SEGA Mega Modem: Ahead of Its Time

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  • เผยแพร่เมื่อ 6 มิ.ย. 2024
  • In 1989, Sunsoft came to SEGA with a proposal: What if people could play Mega Drive games online? Wanting to make a splash in the market, the two companies teamed up and created the Mega Modem. The device brought online gaming, downloadable games, news, contests, and even financial transactions to the SEGA Mega Drive.
    CHAPTERS
    00:00 - Introduction
    01:17 - Development History
    12:55 - Games & Software
    21:59 - Legacy
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    #SEGA #MegaDrive #GamingHistorian
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ความคิดเห็น • 1.8K

  • @DarthCrust66
    @DarthCrust66 3 ปีที่แล้ว +1195

    “People complained about lag during gameplay” looks like not much has changed

  • @Animenji
    @Animenji 3 ปีที่แล้ว +883

    "SEGA's Mega Modem was not a success, but it was ahead of it's time." Man...I think that statement kind of sums up most of SEGA's home console history.

    • @atre5763
      @atre5763 3 ปีที่แล้ว +18

      Too bad it wasn't as high tech as people thought, and it was more desperate than anything.

    • @Animenji
      @Animenji 3 ปีที่แล้ว +59

      @@atre5763 I don't think it was desperation necessarily. They had planned it very early in the Genesis' life.

    • @gothicm3rcy450
      @gothicm3rcy450 3 ปีที่แล้ว +19

      saturn was primarily a 2d machine, the dreamcast stuck with cds.
      Hardly ahead of their time.

    • @r.u.s.e3586
      @r.u.s.e3586 3 ปีที่แล้ว +65

      @@gothicm3rcy450 Both the Saturn and the Dreamcast had online functionality. For the DC it was built in, the first console to do so. And the Saturn despite being a "Primarily 2D machine" was still able draw poly's just as fast if not faster than it's main competition, without the distorted textures and shaky geometry. Just because something isn't so advanced in one way doesn't negate it's accomplishments.

    • @russellgxy2905
      @russellgxy2905 3 ปีที่แล้ว +15

      It _really_ does. Either ahead of their time (Genesis and Dreamcast) or poor timing (Saturn and also Dreamcast)

  • @eddiecarrion6176
    @eddiecarrion6176 3 ปีที่แล้ว +114

    I never get tired of learning about these strange but extremely interesting pieces of hardware that I had no idea existed around the time I was just simply playing and enjoying my Genesis and SNES

    • @journeyman1218
      @journeyman1218 2 ปีที่แล้ว +4

      It's do weird that as we just sat and played our games on original hardware all this was going on halfway around the world!

    • @EchoRhythmMusic
      @EchoRhythmMusic ปีที่แล้ว +2

      The most I had was the Power Pad lol

    • @PotatoeSnow
      @PotatoeSnow 3 หลายเดือนก่อน

      If like Japanese stuff, this guy knows little if anything, GTV Japan is where it's at.

  • @RedTsarOldChannel-INACTIVE
    @RedTsarOldChannel-INACTIVE 3 ปีที่แล้ว +86

    Norman, additional info:
    The Mega-Net would not die with the Mega-Modem. Brazil's Tectoy would revive it in '95, selling a cartridge that allowed you to send E-Mails to your friends. The second (and very rare) model,the Mega-Net 2 allowed you to even play with your friends.
    It worked the same as the previous Mega-Modem,via telephone cables.

    • @evdestroy4121
      @evdestroy4121 3 ปีที่แล้ว +8

      There was also X-Band, which had a similar purpose and was also a licensed product on the Genesis

    • @evdestroy4121
      @evdestroy4121 3 ปีที่แล้ว +3

      @@K8SRGL Interesting, source?

    • @subifyouhatetiktokandreddit234
      @subifyouhatetiktokandreddit234 3 ปีที่แล้ว +5

      Brazil sure loves outdated games

    • @evdestroy4121
      @evdestroy4121 3 ปีที่แล้ว +2

      @@K8SRGL Seems it wasn't "based" on it, it's simply the same product and was just released under that name for marketing sake.
      I was gonna say that's weird because X-Band was on SNES as well.

    • @RedTsarOldChannel-INACTIVE
      @RedTsarOldChannel-INACTIVE 2 ปีที่แล้ว +6

      @@subifyouhatetiktokandreddit234
      The newer consoles are usually super expensive here.

  • @GamingHistorian
    @GamingHistorian  3 ปีที่แล้ว +1382

    Really don't know what to say except thanks for watching and see you next time!

    • @SynGirl32
      @SynGirl32 3 ปีที่แล้ว +29

      Don't worry Norm, the video itself was enough, thanks for being my favorite channel!

    • @justaspectator9762
      @justaspectator9762 3 ปีที่แล้ว +9

      Amazing videos

    • @eskanda3434
      @eskanda3434 3 ปีที่แล้ว +9

      See you in next 6 months my guy!

    • @larrygarry3725
      @larrygarry3725 3 ปีที่แล้ว +7

      This video rides Dummy Hard Boi! Keep up the good work and don't leave me waiting so long.

    • @mattb9664
      @mattb9664 3 ปีที่แล้ว +5

      Thank you for generating such great content for us!

  • @SynGirl32
    @SynGirl32 3 ปีที่แล้ว +970

    No matter how obscure these are, I'm still thoroughly entertained.

    • @noctemknight8359
      @noctemknight8359 3 ปีที่แล้ว +17

      Yep. I love every single one of these videos

    • @josephyn89
      @josephyn89 3 ปีที่แล้ว +16

      same! it cheered up my day. Learning about these gadgets is so entertaining.

