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{{Template:Infobox console|name = [[FileImage:Megadrive_logo.png|230px]][[Image:Genesis-logo-16bit.jpg|thumb230px]]|image = [[Image:Genesis_system.jpg|right230px]]|caption = Sega Genesis logomodel 1|Manufacturer = [[SEGA]]|Generation = Fourth generation|Release date = October 29, 1988 (JP)<br>August 14, 1989 (NA) <br>November 30, 1990 (PAL)|Media type = ROM cartridge|Input Controller = 2 controller ports|Predecessor = [[Sega Master System]]|Successor = [[Sega Saturn]]}}
The Sega Genesis is a home video game console released on October 29, 1988 by Sega as the Mega Drive (メガドライブ Mega Doraibu), the name it is known as outside North America. The reason for the two names is that Sega was unable to secure legal rights to the Mega Drive name in North America. As a fourth-generation console, the Sega Genesis is Sega's third console and the successor to the Sega Master System with which it has backward compatibility when the separately sold Power Base Converter is installed.
The Sega Genesis was the first of its generation to achieve notable market share in continental Europe and North America, where it competed against a wide range of platforms, including both dedicated gaming consoles and home computer systems. Two years later, Nintendo released the Super Nintendo Entertainment System, and the competition between the two would dominate the 16-bit era of video gaming. The console began production in Japan in 1988 and ended with the last new licensed game being released in 2002 in Brazil.
==Hardware==
===Model 1===
[[File:Genesis_system.jpg|thumb|200px|Model 1 Genesis]]
The model 1 Sega Genesis is the largest model and features a headphone jack with a volume slider. There are at least seven motherboard revisions of the model 1 that are known to exist, labeled VA1 - VA7. Early revisions, which bear the text "HIGH DEFINITION GRAPHICS" in white above the cartridge slot, are considered to have the best audio output of any version of the Genesis. The VA7 is the latest revision, and internally they are similar to the model 2 Genesis, and they do not have the "HIGH DEFINITION GRAPHICS" text on them.
===Model 2===
[[File:Genesis-model2.jpg|thumb|200px|Model 2 Genesis]]
The model 2 was smaller than the model 1 and lacked a headphone jack but was capable of outputting stereo audio through its rear A/V multi-out port.
===Model 3===
[[File:Genesis-model3.jpg|thumb|200px|Model 3 Genesis]]
The model 3 suffered from compatibility issues.
