From the Wii's Virtual Console to Xbox Live Arcade, there are all kinds of ways to play classic Genesis games these days. But the Firecore Classic Console offers something just a little closer to the original experience. Though this standalone console comes pre-loaded with 20 games, it also accepts all your old carts and comes packed with two dead ringers for the Genesis pad.
As you'll see in the above video, we recently put the machine through its paces and came away reasonably impressed, especially considering the $44 price tag.
We've seen these sorts of consoles around for years, especially the NES versions. Don't Nintendo and Sega get wind of these sorts of things or do they just not care?
Probably a mix of things. It's perfectly legal to make a compatible game system (for example if someone wants to make a PS3-compatible game system, they can otherwise the DOJ risks screwing over a lot of Microsoft lawsuits).
However, Nintendo and Sega don't make any more money off the old carts anymore, even though the carts have been dumped and are being used on console download services. Overall, they can sue for ROM dumps, but not the system itself. However, it seems like the company actually licensed the games from Sega, so they look legit.
copyrights last way longer than 50 years. Try 95 years for copyrights owned by a corporation, and for a person it's even longer than that.
Also regardless of the patent expiration, you can still copyright code, so I'm sure sega/nintendo have ample copyrights in thier game coding, plus , it's illegal to use any of thier characters/logos/branding without persmission. And Sega/nintendo characters' copyrights won't expire till late this century (at the earliest) and even still, trademarks last FOREVER, so it's all really moot, anyway.
I remember years ago in the era of the PS1 there was a hand held genesis (or mega drive here in the UK) that looked like a game gear but let you play your genesis games.
I love to play retro games for about 10 minutes then I realize "Thank God we have progressed." I imagine telling my kids "You have no respect for old games you little fucks!" Then I try to take out their virtual eyes of the PS10 or XBOX1080 and make em play this stuff, and they start to hate me and start doing a lot of drugs to rebel against me, or become whores. I can't wait to become a father!
I did play Phantasy Star 2 from start to finish a few month back, but Bionic Commando NES version just couldn't keep me enthralled. Yes I am sure I am playing the right games. I have played them all..........then and now!
Quiet, you. Bionic Commando for NES is STILL awesome. As are a lot of other NES games.
In all seriousness, it still all comes down to personal taste. But I'm not sure we've really progressed as far as some would have us believe. Games are prettier, sure, but in a lot of ways, we're playing the same stuff, with a few exceptions. And the art of good 2D games seems to be lost more and more.
That being said... there were some pretty lousy platformers back in the day. But I'd say the good/bad ratio is about the same as it has always been.
1) I'm assuming the dark gray bars on the game are a result of video taping a TV and not something actually obscuring the screen, but can you verify? 2) Do you think the controller will feel better after it's been worn in a little? Is it comparable to the Genesis controllers of the past? 3) Was the TV you were using an HDTV? I've held off on buying old consoles because I've heard they're unplayable on an HDTV, but if the games look decent through this Firecore thing and it can play any cartridge, then that might be the right way to go for me.
I've got my Sega Genesis hooked up to my hdtv (via av cable, since the analog wouldn't work). It looks fine. It was just interesting to learn that some graphical effects were made by having alternating color pixels and expecting the washed-outness of old tvs to make it looks like something. But in HD, you can clearly see the pixels. Like in Sonic, the waterfalls alternate columns of pixels between the water and the background. So in HD it looks like a gappy waterfall.
I want to say Sega licenses them (notice the Genesis logo) and in a way they'd kind've have to - they still obviously own the rights to the games, what with XBLA and Virtual Console and all. The reason I'm guessing Nintendo doesn't is a) Nintendo still exists in the console marketplace in some capacity and b) they can get WAY more for Super Mario Brothers 3 on Virtual Console.
It just begs the question, why do typos like "Kin Chameleon" on the Overstock.com page exist? =\
Honestly, I was firmly in the Nintendo (and Super Nintendo) camp, given that it was all I had. But I pined to be able to play some of the excellent games available on the Genesis. Most of my friends had the Genesis, but they never had any of the games I REALLY wanted to play, like Shining Force, Phantasy Star II/IV, Beyond Oasis, and others.
I eventually got my own, even with the wonders of emulation available. Something about having a tangible copy of games is really nice. I went on an Ebay hunt for the games that I had always wanted. Never regretted it.
