What was the Total Sega Genesis Hardware Sales Number?

[A Black Falcon]

The most commonly heard number is "29 million". However, I think that that number has to be wrong -- it's almost certainly too low!

http://retro.ign.com/articles/965/965032p1.html


Nintendo moved 49.1 million Super NES consoles over the course of the generation and beyond, far surpassing the Genesis, which sold a still impressive 29 million units. Why is being 20 million behind Nintendo impressive? Because this was the last generation before videogames went mainstream thanks to the marketing prowess of Sony. It's also impressive because in the previous generation, SEGA was decimated by Nintendo. The Master System sold an anemic 13 million to the NES count of 62 million.

Nintendo released official sales numbers for all its systems. You can look at the chart here (http://www.nintendo.co.jp/ir/library/historical_data/pdf/consolidated_sales_e0806.pdf).

Sega, however, did nothing of the sort.

To make things worse, there are MANY Sega Genesis models...

Sega Genesis 1/MegaDrive 1
Sega Genesis 2/MegaDrive 2
Sega Genesis 3 (Majesco Genesis)
Sega MegaJet
Sega Nomad
Sega CDX/Multi-Mega
JVC X'eye
Pioneer LaserActive with Sega PAC add-on

And this isn't counting more recent, licensed stand-alone units that only play a single game, or several games, or things like that, just the older ones that take cartridges. I'm also not counting the various emulation-based but officially licensede clone systems now on the market. Those systems would probably not be counted in a "system sold" list... but as they are licensed, should they could for something? I'd count them separately for sure if I did, but it's an interesting question. But anyway...

The point is, does that "14 million" or "29 million" number include all of these models? Just the official Sega models, not things like the LaserActive or X'eye? Just the Genesis 1 or Genesis 1 and 2? Which years? I have no idea.


So, we have to work on guesswork. So what's the source for this "29 million" number? Wikipedia says it too, so their source is the likely one.

Wikipedia links this site as its source for the "29 million" number.

http://www.islandnet.com/~KPOLSSON/segavid/

Here's the relevant quote they're basing the number on:

1989

(month unknown)

* Sega Enterprises introduces the Genesis home video game system in the US. It features 7.68 MHz 16-bit Motorola 68EC000 processor, 4 MHz Z80 sound coprocessor, 64 kB RAM, 512 colors in 320x224 resolution. 80 animated sprites are possible, with up to 16 colors per sprite. Included is the video game Altered Beast. Price is US$189. (Total North American sales in its lifetime: 14 million. Total world sales: 29 million.) [70] [124.352] [157.44] [176.C1] [317.68] [483.64] [1255.75]

Hmm, sounds clear enough. But wait... keep reading the page. What do you find, in the "1997-2000" page...


1999

(month unknown)

* Unit sales of video game systems in North America to date: Sega Master System 1.5 million, Sega Genesis 19 million, Saturn 1 million, [378.59]

NINTEEN million, not 17 million? Wait a minute, but that "29 million" number everyone quotes was based on a US sales base of 14 million, not 19 million. If the actual total US sales was at least 19 million, that worldwide total must be wrong, right? And if that's wrong... well, then the N64 (32 million sold) probably isn't actually the best-selling non-handheld second-place console, is it (note -- the Sony PSP is now the most successful second-place console ever, hence the "non-handheld" qualification). But if that "29 million" is based on incomplete US totals, what about the rest of the world... is there anything out there to even guess at this? That source site does list its sources, so at least it would be possible to look up those numbers... I have no idea which are accurate and which aren't. It would make things so much easier if Sega had ever just released a comprehensive units-sold total chart, like Nintendo has...

I don't know about internationally, but honestly, 23.35 million SNESes sold in the US. The idea that despite how close that generation was for so long (in fact, that the Genesis led until sometime in 1994) the SNES somehow managed to win by nearly a full TEN MILLION UNITS just defies belief, in my opinion. That 19 million number makes a LOT more sense to me, really...

