Upcoming SEGA encyclopaedia to document every Genesis game in existence

Bobby Mills November 27, 2021

Ever have one of those moments where you unexpectedly hear a name pop up that you haven’t heard in a long, long, long time, but which immediately brings a tonne of memories flooding back? Kind of an ‘Obi-Wan in the Jundland Wastes’ experience, if you will. Well, today I’m that wizened, bearded old Jedi (Guinness, not McGregor, ta very much) as the author of today’s subject, an encyclopaedia, holds a very special place in my heart. I refer to Chris Scullion, gaming enthusiast and former writer for the UK’s defunct Official Nintendo Magazine.

I could honestly write an entire feature waxing lyrical about and exalting the virtues of that glossy little mag (and hey, maybe someday I will) which, once a month, found itself shoved through my childhood letterbox. Pages upon pages of glorious reviews, retrospectives and the hottest tips that even GameFAQs couldn’t net you – though I never did quite forgive them for recommending Sonic and the Secret Rings.

Fun fact: I had this very issue confiscated from me for reading it in Maths class. I won in the end, teach!

Legendary journalism

It’s an absolute bonafide classic of video game journalism, a veritable treasure trove of nostalgia for British geeks of a certain age. It’s one which I am proud to announce I own essentially every issue of, boxed tightly in my room awaiting an inheritor. Some – nay, many – tears were shed when it was axed abruptly almost a decade ago now, but I’d like to think in my writing here I’m carrying the proverbial torch for ’em.

Chris was just one part of that gorgeously intricate slice of monthly nerdy bliss, and I’m chuffed as anything that he’s moving up in the world. If you’re reading this: cheers for everything, mate. I wanted to be you as a kid, and also I’m 90% sure I raced you in Mario Kart 7 at one point. Happy days. Interview for our mag sometime, maybe?

They were canned in late 2014. Just a couple months more and they could have reviewed *Rise of Lyric*. The universe can be so cruel.

A little background

Right, enough toadying, kowtowing and butt-kissing. Let’s talk about what Mr. Scullion is actually up to, shall we? As GameFreaks365 reports, he’s announced that he’s penning a comprehensive tome cataloguing every SEGA Genesis/Mega Drive game to ever grace that console’s blast processors. It’s to be a follow-up to similar encyclopaedias he’s written for the NES and SNES. It is entitled, appropriately enough: The SEGA Mega Drive & Genesis Encyclopedia: Every Game Released for Sega’s 16-bit Console.

“This new book includes in-depth information on every SEGA Genesis game published in the West,” reads the report. It also includes “additional sections for Mega CD and 32X add-on releases,” so if you want to read about the Night Trap controversy for the umpteenth time, now’s your chance. Personally, I think the 3DO had it beat in poor taste with the classic Plumbers Don’t Wear Ties, but maybe that’s just me.

Not that Chris would ever go near that lewd stuff. Just look at him. What a good lad.

SEGA encyclopaedia release date

The book sells itself thusly: “This is the ultimate guide to a classic gaming system, complete with images, amusing information, and Chris’ typical hilariously terrible jokes.”

As someone who almost landed himself a trip to the optometrist’s due to all my eye-rolling at ONM as a kid, I can vouch for that last claim.

Those of you who fancy a trip down memory lane won’t have to wait long. The encyclopaedia, which weighs in at a staggering 300 pages of 16-bit brilliance, hits shelves on December 8th. I’ll certainly be picking up a copy. It’ll never quite fill the Scullion-shaped void in my soul, but it’s a start.

Will you be buying the encyclopaedia? Have you any memories with Chris’ work? Let us know!

Via, GameFreaks365.