Editing Sega Master System

{{Infobox information appliance
| title        = Master System
| logo         = [[File:Sega-master-system-logo.png|frameless]]<br>[[File:Mark III Logo.png|frameless]]
| image        = <div style="white-space: nowrap; border: #dadada solid 1px;">{{nowrap|[[File:Sega-Master-System-Set.jpg|frameless|upright=1.15]]<br/>[[File:Sega Mark III.jpg|frameless|upright=1.15]]<br/>[[File:Master System II.jpg|frameless|upright=1.15]]}}</div>
| caption      = Top: North American/European Master System<br/>Middle: Japanese Sega Mark III<br>Bottom: [[PAL region|PAL]] Master System II
| manufacturer = [[Sega]]
| type         = [[Home video game console]]
| generation   = [[Third generation of video game consoles|Third generation]]
| releasedate  = {{vgrelease|JP|October 20, 1985 (Mark III)|NA|September 1986|JP|October 1987|EU|1987|BRA|1989|KOR|1989}}
| lifespan     = {{vgrelease|WW|1985–present}} {{vgrelease|NA|1986-92}}
| price        = JP¥16,800<br>US$200<br>GB£99
| discontinued = {{vgrelease|NA|1992}}
| unitssold    = Worldwide: 13 million <small>(as of 2009)</small> (not including recent Brazil figures)<br>Japan: 1 million <small>(as of 1986)</small><br>United States: 2 million <small>({{nowrap|as of 1993}})</small><br>Europe: {{nowrap|6.8 million}} <small>{{nowrap|(estimated as of December 1993)}}</small><br>Brazil: {{nowrap|8 million}} <small>(as of 2016)</small>
| media        = [[ROM cartridge]], [[Sega Card]]
| cpu          = [[Zilog Z80A]]
| CPUspeed     = 4 MHz
| memory       = 8 kB RAM, 16 kB VRAM
| display      = 256 × 192 resolution, 32 colors on-screen
| graphics     = [[Yamaha]] YM2602B [[Video display controller|VDP]]
| sound        = Yamaha VDP [[Programmable Sound Generator|PSG]]([[SN76489]]), Yamaha [[YM2413]]{{efn|Japanese models only.}}
| compatibility = [[SG-1000]]{{efn|Japanese models only.}}
| predecessor  = SG-1000
| successor    = [[Sega Genesis]]
| related      = [[Game Gear]]
}}
The '''Master System''' is a [[History of video game consoles (third generation)|third-generation]] [[home video game console]] manufactured by [[Sega]] between 1985 and 1992. It was originally released in 1985 as the '''Sega Mark III''' in Japan, and was renamed and redesigned for overseas markets, launching in 1986 in North America, 1987 in Europe, and 1989 in Brazil. It was rereleased in Japan in 1987 with additional features.

The Mark III and original Master System models used both [[Game cartridge|cartridges]] and the credit card-sized [[Sega Card]]s, which retailed at lower prices than cartridges but had lower storage capacity. Later Master System models have no card slot. The Master System also featured accessories such as a [[light gun]] and 3D glasses designed to work with a range of specially coded games.

Succeeding the [[SG-1000]], the Master System was released in competition with the [[Nintendo Entertainment System]] (NES). It had fewer well-reviewed games than the NES, and a smaller library, due to Nintendo licensing policies requiring platform exclusivity. Despite the Master System's newer hardware, it failed to overturn Nintendo's significant market share advantage in Japan and North America. However, it attained significantly more success in Europe and Brazil. 

The Master System is estimated to have sold at 13 million units, excluding recent Brazil sales. Retrospective criticism has recognized its role in the development of the [[Sega Genesis]], and a number of well-received games, particularly in [[PAL region]]s, but is critical of its limited library in the [[NTSC]] regions, which were mainly dominated by [[Nintendo]]'s NES. As of 2015, the Master System was still in production in Brazil by [[Tectoy]], making it the world's longest-lived console.

