The Sega Mega Play is a JAMMA-compatible arcade system board with the ability to run Sega Mega Drive games, introduced in 1991. It was the second attempt by Sega to bring the home console experience to the arcades, following the earlier Mega-Tech system. Like the aforementioned, the Mega Play saw release in Asia and in PAL regions, but not in North America.
Both the Mega-Tech and Mega Play's cartridges are not interchangeable, and both systems contain modifications to discourage arcade owners from purchasing and running cheaper retail Mega Drive cartridges instead. Unlike the Mega-Tech, the Mega Play could run up to only four games instead of eight, and does not have Sega Master System titles released for it. Another difference between the Mega-Tech and the Mega Play, is that the user pays for extra lives in the latter without being hindered by time.
The Mega Play is compatible with the same two-screen cabinet used by the Mega-Tech, and it had even worked the same way; one monitor used for game selection and the other for the game itself. But, once a game is selected, the upper screen will display the contents of the bottom screen, allowing passers-by to see the game in action and hopefully persuade them to play it, too.
Only 12 known titles were released on the Mega Play. The motherboard comes in both two-game and four-game variations.
Gunstar Heroes
Gunstar Heroes was released on the Mega Play in 1994, and was publicly showcased at the 1994 AOU Show in Japan in early March 1994.
What makes this version of the game different from the original home version is the addition of a timer for the selection and continue screens, and regardless of the difficulty settings, the player has to fight all seven forms of Seven Force.
Technical Specifications
For the specifications of this hardware, see Sega Genesis/Technical Specifications
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