Sega Portables: Game Gear & Nomad 

My Dad got a Nomad on clearance Jan '96. Unfortunately, I got a Playstation for Xmas a month earlier, so I just put the NOMAD in my closet. I found it a few years later moving for college. I still didn't open it, but held onto it. After a friend at college tried really hard to buy it from me, I did my research. Once I realized everything it could do, it became my new favorite console. Sega Dreamcast was out by then(still one of my favorite systems), and 1999 was the year I started collecting retro games/consoles again. Starting w/ Genesis, so I could play my Nomad. No GBA or smartphone yet. So imagine the reaction when I pull it out between classes to play Genesis games like NBA Jam & Splatterhouse 3 on a portable device. I still love playing it.

this is the portable console that I craved the most when I was a child and never got one :(

The Nomad is really comfortable to hold. At first the shape seems odd, but you then realize it was designed like that for a reason. It angles down towards the button side and has a flat edge to press into your palm for hitting buttons. And the d-pad side has a rounded edge which makes it feel more natural for using the d-pad.

That's pretty funny you'd take the Nomad to yard sales and things to test games out, would love to see someone do that!

The gamegear is still one of my favourite handhelds. I would love to find the adapter to play my master system games on mine. I can still use my t.v. Tuner when I'm out camping by Nipigon where they still transmit some channels in analog for the camps in the area.

Thanks John for doing all the sega reviews lately. I'm a happy camper now lol.

Ive become a big fan of retro stuff, was interested about the nomad. Now I can’t live without getting it haha

I loved Fantastic Dizzy on the Mega Drive. Had to write notes on what to do with each item.

Remember the Xmen game where you had to reset? How do you do that with a Nomad?! LMAO! Love your vids.

I bought a game gear today. Paid 120 came with a carry bag, battery pack AC adapter and 6 games. I've always wanted to own a game gear I have over 20 game boys and it's nice to have this to kind of break that up.

Cosmic Space head, me and my buddy used to play that game on Genesis all the time when we had nothing else to play. Pie slap was our call of duty back in the day.

Great video, John! Always great info, and I especially love the Sega features that you do! Keep em coming!

I missed out on a Nomad recently. I really wish I could get my hands on one (cheap) so I can catch up on all the Genesis games I missed during my night shifts! I was into SNES as a kid so I missed a bunch of stuff.

The GG Aleste games are also really good for the Game Gear. The first one can be hard to track down, but its worth it if you can find them as they are great shoot-em-ups.

I managed to get a redesigned battery pack for the nomad. An adaptor that allows you to use Sony camcorder batteries of any size, one off from a designer in Netherlands.

Super awesome I’m waiting to get my Blue sega game gear with sonic 2 . Great video can’t go wrong with sega 👍

I had no idea about those bootleg Game Gear games, that's awesome! A shame the TV tuner doesn't work anymore, it was such a cool idea for its time. The only thing I hated about the Nomad is boy does it suck down some batteries. Not so bad nowadays with rechargeable batteries.

Wow!!! I love handheld systems and watching your video made me quite curious about Sega handhelds. I mainly collect Nintendo handhelds but have recently purchased a PS VIta due to its amazing library of JRPG games!

He Truly Is Immortal The Immortal John Hancock

I don't know how it's been in the US, but globally, the Game Gear is more of a PS Vita, while the PSP was a GBA in terms of sales and success.

Drinking my coffee at 20 past 7 Monday morning before work wishing that nomad was mine for the train ride...sigh

When i dream of Sega getting back into consoles, i hope it's in the form of a handheld. Master Gear converter was great, but some of the text was too small to read.

The gamegear I just got for a backup to my original cost me 15 with a carry case and 18 games and the power adapter that I didn't have.

The tv tuner can be hooked up to a digital converter box I know cause I do it everyday

I had big rechargeable batteries for the game gear.

Dang it, John. Now I have to buy a Nomad. Thanks :D

I've wanted a nomad since they first came out and haven't been able to get one yet.

7:54 Stimpy follow that yak

I always found the Game Gear to be an interesting portable console for its time, though the darn thing was a battery vampire when compared to Gameboys. Since you like to show off all the quirky subsets/variations of games, you should make a video about the Majesco Game Gear re-released games. I had one of them as a kid, which was Sonic Chaos. Good video though. :)

Too bad the nomad is currently selling for on average $250 up to $350 on eBay. I'd love to own one though

thanks for making this, John

Awesome video man!!!

was that an old Telstar pong system in the background??? What ever it's called I had one just like it as a child and loved that thing.

John , I would love a sega nomad but they are soo pricey! Any suggestions how I can land one affordable or know anyone that wants to sell ? lol

Wow, it's funny that on the Nomad box the game on the screen is Comix zone and it shows the hand with the pen drawing. Originally the Nomad was going to be a touch screen with a stylus but the idea was scrapped due to cost...Subliminal or coincidence? lol

they cost 15 bucks over there here they are around 50 or 70 dollars they are the rarest compared to gameboy

Should I get a sega game gear or nomad?

Are most I these games ports? Like the Wonder Boy ones and Shining Force? I've never considered getting a Game Gear tbh but have a master system and mega drive

they made a battery pack and came with the power cord. my mom got that for christmas. my gma got system for me and it ate aa batteries liek going out of style. so battery pack was nice

I have a question which may sound dumb, how do the ports of the master system games such as wonder boy or masters of darkness compare to the master system versions?

Doesn't the Nomad go for a pretty penny? I only knew it existed after reading about it in 2011 and I've loved gaming my whole life :)

Quanta raridade,essa tua coleção vale uma fortuna.

Got tails adventure for $11.50 and free shipping on eBay. Someone is trying to sell it for $60. Not sure if I actually got a great deal but I'm glad I have it

Do u have the Japanese exclusive Awia CSD -gm1 boom box / mega drive mega cd ?

hell yeah shining force!

I'm so jealous John I've been looking for another copy of ren and stimpy since someone stole mine in the late 90s.

Hey John did you know that just go with at least the game here in 2001?

This new generation of gaming hipsters have jacked up the prices... and many idiots are paying those prices.

the game gear version of Lion King is supposedly better than the genesis version

do you have a Philips cd-i or apple console

Welp... These on eBay used are going for 60 bucks and 110 respectfully... Can't knock the hustle

Not a dollar now... retro gaming is expensive now

The game store I go to was charging 60$ for a Game Gear!!! I'd say that is a rip off from what you are saying here.

Have you completed the game set since this video? If you got one game a year then you did it! Lol

SEGAAAAAAAA!

love your videos but i am not a huge fan of this style of filming... the old shaky blair witch style lol

The Nomad would have been better if you could play Sega Game Gear. Was the Game Gear Comparable to the Nintendo Gameboy color or Gameboy Advance? I was always a Sega Genesis fanboy but never got into the portable game systems.

or i could emulate psp go or 3ds or wii u