Sega Master System (1986 – 1996) | Museum of Obsolete Media (original) (raw)
The Master System was a third-generation video game console made by Sega, and was a redesign of the Sega Mark III, first available in Japan in 1985. The Master system was available in the North American market in 1986, followed by the European market in 1987 making it the first Sega console to see widespread distribution outside of Japan.
The Master System could play both cartridges and the credit card-sized ‘Sega Cards‘, which retailed for less than cartridges but had lower storage capacity. Master System game cartridges released outside Japan had a different shape and pin configuration from cartridges for the Sega Mark III. A slightly redesigned version of the Sega Master system replaced the Mark III in the Japanese market in 1987, but this retained the cartridge design of the Mark III.
It competed with the Nintendo Entertainment System, but failed to overturn its significant market share advantage in Japan and North America. However in other markets such as Europe, it outsold the NES.
In 1990, Sega released the Master System II, a low-cost Master System that lacked several of the original’s features, including the Sega Card slot.
It was supported in Europe until 1996, and was Sega’s second most successful console selling around 20 millions units. Around 360 game titles were released during its lifetime with the last title being The Smurfs: Travel the World in 1996.