Menacer
Encyclopedia
The Menacer is a lightgun created by Sega
for the Mega Drive video game console in 1992, as a response to the Super Scope
by Nintendo
.
The Menacer is made up of three sections which can be disassembled. Rather than being connected to the console by a cable, the Menacer is wireless
, communicating via an infrared
receive plugged in to one of the gamepad
ports.
. A skeletonized shoulder stock can be added for extra support. The third removable section are twin sights
that are clipped on to the top of the barrel
.
The Menacer is powered by 6 AAA batteries
and was not connected by a wire to the console but by an infrared
beam that relays signals to a receiver box that would ideally sit on top of the television. The receiver box has to be plugged into the console in the second controller port.
As with other contemporary light guns, the Menacer uses scan lines to determine where the user is aiming and thus requires the use of a CRT
-based television set.
The Menacer was advertised as the most accurate light gun ever. The Menacer retailed for $100 in North America
.
of mostly target shooting games. The games included on the cartridge are: Pest Control, Space Station Defender, Whack Ball, Front Line, Rockman's Zone, and Ready, Aim Tomatoes! -- the latter stars Sega franchise characters ToeJam and Earl. While most games utilize the light gun as a means to shoot down objects, Whack Ball actually utilized the Menacer as a mouse of sorts. All 6 of the games were conceptualized by Mac Senour, Producer on both the hardware and software. The Menacer works fully with the Sega Mega-CD
, even though that system had, with the Konami Justifier
, two different light guns developed for it.
Sega and third-party developers did not develop many games for the Menacer. The only compatible Mega Drive games were the 6-game cartridge, Body Count
, and T2: The Arcade Game. All other Menacer games were for the Sega 32X
and/or Sega Mega-CD
.
The complete list of supported games is:
Radica Games
has manufactured an all-in-one game based on the Menacer. The unit has the games from the 6-game cartridge built into it.
Sega
, usually styled as SEGA, is a multinational video game software developer and an arcade software and hardware development company headquartered in Ōta, Tokyo, Japan, with various offices around the world...
for the Mega Drive video game console in 1992, as a response to the Super Scope
Super Scope
The Super Scope, or Nintendo Scope in Europe and Australia, is the official Super Nintendo light gun. It was released in the European and North American markets, with a limited release in Japan due to a lack of consumer demand...
by Nintendo
Nintendo
is a multinational corporation located in Kyoto, Japan. Founded on September 23, 1889 by Fusajiro Yamauchi, it produced handmade hanafuda cards. By 1963, the company had tried several small niche businesses, such as a cab company and a love hotel....
.
The Menacer is made up of three sections which can be disassembled. Rather than being connected to the console by a cable, the Menacer is wireless
Wireless
Wireless telecommunications is the transfer of information between two or more points that are not physically connected. Distances can be short, such as a few meters for television remote control, or as far as thousands or even millions of kilometers for deep-space radio communications...
, communicating via an infrared
Infrared
Infrared light is electromagnetic radiation with a wavelength longer than that of visible light, measured from the nominal edge of visible red light at 0.74 micrometres , and extending conventionally to 300 µm...
receive plugged in to one of the gamepad
Gamepad
A gamepad , is a type of game controller held in two hands, where the digits are used to provide input. Gamepads generally feature a set of action buttons handled with the right thumb and a direction controller handled with the left...
ports.
Design
The Menacer is made up of three sections which can be disassembled. The main section alone can be used as a pistolHandgun
A handgun is a firearm designed to be held and operated by one hand. This characteristic differentiates handguns as a general class of firearms from long guns such as rifles and shotguns ....
. A skeletonized shoulder stock can be added for extra support. The third removable section are twin sights
Sight (device)
A sight is a device used to assist aligning or aim weapons, surveying instruments, or other items by eye. Sights can be a simple set or system of markers that have to be aligned together as well as aligned with the target...
that are clipped on to the top of the barrel
Gun barrel
A gun barrel is the tube, usually metal, through which a controlled explosion or rapid expansion of gases are released in order to propel a projectile out of the end at a high velocity....
