Sega’s released a pile of classic games in the App Store, all of which were technically emulated; the apps were emulators and ROMs, all packaged into one. (This made the adaptations faithful, if a little slow, on non-3GS hardware.) Now, with the App Store’s in-app purchasing system, they can do it right: the free app, which should show up early February, comes with just one game – Space Harrier II – but you can buy as many as you want from within Ultimate Genesis. Here’s the current lineup:
• Sonic the Hedgehog: $US5.99
• Golden Axe: $US4.99
• Ecco the Dolphin $US2.99
• Shining Force: $US2.99
Some of these games are already listed as standalones, so in an abstract way, Ultimate Genesis is really just a new way to package old apps, and a focused sales channel for new ones. But that’s exactly what a Virtual Console-style emulator is! And why this is a fantastic idea. [Sega]