[j_factor]

Keep in mind that Nintendo's figure of 23.35 million for SNES is for "the Americas", including Central and South America, whereas the figure we seem to be looking for with the Genesis is only for the United States and Canada. Or possibly just the United States. How many SNES systems were sold in Latin America? Unless we can separate that figure, or come up with a combined figure for the Genesis, it's not comparable. Genesis sales figures for Latin America are complicated by the fact that the system was by another company in Brazil, and was handled by the European division in Argentina, Paraguay, and Uruguay.

Either way, that 14 million figure is definitely bunk. The 19 million number comes from an old Newsweek article about the launch of the Dreamcast. I believe that number excludes the Genesis 3 as that wasn't by Sega (same would go for the other, lesser non-Sega versions like the X'Eye). Although, 1 million units for the Saturn sounds wrong. Usually it's approximated at 2 million -- 9.5 worldwide, 6 million in Japan, 2 million in North America, 1.5 million in Europe/elsewhere. But I digress.

A worldwide comparison figure would be extremely difficult. Every single SNES/SFC system (except for the clones) was sold by Nintendo. Whereas Sega had a strategy of licensing their hardware to other manufacturers/distributors -- to Majesco, JVC, Aiwa, Amstrad, Samsung, TecToy, Ozisoft, Pioneer, IBM, and I may be forgetting one.

The only way to get an accurate sales total for the Genesis/Mega Drive would be if you were somehow able to point each specific version and say this model in this country sold X number, and add them all. Except some markets like Russia may be impossible to find out (Nintendo simply counts the number of systems they manufactured and shipped out, not necessarily true sales numbers, and that's also why they only divide it into three territories).

[Zebbe]

I've seen sourcing saying this:

Genesis: 19 millions
European Mega Drive: 9 millions
Japanese Mega Drive: 3.5 millions
Majesco's sales: 2 millions
Nomad: 1 million
Brazil: 2 million

That's 36.5 millions. But what's missing?

Australia (Ozisoft handled it)
South Korea (Samsung handled it)
India
Other Asia
Other South America
At Games new Mega Drive/Genesis distributed by several companies in some regions

The actual sales number is probably well over 40 millions, but more sources are needed.

[boogiecat]

I've seen sourcing saying this:

Genesis: 19 millions
European Mega Drive: 9 millions
Japanese Mega Drive: 3.5 millions
Majesco's sales: 2 millions
Nomad: 1 million
Brazil: 2 million

That's 36.5 millions. But what's missing?

Australia (Ozisoft handled it)
South Korea (Samsung handled it)
India
Other Asia
Other South America
At Games new Mega Drive/Genesis distributed by several companies in some regions

The actual sales number is probably well over 40 millions, but more sources are needed.

Wow that's alot of Mega Drive/Genesis game consoles..I really won't count those Asian versions cause some of them are just clones..

[Zebbe]

Sega released official licensed versions in Asia. Those I mentioned above belong to those, whether Sega or their licensee released it or not. Illegal clones are not included.

[boogiecat]

I've got a Indonesian PAL unit of Mega Drive 2 so that's legal.

[RPG_Fanatic]

1 million units for the Saturn sounds wrong.

I was reading the 1st issue of PSM today and they had sell numbers, the mag. says that "as of 6/1/97 the Saturn has sold 1.6 million in North America" so you know that is wrong.

[tom]

http://retro.ign.com/articles/965/965032p1.html



Nintendo released official sales numbers for all its systems. You can look at the chart here (http://www.nintendo.co.jp/ir/library/historical_data/pdf/consolidated_sales_e0806.pdf)..

Don't be taken in by Nintendo's so-called 'official' sales figures, they are VASTLY overexaggerated (source Game Over the book)

[Haoie]

Man, are all sales figures bullplop?

[tom]

Think about it, if you're a company, you would boast about of how well you're doing, and then up it some more. It's only human.

[Sonicwolf]

The actual sales figure would be impossible to find. You have to take into account

Genesis 1,2,3 - Megadrive 1,2 - Nomad - Genesis and Megadrive laseractive adaptors - Wondermega - Multimega - JVC Xeye - Sega CDX - Other licenced crap

Too much product with too little info.

