Are these consoles fake?

[edd_jedi]

I have these 2 Mega Drive/Genesis consoles, both are from Asia. I'm getting mixed opinions on whether they're genuine or fakes/clones. The Mega Drive 1 is sealed so I can't show you the contents. But I have attached a photo of the Mega Drive 2 contents. I'd be interested to see what you guys think:

http://www.vintageconsoles.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2012/08/mega-drive-1-1024x682.jpg

http://www.vintageconsoles.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2012/07/megadrive2-1-1024x682.jpg

http://www.vintageconsoles.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2012/07/megadrive2-3-1024x682.jpg

[Hedgeyourbets]

They look pretty legit to me

[gs37]

I'm not enough of a Sega fan to be able to fully answer your question, but the poor English on that flyer in the bottom pic is concerning.
Regardless, some fakes can be valuable. It will interesting to hear what the experts have to say when they get around to this thread.

[edd_jedi]

I'm not enough of a Sega fan to be able to fully answer your question, but the poor English on that flyer in the bottom pic is concerning.
Regardless, some fakes can be valuable. It will interesting to hear what the experts have to say when they get around to this thread.

The Mega Drive 1 in the first photo also has a spelling mistake on the front of the box, which is one reason I'm entertaining the idea that they're not legit. But Nintendo made a spelling mistake on the back of the USA SNES 2 box, so it does happen.

Also note the very odd controller on the Mega Drive 1 box - joystick and 2 rows of A-B-C buttons.

[Bad_Ad84]

Open the console, fake will be obvious

[edd_jedi]

Is it possible without looking at the internals? The MD1 box is sealed, and the MD2 console is in a sealed bag. I don't want to open them as that instantly slashes the value to a fraction.

[Bad_Ad84]

I am pretty sure they are not fake.

The little label with engrish could be explained by the fact its an asian release.

[Druid II]

2nd one looks official.

1st one looks official too, except for that controller. It's not sealed, so you should be able to check the insides.

[edd_jedi]

You can't really see in the photo but the first one is wrapped in plastic.

[ASSEMbler]

2nd is hong kong.

First one is badly sun faded on the right.

Not sure if legit as I don't ever remember that kind of controller from sega.

[ave]

The first one is probably a clone, although I've never seen one like this. The picture of the MD on the box is different from the actual Asian MD box (all the writing on the console is still there on your box) and the controller is completely non-Sega and doesn't even have a SEGA logo on it like the official one.

[seemoremacstuff]

First one is definitely fake, the second one I'd say MIGHT be its fake

[mooseblaster]

The MD2 looks genuine from what I can tell.

The first one, however: that controller definitely looks suspicious - certainly not an official controller I've ever seen before...

[edd_jedi]

Here is a photo of the contents of the MD 1 (this is not my sealed one but a photo I found of another with the same box.)

http://i.ebayimg.com/t/Sega-Genesis-Mega-Drive-Console-Boxed-PAL-NEW-/00/s/MTIwMFgxNjAw/$(KGrHqRHJCIE93jS1s-kBPkC(7U6Jg~~60_12.JPG

Is this controller official?

[l_oliveira]

MD1 seems fake.

Open it up. Original SEGA units have no seals. SOME asian consoles that were sold here in Brazil had seals but they were applied by the shops which modified them to output PAL-M color signal (PAL-M is a 60hz video system so nothing but the color circuit was changed).

[edd_jedi]

Well I decided to open it as nobody seemed to be able to say for sure from the box, and I'm still not 100% sure either way. The box and console seem good to me, not noticeably poor quality. However the AC adapter and TV switch are questionable. The controllers are interesting (there are 2 of them in the box) they have a row of auto fire buttons, and a switch on the back to turn auto fire off. The console appears to have the correct serial number and identifying features as the Asian version according to the Wiki:

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Variations_of_the_Sega_Mega_Drive

Here's the photos, see what you think. Certainly could be fake.

http://www.vintageconsoles.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2012/08/mega-drive-asian-3-1024x682.jpg
http://www.vintageconsoles.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2012/08/mega-drive-asian-4-1024x682.jpg
http://www.vintageconsoles.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2012/08/mega-drive-asian-5-1024x682.jpg
http://www.vintageconsoles.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2012/08/mega-drive-asian-6-1024x682.jpg
http://www.vintageconsoles.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2012/08/mega-drive-asian-7-1024x682.jpg

[l_oliveira]

The sticker on the bottom of the MD console screams "fake" all over.

And again, no original SEGA console has seals on it.

[edd_jedi]

And again, no original SEGA console has seals on it.

The box wasn't sealed, it was shrink wrapped.

[Druid II]

That serial would mean that it was made in 1996 and possibly a VA8 model. And it looks like there's a SSOP at the bottom? None of those are things I've ever seen on a real Megadrive.

And that RF connector has Famiclone written all over it.

It's worth maybe 25Ł, not 250Ł as the site says. Unless you can get the guy to do motherboard shots, I say it's a famiclone.

[l_oliveira]

The box wasn't sealed, it was shrink wrapped.