.
The Menacer is powered by 6 AAA batteries
AAA battery
A triple A or AAA battery is a standard size of dry cell battery commonly used in portable electronic devices. A carbon-zinc battery in this size is designated by IEC as "R03", by ANSI C18.1 as "24", by old JIS standard as "UM 4", and by other manufacturer and national standard designations that...
and was not connected by a wire to the console but by an infrared
Infrared
Infrared light is electromagnetic radiation with a wavelength longer than that of visible light, measured from the nominal edge of visible red light at 0.74 micrometres , and extending conventionally to 300 µm...
beam that relays signals to a receiver box that would ideally sit on top of the television. The receiver box has to be plugged into the console in the second controller port.
As with other contemporary light guns, the Menacer uses scan lines to determine where the user is aiming and thus requires the use of a CRT
CRT
-Medicine:* Capillary refill time, the rate at with blood refills empty capillaries* Cognitive Retention Therapy, a dementia treatment* Cardiac resynchronization therapy, a treatment for heart failure** CRT-D, an implanted cardiac resynchronization device...
-based television set.
The Menacer was advertised as the most accurate light gun ever. The Menacer retailed for $100 in North America
North America
North America is a continent wholly within the Northern Hemisphere and almost wholly within the Western Hemisphere. It is also considered a northern subcontinent of the Americas...
.
Games
The Menacer came with an exclusive 6-game cartridgeMenacer 6-game cartridge
The Menacer 6-game cartridge was the title Sega bundled with the Menacer for the Sega Mega Drive/Genesis. As the name suggests, the cartridge contains six games that require the Menacer to play...
of mostly target shooting games. The games included on the cartridge are: Pest Control, Space Station Defender, Whack Ball, Front Line, Rockman's Zone, and Ready, Aim Tomatoes! -- the latter stars Sega franchise characters ToeJam and Earl. While most games utilize the light gun as a means to shoot down objects, Whack Ball actually utilized the Menacer as a mouse of sorts. All 6 of the games were conceptualized by Mac Senour, Producer on both the hardware and software. The Menacer works fully with the Sega Mega-CD
Sega Mega-CD
The is an add-on device for the Mega Drive video game console, designed and produced by Sega and released in Japan, Europe, Australia, New Zealand, and South Africa. The device was also released in North America under the name Sega CD, for the Sega Genesis...
, even though that system had, with the Konami Justifier
Konami Justifier
The Konami Justifier was a light gun used in numerous video arcade and home console games developed and/or published by Konami and Sega. Konami manufactured variations of the gun for the Sega Genesis, Sega CD, Super Nintendo, and PlayStation consoles. The gun was similar in appearance to a Colt...
, two different light guns developed for it.
Sega and third-party developers did not develop many games for the Menacer. The only compatible Mega Drive games were the 6-game cartridge, Body Count
Body Count (video game)
Body Count is a 1994 rail shooter for the Sega Genesis. It is one of the few games that make use of the Menacer light gun and the Mega Mouse. In the U.S. the game was released on the Sega Channel.- Gameplay :...
, and T2: The Arcade Game. All other Menacer games were for the Sega 32X
Sega 32X
The Sega 32X, codenamed Project Mars, is an add-on for the Mega Drive/Genesis video game console by Sega. Its aim was to increase the lifespan of the aging Mega Drive/Genesis system, which was facing stiff competition from the SNES...
and/or Sega Mega-CD
Sega Mega-CD
The is an add-on device for the Mega Drive video game console, designed and produced by Sega and released in Japan, Europe, Australia, New Zealand, and South Africa. The device was also released in North America under the name Sega CD, for the Sega Genesis...
.