    • @astyanax905
      @astyanax905 3 ปีที่แล้ว +10

      agreed, makes my day when i see these come out

    • @n1njahawkssecondchannel84
      @n1njahawkssecondchannel84 3 ปีที่แล้ว +6

      I remember the first video I watched of his The video game crash one of my favorite episodes of his

    • @ShanGamer1981
      @ShanGamer1981 3 ปีที่แล้ว +4

      Great stuff

  • @sneakyskunk1
    @sneakyskunk1 3 ปีที่แล้ว +80

    Something I always respected about Sega was how forward thinking their leadership was. It seems like they would embrace trends that failed for them, but then became industry standard later on. Thank you for this video. It was very informative.

    • @mikatu
      @mikatu 2 ปีที่แล้ว +4

      Looks like Sony, that even canibalize their own products. Laserdisc, Mini-Disc, etc

    • @dizzydee4889
      @dizzydee4889 ปีที่แล้ว +7

      arguably too forward thinking, seemingly projecting ahead an assumed buyer/support base that could never be matched in reality, instead of responding to actual core trends of the market. ambitious, yes, but ultimately arrogant. you might like. Sega to Icarus, flying too close to the sun, spectacular failures born on the backs of their most dedicated fans.

    • @rugbyguitargod
      @rugbyguitargod ปีที่แล้ว +4

      @@dizzydee4889 exactly. So forward thinking, they almost consistently rushed products to market before they were really ready; including the Dreamcast which was the nail in the coffin for Sega and their venture into console development.

  • @316whatupz
    @316whatupz 3 ปีที่แล้ว +33

    The fact that online gaming concept came from the beginning of time of video game console development is pretty wild

  • @JonGon005
    @JonGon005 3 ปีที่แล้ว +57

    You've got to admire the timeline of online gaming. We've gone from the days of using a modem and getting charged by the minute, on top of the uncertainty of how long these modem services would last, to today where matchmaking with over 100 players through broadband/fiber optic servers are expected these days.
    It's nice to know that SEGA really dove headfirst into this industry back in the 90s and paved the way for online gaming to explode exponentially in the early 2000s to what it is now!

  • @Grindhead_Jim
    @Grindhead_Jim 3 ปีที่แล้ว +331

    I submit that the longest part of this production involved trying to find a phone wall jack that appeared functional.

    • @Str8Gee973
      @Str8Gee973 3 ปีที่แล้ว +16

      🤣 agreed

    • @GamingHistorian
      @GamingHistorian  3 ปีที่แล้ว +156

      Fun fact (well, I dunno about fun but whatever): My house has several telephone jacks! None of them work, of course.

    • @blunderingfool
      @blunderingfool 3 ปีที่แล้ว +17

      @@GamingHistorian This is why you don’t install a new jack for every single ISP switch-over.

    • @Grindhead_Jim
      @Grindhead_Jim 3 ปีที่แล้ว +10

      @@GamingHistorian Yes, but they LOOK functional. I figured those were from your house, and, sure, they aren't THAT hard to find. Jokes, though.

    • @Canadas_Very_Own
      @Canadas_Very_Own 3 ปีที่แล้ว +3

      @@GamingHistorian Same here lol.

  • @Luschan
    @Luschan 3 ปีที่แล้ว +89

    I don’t know why, but I find Sega and their consoles so fascinating. I wasn’t even a Sega kid growing up, but my Sega-CD, Saturn, and Dreamcast are some of my most prized possessions.
    There’s just something about their products that have such a powerful energy and design to me, especially the weirder things like the 32x.

    • @reapersritehand
      @reapersritehand ปีที่แล้ว +8

      I still no idea how Gameboy beat out segas game gear that thing was awesome

    • @atre5763
      @atre5763 ปีที่แล้ว +1

      @@reapersritehand Because game boy was actually good

    • @reapersritehand
      @reapersritehand ปีที่แล้ว +6

      @Detective Joshua said noone who's ever played the game gear

    • @atre5763
      @atre5763 ปีที่แล้ว +1

      @@reapersritehand Many people like the Gameboy more dude.

    • @nicolasjonasson4820
      @nicolasjonasson4820 ปีที่แล้ว +2

      I agree with you partly, mainly the genesis and the dreamcast were groundbreaking. But I find the Playstation far more fascinating than the Saturn. We sheer amount sold was unheard of at that point in time + Sony basically made video gaming mainstream.

  • @INOA_GAMES
    @INOA_GAMES 3 ปีที่แล้ว +122

    Played Sega master system since it first released in 1986. Its 2021 now and just finding out Sega had online play since 1989 wow 😱. Really goes to show how truly special Sega truly was and still is. Wish they would come out with a new Sega Console it would be magical!

    • @segaunited3855
      @segaunited3855 3 ปีที่แล้ว +6

      That's why Sega United/UNG and our business affiliates at MK have been working tirelessly for 5 years to build and design a Next Generation Console that will be pitched Exclusively to SEGA!

    • @claytonbyrd6134
      @claytonbyrd6134 2 ปีที่แล้ว +13

      @@segaunited3855 lmao

    • @segaunited3855
      @segaunited3855 2 ปีที่แล้ว +1

      @@claytonbyrd6134 Phase 1, "Project Utopia" will be announced this fall.

    • @Mikejones-vy9dx
      @Mikejones-vy9dx 2 ปีที่แล้ว +5

      @@claytonbyrd6134 lmao

    • @RedTsarOldChannel-INACTIVE
      @RedTsarOldChannel-INACTIVE 2 ปีที่แล้ว +5

      And technically the Master System is still alive.
      Tectoy still manufacture those since 1989.

  • @coreymyers5321
    @coreymyers5321 3 ปีที่แล้ว +256

    This channel is way better than History channel. Keep it up Gaming Historian!

    • @jarrettrodriguez5341
      @jarrettrodriguez5341 3 ปีที่แล้ว +6

      💯 he’s the best!

    •  3 ปีที่แล้ว +4

      As long as he doesn't say "Aliens did it"..

    • @Chriserino
      @Chriserino 3 ปีที่แล้ว +6

      idk.. needs more aliens. Maybe Game chasers could help :P

    • @Benjamillion
      @Benjamillion 2 ปีที่แล้ว +1

      Too bad new uploads feel like an eternity to wait for.

