It was basically a hand-held Genesis; it played all Genesis games, but looked Sega Game Gear-ish. By the time this was released, the Genesis was well on the way out so it didn't last long. It was also expensive, costing $180.00 in the United States after its October1995 release. The Nomad only came in NTSC format. There was a rumor of a EuropeanPAL release but the lack of US success and the dying Sega Megadrive market in Europe meant that the release never happened.
The Nomad suffered from minor incompatibilities with some Genesis games. The 3-inch Active Matrix LCD screen was higher resolution than other handhelds at the time and was also backlit. Unlike passive matrix LCDs, the Nomad screen was very sharp and did not suffer from blurring as the Nintendo Gameboy and Game Gear handhelds did. Although this LCD provided excellent visual quality, it contributed to its short battery life. Also, game text designed to be readable on a TV was of course much smaller and potentially difficult to read. Powered by 6 AA batteries, fitted to a case that clipped on back of unit. The batteries only lasted three to five hours, but a rechargeable battery pack and AC Unit was available. The poor battery life, combined with a high price tag, ensured the Nomad would not become widespread.
The Nomad could be connected to the television using the same scart or RF lead as the Sega Genesis 2.
