Sega Master System
The Sega Master System (マスターシステム Masutā Shisutemu, abbreviated to SMS or Master System) is a third-generation 8-bit cartridge-based video game console that was manufactured and released by Sega in 1986 in North America, seven months after the original NES, and in 1987 in Europe. Its original Japanese incarnation was the "Sega Mark III", which was first released in 1985.
Above: The North American version of Master System. Below: The PAL version of Master System II | |
Manufacturer | Sega |
Type | Video game console |
Generation | Third generation |
Release date(s) | JP October 20, 1985 (Mark III) NA June 1986 EU September 1987 JP October 18, 1987 (Master System) |
Discontinued | JP 1989 NA 1991 CA 1996 EU 1996 |
Units sold | Worldwide: 10-14.8 million Japan: 1 million (as of 1986) United States: 2 million[8] (as of 1993) Western Europe: 6.8 million (estimated as of December 1993) Brazil: 5 million (as of 2012) |
Media | ROM cartridge |
CPU | 8-bit Zilog Z80 at 3.58 MHz (3.579545 MHz) |
Storage capacity | Sega Card (256 kbits max. capacity) |
Controller input | SMS controllers |
Best-selling game | Alex Kidd in Miracle World |
Successor | Sega Mega Drive/Genesis |
When the system was later released in North America it was sold in two incarnations: a bare-bones console with one controller bundle called the Sega Base System and a bundle with two controllers and a light gun entitled the Sega Master System. It was this latter configuration that became the more popular and better known of the two, and the system almost immediately became synonymous with this bundle. The system itself appears to have originally been intended to have been referred to as the "Sega Power Base" in English-speaking markets, and the Sega Genesis/Mega Drive adapter that lets Master System games be played on that console was later referred to as the "Power Base Converter".
In the European, Oceanic, and Brazilian markets, this console launched Sega onto a competitive level comparable to Nintendo, due to its wider availability, but it failed to put a dent in the North American and Japanese markets. The Master System was released as a direct competitor to the Nintendo Entertainment System in the third videogame generation. Despite its shaky performance in the major territories, it enjoyed over a decade of life in smaller markets. The later Sega Game Gear is effectively a hand-held Master System, with a few enhancements, although it required an adapter to play actual Master System cartridges.
Virtual Console Global Problems (Sega Master System)
There are no known global problems with Sega Master System titles on Dolphin.
Virtual Console Compatibility List (Sega Master System)
Help to complete the list!
- If a game is missing or information is incomplete, feel free to modify this page. Just click on edit at the top of the page. Please put in alphabetical order!
- If you want to update a game's rating, click the icon to the right of the rating stars, and put just a number of 1 through 5 into the page. Use the compatibility guide below as a reference for what rating to use.
- If there are problems with a game, go to the page for that game and write down the problem!
Region indicator | Region description |
---|---|
AU | Australia |
CA | Canada (NTSC /w French translation) |
EU | Europe, PAL/SECAM territories |
JP | Japan and Asia (NTSC-J) |
KO | Korea |
NA | North America and NTSC territories |
RU | Russia |
Title | Year | Genre | Region | Compatibility |
---|---|---|---|---|
Alex Kidd in Miracle World | 2008 | Platform | JP/NA/EU | 5 |
Alex Kidd in Shinobi World | 2010 | Platform, Hack and slash | NA/EU | 5 |
Alex Kidd: The Lost Stars | 2009 | Platform | JP/NA/EU | 4 |
Enduro Racer | 2008 | Racing | JP/NA/EU | 5 |
Fantasy Zone | 2008 | Shoot 'em up | JP/NA/EU | 5 |
Fantasy Zone II: The Tears of Opa-Opa | 2009 | Shoot 'em up | JP/NA/EU | 5 |
Hokuto no Ken | 2008 | Beat 'em up | JP | 4 |
Phantasy Star | 2009 | Role-Playing | JP/NA/EU | 5 |
R-Type | 2009 | Shoot 'em up | JP/NA/EU | 5 |
Rambo: First Blood Part II aka Secret Command aka Ashura | 2009 | Run and gun | JP/NA/EU | 5 |
Sonic the Hedgehog | 2008 | Platform | JP/NA/EU | 5 |
Sonic the Hedgehog 2 | 2008 | Platform | JP/NA/EU | 5 |
Sonic the Hedgehog Chaos aka Sonic & Tails | 2009 | Platform | JP/NA/EU | 5 |
Space Harrier | 2008 | Rail Shooter | JP/NA/EU | 5 |
Wonder Boy | 2008 | Action, Platform | JP/NA/EU | 5 |
Wonder Boy in Monster Land | 2009 | Action, Platform | JP/NA/EU | Template:Ratings/Wonder Boy in Monster Land |
Wonder Boy III: The Dragon's Trap | 2009 | Action, Platform | NA/EU | 5 |