1989, and it turned Sega into Nintendo's equal. Sonic the Hedgehog, the "Genesis does what Nintendon't" ads and sports series such as John Madden Football gave it an older, louder attitude. It is the console of the 16-bit console war.