That and the whole 'inflate sales figures to look better' thing

[A Black Falcon]

Keep in mind that Nintendo's figure of 23.35 million for SNES is for "the Americas", including Central and South America, whereas the figure we seem to be looking for with the Genesis is only for the United States and Canada. Or possibly just the United States. How many SNES systems were sold in Latin America? Unless we can separate that figure, or come up with a combined figure for the Genesis, it's not comparable. Genesis sales figures for Latin America are complicated by the fact that the system was by another company in Brazil, and was handled by the European division in Argentina, Paraguay, and Uruguay.

Either way, that 14 million figure is definitely bunk. The 19 million number comes from an old Newsweek article about the launch of the Dreamcast. I believe that number excludes the Genesis 3 as that wasn't by Sega (same would go for the other, lesser non-Sega versions like the X'Eye). Although, 1 million units for the Saturn sounds wrong. Usually it's approximated at 2 million -- 9.5 worldwide, 6 million in Japan, 2 million in North America, 1.5 million in Europe/elsewhere. But I digress.

Right, what nations are included in each count? Do we know? How closely can the numbers we have be compared? But I'll have more on these points later in the post...


Wow that's alot of Mega Drive/Genesis game consoles..I really won't count those Asian versions cause some of them are just clones..

Yeah, agreed on the point of clones.


Sega released official licensed versions in Asia. Those I mentioned above belong to those, whether Sega or their licensee released it or not. Illegal clones are not included.

I wouldn't include licensed clones that aren't official hardware, myself... such as the At Games one.That's not real Genesis hardware.


I've seen sourcing saying this:

Genesis: 19 millions
European Mega Drive: 9 millions
Japanese Mega Drive: 3.5 millions
Majesco's sales: 2 millions
Nomad: 1 million
Brazil: 2 million

That's 36.5 millions. But what's missing?

Australia (Ozisoft handled it)
South Korea (Samsung handled it)
India
Other Asia
Other South America
At Games new Mega Drive/Genesis distributed by several companies in some regions

The actual sales number is probably well over 40 millions, but more sources are needed.

As I said I wouldn't count that last one, but the rest... yeah. I don't know what kind of sales numbers you'd be looking at in most of those countries, though... probably not too much. I'd doubt it's much over 40 million total.


Majesco's sales: 2 millions

I thought there was an interview with Majesco saying it was less than that... or am I wrong, or was the system released in other regions too and not just the US? I know the Genesis 3 sold well in 1998, but 2 million sounds like a lot... could be right though I guess.


I was reading the 1st issue of PSM today and they had sell numbers, the mag. says that "as of 6/1/97 the Saturn has sold 1.6 million in North America" so you know that is wrong.

I'd guess that it's just incomplete, not wrong. I mean, that "14 million" number is likely just an incomplete sales total -- "all up until date X" or something along those lines. Those "1 million" Saturn numbers are likely similar. I thought that they were also wrong; I'd also heard "1.5 or 2 million" as the US Saturn sales number, before.


The actual sales figure would be impossible to find. You have to take into account

Genesis 1,2,3 - Megadrive 1,2 - Nomad - Genesis and Megadrive laseractive adaptors - Wondermega - Multimega - JVC Xeye - Sega CDX - Other licenced crap

Too much product with too little info.

That and the whole 'inflate sales figures to look better' thing

That last part is impossible to account for; all you can really do is hope that everybody is inflating their numbers equally, so you can fairly compare the numbers you have for each system. If that's wrong... well, there's not much you can do.

But for the rest, yeah, you're quite right... it's just too many models. Still, it would be nice to have some kind of ballpark figure to look at... how close WAS the Genesis, worldwide, to the SNES? "29 vs. 49" is way off. The Genesis number is of course at least 37-40 million, we now know. Despite Nintendo's exaggeration I'd think that the Nintendo number is at least close to its official total... or at least, they're both shipped numbers and not sold, for all parties, so that's all we know anyway.


But how about just the Americas. I know it's still hard -- the LaserActive likely sold very small numbers, but the Nomad, Genesis 3, and X'eye complicate things for sure, beyond the base two models and CDX. As I said in the first post, though, beyond just wondering "how many systems did Sega sell anyway?", I'm also wondering which is the best selling second place major console, the Nintendo 64 or Sega Genesis. Nintendo says that the N64 shipped 20.63 million systems in the Americas. The Genesis numbers we have have 19 million as the base there, plus unknown numbers more... is it actually ahead, or is it just short? I'd guess that the total number of Genesis 3's sold, if they aren't included in that '19 million' number, would be important...

