Difference between revisions of "Game Gear"
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[[Image:Game Gear.jpg|thumb|256x256px|The Game Gear hand held.]] | [[Image:Game Gear.jpg|thumb|256x256px|The Game Gear hand held.]] | ||
| − | The '''Game Gear''' is a | + | The '''Game Gear''' is a handheld [[video game console]] developed by [[Sega]] and first released in Japan on 1990-10-06. It uses hardware so similar to the [[Master System]] it can play its games with an adapter, although many games were still ported or released individually on both systems to account for the smaller screen size. It uses the same 8-bit [[Zilog Z80|Z80A]] CPU, same graphics chip, and same [[SN76489]] sound chip. |
| − | Around 1992, | + | When the Game Gear was first released it had to compete with the [[Game Boy]] and [[Lynx]]. It was able to supplant the Lynx and took the second place position, but it never even came close to dethroning the Game Boy. |
| + | |||
| + | ==Personal== | ||
| + | Around 1992, my friend Rob won a Game Gear in a raffle. I remember seeing it and thinking it was too large for a portable gaming device. I don't know if I played it, but, if I did, I probably only played ''[[Columns]]'', the pack-in game. My friend agreed that the system wasn't very good and he was able to return it to the store where he won it and exchanged it for a [[Genesis]] instead. I have never played a Game Gear since, any other games I've played on the system have been through emulation. | ||
| + | |||
| + | I've never owned a Game Gear and only very briefly played one in real life. | ||
==Games== | ==Games== | ||
| Line 13: | Line 18: | ||
Aladdin - GG - USA.jpg|''[[Aladdin (SIMS video game)|Aladdin]]'' | Aladdin - GG - USA.jpg|''[[Aladdin (SIMS video game)|Aladdin]]'' | ||
</gallery> | </gallery> | ||
| + | |||
| + | ==Hardware== | ||
| + | * [[Game Genie]] | ||
| + | * [[TV Tuner (Game Gear)|TV Turner]] | ||
==Review== | ==Review== | ||
| Line 22: | Line 31: | ||
===Bad=== | ===Bad=== | ||
| − | * Like with many of Sega's consoles, they just couldn't attract that many high-quality third party developers, so the catalog of games is lacking. [[Nintendo]]'s anti-competition policies no doubt contributed to major developers like [[Capcom]] and [[Konami]] from even bothering to release | + | * Like with many of Sega's consoles, they just couldn't attract that many high-quality third party developers, so the catalog of games is lacking. [[Nintendo]]'s anti-competition policies no doubt contributed to major developers like [[Capcom]] and [[Konami]] from even bothering to release titles for the system. |
* A lot of the games that were released on the Game Gear were just watered down versions of what was being released on the [[Genesis]]. | * A lot of the games that were released on the Game Gear were just watered down versions of what was being released on the [[Genesis]]. | ||
| − | * Although it had about three times as many games as the [[Lynx]], it only had about a third of the number of games of the [[Game Boy]]. | + | * Although it had about three times as many games as the [[Lynx]], it still only had about a third of the number of games of the [[Game Boy]]. |
===Ugly=== | ===Ugly=== | ||
| − | * The devices backlit color display required a lot of power. The Game Gear needed six AAs batteries to run (a lot for the time), and you would realistically only get about 4 hours of solid game play before they were drained. This made it very expensive to use a Game Gear. | + | * The devices backlit color display required a lot of power. The Game Gear needed six AAs batteries to run (a lot for the time), and you would realistically only get about 4 hours of solid game play before they were drained. This made it very expensive to use a Game Gear. A power cable could be used, but that decreased portability, and rechargeable battery packs were made, but that was just another cost. |
==Media== | ==Media== | ||
| Line 48: | Line 57: | ||
Game Gear - Japan - Ad - Back.jpg|Japanese ad, back. | Game Gear - Japan - Ad - Back.jpg|Japanese ad, back. | ||
</gallery> | </gallery> | ||
| + | |||
| + | ===Videos=== | ||
| + | {{YouTube|ree0AZXlczk|Game Gear Works - 1990, 1/3.}} | ||
| + | {{YouTube|ZwBQTa_BJDU|Game Gear Works - 1990, 2/3.}} | ||
| + | {{YouTube|5kzPufjMCdI|Game Gear Works - 1990, 3/3.}} | ||
==Links== | ==Links== | ||
{{Link|Wikipedia|https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Game_Gear}} | {{Link|Wikipedia|https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Game_Gear}} | ||
{{Link|MobyGames|https://www.mobygames.com/browse/games/game-gear/list-games}} | {{Link|MobyGames|https://www.mobygames.com/browse/games/game-gear/list-games}} | ||
| + | {{Link|SegaRetro|https://segaretro.org/Sega_Game_Gear}} | ||
| + | |||
| + | * [https://8bitworkshop.com 8bitworkshop.com] - Online development. | ||
[[Category: Video Game Platforms]] | [[Category: Video Game Platforms]] | ||
Latest revision as of 09:36, 10 October 2023
The Game Gear is a handheld video game console developed by Sega and first released in Japan on 1990-10-06. It uses hardware so similar to the Master System it can play its games with an adapter, although many games were still ported or released individually on both systems to account for the smaller screen size. It uses the same 8-bit Z80A CPU, same graphics chip, and same SN76489 sound chip.
When the Game Gear was first released it had to compete with the Game Boy and Lynx. It was able to supplant the Lynx and took the second place position, but it never even came close to dethroning the Game Boy.
Contents
Personal
Around 1992, my friend Rob won a Game Gear in a raffle. I remember seeing it and thinking it was too large for a portable gaming device. I don't know if I played it, but, if I did, I probably only played Columns, the pack-in game. My friend agreed that the system wasn't very good and he was able to return it to the store where he won it and exchanged it for a Genesis instead. I have never played a Game Gear since, any other games I've played on the system have been through emulation.
I've never owned a Game Gear and only very briefly played one in real life.
Games
- See all Game Gear Games.
These are the Game Gear games that are important to me:
Hardware
Review
Good
- The color graphics are very attractive on the device, especially compared to the green and black Game Boy.
- With a backlight, the device can easily be played in total darkness.
- Selling an optional TV tuner was a nice addition for those who could afford it.
- Making it backward compatible with the Master System (via an adapter) gave the Game Gear a huge boost in available titles, although, the Game Gear's resolution couldn't handle the Master System games properly.
Bad
- Like with many of Sega's consoles, they just couldn't attract that many high-quality third party developers, so the catalog of games is lacking. Nintendo's anti-competition policies no doubt contributed to major developers like Capcom and Konami from even bothering to release titles for the system.
- A lot of the games that were released on the Game Gear were just watered down versions of what was being released on the Genesis.
- Although it had about three times as many games as the Lynx, it still only had about a third of the number of games of the Game Boy.
Ugly
- The devices backlit color display required a lot of power. The Game Gear needed six AAs batteries to run (a lot for the time), and you would realistically only get about 4 hours of solid game play before they were drained. This made it very expensive to use a Game Gear. A power cable could be used, but that decreased portability, and rechargeable battery packs were made, but that was just another cost.
Media
Boxes
Japanese box.
North American box.
European box.
Documentation
North American manual.
European manual.
Brazilian manual
US Hardware Reference Manual.
US Service Manual (VA1).
EU Maintenance Manual.
Japanese ad, front.
Japanese ad, back.
Videos
Links
- 8bitworkshop.com - Online development.
