If you've been following my articles, you've probably noticed that there's been a huge increase in retro portable consoles lately. Everything from the NES to the SEGA and Gameboy has been done and redone time and time again so as to offer the newer generation the same kind of fun that we had when these things were at their peak. In the same long line of classic console remakes, we find the Retro Gen Portable gaming system.

Perhaps the only portable gaming system that not only plays SEGA Genesis and Megadrive games but is also licensed by SEGA itself. And it seems that SEGA and/or third-party companies is/are already preparing new titles for the Retro Gen system. Get it, folks? SEGA Genesis and Megadrive games in 2009. Well, I'm surely excited, how about you? The console has a TV out function, as well as a built-in USB rechargeable battery that, unfortunately, makes the handheld look a bit... fat, if looked at from a profile view. Totally portable, nevertheless.

It has an arcade style button layout (the type you find on arcade controllers for the Sony PS3, Microsoft Xbox 360 or Nintendo Wii) and as a bonus, it is built on the Firebox technology, which means you'll be able to use development carts in order to get downloadable content-type games. But that's also a minus since SEGA cartridges are pretty hard to find and you'll probably be stuck playing the 20 built-in games it ships with.

While definitely a must have for any collector, casual gamers will probably find a better retro emulator with support for microSD cards or at least some decent amount of internal memory. And best thing about emulators: they may not be SEGA-licensed but you'll be able to emulate other retro consoles as well.

All in all, this is a pretty interesting device especially seeing how it is one of the few (if not the only) SEGA-licensed. Pricing has been set at about 60 USD.


We are just a few, but there are many of you, Softpedia users, out there. That's why we thought it would be a good idea to create an email address for you to help us a little in finding gadgets we missed. Interesting links are bound to be posted with recognition going mainly to those who submit. The address is .