    • @REALMARCHINADER
      @REALMARCHINADER 2 ปีที่แล้ว +4

      @@Benjamillion quality > quantity. The production value of his videos are impeccable

  • @TheUncommonValley
    @TheUncommonValley 3 ปีที่แล้ว +185

    It always impresses me every time there was tech from SEGA. Seemed like they were always ahead of the curve, even when it didn't succeed sales wise.

    • @GamingHistorian
      @GamingHistorian  3 ปีที่แล้ว +71

      SEGA was willing to take risks, for sure.

    • @atre5763
      @atre5763 3 ปีที่แล้ว +2

      More like trying too hard to be high tech, but failed to be restraint!

    • @atre5763
      @atre5763 3 ปีที่แล้ว +4

      @@GamingHistorian and look what happened :/

    • @maxxdahl6062
      @maxxdahl6062 3 ปีที่แล้ว +16

      At least they were willing to experiment. I could have lived without 32x, but the CD (Despite the FMV game stereotype.) was a really good add on that had some absolute classics. (Lunar 1 and 2, shining force cd, sonic cd, etc.)

    • @customsongmaker
      @customsongmaker 3 ปีที่แล้ว +9

      NES had 4 controller buttons, Master System had 2.
      SNES had 8 buttons, Genesis/Mega Drive launched with 4. Sega later released a controller with 7 buttons to catch up.
      N64 had an analog stick, Saturn controller was basically the same as the Genesis. Sega later released a controller with an analog stick to catch up.
      GameCube had 2 analog sticks and the first official wireless controller. Dreamcast had 1 analog stick. Sega never released anything again.
      Sega was usually behind and never caught up. The Dreamcast was the best console ever made when it launched, but sadly it didn't get enough support from consumers.

  • @MrAxelStone
    @MrAxelStone 3 ปีที่แล้ว +22

    One of the only YT creators where I don't flinch if I see a long video time. Love GH's mini-docs.

  • @gatorboymike
    @gatorboymike 3 ปีที่แล้ว +229

    Kids: "Buy me this thing! It lets you play games on the internet!"
    Parents: "What the hell is an internet?"
    - everyone, 1989

    • @gothicm3rcy450
      @gothicm3rcy450 3 ปีที่แล้ว +6

      well yea.... there was no public internet til 1991

    • @retardray5701
      @retardray5701 3 ปีที่แล้ว +15

      Makes sense that most of the media talked about "playing over phone lines"!
      To be honest, when speaking with parents, using the mystery word "internet" was probably better than the more comprehensible "hour-long phone call".

    • @vascomanteigas9433
      @vascomanteigas9433 3 ปีที่แล้ว +7

      Proprietary networks accessible by a phone line was avaliable during the 1980's decade, such as the French Minitel, the BBS around the world. Many of those ancient networks uses ASCII codes and POSIX terminal interfaces that uses the RS-232C serial hardware protocols.
      In a nutshell, the era of an myriad of proprietary network protocols before TCP/IP replaces them, which is the Core Internet protocol.

    • @Kodeb8
      @Kodeb8 3 ปีที่แล้ว +3

      @@gothicm3rcy450 There were sort of proto-internet services though. Email was already a thing since the 80s, and BBSes were pretty popular.

    • @allanolley4874
      @allanolley4874 3 ปีที่แล้ว +2

      Note while The Internet as we know it was not a thing, ARPAnet (which developed and used some of the core networking protocols?) had been around since the 60s and various forms of e-mail since the 70s.
      Popular on-line services (networks you dialed into) in North America of the 80s included CompuServe and Prodigy.
      Edit: slight correction there was something called "the Internet" in 1989, see my other comment below for more.

  • @andrethegiant6969
    @andrethegiant6969 3 ปีที่แล้ว +46

    Sega was always ahead when it came to internet play. I remember using Sega Channel for ages when I was younger. And then playing Phantasy Star online and Quake 3 Arena with Sega Dreamcast Online.

    • @Ebstarrunner
      @Ebstarrunner ปีที่แล้ว +2

      Sega Channel was *amazing* it was where I first played California Games and Kid Chameleon and many many more!! I miss those days some times...

    • @Weaponized_Poutine
      @Weaponized_Poutine ปีที่แล้ว

      @@Ebstarrunner IMHO California Games is what allowed Tony Hawk games to be as big as they were, and I remember 12 year old me loving that and Boogerman on Sega Channel

  • @songoku9348
    @songoku9348 3 ปีที่แล้ว +382

    He’s back! Been a while Norman, hope you’ve been well.

    • @eskanda3434
      @eskanda3434 3 ปีที่แล้ว +20

      He'll be gone for another 6-8 months.

    • @MightyMarshall
      @MightyMarshall 3 ปีที่แล้ว +14

      @@eskanda3434 let's hope not. He's class

    • @kanishkparmar
      @kanishkparmar 3 ปีที่แล้ว +19

      He said on his Patreon in March that he was having some Grad school semester, and because of that he was not able to make any progress on the video for 1 month.

    • @GamingHistorian
      @GamingHistorian  3 ปีที่แล้ว +108

      Thank you! Been doing fine.

    • @sonicfan101sonic6
      @sonicfan101sonic6 3 ปีที่แล้ว +3

      I'm glad he's back

  • @WigWoo1
    @WigWoo1 3 ปีที่แล้ว +184

    How would talking to other players work? You can't use a phone while using dial up internet and 1200bps is WAY too slow for any kind of VoIP. So how was there enough bandwidth to play a game and send and receive audio voice data at the same time?

    • @fixedfunshow
      @fixedfunshow 3 ปีที่แล้ว +63

      I assume the quality of the voice was the worst and that no one could really talk

    • @milesfoxling
      @milesfoxling 3 ปีที่แล้ว +259

      Found an actual answer. Turns out it's really simple. Voice chat only was available at certain times during the game. You'd press a button and the data transmission would switch to just a regular voice line. Release the button and it would go back to sending data instead. Pretty basic all things considered.

