Any Master System owners?

[BrianC]

I recommend the SMS Sonic as well, but definitely search "worldwide" on ebay since EU sellers sell it for cheaper. Asterix, Lucky Dime Caper, and Land of Illusion are good stuff too (I don't have Castle of Illusion yet, but I heard good things). Castle of Illusion has a US counterpart, but the EU versions are cheaper, seem to run at the same speed, and possibly a later revision that fixes a few bugs (which are minor).

Edited August 29, 2013 by BrianC

[mkiker2089]

Are Master system games the same size as cassettes? I have a Genesis cartridge box that should hopefully hold them. I've noticed that MS games aren't labeled on top though. And yes, I'm a bit OCD about this sort of thing.

[Algus]

They are bigger. Here's one next to a 2600 cart:

 

[mkiker2089]

I see. That should be perfect then. I found a picture of them with Genesis carts.

http://imgur.com/17TFxIy

[fiddlepaddle]

 

Are Master system games the same size as cassettes? I have a Genesis cartridge box that should hopefully hold them. I've noticed that MS games aren't labeled on top though. And yes, I'm a bit OCD about this sort of thing.

 

 

They are about the same size as a cassette in it's case, and essentially the same size as Genesis carts. MS and Gen games always seem to fit in anything that was originally made to hold cassettes still in their jewel boxes.

[mkiker2089]

I have my Master System 2. I'm surprised by a few things.

 

1- I knew it was RF only, but why? Why couldn't they have put the same port the Genesis 2-3 have to let an RF cable be used that way?

 

2- It's bigger than I though it would be. It makes my Genesis 3 look like a little baby. My NES-101 can't be seen when I sit it behind the SMS2.

 

So far I'm pleased. I don't have many games yet but the video even from RF looks fair. I'm sure it will be better after I have it modded. The included game (Alex Kidd) is good and the few games I have are fun. It really holds it's own against the NES.

 

For some reason though the picture was horrible when I first plugged it in. I changed the channel a few times and that fixed it. I don't know if there was interference (I get that occasionally with RF due to local issues)or dust in the switch.

 

I plan to have it modded to add RCAs and a power LED at some point.

[OldSchoolRetroGamer]

I have my Master System 2. I'm surprised by a few things.

 

1- I knew it was RF only, but why? Why couldn't they have put the same port the Genesis 2-3 have to let an RF cable be used that way?

 

2- It's bigger than I though it would be. It makes my Genesis 3 look like a little baby. My NES-101 can't be seen when I sit it behind the SMS2.

 

So far I'm pleased. I don't have many games yet but the video even from RF looks fair. I'm sure it will be better after I have it modded. The included game (Alex Kidd) is good and the few games I have are fun. It really holds it's own against the NES.

 

For some reason though the picture was horrible when I first plugged it in. I changed the channel a few times and that fixed it. I don't know if there was interference (I get that occasionally with RF due to local issues)or dust in the switch.

 

I plan to have it modded to add RCAs and a power LED at some point.

 

 

As mentioned on the Wiki:

 

Master System II

In 1990, Sega was having success in North America with its Sega Genesis and as a result took back the rights from Tonka for the Master System. It designed the Master System II, a low-cost Master System that lacked the reset button, expansion port (which was never used), and card slot of the original. Since the card slot was used as a connector to synchronize the 3D glasses with the original Master System, the Master System II couldn't use the 3D glasses.

Of course no card slot means you also loose ability to play the few Card games that came out.

[Skarrj]

Hell ye...right here. SMS was my first "next gen" console after the 2600. I loved that thing. I just picked up a prestine boxed 3d bundle a month or so ago and have been buying up everything I can. Picked up Golden axe Warrior and Ninja Gaiden for relatively cheap

[Bill Loguidice]

As mentioned on the Wiki:

 

Master System II

In 1990, Sega was having success in North America with its Sega Genesis and as a result took back the rights from Tonka for the Master System. It designed the Master System II, a low-cost Master System that lacked the reset button, expansion port (which was never used), and card slot of the original. Since the card slot was used as a connector to synchronize the 3D glasses with the original Master System, the Master System II couldn't use the 3D glasses.

It was my understanding that Sega took the rights back from Tonka prior to the release of the Genesis, so both the Genesis and Master System II were directly under Sega's purview. Anyone know of a good source for the truth here?

[Skarrj]

Atari what?

 

There's not a console called "the Atari."

For the general population, Atari meant 2600. Id say most people are not even aware of the computer line.

[Bill Loguidice]

For the general population, Atari meant 2600. Id say most people are not even aware of the computer line.

