Genesis

Overview
The Genesis was the first of its generation to achieve notable market share in 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. The Genesis was SEGA's most successful console; though SEGA has never released a total sales figure quote.

Launch
SEGA initially attempted to partner with Atari Corporation for distribution of the Genesis in the United States, but the two could not agree to terms and SEGA decided to launch the console themselves. SEGA was not able to meet the initial release date and US sales began on August 14, 1989 in New York City and Los Angeles. The Genesis was released in the rest of North America later that year on September 15, 1989 with the suggested retail price of $189.99, $10 less than originally planned, and also $10 less than the competing TurboGrafx-16