    • @WigWoo1
      @WigWoo1 3 ปีที่แล้ว +64

      @@milesfoxling ohhh ok awesome thank you. Guess no raging in the mic during a game

    • @kaitlyn__L
      @kaitlyn__L 3 ปีที่แล้ว +14

      @@milesfoxling that’s pretty sweet actually. I had to deal with the phone cutting off my dialup until 2005 or 06.

    • @Nordlicht05
      @Nordlicht05 3 ปีที่แล้ว +3

      @@kaitlyn__L gladly we had ISDN dualchannel.

  • @MattBorchert
    @MattBorchert 2 ปีที่แล้ว +68

    All of your content is so thoughtful and well produced. Appreciate what you do!

    • @lunarmodule6419
      @lunarmodule6419 2 ปีที่แล้ว

      So true!

    • @orangejjay
      @orangejjay ปีที่แล้ว +2

      Coming from one of the great NFT scam bros! Heck yeah!

  • @JessP1
    @JessP1 3 ปีที่แล้ว +74

    In an alternate universe, the year is 2021 and we have cracked thru playing at 9600 BPS and videogaming life is good.

    • @RabiesTheBeagle
      @RabiesTheBeagle 3 ปีที่แล้ว +7

      Games would be full of micro transactions and developers thinking they can reproduce reality instead of conjuring what makes a game just simple fun!

  • @Tsukomasi
    @Tsukomasi 3 ปีที่แล้ว +65

    I find it incredibly fascinating how far ahead of their time SEGA really was back then. I wasn't around for the tech, but learning about it is certainly interesting. Thanks for sharing!

    • @MrMarinus18
      @MrMarinus18 2 ปีที่แล้ว +4

      Or how blind they were. They really should have focused their efforts and resources on things that actually worked.

    • @samholdsworth3957
      @samholdsworth3957 2 ปีที่แล้ว +3

      So far ahead of their time they just turned into a black hole...

    • @nitehawk9270
      @nitehawk9270 2 ปีที่แล้ว +1

      I do remember my mate on the dreamcast playing online, that was foreign to me as a Nintendo user.

  • @NuFrontierVS
    @NuFrontierVS 3 ปีที่แล้ว +12

    This is some incredible information, as someone who grew up in the 90s with all of these consoles! I'm 33 and not once in my entire existence have I ever heard of, or even come across the Sega Mega Modem! Now I live in Japan and so my next mission is to track this down just for collection purposes! Thank you for all the years you've made wonderful content Norman!

  • @yashmandla1234
    @yashmandla1234 3 ปีที่แล้ว +10

    Sega really was ahead of their time, having online play, downloadable games, and even dlc for some games, and first party wireless controllers back in the mid 90s, online play has only been standard for about 20 years but here was sega doing it first

  • @WrestlingWithGaming
    @WrestlingWithGaming 3 ปีที่แล้ว +13

    I think this may be one of your best videos, Norm. Thanks for letting me have a small part in it. Somewhere, Toad is looking down on you with a smile on his face.

  • @Absolutely_Nobody
    @Absolutely_Nobody 3 ปีที่แล้ว +40

    I would love to see a collaboration between Gaming Historian, GVMERS, and strafefox.
    Their down to earth, genuine documentry styles would mesh really wll.

  • @MichaelMolina0390
    @MichaelMolina0390 3 ปีที่แล้ว +32

    Never ceases to amaze me how amazing these videos get. Had a show like this existed back in the G4 days of cable, I'd be obsessed with it. Keep up the fantastic work!

    • @AR7271
      @AR7271 ปีที่แล้ว

      it is a lot easier to source videos nowadays than it was back then. also he doesn't have to worry about getting releases for using different footage which would have driven up budgets astronomically.

  • @The90sGamingGuy
    @The90sGamingGuy 3 ปีที่แล้ว +6

    I was an avid player of the latest Genesis and SNES games back in the 90s and didn't hear about or remember hearing of the Mega modem or X-band cartridge for both devices. Great video.

    • @Gatorade69
      @Gatorade69 3 ปีที่แล้ว +3

      Never heard of the Mega Modem or Telegenesis but I remember seeing X Band ads and I really had no idea just what it even did.

  • @MoonRabbitCook
    @MoonRabbitCook 3 ปีที่แล้ว +93

    Back then, Sega always used a cool name for their product.

    • @Transgender-ProphetMohammed
      @Transgender-ProphetMohammed 3 ปีที่แล้ว +6

      Just like Batman!🦇

    • @Halbmond
      @Halbmond 3 ปีที่แล้ว +2

      In Japan, at least

    • @yee4618
      @yee4618 2 ปีที่แล้ว

      @@Halbmond pretty much the rest of the world except USA got the Japanese naming conventions, we did in the UK anyways with mega drive

    • @Halbmond
      @Halbmond 2 ปีที่แล้ว +1

      @@yee4618 You’re right! In Germany, we had the Mega Drive as well. And I just looked it up and apparently, we had the MEGA CD as well! Yay!
      (At least, officially we had the MEGA CD - I didn’t know anybody who actually had it, that’s why I didn’t even know it was named correctly here)

    • @yee4618
      @yee4618 2 ปีที่แล้ว

      @@Halbmond oh that's awesome to hear! Yeah I didn't know anybody with the megaCD either but then again 90% of my friends were Nintenkids! At the time I cared more about my jurassic Park rampage edition more then anything else 🤣

  • @MedalionDS9
    @MedalionDS9 3 ปีที่แล้ว +244

    Sega was often ahead of its time but made too many choices to put their fingers into too many pies and lost consumer trust

    • @atre5763
      @atre5763 3 ปีที่แล้ว +29

      More like they were desperately trying to be cool and high tech without any restraint!!

    • @GamingHistorian
      @GamingHistorian  3 ปีที่แล้ว +75

      Sadly, yes. As you see in the video, consumers complained about this even in 1992!

