25 Facts About Master System

Master System is an 8-bit third-generation home video game console manufactured by Sega.

The Master System launched in North America in 1986, followed by Europe in 1987, and then in Brazil and Korea in 1989.

Master System was released in competition with the Nintendo Entertainment System .

Sega Master System is estimated to have sold between 10 and 13 million units worldwide.

Master System chose the name "Sega of America" for his division because he had worked for Nintendo of America and liked the combination of words.

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Master System was first revealed in North America at the Summer Consumer Electronics Show in Chicago in June 1986.

Sega claimed that the Master System was the first console "where the graphics on the box are actually matched by the graphics of the game", and pushed the "arcade experience" in adverts.

The Master System held a significant part of the video game console market in Europe through the release of Sega's succeeding console, the Mega Drive.

Master System was successful in Brazil, where it was distributed by Tectoy and launched in September 1989.

In South Korea, the Sega Mark III was released by Samsung under the name "Gam*Boy" in April 1989 and then the Master System II was released under the name "Aladdin Boy" in 1992.

In 1990, Sega released the remodeled Master System II, designed as a lower-cost version without the Sega Card slot.

In 1993, the Master System's estimated active installed user base in Europe was 6.

The Master System II was successful and helped Sega to sustain their significant market share.

Master System has had continued success in Brazil, where dedicated "plug and play" consoles emulating the original hardware continue to be sold by Tectoy.

The Master System II, released in 1990, removed a number of components to reduce cost, Sega Card slot, reset button, power light, expansion port, and startup music and logo.

Handheld versions of the Master System were released under several brands, such as Coleco in 2006.

Master System games came in two formats: ROM cartridges held up to 4 Mbit of code, while Sega Cards held up to 256 Kbit.

Different Master System consoles included built-in games, including Snail Maze, Hang-On, Alex Kidd in Miracle World and Sonic the Hedgehog.

Tectoy ported games to the Master System, including various games from the Genesis and Game Gear.

Games for the Master System took advantage of more advanced hardware compared to the NES; Alex Kidd in Miracle World, for example, showcases "blistering colors and more detailed sprites" than NES games.

Several Master System games were released for download on Nintendo's Wii Virtual Console, beginning with Fist of the North Star in 2008 in Japan and Wonder Boy in North America.

Master System games were released via the GameTap online service.

In 1989, the Sega Master System was listed in the top 20 products of NPD Group's Toy Retail Sales Tracking Service.

Retrospective feedback of the Master System praises its support toward development of the Sega Genesis, but has been critical of its small game library.

The Master System allowed Sega to experiment with arcade conversions, original IP and even create a mascot in the form of the lovable monkey-boy Alex Kidd.

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