Difference between revisions of "Master System"
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[[Image:Master System - With Controller.jpg|thumb|256x256px|The North American Master System.]] | [[Image:Master System - With Controller.jpg|thumb|256x256px|The North American Master System.]] | ||
| − | The '''Master System''', originally released in Japan as the | + | The '''Master System''', originally released in Japan as the [[Sega Mark III]], is a [[video game console]] developed by [[Sega]] and first released in the USA in September of 1986. Although the system didn't sell very well in the USA, it sold very well in Europe and Brazil. |
| − | I never owned a Master System, and I only played | + | The Master System uses an 8-bit [[Zilog Z80|Zilog Z80A]] CPU clocked at 4 MHz. It has 8 kB of ROM, 8 kB of RAM, and 16 kB of video RAM. Video output uses an RF switch and the video chip uses a resolution of 256 × 192 pixels and supports up to 32 colors at one time (though few games took advantage of this) from a total palette of 64 colors. Games were stored on cartridges or [[Sega Cards]]. For audio the system used a Texas Instruments [[SN76489]] PSG chip. None of the non-Japanese consoles could use the optional Yamaha [[YM2413]] FM synthesis chip. The platform's hardware also served as a template for what would eventually become the handheld [[Game Gear]]. |
| + | |||
| + | ==Personal== | ||
| + | I never owned a Master System, and I only played one once in the late 1980s, after going over to a friend's house after school. He had a Master System. The only game I remember playing was ''[[Wonder Boy]]''. I remember thinking it was stupid for the designers to have put the pause button on the console. Later, a different friend who owned a [[Genesis]] had a collection of Master System games, but he didn't have the [[Power Base Converter]] to play them, so I only got to look at the box and cartridge art. I didn't play a game on the console again until about 15 years later when Master System emulation became popular. | ||
| + | |||
| + | I've never owned a Master System, and have only used one in real life for a couple hours. | ||
==Games== | ==Games== | ||
: ''See all [[:Category:Master System Games|Master System Games]].'' | : ''See all [[:Category:Master System Games|Master System Games]].'' | ||
| + | ===Initial Games=== | ||
| + | The initial Master System included pack-in dual cart of ''[[Hang-On]]'' and ''Safari Hunt''. Later versions came with ''Missile Defense 3D'', and the Master System II included ''[[Alex the Kid in Miracle World]]''. All versions of the Master System included a hidden BIOS game called ''[[Snail Maze]]''. | ||
| + | |||
| + | The following games were available at the Master System's launch: ''[[Choplifter]]'', ''[[Hang-On]]'', ''Teddy Boy'', ''My Hero'', ''Ghost House'', and ''[[Fantasy Zone]]''. | ||
| + | |||
| + | ===Personal=== | ||
These are the Master System games that are important to me: | These are the Master System games that are important to me: | ||
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Aladdin - MS - EU.jpg|''[[Aladdin (SIMS video game)|Aladdin]]'' | Aladdin - MS - EU.jpg|''[[Aladdin (SIMS video game)|Aladdin]]'' | ||
Castle of Illusion - MS - USA.jpg|''[[Castle of Illusion (8-bit)|Castle of Illusion]]'' | Castle of Illusion - MS - USA.jpg|''[[Castle of Illusion (8-bit)|Castle of Illusion]]'' | ||
| + | Mickey's Ultimate Challenge - SMS - Brazil.jpg|''[[Mickey's Ultimate Challenge]]'' | ||
| + | Shanghai - SMS - USA.jpg|''[[Shanghai (video game)|Shanghai]]'' | ||
| + | Submarine Attack - SMS - Europe.jpg|''[[Submarine Attack]]'' | ||
</gallery> | </gallery> | ||
| Line 18: | Line 32: | ||
===Good=== | ===Good=== | ||
* This was the first platform to release games for the ''[[Phantasy Star (universe)|Phantasy Star]]'' and ''[[Alex Kidd (universe)|Alex Kidd]]'' series, and the first US release of a game from the ''[[Ys (universe)|Ys]]'' series. | * This was the first platform to release games for the ''[[Phantasy Star (universe)|Phantasy Star]]'' and ''[[Alex Kidd (universe)|Alex Kidd]]'' series, and the first US release of a game from the ''[[Ys (universe)|Ys]]'' series. | ||
| − | * The console was backward-compatible with the [[SG-1000]]. Although, this wasn't much, as the console had few games, and even fewer good games. | + | * The console was backward-compatible with the [[Sega SG-1000]]. Although, this wasn't much, as the console had few games, and even fewer good games, it's still comforting knowing you won't have to forfeit your existing game library. |
* Sega used plastic boxes for its games which greatly improved their shelf life. | * Sega used plastic boxes for its games which greatly improved their shelf life. | ||
| Line 25: | Line 39: | ||
* Despite being released two years after the NES, games released around the same time looked better on the NES. The Master System was superior to the stock NES, but the NES saw development of various chips added into game cartridges which improved their quality. | * Despite being released two years after the NES, games released around the same time looked better on the NES. The Master System was superior to the stock NES, but the NES saw development of various chips added into game cartridges which improved their quality. | ||
* Pause is not on the controller, but on the console itself, which is really annoying, especially if you're playing a game that requires fast reflexes. | * Pause is not on the controller, but on the console itself, which is really annoying, especially if you're playing a game that requires fast reflexes. | ||