    • @AlexRN
      @AlexRN 3 ปีที่แล้ว +23

      Agreed. The Genesis had barely launched and they were already talking about the future Sega CD add-on. Give consumers a second to breathe!

    • @BAKU2K2
      @BAKU2K2 3 ปีที่แล้ว +5

      Desperate? How is bringing online multiplayer to an early 16 console that was also the first to use an FM sound chip as a primary audio source just desperate cash grab?
      Although to be fair, the home console market was never really Sega's top priority. To this day, they're more focused on the arcade industry. (sadly Sega of America seems to have little to no interest in doing the same)

    • @Turbulation1
      @Turbulation1 3 ปีที่แล้ว +3

      @@AlexRN NEC was more terrible in that case because they launched their CD Addon only a few months after the TurboGraphx16 launched, meanwhile the Sega CD didn't come out to NA until 2 years later.

  • @bigpapapage7165
    @bigpapapage7165 2 ปีที่แล้ว +80

    I love how Sega’s decades old online plan was stronger than the current Nintendo one (no chat option on the switch)

    • @LermaBean
      @LermaBean ปีที่แล้ว +3

      You're forced to use their app and voice chat is through your phone, bruh...

    • @Rexowogamer
      @Rexowogamer ปีที่แล้ว +9

      The fact that Nintendo charges almost £20/year for _peer to peer_ online play is, frankly, ridiculous - the other benefits are kinda neat but I do still feel that the price is too high

    • @thetrophygamer3606
      @thetrophygamer3606 ปีที่แล้ว +3

      @@Rexowogamer compared to the 60 of Sony and Microsoft it’s not that bad plus with stuff like discord you don’t really need to put in a voice chat option when other options already exist

    • @nitinanku
      @nitinanku ปีที่แล้ว

      @@thetrophygamer3606 I’d rather pay 60 for a good service than 20 for an awful one

    • @thetrophygamer3606
      @thetrophygamer3606 ปีที่แล้ว +3

      @@nitinanku fair though I haven’t had problems online on my switch. Maybe I’m just lucky

  • @ItsMeMattCarter
    @ItsMeMattCarter 2 ปีที่แล้ว +2

    I had SEGA Channel from the start of the service until the day it shut down. To this day that is the best experience I ever had. It let me play things like Shining Force 2 that I couldn't find to buy and if I remember correctly you could send in fan art and they would post it every month. It was amazing man.

  • @frownieclownie
    @frownieclownie 3 ปีที่แล้ว +38

    IT ACTUALLY MAKES ME REALLY HAPPY I GOT A NOTIF FROM THIS CHANNEL

    • @GamingHistorian
      @GamingHistorian  3 ปีที่แล้ว +15

      Well that's rare, I'm glad it worked this time!

    • @ricardopurnell3923
      @ricardopurnell3923 3 ปีที่แล้ว +2

      @@GamingHistorian I love your stuff!

    • @anonamatron
      @anonamatron 3 ปีที่แล้ว +1

      I just complained about it in a comment since I never see this channel in my sub box, and it looks like TH-cam auto deleted my message... I said some bad words, maybe that causes it these days. TH-cam sucks. Really really really sucks.

  • @JimmyTurner
    @JimmyTurner 3 ปีที่แล้ว +18

    I remember my friend having sega channel when we were kids. Staying up till like 2 in the morning and falling asleep waiting for the next game to load

    • @Rage_RT345
      @Rage_RT345 3 ปีที่แล้ว +2

      My friend had that channel too i enjoyed playing mortal kombat on it before it hit stores

    • @eyeconqueror1185
      @eyeconqueror1185 3 ปีที่แล้ว

      Lol we were awful kids 2 am way too early

  • @twithnell
    @twithnell 3 ปีที่แล้ว +28

    I always love your videos. It makes me feel nostalgia for watching PBS documentaries back in the day. They are always thoroughly researched and very entertaining. I have learned more about the games and hardware I love than the knowledge I thought existed about them. I am glad you are still able to make videos. Cheers man!

  • @jasonschneider4874
    @jasonschneider4874 3 ปีที่แล้ว +10

    Truly some of the best content on TH-cam. Norm always makes high quality content and it’s always so fascinating. Thanks for all your hard work, Norm!

  • @ghostmouthzach56
    @ghostmouthzach56 3 ปีที่แล้ว +47

    I had Sega Channel back in the 90's and loved it. Could play so many games, especially exclusive ones that would come out early for it or only for it, and was neat to see all the cool tips and tricks that would pop up for games during loading or whenever. Would keep my parents from having to buy me new games or take me to Blockbuster to rent ones every weekend. lol Xbox Game Pass is the only modern equivalent I can think.

    • @figgynewton5664
      @figgynewton5664 3 ปีที่แล้ว +3

      Waaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaay ahead of their time.

    • @triobros98
      @triobros98 2 ปีที่แล้ว +1

      @@figgynewton5664 waaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaay ahead of there time

    • @DanielMussen-ob7uo
      @DanielMussen-ob7uo 4 วันที่ผ่านมา +1

      Block Buster|Net Flix Hybrid Audio Video Library Past Present Future

  • @miguelalves7333
    @miguelalves7333 3 ปีที่แล้ว +74

    I miss the good old SEGA when they were in the hardware market

    • @retrokonami9042
      @retrokonami9042 3 ปีที่แล้ว +11

      Makes me wonder what console they would've made today

    • @southendbusker7534
      @southendbusker7534 3 ปีที่แล้ว +6

      i really think nintendo took up their mantel with innovation, probably a bunch of sega people there now

    • @retrokonami9042
      @retrokonami9042 3 ปีที่แล้ว +1

      @The Iced Coffee God Totally agree, but moving technology forward was inevitable. I feel console gaming reached it's peak at the 7th and 8th generations, and it shows.

    • @atre5763
      @atre5763 3 ปีที่แล้ว +3

      @@southendbusker7534 Nintendo has ALWAYS innovated!! Sega was just desperate.