Long story short: NES, SNES, AND Genesis were all awesome, in their own ways. Maroon me on a deserted island, though, and I'd take an SNES, but that's not a knock on the quality of the other two.
In a day where almost cannot buy a TV with mono sound, why does this output mono sound only? I am sure the cost to have stereo sound would have been absolutely minimal. Like, pennies.
This was in the news a month or so. This unit is licensed by Sega. That is how they can use the logo, roms, etc. Go to the makers website and you can read the press release. Totally 100% legally licensed.
That said the one thing that puts me off from buying it is that the genesis has stereo sound, while this unit is Mono. Genesis games had great stereo effects when plugged into decent amp or tv speakers. This unit is not capable of that. I also noticed a little slow down, hard to tell if it was actually that way in the game or if it is a cause of the emulation of this unit or just the video encoding process. I think I will stick to my perfectly working original Genesis console that I bought new when it came out.
I think there is a 3rd party console that I remember seeing a couple years back that has both a Genesis and SNES slot. I think they even have one that can play Genesis, NES, SNES.
The only game I want to see remade from sega is the "Supreme Warrior" game. Thats was a bad ass game for its time. I still have the original CD for the SEGA CD console, but I do not have anything to play it on. :( I wonder if it would look good on HDTV. Sega should do a 720P or 1080P remake. This will probably sell better the hoe cakes.
I paid $28 for that Sonic Ultimate Genesis Collection for my 360 and it has like 50 games. I also saw 2 Genesis at my local Goodwill for $10 apiece. I see no reason to get this item.
{ Nov 4th 2009 at 10:45AM } 
Reader Comments (Page 1 of 2)
McBrick @ Nov 4th 2009 10:58AM
Fun fact: "Firecore" was the original codename of the XBOX 360.
Ha! Fanboy downvote in 3... 2... 1...
Orchard Pear @ Nov 4th 2009 11:01AM
I see what you did there..
Roofie @ Nov 4th 2009 12:32PM
I love the 360, but that joke was just too good. Upvote
Mr.ESC @ Nov 4th 2009 6:22PM
Lmao.
Rhamsey @ Nov 4th 2009 10:59AM
I love these videos, and we need them more often. The AV cord porn was nice, but was a little to short. Also, glad to see you have a tripod now.
coffee_elf @ Nov 4th 2009 11:25AM
At 4:55, do you say "holograpes?"
Caveman @ Nov 4th 2009 1:16PM
He did say Halo grapes!
Nice call!
RKN @ Nov 4th 2009 11:09AM
We've seen these sorts of consoles around for years, especially the NES versions. Don't Nintendo and Sega get wind of these sorts of things or do they just not care?
carmaction @ Nov 4th 2009 11:16AM
I'm not a lawyer or an astronaut, so I'm not sure exactly how this works. I think the patent ran out on the actual consoles, so anyone can make them.
You can bet your sweet Deadspace Girl ass that if Nintendo could do something about them they would.
McBrick @ Nov 4th 2009 11:16AM
The logos, characters, and names are all trademarked so I'm sure this is a licensed product.
Jerk Face @ Nov 4th 2009 11:17AM
That's what I've always wondered. It seems questionably legal, at best!
Anti-Villian @ Nov 4th 2009 11:29AM
copyrights last 50 years. so...
Erluti @ Nov 4th 2009 11:34AM
Patents only last like 20 years. So the technology to play sega games can be made by anybody if (i'm assuming it has) the patent period has lapsed.
fuzzynyanko @ Nov 4th 2009 11:42AM
Probably a mix of things. It's perfectly legal to make a compatible game system (for example if someone wants to make a PS3-compatible game system, they can otherwise the DOJ risks screwing over a lot of Microsoft lawsuits).
However, Nintendo and Sega don't make any more money off the old carts anymore, even though the carts have been dumped and are being used on console download services. Overall, they can sue for ROM dumps, but not the system itself. However, it seems like the company actually licensed the games from Sega, so they look legit.
Matt @ Nov 4th 2009 11:46AM
"You can bet your sweet Deadspace Girl ass"
Hahahahhahahahahahaha
AirIntake @ Nov 4th 2009 11:49AM
I've always wondered this: If patents only last 20 years, why can't other companies use Nintendo's classic d-pad design now?
embassy @ Nov 4th 2009 12:32PM
Anti-villian,
copyrights last way longer than 50 years. Try 95 years for copyrights owned by a corporation, and for a person it's even longer than that.