The complete list of supported games is:
- Body CountBody Count (video game)Body Count is a 1994 rail shooter for the Sega Genesis. It is one of the few games that make use of the Menacer light gun and the Mega Mouse. In the U.S. the game was released on the Sega Channel.- Gameplay :...
(Sega Mega DriveSega Mega DriveThe Sega Genesis is a fourth-generation video game console developed and produced by Sega. It was originally released in Japan in 1988 as , then in North America in 1989 as Sega Genesis, and in Europe, Australia and other PAL regions in 1990 as Mega Drive. The reason for the two names is that...
) - Corpse KillerCorpse KillerCorpse Killer is a game released for the Sega CD, Sega CD 32X, 3DO, Sega Saturn, Windows 95 and Macintosh computers that features full motion video in a format similar to other games developed by Digital Pictures. Each version of the game is identical except for two major differences. The quality...
(Sega Mega-CDSega Mega-CDThe is an add-on device for the Mega Drive video game console, designed and produced by Sega and released in Japan, Europe, Australia, New Zealand, and South Africa. The device was also released in North America under the name Sega CD, for the Sega Genesis...
, Sega Mega-CD 32X) - Crime PatrolCrime PatrolCrime Patrol is a live-action laserdisc video game released by American Laser Games in 1993.-Storyline:Crime Patrol, just like the company's previous releases, didn't focus so much on the storyline as on the general concept of the game, which was in essence its being a rail shooter. A plot is still...
(Sega Mega-CD) - Mad Dog McCreeMad Dog McCreeMad Dog McCree is the first live-action laserdisc video game released by American Laser Games. It originally appeared as an arcade shooting game in 1990....
(Sega Mega-CD) - Mad Dog II: The Lost GoldMad Dog II: The Lost GoldMad Dog II: The Lost Gold is a live-action laserdisc video game produced by American Laser Games, released for the arcade, Sega CD, 3DO, CD-i and PC , the first release being in 1992; the quality of the video is the lowest on Sega CD...
(Sega Mega-CD) - Menacer 6-game cartridgeMenacer 6-game cartridgeThe Menacer 6-game cartridge was the title Sega bundled with the Menacer for the Sega Mega Drive/Genesis. As the name suggests, the cartridge contains six games that require the Menacer to play...
(Sega Mega DriveSega Mega DriveThe Sega Genesis is a fourth-generation video game console developed and produced by Sega. It was originally released in Japan in 1988 as , then in North America in 1989 as Sega Genesis, and in Europe, Australia and other PAL regions in 1990 as Mega Drive. The reason for the two names is that...
) - Monster Hunter (Unreleased)
- SnatcherSnatcheris a cyberpunk-themed graphic adventure game produced by Konami, originally released in Japan for the NEC PC-8801 and MSX 2 computer platforms in 1988. It was followed by a CD-ROM-based remake released for the PC Engine video game console in 1992, which was subsequently ported and localized into...
(Sega Mega-CD) - T2: The Arcade Game (Sega Mega DriveSega Mega DriveThe Sega Genesis is a fourth-generation video game console developed and produced by Sega. It was originally released in Japan in 1988 as , then in North America in 1989 as Sega Genesis, and in Europe, Australia and other PAL regions in 1990 as Mega Drive. The reason for the two names is that...
) - Who Shot Johnny Rock?Who Shot Johnny Rock?Who Shot Johnny Rock? is the title of a live-action full motion video laserdisc video game produced by American Laser Games and released in the arcade in 1991, as well as for DOS, Sega CD, 3DO and CD-i in or around 1994...
(Sega Mega-CD)
Radica Games
Radica Games
Radica Games Limited is a company that produces electronic games. On October 3, 2006, Mattel, Inc. announced the completion of their acquisition of Radica. Radica was originally founded in 1983. It began by producing electronic souvenir games for casinos. In the late 1990s, it became famous for...
has manufactured an all-in-one game based on the Menacer. The unit has the games from the 6-game cartridge built into it.