Not heard of Zone 40 before?  Well don't worry, I don't think many people have.  Essentially it is a cheap console with built-in games, but designed to look and play similarly to the Wii - with Wii-mote style controllers and motion control games.

The original "Zone Wireless Gaming Console" (rolls off the tongue nicely, eh?) had just seven built-in sports games, all of which were similar to the ones you would find on Wii Sports, but rather than have the basic 3D visuals on Wii Sports, you had even more basic 2D visuals that look like they belong on a Master System.

Then they released the "Zone 40" which had 40 games built-in, many of which were clones/ rip-offs of classics.  But the device wasn't intended to be a new Wii, it was for young kids who can't afford a proper Wii, but still want to wave their arms around like fools while they play games.  So it seemed to do the job.

Anyway, a new Zone console, called "Zone SEGA Wireless Gaming Console" is coming and this time it features (you guessed it) SEGA games.

But before you all get too excited, the SEGA games included all appear to be the same 20 games that have been featured on the Mega Drive portable and the Mini-Mega Drive consoles which had been released over the past couple of years.  And even though the Zone console is like the Wii and has motion control, the SEGA classics do not support the motion control options - you will still be playing them like normal, with your thumbs.

~Click the above image to see more Zone SEGA pics in our gallery~

In total the Zone SEGA features 50 games; 20 Mega Drive/ Genesis, 14 Arcade (non appear to be famous) and 16 Interactive (motion controlled) games.  Apparently the makers are looking to bring more SEGA games to the table, but the device physically cannot take games cartridges nor (from what I have read) will you be able to add games to the built in memory.

And while the SEGA games have been officially licensed, this is not actually made by SEGA, just like all the other (aformentioned) Mega Drive clones that have been coming out.

Anyway, if you are wantng a cheap console with a ton of old-school games built-in then this could be the thing for you.  Despite most of the games looking cheap and tacky, I have read some surprisingly good reviews about the other Zone consoles online.  Yes this isn't a replacement for the Wii and definitely not one for the Mega Drive, but young gamers will no doubt find this fun and it won't break the bank.

The Zone SEGA is due out this summer and is set to retail for about £50.

[Source: Pocket-Lint]
[Special Thanks: 16Bit, Via Email and NinMicroSEGA, Via The Forums]

[Edited By Moderator]