==Technical specifications==
[[File:KL NEC uPD780C.jpg|thumb|left|[[Zilog Z80A]] manufactured by [[NEC]]|alt=A Zilog Z80A processor, the CPU in the Master System]]
The main CPU of the Master System is a Zilog Z80A, an [[8-bit]] processor running at 4&nbsp;MHz.  It has 8 [[kilobyte|kB]] of [[read-only memory|ROM]], 8 kB of [[random access memory|RAM]] and 16 kB of video RAM.  Video is provided through an [[RF switch]] and displays at a resolution of 256 × 192 pixels and up to 32 colors at one time from a total palette of 64 colors.  Physically, the Master System measures {{convert|365|x|170|x|70|mm|in}}, while the Mark III measures {{convert|318|x|145|x|52|mm|in}}.  Both the Mark III and the Master System possess two slots for game input: one for Mega Cartridges and one for [[Sega Card]]s, along with an expansion slot and 2 controller ports. Sound is provided by the [[SN76489]] [[Programmable sound generator|PSG]] chip. The Japanese version also integrates the [[YM2413]] [[Frequency modulation synthesis|FM]] chip, which had been an optional feature on the Mark III.  With few exceptions, Master System hardware is identical to the hardware in the Mark III. Games for the console are playable on the Sega Genesis by use of an accessory known as the Power Base Converter, as well as on the Game Gear by use of the Master System Converter.  In comparison to Nintendo's NES, the Master System was designed with superior hardware.  It contains twice as much memory as its competitor, and its CPU runs at a faster clock rate.

{| class="wikitable" style="float:right;"
|-
|[[File:Sega-Master-System-Controllers.jpg|none|90px|alt=Two Master system controllers]] || [[File:SMS-Light-Phaser.jpg|none|90px|alt=A Master System Light Phaser]] || [[File:Sega-Masters-Sys-3D-Glasses.jpg|none|90px|alt=A pair of Sega 3D glasses]] || |[[File:Scompact.jpg|none|90px|alt=A picture of the Master system 3 compact]] || [[File:Master system girl transparent.png|none|90px|alt=A picture of the Master System Girl]]
|-
|width="90"| <center>Master System controllers</center> ||width="90"| <center>Light Phaser</center> ||width="90"| <center>SegaScope 3-D glasses</center> ||width="90"| <center>Master System 3 Compact</center> ||width="90"| <center>Master System Girl</center>
|}

A number of accessories were created for the Mark III and Master System, which are cross-compatible with one another.  The controller for each console consists of a rectangular shape with a control pad and two buttons.  Sega also introduced additional controllers, such as a bike handle controller and paddle controller, for the Mark III and a special sports controller for the Master System.  A pair of [[Active shutter 3D system|3D glasses]] known as SegaScope 3-D were also created for games such as ''[[Space Harrier 3-D|Space Harrier 3D]]'', although Mark III users need an additional converter to use them.  The Mark III also had an optional RF transmitter accessory, allowing wireless play that broadcast the game being played on a [[UHF]] television signal.  A [[light gun]] peripheral known as the Light Phaser was also released.  Its design was based on the weapon of the same name from the Japanese anime ''[[Zillion (anime)|Zillion]]''.

The Master System was produced in several variations.  Released in 1990, the Master System II removed a number of components in order to reduce the cost of the console, including the Sega Card slot, reset button, power light, expansion port, and activation music and logo upon turning on the system.  Several licensed variations of the console also exist in Brazil, created by Tectoy.  A variation known as the Master System 3 Compact was capable of functioning wirelessly with an RF transmitter, while Tectoy also sought to appeal to female gamers in Brazil with the Master System Girl, which was molded in bright pink plastic.  A more recent version, released in 2006 in Brazil known as the Master System 3 Collection, contains 120 built-in games.  Another Master System, built as a [[handheld game console]], was released under several brands including [[Coleco]] in 2006.

