Blast processing! Remember those halcyon days of arguing with your friends about whether the Genesis did what Nintendon’t? Discovery’s Game Changers revisits the 16-bit wars this Tuesday with “Sega Sics Nintendo,” an episode chronicling Sega’s ambitious (and, for a time, successful) attempt to dethrone the 8-bit king, Nintendo.
For anyone who grew up in the ’90s, the Genesis vs. Super Nintendo rivalry was a defining cultural clash. This installment of Game Changers aims to transport viewers back to that era, exploring how Sega, armed with aggressive marketing and a blue blur named Sonic, managed to capture a significant chunk of the gaming market. The episode will likely cover the technical innovations of the Genesis, the marketing blitz that positioned it as the “cooler” console, and, of course, the birth of Sonic the Hedgehog, Sega’s answer to Mario.
While the Super Nintendo would ultimately win the war, the Genesis remains a beloved console for many, and this episode looks to provide context for its place in gaming history. Game Changers as a whole sets out to examine the stories behind iconic games, covering a wide range, from the primordial pixelated bounce of Pong to the modern military mayhem of Call of Duty, from the board game battles of Monopoly to the block-building bonanza of Minecraft. The eight-part series features interviews with a mix of game creators, industry journalists, passionate fans, and knowledgeable authors, providing a comprehensive look at the creation and cultural impact of these gaming milestones.
“Sega Sics Nintendo” airs Tuesday, December 10, at 9:00 PM on Discovery.