Of course, are Nintendo's "Americas" and Sega's "Americas" the same region, exactly? Or does one include more countries? I have no idea...


A worldwide comparison figure would be extremely difficult. Every single SNES/SFC system (except for the clones) was sold by Nintendo. Whereas Sega had a strategy of licensing their hardware to other manufacturers/distributors -- to Majesco, JVC, Aiwa, Amstrad, Samsung, TecToy, Ozisoft, Pioneer, IBM, and I may be forgetting one.

The only way to get an accurate sales total for the Genesis/Mega Drive would be if you were somehow able to point each specific version and say this model in this country sold X number, and add them all. Except some markets like Russia may be impossible to find out (Nintendo simply counts the number of systems they manufactured and shipped out, not necessarily true sales numbers, and that's also why they only divide it into three territories).

Right. :(

Though I bet even Sega couldn't say exactly how many they shipped, I bet they could at least give us a decent guess if they wanted to try... it's too bad they never did, it'd be very interesting.


Still, we do know some things -- the Genesis sold 36.5 million, minimum, and probably a few million more than that. The 29-30 million number that you see all over the place is wrong. For instance, here's yet one more page using "30 million"...

http://www.gametunnel.com/good-enough-why-graphics-arent-number-one-article.php

That page tries to list all console sales. Some are clearly just mistakes -- they use Wikipedia's TG16 US number instead of their Worldwide number, for instance -- but the Genesis number is 30 million, about the average sites list, and completely wrong. But how to prove it, so sites like Wikipedia could be updated with more accurate numbers... they'd want proof. Is there enough to prove that the number is wrong, and replace it with something more accurate?

... Oh, and on that TG16 number... Wikipedia says "2.5 million US, 10 million worldwide". I don't know about the Worlwide number, I'm sure it sold very well in Japan considering that it was the most successful platform there for several years, but that US number is way, way too high; the actual US sales, including the TG16 and Duo (and perhaps also CD? Not sure) is, I remember reading on the PCEngineFX forums, under a million, likely well under a million. It did not sell well at all. I have no idea where that 2.5 million number comes from, the Wikipedia source doesn't provide sources, but it's way, way off, I'm pretty sure... (Okay, that's not a great source for the 'under a million' number, but it fits with what I see online -- if the TG16 and Duo sold 2.5 million systems, there would be more TG16s out there than Saturns, on EBay and such, or at least a comparable number. However, there are MANY more Saturns on EBay than TG16s, by a factor of at least two or three, minimum... this is not all explained by the fact that the Saturn is a bit newer, or that the '2 million' Saturn number is wrong; there are decent sources for that. It's explained by that TG16 number being way, way off. But anyway...

[Sonicwolf]

But how about just the Americas. I know it's still hard -- the LaserActive likely sold very small numbers, but the Nomad, Genesis 3, and X'eye complicate things for sure, beyond the base two models and CDX.

I have heard from a member of this forum who is a pretty good authority on the X'Eye that the system only sold a pitiful 10,000 units. The Nomad sold around 1 million units according to GamePro http://www.gamepro.com/article/features/125748/the-10-worst-selling-handhelds-of-all-time/

The Genesis 3 would then be the hardest to figure out.

[chrisbid]

the other looked over impressive factor

sega led nintendo in 91, 92, and 93

the market was pretty even in 94, but in 95, sega all but abandoned the genesis, while the snes was still pushed for several more years

[A Black Falcon]

the other looked over impressive factor

sega led nintendo in 91, 92, and 93

the market was pretty even in 94, but in 95, sega all but abandoned the genesis, while the snes was still pushed for several more years

Yeah, if Sega of Japan hadn't decided to kill off the Genesis in 1995, even with as close as it was (23.35 million to 19 million), it'd have been even closer if Sega hadn't done that, that's for sure. Sega really defeated itself that generation, even more so than Nintendo beat it... if Sega hadn't messed up so badly, even the exceptional success of Donkey Kong Country might not have been enough to get Nintendo past Sega, given Sega's lead that generation from 1989-1993.