    • @johnbowles5399
      @johnbowles5399 3 ปีที่แล้ว +1

      @@atre5763 You've been posting the same untrue crap about Sega in every single thread under this video! Nintendo fanboy much?! We get it, you don't like Sega and find it impossible to give them any credit at all as a company even when credit is due.

  • @janocronismo
    @janocronismo 3 ปีที่แล้ว +4

    Everytime Norm uploads a video, it doesn't matter if it is long, short, Nintendo, Sony or whatever, I just smile and enjoy. Thank you for everything you do for us, good sir.

  • @remakeyourself
    @remakeyourself 3 ปีที่แล้ว +22

    I swear you are the perfect 'TH-camr'. Production, rare content, not too much content, but I always immediately watch when you post, and you're an incredible storyteller.

  • @brycevo
    @brycevo 3 ปีที่แล้ว +45

    This was truly ahead of its time

  • @roastpork5437
    @roastpork5437 3 ปีที่แล้ว +4

    Some youtubers pump out 10 mins rinse and repeat videos (for that algorithm) and beg for likes and subs and comments constantly. Over here... it's quality. Quality speaks for itself.

  • @gameboyandres3419
    @gameboyandres3419 2 ปีที่แล้ว +1

    Norm you are one of the main reasons I am a retro game collector and I now have a TH-cam channel so I want to say thank you for everything

  • @velvetpilot2008
    @velvetpilot2008 3 ปีที่แล้ว +5

    I can't believe how high the production values are in your videos. Edit: I see there is a team involved but it doesn't change anything. TV these days doesn't have documentaries even close to the quality of your efforts. I appreciate it deeply.
    This channel is invaluable.

  • @Excalibur9905
    @Excalibur9905 3 ปีที่แล้ว +93

    The historian of gaming is BACK! LETS GOOO!!!

    • @AxxLAfriku
      @AxxLAfriku 3 ปีที่แล้ว

      My name: AxxL
      My job: Superstar
      I like: Handsome girls
      I have: 2 handsome girlfriends
      My dream: Have more subs than my 2 girlfriends
      Your name: ris

    • @thenameless3271
      @thenameless3271 3 ปีที่แล้ว +1

      I'm not sure your strategy is working AxxL. Best of luck I guess.

    • @Fourrandomidiots
      @Fourrandomidiots 3 ปีที่แล้ว

      lEz gOoO!

  • @SegaAges
    @SegaAges 3 ปีที่แล้ว +12

    _Mega Modem (Sega Toshokan)... a device far ahead of its time! This was the SEGA Enterprises at TOP of innovations..._

  • @JugheadJones03
    @JugheadJones03 3 ปีที่แล้ว +1

    One of my most anticipated channels for new posts. Another great vid. Thanks for your work on this.

  • @aaronsudasna
    @aaronsudasna 3 ปีที่แล้ว +12

    I like how there was a complaint about lag. People still complain about lag 😂

  • @kdash20002
    @kdash20002 3 ปีที่แล้ว +10

    It's pretty wild how much Sega was ahead of it's time, sparking standards for today.

  • @nsgames24
    @nsgames24 3 ปีที่แล้ว +13

    Sega was really ahead of their time when they were still making traditional home consoles, back then.
    Yeah, some ideas they had may have performed better than others, but still.

  • @IamGilgamesh
    @IamGilgamesh 3 ปีที่แล้ว +2

    Just finished watching every video on your whole channel just to top it off at the end with this great new piece! You're amazing, keep killin it!

  • @dayvancubensis
    @dayvancubensis 3 ปีที่แล้ว +1

    Another phenomenal video! I hope you know that me (and many others) are always looking forward to your next video. Your documentary style in particular is a big influence on me.

  • @humbertopalacios7172
    @humbertopalacios7172 3 ปีที่แล้ว +33

    It's always a good day when gaming historian uploads

  • @samuelthehobo4441
    @samuelthehobo4441 3 ปีที่แล้ว +17

    It’s so cool that Sega dipped their fingers into so many different technologies long before they were mainstream. Many of the products that came out of it weren’t great, but at least Sega tried it.

    • @segaunited3855
      @segaunited3855 3 ปีที่แล้ว

      Sega Channel wasn't great?

    • @samuelthehobo4441
      @samuelthehobo4441 3 ปีที่แล้ว +3

      @@segaunited3855 no, I was talking about stuff like the Sega Activator. I think Sega Channel was a cool idea.

    • @segaunited3855
      @segaunited3855 3 ปีที่แล้ว +1

      ​@@samuelthehobo4441 SEGA Master System had 3D Glasses too. Saturn even had a Modem AND Online games.
      Dreamcast was also technically the first indie game console.

    • @samuelthehobo4441
      @samuelthehobo4441 3 ปีที่แล้ว +2

      @@segaunited3855 I think Sega was extremely creative and forward-thinking. Most of their ideas were good but there’s always bad apples. I don’t want to say otherwise since I’m a huge fan of what they do and it would make me seem like a hypocrite.

    • @segaunited3855
      @segaunited3855 3 ปีที่แล้ว +2

      @@samuelthehobo4441 SEGA was always forward thinking. It was the fact that they were managed by the WRONG Parent Company that prevented them from becoming a Household name.

  • @dmoehling
    @dmoehling 3 ปีที่แล้ว +3

    This is why I love your channel! As an avid gamer in the 90s, I never knew this even existed. Keep up the amazing work.

  • @sw204me
    @sw204me 2 ปีที่แล้ว

    I just recently stumbled onto this channel and it's my new addiction. The videos are insanely informative, well made, and the narrators voice is perfect.

  • @TroyBlackford
    @TroyBlackford 3 ปีที่แล้ว +4

    VERY fascinating! These early online implementations are truly trailblazing. Such a great exploration of the topic, you have a very broad yet focused way of doing videos that covers everything relevant in exactly the level of detail required.

  • @chrisfit
    @chrisfit 3 ปีที่แล้ว +26

    They actually cancelled it because the players online during testing kept insulting each others' mothers.

