PlaySega without having to PaySega
by JC Fletcher 
{ Oct 12th 2009 at 10:00PM } 
N-Europe reports that you can access a free 10-day trial of the paid "VIP" service now, which allows you to play, in addition to the collection of free games, those that are normally behind a pay wall -- like all the Genesis games, including Sonic the Hedgehog, which also includes (get ready to freak out) a level editor.
If you like the service and then sign up for a three-month ($14.95) subscription, Sega will send you one of the Saturn-style USB controllers seen here. Just don't sign up for the controller and forget you've subscribed, or you'll end up paying a lot more than you wanted to.
Reader Comments (Page 1 of 2)
kojo87 @ Oct 12th 2009 10:11PM
why has nobody informed me of this site's existence until now!?
Sly @ Oct 12th 2009 10:34PM
you didn't ask.
nighttime @ Oct 13th 2009 12:44AM
I didn't know of it's existence either!
Just drop this PlaySega Crap and give me a Dreamcast Mark II GT plus plus 1TB.
Sidebuster @ Oct 12th 2009 10:11PM
I was a sega kid growing up and all, but I am starting to get sick of all the different ways it is possible to play Sonic and Golden Axe (and usually Altered Beast).
Massmass @ Oct 13th 2009 12:40AM
I know. It must be tough having Sega on your ass, forcing you to buy and play everything they release... Oh, wait...
Kurian @ Oct 13th 2009 10:48AM
PSP->CFW->Emulator = One time investment and no monthly bullshit.
Amos @ Oct 12th 2009 10:15PM
Forget the controller, I want Saturn GAMES! And while you're at it, Dreamcast games would be great, too. and why can't you f&%*ckin translate Shining Force Feather already? Sega has some of the best games library and all they do is re-release Genesis games and licensed movie games. Arggh!!... sorry...
/end rant/
mr nimblewick @ Oct 12th 2009 10:38PM
Second the call for Shining Force Feather.
Markez @ Oct 12th 2009 10:19PM
Hard to find pricing specifics on the site, but this sounds pretty neat. Especially with the gamepad. 14.95 standard for 3 months membership?
Would this work on a PS3's browser?
Markez @ Oct 12th 2009 10:20PM
A game called WOMENS MURDER CLUB!? cik... totally cikdiddles
Jawmuncher (PSN & XBL:Jawmuncher) @ Oct 12th 2009 10:26PM
Not sure about the games but the controller would work on the PS3.
captainprotonx @ Oct 12th 2009 10:20PM
The best controller ever...basically free.
Nice.
Markez @ Oct 12th 2009 10:26PM
*when you sign up for $14.95 3 month subscription
**while supplies last
***Kid Chameleon really not as cool as you remember it being back in the day
Alton Brown [ XBL: LordToastington] @ Oct 12th 2009 10:35PM
Kid Chameleon, sir, was a vital part of my childhood.
Markez @ Oct 12th 2009 10:37PM
Oh yeah I played the hell out of it as well as a youngan, loved it.
RKN @ Oct 12th 2009 11:12PM
IMO, the best controller ever is the Dualshock.
Alton Brown [ XBL: LordToastington] @ Oct 12th 2009 11:17PM
The CD-i controller was a masterpiece.
http://www.old-computers.com/museum/hardware/philips_cdi_ir-controller_1.jpg
Sly @ Oct 12th 2009 11:26PM
i think the 360 controller is the best of all time, which is saying something considering i only have a PS3. if they fixed the d-pad, it would be perfect.
finnith @ Oct 12th 2009 11:27PM
I only started playing games during the N64 era (but have played the NES) so take my opinion with grain of salt when I say that I think the 360 controller has been one of the better controllers to date (minus the wonky D-pad of course).
Markez @ Oct 12th 2009 11:31PM
GAH, ALTON NO, CAN I WARD IT OFF WITH GARLIC!? GITTITAWAAAAYYY
Markez @ Oct 12th 2009 11:33PM
Yeah I gotta go with 360 as well. It felt so alien and weird when I first got the 360, having been hardcore on the PS1 & PS2 for so long.
Alton Brown [ XBL: LordToastington] @ Oct 12th 2009 11:50PM
I gotta go with the 360, too. The SNES is a close second.
nighttime @ Oct 13th 2009 1:03AM
I'd agree with you guys on the 360 controller, if it wasn't for the squeaky thumb sticks (both of them) with in 1 hour of playing my new 360.
I really hope this isn't the beginning of a whole slate of problems for me! :(
finnith @ Oct 13th 2009 1:08AM
The only thing I really dislike about the Dualshock is that the thumbsticks being on the same level makes the controller awkward. It also feels too light for my hands but that's just personal preference.