Fortunately for Nintendo, though, Sega messed up bad, with the infighting between Japan and America and the bad decision making that led to the 32X, Saturn, killing the Genesis early, etc.


I have heard from a member of this forum who is a pretty good authority on the X'Eye that the system only sold a pitiful 10,000 units. The Nomad sold around 1 million units according to GamePro http://www.gamepro.com/article/features/125748/the-10-worst-selling-handhelds-of-all-time/

The Genesis 3 would then be the hardest to figure out.

Huh, interesting... I would have guessed that the X'eye didn't sell too well, given how rare they are, but 10,000... wow, that's a smaller number than I would have guessed.

As for the Nomad, I don't really trust that article... they don't list sources, and list several incorrect numbers -- for instance, as I said in my last post, the 'consoles' version of that article is the source for that really weird "the TG16 sold 2.5 million systems in the US" number.

1 million is a reasonable-sounding number, though, so if it's all we have, I could believe it... but it would be nice to have a better source.

... TurboExpress, 1.5 million sold? Is that wrong, or was the PC Engine GT (the Japanese version) actually popular? I can't imagine it sold much of anything in the US. Another questionable number in that article.

[Sonicwolf]

I don't really trust that article...

They didnt even spell the principle game of the CDI right in the worst consoles article. "Zelda Wand of Gannon" LOL.

[Zebbe]

I wouldn't include licensed clones that aren't official hardware, myself... such as the At Games one.That's not real Genesis hardware.

Then you wouldn't count the actual Genesis by Sega either, since later model 1s and model 2s also contain clone chips. Mostly its the small components, but also the VDP/PSG soundchip as well, I think.

[Rob2600]

in 95, sega all but abandoned the genesis, while the snes was still pushed for several more years

True, the SFC/SNES was supported for a couple of years after the Mega Drive/Genesis, but - duh - the Mega Drive/Genesis was supported for a couple of years before the SFC/SNES. Thus, their lifespans were basically equal:

Genesis: 1988-1998 = 10 years of official game releases
("The last commercially licensed release in North America was Frogger, released in 1998.")

SNES: 1990-2000 = 10 years of official game releases
("In Japan...new games were produced until the year 2000, ending with the release of Metal Slader Glory Director's Cut on December 1, 2000.")



sega led nintendo in 91

In North America, of course Sega "led" Nintendo in 1991. The Genesis was on the market during all twelve months in 1991, while the SNES was only on the market during five of those months. Common sense.

[Zebbe]

True, the SFC/SNES was supported for a couple of years after the Mega Drive/Genesis, but - duh - the Mega Drive/Genesis was supported for a couple of years before the SFC/SNES. Thus, their lifespans were basically equal:

Genesis: 1988-1998 = 10 years of official game releases
("The last commercially licensed release in North America was Frogger, released in 1998.")

Wrong. The Mega Drive was officially supported uptil 2000 in Brazil, with the last licensed game Show do Milhao Volume 2 being released then by the Sega licensee TecToy.

http://www.guardiana.net/MDG-Database/Mega%20Drive/Show%20do%20Milh%C3%A3o%20volume%202/#v2734

So the Mega Drive/Genesis had a two year longer lifespan than the SNES/SFC.

[Rob2600]

Wrong. The Mega Drive was officially supported uptil 2000 in Brazil, with the last licensed game Show do Milhao Volume 2 being released then by the Sega licensee TecToy.

http://www.guardiana.net/MDG-Database/Mega%20Drive/Show%20do%20Milh%C3%A3o%20volume%202/#v2734

So the Mega Drive/Genesis had a two year longer lifespan than the SNES/SFC.

Yet, it still couldn't beat the SNES. :)

[Zebbe]

Yet, it still couldn't beat the SNES. :)

Considering Nintendo vastly exaggerated their sale numbers and Sega only provided theirs for a few models and regions, they probably sold equally ^^.

[j_factor]

In North America, of course Sega "led" Nintendo in 1991. The Genesis was on the market during all twelve months in 1991, while the SNES was only on the market during five of those months. Common sense.

