SEGA is celebrating its upcoming 60th
anniversary in style by launching four new Game Gear Mini consoles. Based on
the original Game Gear handheld console launched in 1990, the Game Gear Mini is
a miniaturized version of SEGA's most popular handheld console.
"Miniaturized" might be putting it lightly, though, as the Game Gear
Mini is truly diminutive. While the original was designed to be comfortably
used with two hands, the Game Gear Mini can fit entirely within the palm of one
hand.
The goal here seems less to be a practical
handheld console and more of a nostalgic paraphernalia for fans of the original
or those who like to collect gaming equipment. But if you do intend to play
seriously on these, SEGA will offer a variation of the Big Window accessory,
similar to the one made for the original console. Like the original Big Window,
the one designed for Game Gear Mini will just snap on and magnify the 1.15-inch
display.
The Game Gear Mini comes in four colors,
black, blue, yellow, and red. The differences here are more than skin deep, as
each of these color variants come with a different set of games. As you'd have
guessed, the Game Gear Mini doesn't support game cartridges from the original
console but instead has a handful of games pre-installed on its internal flash
storage.
Depending on the color you choose, you
will get:
- Black Model: Sonic the Hedgehog, Puyo Puyo 2, Out Run, Royal Stone
- Blue Model: Sonic Chaos, Gunstar Heroes, Sylvan Tale, Baku Baku Animal
- Yellow Model: Shining Force Gaiden, Shining Force: The Sword of Hajya, Shining Force Gaiden: Final Conflict, Nazo Puyo: Arle no Ru
- Red Model: Revelations: The Demon Slayer, Megami Tensei Gaiden: Last Bible Special, The G.G. Shinobi, Columns
Again, the intention here seems to be for
you to collect all four than just pick one. And if you do pick all four at
launch, SEGA will also throw in the Big Window accessory for free. The Game
Gear Micro runs on two AAA batteries, which gives about three hours of battery
life. It also has a single mono speaker along with a headphone jack. The SEGA
Game Gear Micro is currently only announced for Japan and will go on sale on
October 6. Each individual color variant is priced at 4980 Japanese Yen, which
is about US$ 45.
