Individual games such as Wayne's World also have their own modified drivers. Some developers, such as Novotrade, chose to modify the driver, effectively making their own variants. As the driver was both widely distributed to developers of all quality, and largely used by developers unfamiliar with the hardware, much of the system’s shovelware library shares a distinct (and poorly received) sound, often described as sounding like flatulence.

While GEMS is a very capable driver in the proper hands, it has also grown to absorb much of the ire modern fans have for the “twangy” sounds of certain Western-produced Sega Mega Drive games. Western composers and musicians now had a more familiar and reliable method for translating their instruments to the Sega Genesis hardware. Sega of America was very pleased with GEMS and went on to distribute it to their various developers and publishers. The result was GEMS, a 16-bit sound driver with a focus on MIDI interactivity. The team consisted of Jonathan Miller creating drivers and firmware, Burt Sloane programming, and Chris Grigg and Mark Miller providing the software’s overall design. Seeking to address this, Sega of America reached out to developer Recreational Brainware to produce a solution. Unlike Japanese composers, who were more familiar with writing sound drivers and working with FM synthesis, their Western counterparts struggled to produce quality sounds.

Before G.E.M.S., we as composers/sound designers had almost nothing.Įarly Sega Genesis hardware documentation was limited in all areas, but especially in audio capabilities. was definitely the best sound driver/editor that was made available to the general public during the first half of the 90's.

Izzy's Quest for the Olympic Rings (unreleased).

WWF WrestleMania: The Arcade Game (1995).

Golf Magazine: 36 Great Holes Starring Fred Couples (1995).

Brutal Unleashed: Above the Claw (1995).

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