I think what he was referring to was that the Genesis outsold the SNES during the September-December period.

[Rob2600]

Nintendo vastly exaggerated their sale numbers

Is this true? Nintendo didn't exaggerate its sales data for the N64, GameCube, Wii, Game Boy Advance, or DS...so why would it have exaggerated it's SNES sales data?

[j_factor]

Considering Nintendo vastly exaggerated their sale numbers and Sega only provided theirs for a few models and regions, they probably sold equally ^^.

Nah. Worldwide, the SNES/SFC definitely beat out the Genesis/MD. What is unknown is to what degree. And also, which system sold the most units in North America and/or the USA and/or the Americas. That is definitely close.

[Zebbe]

Is this true? Nintendo didn't exaggerate its sales data for the N64, GameCube, Wii, Game Boy Advance, or DS...so why would it have exaggerated it's SNES sales data?

I don't know. Read the Game Over book mentioned earlier in this thread.

[tom]

Nintendo didn't exaggerate its sales data for the N64, GameCube, Wii, Game Boy Advance, or DS...

Did they not? How do you know? I don't believe it. If it's coming from an 'official' source, surely you realise it's faked.

[Rob2600]

Nintendo didn't exaggerate its sales data for the N64, GameCube, Wii, Game Boy Advance, or DS...

Did they not? How do you know? I don't believe it. If it's coming from an 'official' source, surely you realise it's faked.

NPD sales data, plus Media Create sales data, plus Nintendo's own financial records, which legally shouldn't be falsified.

[tom]

NPD sales data, plus Media Create sales data, plus Nintendo's own financial records, which legally shouldn't be falsified.

Don't wash with me, once a fibber, always a fibber.
And legal and Nintendo don't go together anyway, according to Game Over

[boogiecat]

Yet, it still couldn't beat the SNES. :)

Yup that's true but im surprised that Sega still allows other companies to manufacture 3rd party Genesis/Mega Drive consoles up to this day(i wish someday they'll also allow others to produce a licensed clones of the Dreamcast!!)..:popcorn:

[tom]

Considering Nintendo vastly exaggerated their sale numbers and Sega only provided theirs for a few models and regions, they probably sold equally ^^.

I'm not saying only Nintendo did exaggerate sales figures, Sega obviously did the same.

[j_factor]

I'm not saying only Nintendo did exaggerate sales figures, Sega obviously did the same.

How did Sega exaggerate sales figures when they never even claimed any particular figure?

[Sonicwolf]

That is one thing that confused me. They didnt go on a bragging spree with their Genesis/Megadrive hardware sales while most companies did and still do. They were kind of wierd in that way.

[tomaitheous]

How did Sega exaggerate sales figures when they never even claimed any particular figure?

Then how is the sales figure known for the Genesis? I was under the impression that sales figures for these game console companies where for investors and stock holders. Wouldn't Sega publish them just like Nintendo and others for their stock holders as well?

A little off topic:

I think it's pretty amazing that the SNES actually caught up with the Genesis in just 2 years. And they did it with only an average amount of good titles and lot of crap titles (not that Sega didn't have their share of crap-soft too). Sega had a pretty strong hold of the market and with the release of Sonic in '91, really cemented its popularity in the US overall console base. Snes coming late to '91, I consider the real start of the SNES as of '92. But the end of '93, nintendo had made an impressive come back.

Sales figures of systems might show one thing, but "on the ground' politics of actual gamers, the snes was beating the Genesis by the start of '94 was common knowledge. I mean, it's not easy to get kids, who don't have a job or any real money to begin with, to actually buy another friggin system and yet nintendo did just that. I knew plenty of gamers that by late '92 to '93 really wanted to get a snes or who already had. Some Sega fans are just deluding themselves if they think Sega should have stuck it out with the Genesis for another year. I just don't see where Sega was going to get these great games from, to sustain any positive growth - let alone effect the only ever increasing market share by the snes.

[j_factor]

Then how is the sales figure known for the Genesis?

It isn't known, thus the thread.

