Master System

The Sega Master System ( SMS short; japマスター システム, Masuta Shisutemu ) is an 8 -bit video game console released by Sega. She stood in direct competition with the Nintendo Entertainment System ( NES).

• 3.1 Specifications

History

As the successor of the SG -1000 Mark I and SG -1000 Mark II, the console on July 15, 1983 SG -1000 Mark III introduced under the name in Japan. In June 1986, the system was released in a new design under the name Sega Master System in the U.S., a year after the launch of the Nintendo Entertainment System ( NES). The console for the launch cost $ 200. She was subsequently released in other markets, in Europe they appeared in 1987 under its new name.

Although the master system to the NES in some areas was technically superior, it still could not prevail against this is. Only in Europe and South America, the console sold zufriedendstellend. The poor performance of the system is attributed to various causes, mainly available in comparison to the smaller number NES title. Nintendo's good relationships with third-party developers are also likely not have been insignificant; the Convention came down to the fact that the developer ultimately developed only games for the NES.

Japan

The SMS was not overly successful in Japan as the Nintendo Famicom, which competed with the Japanese Master System, the Japanese market dominated. While the Mark III brought support for SG 1000, the Japanese master system no longer had it. For the FM chip was integrated into the device, which had to be purchased as an add- FM Unit predecessor. Mark III and the Japanese Master System use together another module format that is not compatible with the American / European consoles.

North America

In North America, the Master System sold very slowly. In the first four months 125,000 brackets have been sold. At the same time approximately 2,000,000 NES consoles went over the counter.

Nintendo held at that time 90 % of the North American market. Hayou Nakayama, then CEO of Sega, decided not to run too much effort on the NES dominated markets. In 1988 the master system rights in North America were sold to Tonka, but its popularity continued to take off. 1990 Sega had success with its Sega Mega Drive / Sega Genesis and bought the rights from Tonka SMS back. It developed with the Sega Master System II, a smaller, cost-reduced version. In addition, the game Alex Kidd was already integrated in Miracle World, so that no additional module had to be bought. Later it was replaced by Sonic the Hedgehog.

Around 1992, the Master System 's sales in North America were practically no longer exists and the production was stopped.

Europe

In Europe, the Master System by Sega was marketed in many countries, including even some in which Nintendo did not sell consoles. The Europeans granted the SMS broad third-party support, so that it surpassed the NES in this market. Nintendo was forced to purchase licenses for some popular SMS titles in this market. The master system received support in Europe until 1996. Production was eventually discontinued, so Sega could concentrate on the Sega Saturn. The last European game " Les Schtroumpfs Autour du Monde" was only produced in very small quantities, which is why it is traded under high Sammelern.

Australia

The SMS was subject to the NES in Australia, but the defeat was not as devastating as in North America.

South Korea

As already the SG 1000, the Master System was released in South Korea but under the name Gam * Boy. Some known MSX conversions appeared there as Gradius and the Super Mario Bros. clone Super Boy. Particularly active was the resident company Zemina.

Brazil

Brazil was one of the most successful markets for the SMS. It was there from Brazilian Tec Toy, Sega's sales sold. A Sega Master System III (and even a semi - portable SMS VI) appeared ( s) on this market, and several games have been translated for the Brazilian. The characters of these games have been adapted to the Brazilian public, for example, was Wonder Boy in Monster Land to Mônica, the main character of a popular Brazilian children's book by Maurício de Sousa.

Game Gear games were later converted in Brazil for the Master System and several original Brazilian titles released for the system. Tec Toy also produced a licensed version of the popular fighting game Street Fighter II for the Master System. Despite the limited capabilities of the console, the game was surprisingly good. The console production was familiar to the Brazilians, which explains the success in this market. During the late days of the master system in Brazil games were marketed for small children.

The Sega Master System was produced in Brazil beyond the 1996 addition. The current version is the Master System III Collection. It is designed as the North American Master System II (Master System III in Brazil), but it is white and comes with 74 built-in games on an internal ROM. Furthermore, there is the Master System Super Compact Collection, the Super Compact Girl ( in pink), the master system mobile ( without a console module slot with 27 games implemented ) and the Master System Collection 105, identical to the vector 74, but with 105 implemented in ROM games (including the previously unreleased Woody Woodpecker ). The current version of this version of the master system contains 131 games. In addition to classics like Sonic and Alex Kidd, there are also numerous developed by Tec Toy games such as Cava Cava or Resta order in the collection.

Sega Master System II & III

When Master System II is essentially a redesign of the original console. However, for cost reasons, the developers gave up the bay for expansion cards ( SegaCard ), the reset button and other connectors such as RGB connection. It has been modified several times in its history. However, the changes were mainly the design of the console. In the Master System 2 the game " Alex Kidd in Miracle World" was integrated or "Sonic The Hedgehog ".

The console has only one module slot for games that were released as game cartridges ( Mega Cartridge ). At the console even a pause button and the power switch is attached.

The Master System III is produced to date by Tec Toy exclusively for the Brazilian market. The first versions were similar to the Master System II Later, the system was changed several times, and offered in multiple variations, such as a compact version with built-in games and without module bay.

Accessories

To control the games a controller is supplied with 2 keys used with button 1 is used at the same time as the start button. Other controllers as Megadrives or Atari could also be used. Up to two controllers can be connected to the console. In addition, a wireless controller, Control Stick Control and Paddle exist. Another accessory is a Light Phaser and 3D glasses, which are, however, used only on the master system 1 were (connection via the Sega card slot ), offered. Continuous fire could be used via an adapter, Rapid Fire.

Specifications

• CPU: clocked at 3.54 MHz Z80 ( 8-bit CPU)
• Graphic: one derived from the Texas Instruments TMS9918 VDP ( Video Display Processor)
• 32 simultaneous colors from a palette of 64 colors ( with programming tricks and up to 64 colors at once)
• 256 × 192-256 × 240 pixels screen resolution
• 8 × 8 pixel characters, a maximum of about 488 ( due to the limited VRAM capacity )
• 8 × 8 or 8 × 16 pixel sprites, a maximum of 64 simultaneous
• Complete or partial Bildschirmverschub ( Scrolling ) in horizontal, vertical and diagonal directions
• Music: Texas Instruments SN76489 4 channel sound ( mono) the Japanese Master System with YM2413 addition, the Mark III on FM Unit

Games

In contrast to the former Nintendo policy to third-party influence on the design of the cartridges could take. For example, some modules of Codemaster differ by another form which allowed a colored illustration as they existed at Mark III, Gam * Boy and Sega Card titles.

Excerpt

• Alex Kidd in Miracle World (in some console versions also as an integrated game)
• Afterburner
• Castle of Illusion Starring Mickey Mouse
• Double Dragon
• Ghostbusters
• Ghouls'n Ghosts
• Hang-On (installed in a version of the console)
• Heavyweight Champ
• Kenseiden
• Ninja Gaiden
• Phantasy Star
• Power Strike
• Safari Hunt ( in a version of the console installed)
• Shinobi
• Sonic the Hedgehog (in one version of the console Built-in)
• Sonic the Hedgehog 2
• Sonic chaos
• Speedball
• Super Tennis The Sega Cartridge
• Snail Maze (a simple game built into the BIOS, which could be started when you turn the console game without using a key combination. Switched to this end the console and presses simultaneously high, 1 and 2 )
• Taito Chase H.Q.
• Teddy Boy
• Vigilante
• Wonder Boy
• Wonder Boy in Monster Land
• Wonder Boy III: The Dragon 's Trap