I was saying the console is sealed with a white round sticker. That's a clear giveaway it's a fake. SEGA do not seal the consoles.

[edd_jedi]

OK thanks everyone, looks like the consensus is it's a clone. I am the owner of the website the photos are hosted on, my price of £250 was obviously based on my assumption that it was a genuine console. Is there any kind of market fo these clones?

[andoba]

The second one, the Mega Drive 2, is absolutely geniune. The first one would probably pass as legit if it wasn't by that controller... The only way for assuring if it's legit or a clone is opening the console and seeing if the board and it's integrated circuits inside are legit or not.

[sayin999]

Weren't model 1 discontinued by the time the 6 button came out? Also I never recall any md1 that were bundled with 6 button. Redesigned 6 button pads didn't come out till end of systems life. Just a hunch but maybe someone got this console and mixed and match the parts.

[Druid II]

The only way for assuring if it's legit or a clone is opening the console and seeing if the board and it's integrated circuits inside are legit or not.

I'm seconding this. I really want to see the insides, as I'm not convinced that it's a Megadrive to begin with (based on the little I see from the PCB on your screenshots, it does not match any Megadrive hardware I've seen, clone or otherwise).

[Bad_Ad84]

See post #5

=/

[mooseblaster]

Sadly, seeing the inside of the box has not dampened my thoughts that this is not a genuine MD1. The printing on the controllers (as well as their styling) is incorrect, as is the labelling and printing on the console itself. It also has a non-SEGA power supply.

Here's what a genuine PAL Asian MD1 looks like: http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/8/8b/Sega_Mega_Drive_%28pal_asia%29.jpg - compare the word 'RESET' on both this image and your console. You'll notice the font and spacing in particular is incorrect.


OK thanks everyone, looks like the consensus is it's a clone. I am the owner of the website the photos are hosted on, my price of £250 was obviously based on my assumption that it was a genuine console. Is there any kind of market fo these clones?

Usually, the ones with a bit of character (such as the ones labelled as "SIGA" or "SAGA" instead of "SEGA") are worth more as they are interesting, as are the more recent clones such as the RetroN and the 'official' BLAZE and AtGames ones. However, there's no real market for the 'knock-off' consoles which pretend 100% to be genuine.

Without much information (for example, the quality of the controllers, how accurately it plays, a manufacturer, etc.) you're looking at about £10-20 if you find the right buyer (e.g.: someone who collects clones), but otherwise you may find it difficult to sell it at all. If you can find something that makes it different, you might get a bit more.

[comicbooknerd]

Seems from what I have seen there appears to be far more SEGA clones than Nintendo Clones ( from that I mean ones made to look like the actual system not like one of these new all in one things ), It can be hard to tell what is real sometimes as this topic shows. Theres so many Hong Kong and Korean models out there too!

[Flash]

I even had MD1 clone which was better than original system. It was based on original Sega chips, had working extension port, and region switches at same time, s-video out, far more superior headphone amplifier.
What was the reason for making clone which is clearly more expensive than original we will never know.

[Fenix360]

What about the weight ?

An original sega has metal shielding and a fake usually does not.
At least the fakes i had didn't

Therefore fakes are lighter than a original one :)

[l_oliveira]

An original sega has metal shielding and a fake usually does not.
At least the fakes i had didn't


Wrong.

Japanese and Asian systems pre-FCCI have NO SHIELDING and weight as much as fake systems.

That also counts to pre MD hardware from SEGA such as all variations of the SG-1000 (original, MARK-II, MARK-III and the MASTER SYSTEM).

[Fenix360]

Wrong.

Japanese and Asian systems pre-FCCI have NO SHIELDING and weight as much as fake systems.

That also counts to pre MD hardware from SEGA such as all variations of the SG-1000 (original, MARK-II, MARK-III and the MASTER SYSTEM).

Oke i did not know that :)
Learned something new today :)

[ElderlyGoose]

Looks legit :)

[DrDoaK]

I'd say its a fake. Those controllers aren't official, sega turbo controllers were called mega fire pads and have switches instead of buttons, and in all my years of researching the md I've never come across a console that had mega fire pads bundled in. There is always the possibilty that what you have here is something super special like a proto, but you need to crack the pads and console to check that. At the minute its worthless so its not like you'll be losing out on anything by opening it.

[altbrian]

What about the weight ?

An original sega has metal shielding and a fake usually does not.
At least the fakes i had didn't

Therefore fakes are lighter than a original one :)

My Japanese MD2 don't have any metal shielding and it's an original SEGA console.

[l_oliveira]

I wrote FCCI but the correct is "VCCI". Meaning "Voluntary Control Council for Interference". An industry organization that set rules for control of RF interference in Japan.

It's voluntary though.

[Hop hip toe]

Is it possible without looking at the internals? The MD1 box is sealed, and the MD2 console is in a sealed bag. I don't want to open them as that instantly slashes the value to a fraction.

I'd say its a fake. Those controllers aren't official, sega turbo controllers were called mega fire pads and have switches instead of buttons, and in all my years of researching the md I've never come across a console that had mega fire pads bundled in