"Official" 6-Button Sega Controllers. Fake or Real?

[arkanoid]

Hello fellows,

Ok, so I have two pairs of controllers for my Megadrive/Genesis. The first pair I'm pretty certain are 100% authentic Sega brand controllers as I have had them for almost 18 years and purchased them along with my Mega-CD MK1 from a major retail store called Tandy here in the UK. They look like this...



I have opened these babies up on a couple of occasions (to give them a good clean) and the internal control board is clearly a high quality and beautifully constructed item, with Sega logo.

However, the second pair I have, which I recently purchased from a well-known Sega retro outlet, look like this...



They are quite a bit smaller than my original pair and have an extra "mode" button on the front and a mode selection switch.

These are being quoted on many Sega related retro sites and stores these days as genuine "Official Sega" controllers. I even noticed today that Racketboy himself displays one in his recent SMS 101 guide.

However, I'm not so sure about the authenticity of these controllers. For a start, they feel a lot cheaper and lower quality...nowhere near as solid in as my old pair. Secondly, although they do have an external Sega logo, I have opened one up and there is no TM logos to be found inside. The actual board inside is of a FAR lower standard of quality (very flimsy compared to my older controllers).

So, my basic question is this: does anyone know the history of these controllers and can anyone say if they are certainly genuine? I've never seen them quoted in old official Sega literature and I certainly do not remember seeing them for sale "back in the old days".

Any info or general thoughts on this???

[Flak Beard]

They are official, but are the ones produced by Majesco (licensed by Sega). It was the pack-in controller that came with the Genesis 3.

[arkanoid]

They are official, but are the ones produced by Majesco (licensed by Sega). It was the pack-in controller that came with the Genesis 3.

Thanks for the tip Flak.

And to anyone considering purchasing one of these Majesco controllers - don't! Hunt down the original Sega manufactured controller, as the Majescos (quite frankly) suck in comparison.

[Flak Beard]

They are official, but are the ones produced by Majesco (licensed by Sega). It was the pack-in controller that came with the Genesis 3.

Thanks for the tip Flak.

And to anyone considering purchasing one of these Majesco controllers - don't! Hunt down the original Sega manufactured controller, as the Majescos (quite frankly) suck in comparison.

True. I had three different ones have the down position stop working on the d-pad. Thing is, they were so cheap I just kept replacing them. I eventually just picked up a NIB 3-button controller.

[corn619]

Sega came out with these to accomadate Capcom releasing Street Fighter II on the Genesis.

[arkanoid]

Sega came out with these to accomadate Capcom releasing Street Fighter II on the Genesis.

yes, we already knew that.

[corn619]

Sega came out with these to accomadate Capcom releasing Street Fighter II on the Genesis.

yes, we already knew that.

Well when asking for the history of the six button controller you might want to mention that you already know why they were released. You question is pretty vague.

[arkanoid]

You're right, I could have made it clearer that it was only its authenticity and its "history" relating to exactly who manufactured it that I was interested in. Sorry if I sounded snappy.