Also regardless of the patent expiration, you can still copyright code, so I'm sure sega/nintendo have ample copyrights in thier game coding, plus , it's illegal to use any of thier characters/logos/branding without persmission. And Sega/nintendo characters' copyrights won't expire till late this century (at the earliest) and even still, trademarks last FOREVER, so it's all really moot, anyway.
spidey @ Nov 4th 2009 1:08PM
I remember years ago in the era of the PS1 there was a hand held genesis (or mega drive here in the UK) that looked like a game gear but let you play your genesis games.
Travis @ Nov 4th 2009 4:35PM
It was called the Sega Nomad - it ate batteries like a bastard.
Tiptup300 @ Nov 5th 2009 12:25PM
I don't care just give me an N64 that fits in my pocket! NOT an n64 emulator, they still don't feel as good.
Erluti @ Nov 4th 2009 11:11AM
What I want to know is if it reduces flicker. Like if you play strider, will the enemies not disappear?
LeadBoxx @ Nov 4th 2009 11:19AM
I love to play retro games for about 10 minutes then I realize "Thank God we have progressed." I imagine telling my kids "You have no respect for old games you little fucks!" Then I try to take out their virtual eyes of the PS10 or XBOX1080 and make em play this stuff, and they start to hate me and start doing a lot of drugs to rebel against me, or become whores. I can't wait to become a father!
R (Planeteers | Power of Penile Pulse) @ Nov 4th 2009 11:26AM
Every generation needs its whores.
captainprotonx @ Nov 4th 2009 1:14PM
I get the feeling you don't have kids, or I hope you don't.
Josh @ Nov 4th 2009 1:48PM
"I love to play retro games for about 10 minutes then I realize "Thank God we have progressed.""
Are you sure you're playing the right games?
LeadBoxx @ Nov 4th 2009 1:56PM
I did play Phantasy Star 2 from start to finish a few month back, but Bionic Commando NES version just couldn't keep me enthralled. Yes I am sure I am playing the right games. I have played them all..........then and now!
Sarge @ Nov 4th 2009 3:39PM
Quiet, you. Bionic Commando for NES is STILL awesome. As are a lot of other NES games.
In all seriousness, it still all comes down to personal taste. But I'm not sure we've really progressed as far as some would have us believe. Games are prettier, sure, but in a lot of ways, we're playing the same stuff, with a few exceptions. And the art of good 2D games seems to be lost more and more.
That being said... there were some pretty lousy platformers back in the day. But I'd say the good/bad ratio is about the same as it has always been.
dantebk @ Nov 4th 2009 11:22AM
Justin -
Couple questions if you don't mind
1) I'm assuming the dark gray bars on the game are a result of video taping a TV and not something actually obscuring the screen, but can you verify?
2) Do you think the controller will feel better after it's been worn in a little? Is it comparable to the Genesis controllers of the past?
3) Was the TV you were using an HDTV? I've held off on buying old consoles because I've heard they're unplayable on an HDTV, but if the games look decent through this Firecore thing and it can play any cartridge, then that might be the right way to go for me.
Thanks,
Erluti @ Nov 4th 2009 11:29AM
I've got my Sega Genesis hooked up to my hdtv (via av cable, since the analog wouldn't work). It looks fine. It was just interesting to learn that some graphical effects were made by having alternating color pixels and expecting the washed-outness of old tvs to make it looks like something. But in HD, you can clearly see the pixels. Like in Sonic, the waterfalls alternate columns of pixels between the water and the background. So in HD it looks like a gappy waterfall.
dantebk @ Nov 4th 2009 11:42AM
That's interesting. Thanks Erluti!
Justin McElroy @ Nov 4th 2009 1:25PM
1. Yeah, it's just a result of filming the screen.
2. I don't think it's a question of being worn in, the buttons just have kind of a hard edge that aren't super comfortable.
3. As my main damie Erluti said, it's just fine on my HDTV.
dantebk @ Nov 4th 2009 1:49PM
Thanks Justin! Maybe I'll just get an original Genesis after all.
Erluti @ Nov 4th 2009 11:38AM
Also, what's up with the sd card reader on there?
Is it so they can sell more game packs or does it play ROMs?