| − | * Sega strangely forced very austere box design in order to make sure their grid pattern accounted for most of the box. This meant that game covers looked really unimpressive, which probably hurt their sales. | + | * Sega strangely forced very austere box design in order to make sure their grid pattern accounted for most of the box for North American and Europe. This meant that game covers looked really unimpressive, which probably hurt their sales. |
===Ugly=== | ===Ugly=== | ||
| Line 33: | Line 47: | ||
===Documentation=== | ===Documentation=== | ||
<gallery> | <gallery> | ||
| − | Master System - Europe - Service Manual.pdf|European | + | Master System - Manual - Service Manual - Europe.pdf|European Master System Service Manual. |
| + | Master System II - Manual - Service Manual - Europe.pdf|European Master System II Service Manual. | ||
| + | Master System - Manual - Software Reference Manual - Rev 1.pdf|European Software Reference Manual (rev 1). | ||
Master System - Ad.jpg|Ad. | Master System - Ad.jpg|Ad. | ||
Master System - Ad 2.jpg|Ad. | Master System - Ad 2.jpg|Ad. | ||
| Line 40: | Line 56: | ||
===Videos=== | ===Videos=== | ||
| − | + | {{YouTube|_I5KwWa5aWw|Review - Segaiden.}} | |
| + | {{YouTube|Yim2NpqmjWI|Did You Know Gaming?}} | ||
==Links== | ==Links== | ||
{{Link|Wikipedia|https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Master_System}} | {{Link|Wikipedia|https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Master_System}} | ||
{{Link|MobyGames|https://www.mobygames.com/browse/games/sega-master-system/list-games}} | {{Link|MobyGames|https://www.mobygames.com/browse/games/sega-master-system/list-games}} | ||
| + | {{Link|SegaRetro|https://segaretro.org/Sega_Master_System}} | ||
{{Link|VGMPF|2=http://www.vgmpf.com/Wiki/index.php?title=Master_System}} | {{Link|VGMPF|2=http://www.vgmpf.com/Wiki/index.php?title=Master_System}} | ||
| + | |||
| + | * [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 Master System, originally released in Japan as the Sega Mark III, is a video game console developed by Sega and first released in the USA in September of 1986. Although the system didn't sell very well in the USA, it sold very well in Europe and Brazil.
The Master System uses an 8-bit Zilog Z80A CPU clocked at 4 MHz. It has 8 kB of ROM, 8 kB of RAM, and 16 kB of video RAM. Video output uses an RF switch and the video chip uses a resolution of 256 × 192 pixels and supports up to 32 colors at one time (though few games took advantage of this) from a total palette of 64 colors. Games were stored on cartridges or Sega Cards. For audio the system used a Texas Instruments SN76489 PSG chip. None of the non-Japanese consoles could use the optional Yamaha YM2413 FM synthesis chip. The platform's hardware also served as a template for what would eventually become the handheld Game Gear.
Contents
Personal
I never owned a Master System, and I only played one once in the late 1980s, after going over to a friend's house after school. He had a Master System. The only game I remember playing was Wonder Boy. I remember thinking it was stupid for the designers to have put the pause button on the console. Later, a different friend who owned a Genesis had a collection of Master System games, but he didn't have the Power Base Converter to play them, so I only got to look at the box and cartridge art. I didn't play a game on the console again until about 15 years later when Master System emulation became popular.
I've never owned a Master System, and have only used one in real life for a couple hours.
Games
- See all Master System Games.
Initial Games
The initial Master System included pack-in dual cart of Hang-On and Safari Hunt. Later versions came with Missile Defense 3D, and the Master System II included Alex the Kid in Miracle World. All versions of the Master System included a hidden BIOS game called Snail Maze.
The following games were available at the Master System's launch: Choplifter, Hang-On, Teddy Boy, My Hero, Ghost House, and Fantasy Zone.
Personal
These are the Master System games that are important to me:
Review
Good
- This was the first platform to release games for the Phantasy Star and Alex Kidd series, and the first US release of a game from the Ys series.
- The console was backward-compatible with the Sega SG-1000. Although, this wasn't much, as the console had few games, and even fewer good games, it's still comforting knowing you won't have to forfeit your existing game library.
- Sega used plastic boxes for its games which greatly improved their shelf life.
Bad
- Sega couldn't attract very many third party developers, so the platform never really developed a large catalog of games. This was primarily due to Nintendo's anti-competition policy at the time.
- Despite being released two years after the NES, games released around the same time looked better on the NES. The Master System was superior to the stock NES, but the NES saw development of various chips added into game cartridges which improved their quality.
- Pause is not on the controller, but on the console itself, which is really annoying, especially if you're playing a game that requires fast reflexes.
- Sega strangely forced very austere box design in order to make sure their grid pattern accounted for most of the box for North American and Europe. This meant that game covers looked really unimpressive, which probably hurt their sales.
Ugly
- Nothing.
Media
Documentation
European Master System Service Manual.
European Master System II Service Manual.
European Software Reference Manual (rev 1).
Ad.
Ad.
Toys "R" Us ad with an NES.
Videos
Links
- 8bitworkshop.com - Online development.