[fiendcode]

Yeah, I've long held the view that the 29m figure was low, and likely only included Genesis 1/2 models alone. Sega's history of licensing out hardware means most of their platforms likely have a notably higher actual end userbase figure (Majesco Genesis 3, Majesco Game Gear, JVC V-Saturn, JVC Wondermega/X'Eye, AIWA MD boombox, Laseractive MD expansion, Samsung Saturn, Hitachi Hi-Saturn/Navi, Tectoy Master System Compact/Girl, etc, etc) though this actually goes for a few Nintendo platforms also (Sharp Twin Famciom, Sharp Famicom TVs, Panasonic Q).




Don't wash with me, once a fibber, always a fibber.
And legal and Nintendo don't go together anyway, according to Game Over
These days Nintendo's shipment figures routinely come closest to actual sell in, if only because their platforms are in high demand and they've been stingy with overproduction since the GameCube debacle of 2003. Nintendo even sources sales figures via trackers (NPD, Enterbrain and Charttrack) in their IR reports today. If you want really disingenuous figures, you're far more likely to see them from Sony (who only just recently switched from "production shipments") and Microsoft.

[chrisbid]

Then how is the sales figure known for the Genesis? I was under the impression that sales figures for these game console companies where for investors and stock holders. Wouldn't Sega publish them just like Nintendo and others for their stock holders as well?

A little off topic:

I think it's pretty amazing that the SNES actually caught up with the Genesis in just 2 years. And they did it with only an average amount of good titles and lot of crap titles (not that Sega didn't have their share of crap-soft too). Sega had a pretty strong hold of the market and with the release of Sonic in '91, really cemented its popularity in the US overall console base. Snes coming late to '91, I consider the real start of the SNES as of '92. But the end of '93, nintendo had made an impressive come back.

Sales figures of systems might show one thing, but "on the ground' politics of actual gamers, the snes was beating the Genesis by the start of '94 was common knowledge. I mean, it's not easy to get kids, who don't have a job or any real money to begin with, to actually buy another friggin system and yet nintendo did just that. I knew plenty of gamers that by late '92 to '93 really wanted to get a snes or who already had. Some Sega fans are just deluding themselves if they think Sega should have stuck it out with the Genesis for another year. I just don't see where Sega was going to get these great games from, to sustain any positive growth - let alone effect the only ever increasing market share by the snes.


the 'on the ground' politics was not very clear cut. the genesis was the first console not marketed exclusively to children. teenagers and 20-somethings that grew up with video games were given attention from sega. the rise of the snes was mostly younger gamers slowly replacing their aging nes's. i was in high school at the time, and being in between the two different demographics, i had both systems (along with a sega cd).

add to this the physical demographics, there are more people born between 1980-1985 than 1975-1980. nintendo overwhelmed sega, but certainly not the point where sega wouldve been pushed off the face of the earth.

[tomaitheous]

the 'on the ground' politics was not very clear cut. the genesis was the first console not marketed exclusively to children. teenagers and 20-somethings that grew up with video games were given attention from sega.

I think that edgier marketing style was also (mostly) meant to appeal to younger audiences directly. I think it had most of its effect at that audience age range. There's always that lure of experiencing or being a part of something of the older/cooler age range, when you're a kid. I was a teenager when the Genesis first came out. I found the later more aggressive marketing and ads by Sega as insulting to my intelligence. As a teenager, one already is aware/has a sense of what's "cool" and what's obviously a gawdy attempt to relate and persuade by advertisement. They were really lame. Unless one was some socially inept nerd. It appealed to/effected younger gamers though stepping into the 16bit generation (judging by comments posted on forums and such).


the rise of the snes was mostly younger gamers slowly replacing their aging nes's. i was in high school at the time, and being in between the two different demographics, i had both systems (along with a sega cd).


I was going into my sophomore year of high school when it came out. I didn't know any younger kids (I was the youngest of my cousins). I had a lot of friends there were into gaming, and even just associates by gaming interests. I can tell you, it was either jealousy or envy for the SNES for the first year. Almost everyone I know got a snes by '93/'94, who originally had a Genesis (or a Turbo, or nothing at all).


add to this the physical demographics, there are more people born between 1980-1985 than 1975-1980. nintendo overwhelmed sega, but certainly not the point where sega wouldve been pushed off the face of the earth.

No, but that's what happened to NEC in North America.