Sega celebrates 60 years with the Game Gear Micro

Handheld mini-consoles suck? Sega sees things differently: to mark the company's 60th anniversary and the 30th anniversary of Sega Game Gear, the Japanese have thought about retro fans. On Tuesday, they presented a mini version of the handheld console. The Sega Game Gear Micro lives up to its name: the 240 x 180 pixel screen is just one inch wide. The remaining dimensions are also 'micro'. At 80 x 43 x 20 millimetres, it fits not only in your bag but also in your trouser pocket. The Sega Game Gear Micro also has built-in mono speakers and a 3.5mm stereo headphone socket. The whole thing is powered either by two AAA batteries or a micro USB type B cable.

A birthday ode to retro gaming

Founded on 3 June 1960 in Hawaii, Sega is looking back on a successful past. The first console was brought to market by Service Games Corporation - hence the abbreviation "Sega" - in 1983: the SG-1000 stationary gaming console was the direct competitor to the Nintendo Famicom. The Sega Mega Drive followed in 1988, and three years later the Game Gear, the model on which the Sega Game Gear Micro is based. The original console was considerably larger than the new Japanese mini gadget, but was still practical for its time. The Game Gear was also Sega's first handheld console.

After two hardware extensions to the Mega Drive - the Sega Mega CD and 32X - and the Pico, the Sega Saturn and Dreamcast followed. The Dreamcast arrived on the market in 1999 and would temporarily be Sega's last console. It competed with other sixth-generation consoles such as the Playstation 2, Xbox and Nintendo GameCube. I have a very special bond with the Sega Dreamcast, as it was my very first console. I love remembering the hours I spent with 'Sonic'. The blue hedgehog had a decisive influence on my childhood as a gamer.

Game Gear Micro: Sega through and through

Unfortunately, "Crazy Taxi", one of my favourite games is missing from the Sega Game Gear Micro. But 16 other fun classics await. They're spread across the four different-coloured consoles. 'Out Run', 'Puyo Puyo Tsu', 'Royal Stone' and 'Sonic the Hedgehog' are pre-installed on the black Game Gear Micro. On the blue console you'll find 'Baku Baku Animal: Sekai Shiikugakari Senshuken", "Gunstar Heroes", "Sonic & Tails"and Sylvan Tale, while the red console features Columns, The G.G. Shinobi", "Megami Tensei Gaiden: Last Bible" and "Megami Tensei Gaiden: Last Bible Special" and on the yellow mini console you'll find "Nazo Puyo : Arle no Roux", "Shining Force", "Shining Force II" and "Shining Force: Final Conflict".

Patience is a virtue

The new micro retro handheld console will be available in Japan on 6 October 2020 for 4980 yen, the equivalent of around 45 francs. You can also buy all four colours together in a set. Sega is also adding the Big Window Micro: a magnifying glass that fits over the screen to make it at least a little bit bigger. The pack is available for 21,912 yen, or around 200 francs. If you order the four consoles directly from Sega, you will receive a fifth transparent cover free of charge. Other suppliers are replacing the set cover with T-shirts or pins.

And we wouldn't be digitec if we didn't do everything we could to try and get our hands on these consoles. Leave me a comment if you too are looking forward to playing the Sega Game Gear Micro. I'll let you know as soon as it's available in our online shop. Also, if you don't want to miss out on any other news about microconsoles and other games, follow me by clicking the "Follow Author" button on my profile.