    • @SpongyMemeSauce
      @SpongyMemeSauce 3 ปีที่แล้ว +4

      The 90s equivalent of doing a little trolling

    • @segaunited3855
      @segaunited3855 3 ปีที่แล้ว +3

      Nope. It was discontinued because it was TOO ahead of its time and because other Overseas divisions were disinterested in bringing Mega Modem to their territories.

    • @michaelmcgee2026
      @michaelmcgee2026 3 ปีที่แล้ว +1

      @@segaunited3855 yeah that joke went WAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAY over your head

    • @figgynewton5664
      @figgynewton5664 3 ปีที่แล้ว +3

      @@segaunited3855 They were disinterested in it cause they didn't like all the teens making fun of their moms, and not getting layed for their high scores.

  • @Evan.280
    @Evan.280 3 ปีที่แล้ว +11

    Sega has always been ahead of the curve with this kind of stuff. Love on how forward-thinking they were even if it didn't pan out as expected

    • @thetrophygamer3606
      @thetrophygamer3606 2 ปีที่แล้ว

      I think the phrase
      “So far ahead of the curve you miss it entirely.” Sums up sega in the 90s pretty well I think

  • @stevemeters3090
    @stevemeters3090 2 ปีที่แล้ว +1

    The content you produce is just incredible. Thank you for all the fascinating histories and stories, and for all the time you obviously put into each video.

  • @ClassicGameSessions
    @ClassicGameSessions 2 ปีที่แล้ว +5

    Always interesting and insightful videos - the historical storytelling and production quality is engaging!

  • @crabcrabhathat
    @crabcrabhathat 3 ปีที่แล้ว +5

    you consistently produce the highest quality gaming content on youtube, great stuff!

  • @BuPan
    @BuPan 3 ปีที่แล้ว +2

    Every time you release one of these, it proves it's worth the wait. Thank you for producing high quality mini documentaries about these products

  • @Saerek
    @Saerek 2 ปีที่แล้ว +1

    My family was one of those Sega Channel subscribers. Amazing service. I never rented or bought another cartridge again without having already played it on Sega Channel.

  • @SirenoftheVoid
    @SirenoftheVoid 3 ปีที่แล้ว +4

    Thanks for this nice look into innovations of the past, Norman :) it felt good to learn about this. I did not grow up with the Sega Genesis much but i still enjoyed it.

  • @noahboat580
    @noahboat580 3 ปีที่แล้ว +14

    It mustve been so cool playing OG Genesis online against another store. Meanwhile Nintendo was going to put a satellite in orbit to do their Satelleview online play. Crazy times

    • @Justin-Hill-1987
      @Justin-Hill-1987 3 ปีที่แล้ว +3

      I thought Nintendo partnered with St. Giga to launch the Satellaview in Japan...

    • @noahboat580
      @noahboat580 3 ปีที่แล้ว +5

      @@Justin-Hill-1987 either way it involved a giant Satellite to play their games. And thats a certain part of the day!

  • @Tsunkuotaku
    @Tsunkuotaku 3 ปีที่แล้ว +1

    cant believe this just appeared in my feed almost a month after release. oh well, was worth the wait. excellent job, as always!

  • @RideTheTeacups
    @RideTheTeacups 3 ปีที่แล้ว +1

    Love these videos! I knew a little bit about the modem, but you’re always so thorough.

  • @hi_tech_reptiles
    @hi_tech_reptiles 3 ปีที่แล้ว +5

    Would love something on the PC Engine CD and its iterations. First CD console that was expensive but somehow did well in Japan. If they didnt change the design for the US and released earlier, the TG16/PCE could have done well and allowed earlier CD adoption in the US, since there were much fewer if any FMV games compared to Sega CD. PCE CD2 was awesome, imo, especially playing the games now looking back etc. Lot of collections, but still better assets compared to HuCard etc.
    Great vid, interesting as hell as is the NEC stuff. Love your content!

  • @Absolutely_Nobody
    @Absolutely_Nobody 3 ปีที่แล้ว +14

    Your content is always enjoyable!

  • @luiscisneros2812
    @luiscisneros2812 2 ปีที่แล้ว

    Gaming Historian, all your content is great to watch, I have learn so much in the past few days watching your videos.. thank you for all your work..

  • @PickleRick91x
    @PickleRick91x 2 ปีที่แล้ว

    Please never stop making videos!!! I freaking love them so much. Learn so many interesting things about video games,and it's people.

  • @livefreeprintguns
    @livefreeprintguns 3 ปีที่แล้ว +3

    The thing I think you're missing is that on a lot of "slower, older" modems is they typically don't use any sort of compression when transferring data over phone-lines. This was an incredible thing the makers of the X-Band had to figure out the hard way when they tried using their product with a 9600bps modem chipset that used compression and ended up having to downgrade to a 2400bps modem chipset that didn't use compression.

  • @No-Me3
    @No-Me3 3 ปีที่แล้ว +19

    "We'll expand our market by not selling the item."

  • @lindseycassella3015
    @lindseycassella3015 2 ปีที่แล้ว +1

    How have I only now just found this channel? I've been binge watching these videos for the past couple days.

  • @bhvideo8154
    @bhvideo8154 3 ปีที่แล้ว

    Another great video, Norman. The depth of quality in your your work is always worth the wait. Thanks! 👍

  • @DigiPen92
    @DigiPen92 3 ปีที่แล้ว +21

    I didn't see that Sega Mega Modem existed and even was the one used for connecting the internet before the Sega Channel appeared to began connect to the internet to play games like Mega Man: The Wily Wars.
    Also @Gaming Historian, can you do a History video of TurboGrafx-16 please?