==Game library==
[[File:PhantasyStarBattle2.png|thumb|right|''[[Phantasy Star (video game)|Phantasy Star]]'' for the Master System became one of Sega's successful franchises|alt=A gameplay image from Phantasy Star]]
{{See also|List of Master System games}}
Games for the Master System are in two formats: [[ROM cartridge]]s are capable of holding up to 4 [[megabit|Mbit]] of game code, while [[Sega Card]]s (My Cards in Japan) can hold up to 256 kbit. Cards were cheaper to manufacture than the cartridges and included games such as ''[[Spy vs. Spy (1984 video game)|Spy vs. Spy]]'' and ''Super Tennis'', but Sega Cards were eventually dropped due to their lack of memory. Master System cartridges were initially branded Mega Cartridges to emphasize their large ROM size compared with cards, but this label fell into disuse after Sega ceased production of new card software. Games manufactured for the system include ''[[Psycho Fox]]'', ''[[Golvellius]]'', and ''[[Phantasy Star (video game)|Phantasy Star]]'', which became a successful franchise for Sega and is considered one of the benchmark [[role-playing game]]s. The Master System also hosted games featuring Sega's flagship character at the time, [[Alex Kidd]], including ''[[Alex Kidd in Miracle World]]''. ''[[Wonder Boy III: The Dragon's Trap]]'' has garnered recognition as "a genuine milestone in video game design" due to its innovative blend of platforming gameplay with RPG elements. Built-in games are common in Master System hardware, including ''[[Snail Maze]]'' and ''Hang-On'', as well as ''Alex Kidd in Miracle World'' and ''Sonic the Hedgehog''.  Additional games were released in Brazil by Tectoy, including ports of ''[[Street Fighter II]]'' and ''[[Dynamite Headdy]]'' after the Master System was discontinued elsewhere.

Due to Nintendo's licensing practices, few third-party developers contributed games for the Master System. According to Damien McFerran, "Nintendo requested that developers keep their games 'NES exclusive', and given the unassailable position the console enjoyed, few had the will to defy this request." In addition, according to game designer [[Mark Cerny]], most of Sega's early Master System games were developed within a strict three-month deadline, which negatively impacted game quality. ''[[Computer Gaming World]]'' compared new Sega games to "drops of water in the desert". Games for the Master System, however, did take advantage of the advanced hardware of the console in comparison to the NES; ''Alex Kidd in Miracle World'', for example, showcases "blistering colors and more detailed sprites" than competing NES games. In addition, the Master System version of ''[[R-Type]]'' has garnered retrospective praise for its quality, with its visuals considered comparable to those found in the TurboGrafx-16 port of the same game.

''[[Retro Gamer]]'' praised the system's [[PAL region|PAL]] library, referring to it as a "superb library of interesting ports and excellent exclusives" which offered significantly greater depth than what was available in North America and provided a "drip-feed of quality titles" that continued to be released in Europe up until the mid-1990s. Such games ranged from 8-bit entries of Sega Genesis/Mega Drive franchises such as ''[[Sonic the Hedgehog (8-bit video game)|Sonic the Hedgehog]]'' and ''[[Streets of Rage]]'' to dozens of exclusive PAL releases such as ''[[Lucky Dime Caper]]'', ''[[Asterix (1991 video game)|Asterix]]'', ''[[Ninja Gaiden (Master System video game)|Ninja Gaiden]]'', ''[[Master of Darkness]]'' and ''[[Power Strike II]]''.

The Sega Mark III, as well as the Japanese model of the Master System, both have full backwards compatibility with SC-3000/SG-1000 game cartridges (Sega's previous family of 8-bit platforms) and both can also play Sega My Card games without the need of the Card Catcher add-on. However, educational and programming cartridges  for the SC-3000 require the SK-1100 keyboard peripheral, which is compatible with the Mark III, but not with the Japanese Master System. Mark III-specific software were initially available only in the My Card Mark III format, starting with ''[[Teddy Boy Blues]]'' and ''[[Hang-On]]'', both released on October 20, 1985. The first Mark III-specific game cartridge was ''[[Fantasy Zone]]'', released on June 15, 1986. All first-party cartridges for the Mark III and Master System in Japan (along with the SC-3000/SG-1000-compatible title ''Portrait of Loretta'') were released under the Gold Cartridge branding. There were also two games released under a Silver Cartridge branding, ''[[Rygar (video game)|Argus no Jujiken]]'' and ''[[Solomon's Key]]'', which were published by Salio, a dummy brand used by [[Tecmo]] which served as the only third party publisher in Japan that released games for the Mark III/Master System. The Gold and Silver branding actually referred to the color of the boxes that the cartridges were packaged in. The actual cartridges were initially produced in white casing just like the Mark III console itself, but switched to black casing by the end of 1987 in order to match the Master System redesign, with the packaging and labeling of these later cartridges mentioning compatibility with both versions of the console.

