Sega Genesis
The Sega Genesis, known as the in regions outside of North America, is a 16-bit home video game console developed and sold by Sega. The Genesis was Sega's third console and the successor to the Master System. Sega released the console as the Mega Drive in Japan in 1988, followed by North America as the Genesis in 1989. In 1990, the console was distributed as the Mega Drive by Virgin Mastertronic in Europe, Ozisoft in Australasia, and Tec Toy in Brazil. In South Korea, the systems were distributed by Samsung as the Super Gam*Boy and later the Super Aladdin Boy.
Educational games in the Sonic series
In 1994, Sega released the Sega Pico, an "edutainment" device powered by the same hardware used by the Genesis. The system was designed appear similar to a laptop, a stylus called the "Magic Pen", and a pad to draw on. As Sonic had become Sega's mascot, Sega released two educational games featuring characters from the "Sonic" franchise, "Sonic the Hedgehog's Gameworld" and "Tails and the Music Maker". "Gameworld" was developed by Aspect Co., the studio that produced the majority of the Game Gear "Sonic" games. Another educational game, "Wacky Worlds Creativity Studio", was released for the Genesis in 1994. Though it is not a "Sonic" game, Sonic does feature in it.