Sega Game Gear

The Sega Game Gear (Japaneseゲーム ギア, gemu gia ) is a handheld game console and was Sega's answer to Nintendo's Game Boy.

The work on the console began after the release of the Game Boy in 1989. At this time the development was under the codename " Project Mercury " and you wanted to make a Game Boy superior product.

The system was released on October 6, 1990 in Japan, 1991 in North America and Europe and in 1992 in Australia. The suggested retail price was in the beginning with 299, - DM Much like Nintendo's Game Boy Tetris and the Game Gear in the bundle was sold with Columns.

The Game Gear was basically a portable Sega Master System, but with a wider color range and lower resolution. Thanks a color display and backlight he was the Game Boy graphically superior, also the sound output was better. The processor was a bit slower clocked ( 4.2 MHz Gameboy, Game Gear 3.58 MHz). In addition, there was one, available as an accessory, clip-on TV tuner, which allowed the reception of analogue TV channel. The console is held as an Atari Lynx, ie " cross ", not " along " like the old Game Boy while playing.

Despite its technical superiority of the Game Gear failed to reach a significant market share, which was due to the enormous popularity of the Game Boy and a number of disadvantages compared to the Game Boy:

  • The illuminated screen with the result that the battery life with 6 AA batteries for about five hours was ( in the later optimized version 6 hours). With an optional accessory SEGA battery pack, it was about 4 hours. Compared to the average of 14 hours of the Game Boys with 4 batteries, this is very little.
  • The shape of the Game Gears was relatively large, so that he may the not as easy as a Game Boy into a jacket pocket or the like. was stuck.
  • The Game Gear was twice as expensive as the Game Boy with a price of about 300 DM.
  • Mainly, though, the Game Gear was suffering from a lack of games. Since development began after the release of the Game Boy, already many game developers had specialized in this. The lack of commercial success of the SEGA handheld was no incentive to develop for both systems.

Due to the technical similarities between the Master System and Game Gear lot of Master System games were ported. A converter, the Master Gear, allowed to play Master System games on the Game Gear. Conversely, this was not possible, since the Game Gear had a larger color palette. Later, the Game Gear benefited from the popularity of the Mega Drive, and received ports of Mega Drive games like Ristar and the first two Streets of Rage parts.

The Game Gear is seen looking back, largely considered a failure, however, threw off a modest profit for SEGA. Nevertheless Sega in 1995 tried again on the console market with the Nomad, a portable Sega Genesis. However, he was never available in Europe. Despite all this, the Game Gear hit better than other systems that tried to compete with the Game Boy (eg Atari Lynx ). The Game Gear support was finally discontinued in 1997, but Majesco published in 2001 a special version of the Game Gears ( called core) at a reduced price in addition to the re-release of some games.

The increasing diffusion of DVB- T and the associated analogue switch-off of the terrestrial television in many parts of Europe the TV reception with the optional TV tuner is now possible both in Germany and in Austria and Switzerland only with an antenna adapter cable networks. Another problem is the capacitors used the time lose to capacity. This is manifested by low tone and low contrast of the screen.

Specifications

  • Main processor: Zilog Z80 (8 -bit)
  • Processor Speed ​​: 3.58 MHz
  • Resolution: 160 × 144 pixels
  • Number of Colours: 4096
  • At the same time displayable colors: 32 ( 4096 TV tuner, all at the same time )
  • Maximum number of sprites: 64
  • Sprite Size: 8 × 8 or 8 × 16 (or twice in zoom mode )
  • Screen size: 8.1 cm
  • Backlight: mini fluorescent tube
  • Size: 20 cm × 11 cm × 3.4 cm
  • Weight: about 400g
  • Power Supply: 6 AA batteries, Battery Pack or 9V power plug
  • Audio: 4- channel sound
  • RAM: 8 KB
  • Video RAM: 16 KB
  • Accessories: TV tuner, FM tuner, clock, battery packs, Master Gear Converter, Screen Lens ( magnifying glass for a larger image ) Carry Case (pocket for Game Gear, Battery Pack and some games ), Gear2Gear -Link cable

Games

It brought together more than 300 games for the console. A number of them were ported from other Sega consoles, such as the Master System and Mega Drive.

Selection

  • Choplifter III
  • Legend of Illusion - Starring Mickey Mouse
  • Mega Man
  • Sonic The Hedgehog Triple Trouble
  • The GG Shinobi II
  • Les Schtroumpfs / The Smurfs
  • Power Strike II
  • Robocop versus Terminator
  • The Lion King
  • The Chess Master
  • Columns
  • G * Log - Air Battle
  • F1
  • Jurassic Park
  • Sonic - The Hedgehog
  • Sonic - Chaos
  • Sonic - The Hedgehog 2
  • The Ottifants
  • Prince of Persia
  • Ecco - The Dolphin
  • Alien 3
  • The Terminator
  • Slider
  • Sega Game Pack 4 in 1
  • Streets of Rage
  • Olympic gold
  • Chuck Rock
  • Wonder Boy
  • Castle of Illusion - Starring Mickey Mouse
  • Batman Returns
  • Cool Spot
  • Lemmings
  • Super Monaco GP
  • Ariel - The Little Mermaid
Cartridge (electronics) Australia (continent) Columns (video game) Sega Nomad Sprite (computer graphics) Shinobi (disambiguation) Jurassic Park (film) Slider (disambiguation) Lemmings (video game) Sega 32X Dreamcast Variations of the Sega Mega Drive#The Mega Jet and Sega Nomad
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