The Sega Master System

Sega Master System Outline

• The Sega Master System Console. One unique feature was that the pause button was on the console itself. This was also rereleased with cosmetic changes in the early 90's.
• B. The SMS controller. Note the similarities between it and the NES controller.
• C. This is the Arcade Stick Periphrial. It had to be purchased seperately. This would be useful to those that perferred an arcade style joystick. Note the design, unusual in the buttons are on the left side of the controller.
• D. Standard SMS cartridge. The SMS market wasn't really big enough to warrant any pirate cartridge activity.
• E. An example of Sega's Card media. These were an inexpensive alternative to cartridges. However, due to their memory constraints, and the poor software often released on card games, they eventually died out.
• F. Typical SMS box. These were sturdy black plastic with white box art on top. This style of boxes would later be used again for the Genesis/Megadrive.

Known as the Mark III in Japan, the Sega Master System never had much of a chance in the American Market. Sega, known for its successful arcade hits, wanted a piece of the home market as well. They released the Sega Master System to go head to head with the NES in 1986. It had the technology edge on the Nintendo with a faster processor and more colors. It also had a unique credit card sized media that the NES did not.

The main problem with the SMS was lack of third party support. This was due to Nintendo's exclusivity agreement with third party publishers- if someone wanted to develop for the lucrative NES market, they could not release games on other systems. This lead to Sega being the only source for SMS games. Unfortunately, many of these titles were of mediocre quality that did not take advantage of the SMS's added power. It did not help that Sega lacked a recognizable mascot at that point, or that they did little to promote or advertise there system.

Sega soon turned their attention to the Genesis, and the SMS faded from the marketplace after 1991. In the end, the NES's dominance and Nintendo's policies were too much for Sega to overcome.

Even Alf couldn't save the SMS

Notable Titles: Phantasy Star, Choplifter, Shinobi, Out Run, Afterburner, Alex Kidd series, Wonderboy series

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