    • @RabiesTheBeagle
      @RabiesTheBeagle 3 ปีที่แล้ว +1

      I had one and a buddy of mine knocked the gaphics saying that atari 5600? had better graphics. I kind of agree. The historical significance of the system is that it luanched 1989 within months of the genesis. It introduced the first cd based system with 2 games. The original Street Fighter might be the first commercial release of a cd game! I think sherlock holmes was the other. As a TG16 owner no games I owned felt like they were not NES games with bigger sprites and more colors but the Genesis did a better job overall at an in home "arcade experience" Sega released Sonic the Hedgehog and it was over for TG16.
      Sad I think cause no devs actually used the systems power. Just NES with bigger sprites and some more color?

    • @segaunited3855
      @segaunited3855 3 ปีที่แล้ว

      @@RabiesTheBeagle PC Engine was a Dual 8-bit Powered Console. The problem with TG16 is that it was only a few steps ahead of the NES. Considering that it came out in Japan in 1987, PC Engine did hit the domestic market at the right time, it just hit the US market 2 years too late.

  • @thatoneguyyasha
    @thatoneguyyasha 3 ปีที่แล้ว +8

    He’s such a perfect narrator

  • @T0MJD1
    @T0MJD1 3 ปีที่แล้ว +1

    I often have TH-cam videos on in the background or whilst I'm doing other things but I always sit down and settle in for The Gaming Historian. Best gaming content on TH-cam bar none.

  • @Ebstarrunner
    @Ebstarrunner ปีที่แล้ว

    I remember going next door to my Aunt/Uncles house, and my Uncle worked for our local cable company. Well, one day he brought home something I had no understanding of that allowed us to access the 'Sega Channel' and it was the coolest thing I had seen at the time. It was how I first played California Games and Kid Chameleon. It was awesome! Yeah, it took a bit to load up, but so didn't everything at that time; We thought nothing of that.. I'll never forget that night, it being the first time I had ever played a game "online"...
    Great video Gaming Historian!!!!!

  • @jaredabrahamcidfda4840
    @jaredabrahamcidfda4840 3 ปีที่แล้ว +8

    I think the famicom played a part in online gaming as well. Also I think the Atari 2600 was the first console that worked like a phone

  • @8thLife
    @8thLife 3 ปีที่แล้ว +5

    It's wild to think of things like this being available then!

  • @Khazrihl
    @Khazrihl 3 ปีที่แล้ว +2

    I was born in 89', though I feel like I've lived through a lot of gaming history, it's still good to learn about things that happened when I was too young to know about it.

  • @Caspur189
    @Caspur189 3 ปีที่แล้ว +2

    Another quality video, thanks for all the work you put into these dude

  • @charlesoliviera
    @charlesoliviera 3 ปีที่แล้ว +4

    One of my all-time favorite TH-camrs.

  • @thecunninlynguist
    @thecunninlynguist 3 ปีที่แล้ว +6

    Great episode. Sega always too ahead of the curve.

  • @JAGO_Tech
    @JAGO_Tech 3 ปีที่แล้ว +2

    As someone who works in technology, I find these retro tech documentaries, especially around then emerging tech, fascinating.

  • @christosdoesthings
    @christosdoesthings 2 ปีที่แล้ว

    I haven't watched you since last year, glad to see you're still going, keep up the great work!

  • @_nayrb
    @_nayrb 3 ปีที่แล้ว +3

    Your videos are always great 👍

  • @SteveDC101
    @SteveDC101 3 ปีที่แล้ว +7

    Let's go he's back and hi gaming historian you're one of my favorite TH-camrs because I learn alot of history of my favorite games

  • @TheILLTechnics
    @TheILLTechnics 3 ปีที่แล้ว +1

    Just wow.. thank you so much for this! Thoroughly enjoy your videos! Love learning about all these forgotten peripherals. ☺️

  • @Markimark151
    @Markimark151 3 ปีที่แล้ว +2

    Sega was ahead of their time with online gaming, you should do a video on Sega Channel and XBand, I know some people did a video on those online peripherals, but it would make a fun episode!

  • @End_Zionism
    @End_Zionism 3 ปีที่แล้ว +14

    Sega always did everything first. Their competitors would then make use of their own resources to refine the technology and usually (unfortunately) provide a more popular product at a more appropriate time.

  • @overlordalfredo
    @overlordalfredo 3 ปีที่แล้ว +4

    Me, looking for a nice video to watch while eating dinner.
    Sees Norman uploaded a new video:
    "oh, sure, I'm in for a little wisdom!"
    Still hoping there will be a second Blu-ray coming at one point.

  • @bendavis798
    @bendavis798 3 ปีที่แล้ว +1

    Man I can never get enough of this channel. Great video just like all the rest!

  • @NickBartolo
    @NickBartolo 3 ปีที่แล้ว

    Always psyched to see you post a new video. Top drawer as always.

  • @mix3k818
    @mix3k818 3 ปีที่แล้ว +39

    Dang. I miss when Sega was this creative.

    • @samuel-wankenobi
      @samuel-wankenobi 3 ปีที่แล้ว +8

      It ended when they stopped making consoles

    • @miguelalves7333
      @miguelalves7333 3 ปีที่แล้ว +15

      Maybe even too creative at times for their own good

    • @atre5763
      @atre5763 3 ปีที่แล้ว

      They were never creative.

    • @Wis_Dom
      @Wis_Dom 3 ปีที่แล้ว +8

      @@atre5763 Sonic would disagree.

    • @alienalibi2382
      @alienalibi2382 3 ปีที่แล้ว +4

      That's why they lost so hard. Spent too much money on peripherals for old consoles and their failed followed up consoles

  • @brodown64
    @brodown64 3 ปีที่แล้ว +6

    imagine if these old services were still useable today, sounds super mega unrealistic but would be very fascinating

  • @Styrophoamicus
    @Styrophoamicus 3 ปีที่แล้ว +1

    Your videos are always informative, expertly edited and entertaining. It's always worth the wait.

  • @MatthewRosario
    @MatthewRosario 11 หลายเดือนก่อน

    I'm absolutely blown away at the detail and thoroughness of the research. This channel is easily one of the best sources for video game history. I've learned soooo much.