If there's one thing Sega excels at, it's releasing the same Sega Genesis games on every platform imaginable. Rich arcade history? What's that?! Saturn? Dreamcast? Never heard of 'em! Here, try these Genesis ports!

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You may think that EA's support of the original Xbox — it released both Madden NFL 08 and Madden NFL 09 for the console — showed serious dedication to legacy platforms. How does Genesis support sound? If you thought "bat shit insane" then you might be surprised to learn that versions of FIFA 2008, Need for Speed: Pro Street, The Sims 2, and SimCity are being ported to the 16-bit Sega platform for the release of Tectoy's Mega Drive 3 (a wild looking Genesis clone) in Brazil.

Insert Credit dug up details on the "new" EA Genesis titles, which happen to be based on the mobile device releases and are being ported by Tectoy devs. Those games are just four of the 86 titles that will come pre-installed on the budget console, including classics like Shinobi III and Alex Kidd in the Enchanted Castle. There are even some new titles of hazy origin. Everything old is new again... or vice versa.

News: Four "new" EA games on Genesis/Mega Drive [Insert Credit]

Brazilian SEGA licencee Tectoy has released another 8-bit console. Dubbed the Master System 3, the new system looks like the old Mega Drive (Genesis) with Sonic painted on it and is packed with 131 built-in G-rated games. That's right, no cartridge slot. The system is bundled with two six-button Genesis-style controllers. Its priced at the equivalent of $US 133.

Master System 3 (131 jogos) [Tectoy via Insert Credit]

Seventeen years ago to this day, Sonic spirited onto the Genesis/Mega Drive. And he did it with 'tude. That's right! SEGA's Sonic the Hedgehog was released in North America and Europe on June 23, 1991. The game came out a month later in Japan. In his heyday, the blue hedgehog gave Mario as run for his money during the 16 bit generation. While SEGA seemed to have lost the plot in the last few years (human kissing anyone?), recent Sonic titles like the Sonic Team and Dimps developed Sonic Unleashed show promise of a return to form. And that is probably the best birthday present Sonic could ask for.

Sonic's Birthday [Sega Nerds]

A nifty little update for the European Wii Virtual Console comes in the form of Sega's Phantasy Star III: Generations of Doom for the Genesis. Considered by many to be the weakest in the original Phantasy Star series, the game spans three generations of characters, with the player getting to decide how each plays out by making marriage decisions for the party members in each successive generation. Criticized for bland combat and a storyline that conflicts with Phantasy Star II, Phantasy Star III is the game most likely to cause knock-down, drag out fights among Phantasy Star fans, as those who love it love it to death and those who hate it hate it with a passion. Me? I enjoyed the hell out of it myself, despite its many problems, and consider it a fine addition to the Euro VC at 800 points. Hopefully this will make it to North America shortly.

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Sega has confirmed that two of their Genesis titles, Puyo Puyo 2 and POWERBALL, will be hitting the Wii Shop Channel this month with prices starting at 800 Wii Points.

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Discovered at CES: Two generic consoles that play non-generic games. The Retro Duo accepts both NES and Super NES games, while the Gen X takes Sega Master System and Genesis/Mega Drive games. Both of the consoles were built on technology that takes advantage of lapsed patents, so they are perfectly legal. At least according to the guy showing them off at CES they are.

CES 2008: Retro Console Clones Take Actual Cartridges [Wired]

Sega's Genesis classic Sonic the Hedgehog 2 not only ushered in the first in what would become a long line of shitty friends for Sonic, it propelled the blue rodent spiny mammal of the Erinaceidae family to near superstardom in the world of video game platformers. Sonic returns to Xbox Live Arcade this Wednesday with all the usual XBLA goodies—enhanced graphics, updated sound, leaderboards, online multiplayer. All of this for the low price of 400 Microsoft Points.

Sonic the Hedgehog 2 [Xbox.com]

Yesterday and today saw this Kotaku associate editor playing a trio of this fall's bigger hits, including the one I'm able to chat about, Activision's Call of Duty 4: Modern Combat. This weekend I think I'll be sticking to older fare, as my recent purchase of Beyond Oasis for the Sega Genesis means I'll finally get my hands on this action-RPG classic. For what I'm playing beyond Beyond Oasis, I expect that Picross DS will consume to soak up most of my free time. It's all rather dull isn't it? Your input is far more exciting.

So, let's have it. What are you playing this weekend? To the comments with you!