This system SG- 1000 is backward compatible. In addition to the standard game card slot attached to the game machine in that era, Mark III also has a special socket for "Sega Card", which is similar to SG- 1000' s "Card Grabber" accessory, and is used to play those smaller and cheaper main system games. The game is stored on a small card-like game tape.
Mark III has been redesigned as Sega's main system in other markets. Except for some external changes, the internal architecture of SMS is basically the same as that of Mark III. The truly redesigned platform was released in Japan in 1987, adding the built-in Yamaha YM24 13 FM sound chip, continuous shooting key and 3-D glasses adapter. Accessories are purchased separately when using Mark III.
The game cassette version of Sega Master system released outside Japan is different from the Japanese version in cassette shape and needle setting. This is usually considered as limiting the sales area.
At the same time, like Nintendo, Master System has its own mascot. The second mascot in Sega's history is Opa-opa, the protagonist of Fantasy Zone, which is also registered in the main system and mentioned in Zillion's manual. Alex Kidd actually quickly became the mascot of Sega, especially in the western market where fantasy zone was not popular. But Alex Kidd didn't mention it as a mascot in the official materials, or it was just a marketing tool of Sega for Nintendo's Mario. When 199 1 officially became the mascot of Sega, there was also a game that produced a version of Master System, but it was never sold in Japan.
Neither Mark III nor Master System has won in the Japanese market, because its powerful competitor, Red and White Machine, occupies 95% of the Japanese market.
The last game released in Japan was Bomber Raid released by Sega on February 4th, 1989/kloc-0. 1June, 986, this machine was redesigned and released in the United States under the name of Sega Master System, which is almost one year since the release of the red and white machine in the United States. This machine is worth 200 dollars. Master System was finally sold in other regional markets, including the second sale of 1987 in Japan, only this time it was called Master System.
By 1988, Nintendo controlled 83% of the market share of game consoles in North America. . The agency of Master System in North America is in Tonka's hands, but its market share is gradually shrinking, largely because of Nintendo's policy suppression. One of the policies is that third-party games released on Nintendo platform should not be transplanted to competitors' machines. As a result, many famous Masterpieces on arcade and red and white machines cannot be transplanted to the master system. Activision and Parker Brothers are the only third-party software vendors of Master System in North America, but neither company released more than five games on Master System, and they also ended their support for Master System at 1989.
1990, Sega finally succeeded in the North American market with their Mega Drive, thus getting back the agency right of Master System from Tonka. So they designed Sega Master System II, which is a cheap version of Master System. There is no reset button, no expansion port that is basically not used, and no card slot. Because 3D glasses need to be connected by a card holder, naturally 3D glasses can't be used either. In order to fight against Nintendo's Super Mary Brothers, the machine no longer uses snail maze and Hang-On/Safari Hunt, and instead uses Alex Kidd in Wonderland as a built-in game.
Despite Sega's efforts in publicity, the sales of Master System II in North America are very poor. At the order of the US government, Nintendo cancelled the original strict third-party agreement at 199 1, but the main system went from bad to worse. At the beginning of 1992, the sales of Master System in North America were not worth mentioning.
The last game released by Master System in the United States was sonic the hedgehog released by Sega itself in the autumn of 199 1, and then some European games were released in Canada. In Europe, the master system is very successful. Sega sells Master System in many countries, including several countries where Nintendo's tentacles have not yet reached. Master System has been strongly supported by European third-party software vendors, and some American publishers have released some games in Europe that cannot be sold in the United States due to Nintendo restrictions.
Sega has made some achievements in Germany, and Master System was launched by agent Ariolasoft in the winter of 1987. In France, these machines are distributed by Virgin Group. The agent in Britain is Mastertronic, which was later acquired by Virgin Group.
The agent in Italy is Giochi Preziosi, who won the red and white machine in the first year after its release. The red and white machine earned a little face in Italy after Mega Drive was released.
The life cycle of Master system in Europe is also much longer than that in Japan and North America. Its competitiveness with Nintendo's red and white machine, and even beat it, has won extensive comments on its success in Europe. This success also made Sega decide to open a European branch.
Because its architecture is similar to game equipment, software developers can develop games of both main system and game equipment. In fact, many Gear games released in North America and Japan are released on the Master System platform in Europe.
Just like in North America, Sega launched Master System II in Europe. At first, its built-in game was Alex Kidd in Wonderland, and later it was changed to sonic the hedgehog.
The last game released by SMS in Europe was Smurfs: Travel Around the World released by Infogrames at 1996. Its successor Mega Drive is also very popular in Europe, and Sega's support for Mega Drive will probably last until this time. After that, Sega concentrated on promoting Sega Saturn and ended its support for these two machines. Brazil is one of the markets where Master System has won a great victory. The agent here is Tec Toy, a Brazilian distributor of Sega. It released at least five versions of game consoles from 1989 to 1995, and translated many games into Portuguese. The characters in the game have also been renamed to integrate into the local mainstream culture (for example, Pastime in Land of Monsters has become M &:ocirc；; Nica, the protagonist of popular children's cartoons in Brazil, was written by Mauricio De Sosa).
Brazil has also produced many original games, such as Sítio do Pica Pau Amarelo (adapted from Monteiro lobato), Castelo Rá-Tim-Bum (from TV Cultura series) and TV Colosso (from Rede Globo series).
Among the hosts distributed in Brazil, the most noteworthy is the wireless master control system Compact developed by Tec Toy. The host uses radio frequency to transmit A/V signals without cable connection. Produced between 1994- 1997, it is the key object of host collectors. There is also Master System Girl, which is similar in design but mainly aimed at the female market. Compared with the former, the biggest difference is its pink body.
Then, the game on Game Gear was transplanted to this host, and several original Brazilian titles appeared. Tec Toy even released an authorized version of Street Fighter 2. Host manufacturers obviously know Brazilians very well, so Brazil has made greater achievements than other regions.
The final version is the so-called main system 3 (completely different from the main system III which is actually the gray main system II). It is a brand-new modern black design with mixed blue details in the middle. Despite this visual change, the name has not been changed, but Arabic numerals have been replaced by Roman numerals. It has 13 1 built-in games, including classic sonic the hedgehog, Alex Kidd and Tomahawk. Generally speaking, Sega Master System has made some achievements in the world, but it has not won in Japan and North America. However, Sega gained more market share in Europe, Brazil and North America with its successor Mega Drive.