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01-22-2009, 10:10 AM
http://sarcasticgamer.com/wp/wp-content/uploads/2009/01/sega.jpg
Long before the PSP became my portable gaming console of choice, another device accompanied me on my wild and crazy travels. Back when Sega was still a console maker and Nintendo had just recently cracked open the portable gaming market with their non-backlit, monochrome original GameBoy, one portable gaming console ensured I could get my gaming fix on the go, in color, while still consuming a gluttonous amount of batteries. I’m talking, of course, about the grandfather of the PSP, the Sega Game Gear.
Find out what sparked this article, why I miss the Sega days and what I hope the future of portable gaming has in store for us after the jump!
Since I was too young to have enjoyed the Microvision, and the Atari Lynx and TurboExpress were hard to come by where I lived at the time, the Sega Game Gear was the first handheld gaming device I ever played a significant amount of time on. Sure the GameBoy was out back then too, and I did own and play one for a short time, but playing a monochrome version of Tetris was not very appealing to me, so I traded up to a handheld with color (I would acquire a GameBoy Color in later years though).
Of course, the major issue with the Game Gear was battery life (and weight!). The thing ate batteries faster than Frawlz at an all you can eat buffet. Sega did not have as many games out for the Game Gear as Nintendo did for the GameBoy, but it had enough to keep me coming back for more…all the while snatching batteries from every clock, remote and walkman in my house.
I’ve owned two Game Gears over the years. One fell victim to the elements as I was walking home in the rain (you mean it’s NOT waterproof?!) and the other was lost in a recent move. I almost cried when I lost the last one. It was as if someone had come over to my house, kicked my cat, sucker punched me and told me Santa was not real all at the same time.
That’s why, when I checked the bulletin board at work yesterday and saw a full Sega Game Gear package (http://sarcasticgamer.com/wp/wp-content/uploads/2009/01/dsc00002.jpg) up for sale I screamed (with glee)* like a little girl. I wasted no time and literally ran over to pick it up on the spot. I could have gotten one a long time ago on Ebay, but most of the listing were lacking in some regard.
What I ended up getting was an official Sega Game Gear travel bag, 12 games, the Game Gear itself, the PowerBack external battery setup, an AC adapter AND a Game Gear GameGenie! All of which was in great condition, minus some dust and a few scuffs. Classic titles like Pac-Attack, Sonic 2, Riddick Bowe Boxing, NBA Jam, and one of my all time favorites, Road Rash were once more at my fingertips.
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http://feeds2.feedburner.com/~r/TheSarcasticGamer/~4/Snjcrv03UEk
Click here to view the article. (http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/TheSarcasticGamer/~3/Snjcrv03UEk/retro-sega-madness-from-the-game-gear-to-the-psp-and-back.html)
Long before the PSP became my portable gaming console of choice, another device accompanied me on my wild and crazy travels. Back when Sega was still a console maker and Nintendo had just recently cracked open the portable gaming market with their non-backlit, monochrome original GameBoy, one portable gaming console ensured I could get my gaming fix on the go, in color, while still consuming a gluttonous amount of batteries. I’m talking, of course, about the grandfather of the PSP, the Sega Game Gear.
Find out what sparked this article, why I miss the Sega days and what I hope the future of portable gaming has in store for us after the jump!
Since I was too young to have enjoyed the Microvision, and the Atari Lynx and TurboExpress were hard to come by where I lived at the time, the Sega Game Gear was the first handheld gaming device I ever played a significant amount of time on. Sure the GameBoy was out back then too, and I did own and play one for a short time, but playing a monochrome version of Tetris was not very appealing to me, so I traded up to a handheld with color (I would acquire a GameBoy Color in later years though).
Of course, the major issue with the Game Gear was battery life (and weight!). The thing ate batteries faster than Frawlz at an all you can eat buffet. Sega did not have as many games out for the Game Gear as Nintendo did for the GameBoy, but it had enough to keep me coming back for more…all the while snatching batteries from every clock, remote and walkman in my house.
I’ve owned two Game Gears over the years. One fell victim to the elements as I was walking home in the rain (you mean it’s NOT waterproof?!) and the other was lost in a recent move. I almost cried when I lost the last one. It was as if someone had come over to my house, kicked my cat, sucker punched me and told me Santa was not real all at the same time.
That’s why, when I checked the bulletin board at work yesterday and saw a full Sega Game Gear package (http://sarcasticgamer.com/wp/wp-content/uploads/2009/01/dsc00002.jpg) up for sale I screamed (with glee)* like a little girl. I wasted no time and literally ran over to pick it up on the spot. I could have gotten one a long time ago on Ebay, but most of the listing were lacking in some regard.
What I ended up getting was an official Sega Game Gear travel bag, 12 games, the Game Gear itself, the PowerBack external battery setup, an AC adapter AND a Game Gear GameGenie! All of which was in great condition, minus some dust and a few scuffs. Classic titles like Pac-Attack, Sonic 2, Riddick Bowe Boxing, NBA Jam, and one of my all time favorites, Road Rash were once more at my fingertips.
http://feeds2.feedburner.com/~f/TheSarcasticGamer?d=41 (http://feeds2.feedburner.com/~f/TheSarcasticGamer?a=IqOMAXdW) http://feeds2.feedburner.com/~f/TheSarcasticGamer?d=43 (http://feeds2.feedburner.com/~f/TheSarcasticGamer?a=T9xxo5VW) http://feeds2.feedburner.com/~f/TheSarcasticGamer?i=8llD3Dc7 (http://feeds2.feedburner.com/~f/TheSarcasticGamer?a=8llD3Dc7) http://feeds2.feedburner.com/~f/TheSarcasticGamer?i=SwUNL9Mg (http://feeds2.feedburner.com/~f/TheSarcasticGamer?a=SwUNL9Mg) http://feeds2.feedburner.com/~f/TheSarcasticGamer?d=52 (http://feeds2.feedburner.com/~f/TheSarcasticGamer?a=Q3ciHJqy) http://feeds2.feedburner.com/~f/TheSarcasticGamer?i=9K8AjvlF (http://feeds2.feedburner.com/~f/TheSarcasticGamer?a=9K8AjvlF) http://feeds2.feedburner.com/~f/TheSarcasticGamer?i=z2gtjvVL (http://feeds2.feedburner.com/~f/TheSarcasticGamer?a=z2gtjvVL) http://feeds2.feedburner.com/~f/TheSarcasticGamer?d=50 (http://feeds2.feedburner.com/~f/TheSarcasticGamer?a=FipkcPjY) http://feeds2.feedburner.com/~f/TheSarcasticGamer?d=54 (http://feeds2.feedburner.com/~f/TheSarcasticGamer?a=TIvtwfPN)
http://feeds2.feedburner.com/~r/TheSarcasticGamer/~4/Snjcrv03UEk
Click here to view the article. (http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/TheSarcasticGamer/~3/Snjcrv03UEk/retro-sega-madness-from-the-game-gear-to-the-psp-and-back.html)