Milton Keynes, UK, 2015-11-19 — /EPR Retail News/ — After two decades gaming icon Sonic The Hedgehog is making a return to living rooms as budget-conscious parents snap up the 90s favourite Sega Megadrive console.
Sales of the consoles peaked in the early 90s before PlayStations rose to popularity but the games are now back in fashion due to their affordability.
The number of Sega Megadrive consoles sold over the last month, which are priced at £49.99, have risen by 400 per cent at Argos compared with the same period last year.
Sega Megadrive games are quite different from modern day video games because of the arcade like graphics, offering a refreshing change to today’s realistic visuals. The retro console comes with 80 pre-loaded games such as Sonic 1,2 and 3 and other games including Streets of Rage
Laura Hamblyn, gift buyer at Argos, said: “There’s a real appetite for nostalgia at the moment, whether it is firing up old consoles, or dusting down old vinyl records.
“The Sega Megadrive is fondly remembered by the 90s generation who would spend hours helping Sonic The Hedgehog to defeat his arch nemesis Doctor Robotnik. It’s fantastic to see parents buying this console to relive their childhood and introduce their own kids to some old school gaming.
“It is amazing value and comes with a huge number of games which is perfect for those who are looking for a more modestly-priced present or perhaps an unusual stocking filler.
“The Sega Megadrive was the first console of its kind that turned gaming into the mainstream in Britain.”
The Sega Megadrive, launched in 1990, also sold an octagonal floor device called the Sega Activator that translated the player’s movements into the game. Many retailers stopped stocking the console in the noughties, due to the popularity of the PlayStation and Xbox, but they have been on sale again for more than a year following demand for all things retro.
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Notes to Editors:
For more information, please contact the Argos Press Office on 0845 120 4365 or email: media.relations@argos.co.uk. Follow us on Twitter at @argos_PR.
About Argos
Argos is a leading UK digital retailer, offering around 50,000 products through www.argos.co.uk, its growing mobile channels, stores and over the telephone.
Argos continues to be the UK’s largest high street retailer online with around 121m customer transactions a year through its stores and over 900 million website and app visits in the 12 months to February 2015. Customers can take advantage of Argos’ convenient Check & Reserve service available through its network of 788 stores across the UK and Republic of Ireland.
In the financial year to February 2015, Argos sales were £4.1 billion and it employed some 29,000 people across the business.
Argos is part of Home Retail Group, the UK’s leading home and general merchandise retailer.
SOURCE: Home Retail Group
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