In 1995, Sega released the Genesis Nomad in North America. The 16-bit portable was a handheld console with an LCD screen and able to play Genesis cartridges. In a recent YouTube clip, Segaâs Hiroyuki Miyazaki showed off the hardwareâs prototype for the first time.
Here is the Nomadâs final product version. The design is in tune with the home console, which makes sense as itâs literally a portable Genesis.
The Nomad could also be plugged into TVs for big-screen action, a novelty at that time.
The prototype looked differentâand in my opinion, much nicer. Note that the hardware is emblazoned with the name âVenus,â which was the codename.
While Sega hoped to overtake Nintendoâs handheld dominance with the Nomad, the 16-bit portable was ultimately unsuccessful and was discontinued by 1999.
You can read more about Segaâs efforts in the handheld race right here.