Probably true. Generally speaking, when someone says "Atari" they mean the 2600, when someone says "Nintendo" they mean the NES, when someone says "Commodore" they mean the C-64, and when someone says "Sega" they mean the Genesis, etc. It's probably tied to each respective company's first truly breakout product. The water gets a bit muddy at times, for instance when it comes to something like "Apple" and what people immediately think of, but that's probably the exception rather than the rule...

[mkiker2089]

 

It was my understanding that Sega took the rights back from Tonka prior to the release of the Genesis, so both the Genesis and Master System II were directly under Sega's purview. Anyone know of a good source for the truth here?

That's what puzzles me. They took the rights back and they were also making the Genesis at the time. It seems like it would have been cheaper to just ship it with the Genesis RF cable and have it use a Genesis 2 plug. It seems almost as if they were crippling it to sell the better units. The wikipedia article doesn't explain why they decided to do RF in a totally different matter than they did with Genesis 2.

[ApolloBoy]

It seems like it would have been cheaper to just ship it with the Genesis RF cable and have it use a Genesis 2 plug.

The Genesis 2 wasn't even out at the time so that wouldn't make sense.

[Bill Loguidice]

That's what puzzles me. They took the rights back and they were also making the Genesis at the time. It seems like it would have been cheaper to just ship it with the Genesis RF cable and have it use a Genesis 2 plug. It seems almost as if they were crippling it to sell the better units. The wikipedia article doesn't explain why they decided to do RF in a totally different matter than they did with Genesis 2.

There's no mystery there. Just like with the final version of the NES, it was simply cheaper to go RF only on a system no longer commercially relevant as anything but a budget alternative. It's also why the Genesis 3 (under Jaleco) is so relatively crippled compared to the previous systems, and why even today, companies like Sony (PS series) and Nintendo (Wii, 3DS to 2DS) lose features with each new version of their systems.

 

I was actually asking if anyone had a good vetted source of when Sega actually took control back from Tonka, as it's my understanding (and what I'm putting in my upcoming book) that Sega did so prior to the release of the Genesis. If I'm wrong, I'd like to fix the error.

[mkiker2089]

I see the answer to my question now. The Genesis 1 did use an on board RF unit like the Master System 1. I didn't research the timeline properly. It's all good though since I can have it modded.

[BrianC]

I actually found the Genesis 1 with PBC and JP SMS to have better picture quality than the US SMS 1 (all using the same A/V cables). I like how the JP SMS has everything built in (FM, 3D port, and rapid fire). I do miss the reset switch, though.

 

JP Mark III(SMS)/SG1000 games are closer to the size of Colecovision carts and have a similar shape, aside from the cards, which are shaped the same as the US ones (but won't work on the US SMS1). Mark III cards (not SG1000 games, which don't work on any MD or Genesis) work fine on a US Genesis with PBC, though. US cards also play on the JP SMS.

 

Edit: doh. I compared the size and SG-1000 and Mark III carts are a slight bit bigger than CV carts, though they are very similar in shape.

Edited September 4, 2013 by BrianC

[Eltigro]

The water gets a bit muddy at times, for instance when it comes to something like "Apple" and what people immediately think of, but that's probably the exception rather than the rule...

Pippin, of course. What else?

[mkiker2089]

Apple doesn't have a cohesive name and usually would just refer to one of the people who own all things Apple. Other companies don't have a set name either. Playstation has almost always meant the current one even though the name really means the first. The same was true for the Xbox franchise but may change since so many call it the Xbone now.

 

Back on topic a bit, I snapped a photo of my SMS2. I should rent it out for photo shoots Mine has Alex Kidd built in which surprised me. I'm used to Nintendo's that never have built in games.

[Skarrj]

Speaking of built in games....how amazed were any of you the first time you accidentally discovered snail maze. My friends didnt believe me.

[Master Phruby]

I currently have a Powerbase for my Genesis to play Master system games on. I use to have a model 1 and 2. I have no idea what happen to those consoles.

[mkiker2089]

Are there any homebrew carts to look for? I'd like to have a few for it as well as the Genesis just to have really. It looks like the Genesis doesn't really have many true homebrews though.

[NinjaWarrior]

Try to get the Master EverDrive

[mkiker2089]

Flash carts never really appealed to me but I'll look into it.

[mkiker2089]

I've found a couple PAL games I might want. Would it be better to go with those or look for Japanese NTSC? The problem being the US release of Sonic is about 100 times more expensive than the pal one, but the pal one is at least in English.

 

So what will PAL games look like on an NTSC console?

[Skarrj]

I've found a couple PAL games I might want. Would it be better to go with those or look for Japanese NTSC? The problem being the US release of Sonic is about 100 times more expensive than the pal one, but the pal one is at least in English.So what will PAL games look like on an NTSC console?

I think back to the future is the only one i know of that might have an issue.