Traceur_Ryuk [All Digital until December] (PSN: Ryuk_shinigami) @ Oct 13th 2009 2:52AM
"Best controller ever"
Sure it was good for it's time, but face it, things advance. You can't just say it's the best for nostalgia. The best right now are the dualshock 3 and the 360 controller.
Reader @ Oct 13th 2009 5:54AM
If I were to get a PS3, I'd totally have to Ben Heck a controller for it. The 360 controller is the shit.
Ravnos @ Oct 13th 2009 12:18PM
@Traceur: The Saturn controller was the best 2D controller ever, bar none. Only the SNES controller even comes close. I wouldn't consider it the best controller overall though just because the lack of analogue makes it terrible for playing 3D games, the 360 controller is probably the best of the current crop for that. But if you've ever played 2D XBLA games (especially shoot-em-ups and fighters) and haven't cursed the 360 controller, you are seriously strange.
CH3BURASHKA @ Oct 12th 2009 10:25PM
I see what you did there.
CzAr @ Oct 12th 2009 10:25PM
Aww, doesn't support Google Chrome.
Traceur_Ryuk [All Digital until December] (PSN: Ryuk_shinigami) @ Oct 12th 2009 10:41PM
Who uses Google Chrome?
Sly @ Oct 12th 2009 10:54PM
i do. it's fast as hell.
Dr. Bradwart [100% Reagan Conservative!] @ Oct 12th 2009 11:41PM
Google Chrome? Sounds like a metal polish...
Firefox FTW!
fwacce @ Oct 13th 2009 12:05AM
Google Chrome is fine, but you haven't tried Firefox with NoScript if you think it's the fastest.
2nd Lieutenant Gunther (PSN: helghast102) @ Oct 13th 2009 12:09AM
I do, Chrome is kickass!
Sly @ Oct 13th 2009 12:40AM
chrome has a cleaner interface too.
Dr. Bradwart [100% Reagan Conservative!] @ Oct 13th 2009 1:44AM
So it has a cleaner interface? It is a metal polish!
I knew it.
CaramelZappa @ Oct 13th 2009 2:26AM
I use chrome too. I love the interface, the new tab page, and just how damn simple it is. Firefox is installed too though, just in case.
Sev @ Oct 13th 2009 3:46AM
I like my Opera browser.
IcelandTerrorist (stormtrooper190) @ Oct 13th 2009 1:41PM
Opera is slow as hell. its good to download with it tho.
HippoHero @ Oct 13th 2009 5:09PM
Just downloaded Chrome. Fucker *is* fast.
Jawmuncher (PSN & XBL:Jawmuncher) @ Oct 12th 2009 10:25PM
So I can sign up for 3 months.
Get a free controller.
Then cancel once I get it right?
CzAr @ Oct 12th 2009 10:26PM
They will send their agents to your house and take the controller back.
Sly @ Oct 12th 2009 10:35PM
and then they'll send the werehog to beat you up.
Crusty Magic @ Oct 12th 2009 10:31PM
Make the controller black with a Genesis pad and you've got a deal.
Shadow Hog @ Oct 12th 2009 11:09PM
The Saturn pad was really far better than the Genesis pad in pretty much every aspect possible. Better D-Pad, far better grip (it never bothered me before I really started to think about it, but MAN are the Genesis' grips huge), more buttons (including triggers!), sleeker finish (damn thing was glossy)... one could not ask for a finer 2D controller (although the SNES controller is honestly a pretty close contender).
Of course, this applies to the original Model 2 Saturn controller, which had the black finish you seek. This... won't. But hey, if it FEELS anything like the original Model 2 Saturn controller, it'll be well worth the investment.
Dr. Bradwart [100% Reagan Conservative!] @ Oct 13th 2009 1:46AM
The d-pad on the Nomad was pretty good too. It's kind of a hybrid of the two.
Kogen @ Oct 12th 2009 10:35PM
You can get these controllers on eBay by SEGA for cheaper than this. They are black and have no ugly logo on them, as well.
Works on both PC and PS3.
Josh @ Oct 13th 2009 12:05AM
I'm almost positive those ones you see on eBay are cheap Chinese knockoffs.
Elranzer @ Oct 13th 2009 10:11AM
It's more expensive and involves some soldering, but you can get a more authentic experience by buying a real Saturn controller and then a USB converter kit from places like retrousb.com to make your own Saturn (or Genesis) USB controller, without the wacky PlaySega logo and with the real D-pad.
Kogen @ Oct 13th 2009 11:48AM
Actually you can buy them straight from SEGA's stock, so no, they are not all pirated ones.
SEGA does make them in Japan. They are exactly the same as these Play SEGA models, except a different colour.
As for making your own... most people do not have the experience for that.