Matt @ Nov 4th 2009 11:49AM
I want to say Sega licenses them (notice the Genesis logo) and in a way they'd kind've have to - they still obviously own the rights to the games, what with XBLA and Virtual Console and all. The reason I'm guessing Nintendo doesn't is a) Nintendo still exists in the console marketplace in some capacity and b) they can get WAY more for Super Mario Brothers 3 on Virtual Console.
It just begs the question, why do typos like "Kin Chameleon" on the Overstock.com page exist? =\
Giroro @ Nov 4th 2009 12:24PM
Built-in games + it accepts carts?
Is there something like this for SNES or NES, you know, consoles that don't suck.
Jimbotron @ Nov 4th 2009 1:15PM
You're dumb. The NES sucked. The Super NES was great though. As was the Genesis.
Sarge @ Nov 4th 2009 3:44PM
Wow, you'd think this little war ended long ago.
Honestly, I was firmly in the Nintendo (and Super Nintendo) camp, given that it was all I had. But I pined to be able to play some of the excellent games available on the Genesis. Most of my friends had the Genesis, but they never had any of the games I REALLY wanted to play, like Shining Force, Phantasy Star II/IV, Beyond Oasis, and others.
I eventually got my own, even with the wonders of emulation available. Something about having a tangible copy of games is really nice. I went on an Ebay hunt for the games that I had always wanted. Never regretted it.
Long story short: NES, SNES, AND Genesis were all awesome, in their own ways. Maroon me on a deserted island, though, and I'd take an SNES, but that's not a knock on the quality of the other two.
Monkeydog @ Nov 4th 2009 4:46PM
http://www.thinkgeek.com/electronics/retro-gaming/b76e/
Yes.
Jimbotron @ Nov 4th 2009 12:28PM
In a day where almost cannot buy a TV with mono sound, why does this output mono sound only? I am sure the cost to have stereo sound would have been absolutely minimal. Like, pennies.
MattyG @ Nov 4th 2009 12:29PM
i'd still rather have one that can do s/nes and genesis
NeoX360 @ Nov 4th 2009 12:38PM
This was in the news a month or so. This unit is licensed by Sega. That is how they can use the logo, roms, etc. Go to the makers website and you can read the press release. Totally 100% legally licensed.
That said the one thing that puts me off from buying it is that the genesis has stereo sound, while this unit is Mono. Genesis games had great stereo effects when plugged into decent amp or tv speakers. This unit is not capable of that. I also noticed a little slow down, hard to tell if it was actually that way in the game or if it is a cause of the emulation of this unit or just the video encoding process. I think I will stick to my perfectly working original Genesis console that I bought new when it came out.
Ringo @ Nov 4th 2009 12:40PM
They hat that turned you in to a fly was the best...
NeoX360 @ Nov 4th 2009 12:40PM
@mattyG:
I think there is a 3rd party console that I remember seeing a couple years back that has both a Genesis and SNES slot. I think they even have one that can play Genesis, NES, SNES.
captainprotonx @ Nov 4th 2009 1:30PM
"Pseudo-32bit games"
????
Is this thing unable to pick a label?
louie @ Nov 4th 2009 1:47PM
The only game I want to see remade from sega is the "Supreme Warrior" game. Thats was a bad ass game for its time. I still have the original CD for the SEGA CD console, but I do not have anything to play it on. :( I wonder if it would look good on HDTV. Sega should do a 720P or 1080P remake. This will probably sell better the hoe cakes.
McBrick @ Nov 4th 2009 2:18PM
NOTHING sells better than hoe cakes.
Exemplar @ Nov 4th 2009 4:15PM
"Ohh yes.. It's so white, and also yellow." Yeah baby. AV pr0n!
Traceur_Ryuk [Founder of The Anti-EMCB(tm) Brigade] (PSN: Ryuk_shinigami) @ Nov 4th 2009 4:38PM
Or you could just buy a Genesis. I bought a Genesis with 20 games at a garage sale for $10.
juangrande386 @ Nov 4th 2009 5:33PM
I paid $28 for that Sonic Ultimate Genesis Collection for my 360 and it has like 50 games. I also saw 2 Genesis at my local Goodwill for $10 apiece. I see no reason to get this item.
sector13 @ Nov 4th 2009 5:43PM
I always love a chance too stare at Justin's carpet. O bring it on J babe!