Lesson 4 of 8
Nintendo and Sega
Explore the legendary 8-bit and 16-bit console wars that defined iconic characters and gaming culture.
Learn it
After the 1983 crash, a Japanese toy and playing-card company named Nintendo stepped forward with the Nintendo Entertainment System (NES). They introduced strict quality seals and beloved games like Super Mario Bros. and The Legend of Zelda.
Soon, a fierce rival named Sega joined the battlefield with the slogan 'Genesis does what Nintendont'. Sega introduced Sonic the Hedgehog, a super-fast blue hero with serious attitude!
This friendly rivalry pushed both companies to build better graphics, faster processors, and unforgettable soundtracks, creating the golden era of 2D pixel art.
Key terms
- 10NES Chip
- A lockout security chip inside the NES console and cartridges to prevent unauthorised or bootleg games.
- D-Pad
- A directional cross-shaped controller pad invented by Gunpei Yokoi for precise thumb-based movement.
- Mode 7
- A graphics mode on the SNES that allowed a flat background layer to be rotated and scaled for pseudo-3D effects.
- Blast Processing
- A famous marketing buzzword used by Sega to highlight the fast clock speed of the Mega Drive processor.
The 16-Bit Battleground
Compare the hardware strengths of the two legendary 16-bit rivals.
- 1Sega CPU Power: The Mega Drive runs a Motorola 68000 at 7.6 MHz, ideal for rapid calculations and speedy action.
- 2SNES Palette & Sound: The SNES features a dedicated Sony sound chip (SPC700) and displays up to 256 simultaneous colours.
- 3Super FX Expansion: Nintendo embeds extra 3D math co-processors directly inside game cartridges like Star Fox.
- 4Sega CD & 32X Add-ons: Sega experiments with modular hardware add-ons to boost processing power and audio fidelity.
Simulating a Mode 7 Scale Calculation
pythondef calculate_mode7_scale(camera_height, distance):
if distance <= 0:
return 1.0
scale_factor = camera_height / distance
return round(scale_factor, 3)
for d in [10, 25, 50, 100]:
print(f'Distance: {d}m -> Horizon Scale: {calculate_mode7_scale(50, d)}')Mode 7 scaled background planes based on virtual camera distance to simulate 3D race tracks in games like Super Mario Kart.
Try it
Look at this Python code modeling a 16-bit colour palette. What will it print?
pythonsnes_palette_colours = 256
sega_palette_colours = 64
difference = snes_palette_colours - sega_palette_colours
print(f'SNES can show {difference} more colours simultaneously!')Challenge
Write a brief pitch for a new 16-bit mascot character designed to compete against Mario and Sonic in 1993.
Pick whichever way suits you — every mode earns the same bonus XP.
Write at least 40 more characters to submit.
Mark your own work
Guided walkthrough — 0/5 clues revealed
- Clue 1 locked — reveal it only if you get stuck.
- Clue 2 locked — reveal it only if you get stuck.
- Clue 3 locked — reveal it only if you get stuck.
- Clue 4 locked — reveal it only if you get stuck.
- Clue 5 locked — reveal it only if you get stuck.
Each clue costs 4 XP (never below 20 XP). You'd earn 40 XP right now.
Extension: Explain how your mascot gameplay would take advantage of either fast CPU clock speeds or special scaling modes.