Sega Nomad System

by Sega

Product Features

• Plays Sega Genesis Games !

Product Details

• ASIN: B000NQ0JBG
• Item Weight: 5 pounds
• Media: Video Game
• Average Customer Review: 4.6 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (5 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #18,647 in Video Games (See Top 100 in Video Games)
• Discontinued by manufacturer: Yes

Product Description

Sega released the Nomad in October of 1995 for $180. Marketed as a portable Genesis, the Nomad was primarily an evolution of the Japanese market Mega Jet. Whereas the Mega Jet was screenless and required an AC adapter, the Nomad featured a 3.25 inch color LCD screen and room for six AA batteries, making it completely portable as opposed to simply being a small Genesis system. In addition to its other improvements over the Mega Jet, an A/V Out plug was added at the top of the unit, letting owners play games on a television screen with a separate A/V cable. One particularly interesting feature of the Nomad was its ability to allow one player to play using a connected TV, while another watched on the Nomad. The directional pad on the unit controlled all one-player games, and a port on the bottom allowed a second pad to be plugged in for two-player games. This meant that the Nomad could be a fully functional home system as well as a completely portable hand-held solution with a pre-existing library of games available for it.

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

11 of 11 people found the following review helpful:

3.0 out of 5 stars The gas-guzzling SUV of portable game systems, November 19, 2008

By 

EnergyWork (SGV, CA) - See all my reviews
(VINE VOICE)   

= Fun:5.0 out of 5 stars 

This review is from: Sega Nomad System (Video Game)

Although the Nomad debuted at close to $200, I remember picking up this system at the local Toys R Us around 1998 for only $50.

The Nomad is a portable version of the Sega Genesis, which came out in 1989. Having had the Genesis since 89, I had a large library of games for that system. All my Genesis games worked fine for the Nomad.

What made the Nomad unique among portable systems was that you could plug in an extra controller for 2-player action AND you could also connect the system to a TV set and use it as a home console.

The screen is bright and relatively clear and you've got a large library of compatible Genesis games to play. The plastic casing, d-pad, and buttons feel durable. Also, I like the look of the system.

There are several major drawbacks to consider. First and foremost, this damn thing is a complete and total battery guzzler. The system requires six AA batteries which seems to get drained quicker than a keg of beer at a tailgate party. And unlike other portables where the battery compartment is built-in, you place the batteries in a seperate adapter which attaches to the back of the already large/heavy Nomad which makes it feel almost non-portable.

There is a rechargable pack but it is sold seperately and can be pricey. You can power the system with an AC adapter which makes it non-portable. Also, the screen is easily damaged and the system overall is pretty bulky.

Still, the Nomad is a unique piece of hardware that gives you access to a large library of classic Genesis games and a decent level of portability along the way.

1 of 1 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Rare item for collectors like me, January 15, 2010

By 

Eric N. Persson (Southern California) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

= Fun:5.0 out of 5 stars 

This review is from: Sega Nomad System (Video Game)

I picked up my nomad in unused condition for 5 bucks at a thrift store. there were only a million of these sold in the U.S according to wikipedia. so what if you're not a collector? well it probably isnt for you. The batteries get used up quickly but I brought the ac adapter with me on a flight, found a plug at the airport and played road rash while waiting for my plane. Batteries arent really an option here is what I mean so is it a portable genesis? yeah but more so if you will be near by a plug for a while. Is it cool that you can hook up a genesis 2 av cord to your tv and game as if it were a real genesis? yes. However with the price that comes attached to it-it might be cheaper to get a genesis deck if you want your 16-bits of goodness. yeah all in all this one is more for collectors unless you can score it for an absurdly low price like I did.

5.0 out of 5 stars An Early to Mid-90's Dream Come True!, May 29, 2011

By 

Jesse H. - See all my reviews

= Fun:4.0 out of 5 stars 

This review is from: Sega Nomad System (Video Game)

The Sega Genesis Nomad is a pretty awesome portable home console! I say that because its a portable Sega Genesis! Not to mention it can hook up to a TV and you can plug in a second controller to play with your friends! While i didn't grow up with a Genesis, i did have a Super Nintendo and I'd always go to a friend's house to play Sonic 2 or what other games he had. I thought it was awesome with it's "Blast Processing." But it didn't really ever cross my mind to have a portable Genesis until i got my first Gameboy Advance and played Sonic on it. It wasn't until a year ago that i found out they made a portable Genesis that played all your favorite Genesis games on the go. So i searched Ebay and found one for a decent price and bought it.

This thing is a beast. Not just because its a portable 16-bit machine, but because its quite large for a portable console. You can tell they really tried taking the latest home gaming technology and condensing it down and making it efficient enough to make it portable. They did it! Barely. The Nomad takes 6 AA batteries and sucks them dry in about 3 hours! The Nomad can either run off the 6 batteries in the battery pack or you can get an AC adapter and plug it into the wall for power (which is good if your plugging this into a TV). But the best part is now i can play Sonic 1, 2, 3, Street Fighter II, Vectorman, Streets of Rage II, Mortal Kombat and a ton of other classics in their original form on the go! The Nomad has all 6 buttons so it comes prepared for any fighting games your wanting to play, along with an awesome d-pad that's easy to do circles with (like with fighting games), and a shape that makes it sturdy, easy, and comfortable to grasp!

The Sega Genesis Nomad is not the perfect portable system due its inefficient use of batteries and its form factor, but its Sega Genesis at its best in a portable package! If you're planning to buy one, be sure you get one that's in good condition and comes with a source of power (either the battery pack or an AC adapter).