==Reception and legacy==
 [[Image:Lange Nacht der Computerspiele 1.JPG|thumb|250px|right|Students in [[Leipzig]], Germany, playing the Master System. The system was very popular in Europe, selling 6.8 million units in that region.]]
Sales of the Master System have been estimated at 13 million units, not including recent Brazil sales.  The console saw much more continued success in Europe and Brazil than it did in Japan and North America. In 1989, the Sega Master System was listed in the top 20 products of [[NPD Group]]'s Toy Retail Sales Tracking Service. However, the ''[[Electronic Gaming Monthly]]'' 1992 Buyer's Guide indicated a souring interest in the console. Four reviewers scored the console 5, 4, 5, and 5 out of a possible 10 points each, focusing on the better value of the Genesis and lack of quality games for the Master System. In 1993, reviewers scored the console 2, 2, 3, and 3 out of 10, noting its abandonment by Sega in North America and lack of new releases. By contrast, Nintendo's NES console sold 62 million units, outselling the Master System several times over.  According to Bill Pearse of ''Playthings'', the NES gained an advantage over the Master System through the use of better software and stronger character identification.  Sega would close the market share gap between itself and Nintendo in the [[History of video game consoles (fourth generation)|next generation]] with the release of the Genesis, which sold 30.75 million consoles compared with the 49 million [[Super Nintendo Entertainment System]] consoles sold by Nintendo.

Retrospective feedback of the console praises its support toward development of the Sega Genesis, but is generally critical of its small game library. Writing for [[AllGame]], Dave Beuscher notes that "it was doomed by the lack of third party software support and all but disappeared from the American market by 1992." On the other hand, ''[[Retro Gamer]]'' praised the system's PAL library as a "superb library of interesting ports and excellent exclusives", noting that it was significantly larger than its North American library. Damien McFerran of ''[[Retro Gamer]]'' recognizes its value to the future success of the Genesis, stating, "Without this criminally undervalued machine, Sega would not have enjoyed the considerable success it had with the Mega Drive. The Master System allowed Sega to experiment with arcade conversions, original [[intellectual property|IP]] and even create a mascot in the form of the lovable monkey-boy Alex Kidd." In 2009, the Master System was named the 20th best video game console of all time by the video gaming website [[IGN]], behind both of its main competitors, the [[Atari 7800]] (ranked 17th best) and the Nintendo Entertainment System (1st). IGN cited the Master System's small games library in the NTSC regions, coupled with the highly uneven quality of the few games that were released, as the console's major issues, stating, "Months could go by between major releases and that made a dud on the Master System feel even more painful."

The Master System and its software still retains some popularity. According to IGN, "Despite its narrow mass audience, the Master System had—and still has—a very loyal fan base."  In 2005, Sega reached a deal with Chinese company AtGames to release Master System software in the form of emulation products in Taiwan, Hong Kong, and China. A number of Master System games were released for download on [[Nintendo]]'s [[Wii]] [[Virtual Console]] in North America, PAL territories and Japan. The first game released for this service was ''[[Black Belt (video game)|Fist of the North Star]]'', on February 26, 2008. ''[[Fantasy Zone]]'' followed on March 11. Both were released in Japan. In North America, ''[[Wonder Boy (video game)|Wonder Boy]]'' was the first Master System game released for the service on March 31, 2008. Master System games have also been released via the [[GameTap]] online service.