It's 25 years since the Master System appeared in Japan. Under the Sega Mark III name, the second domestic Sega console was released in Japan on October 20th, 1985, along with Hang-On and Teddy Boys Blues as launch games. http://www.segaretro.org/Sega_Master_System Props to the mighty 8-bitter.
It's a funny console, the Master System - the perception of it on each side of the Atlantic is very different. In the US it's this dreadful failure with a weak library and blah blah blah; in Europe (and particularly the UK), it's fondly remembered as a market-leading console with some great games. Of course, it doesn't help that games stopped after Sonic in the US, but that was unavoidable given the circumstances. The Master System II was the first console bought for me, way back in 1992. Alex Kidd in Miracle World built in, Sonic the Hedgehog bought for me. I was totally, 100% hooked from day one. Fond memories.
I used to have a mate when I was little. Whenever our parents let us have a sleepover, the first thing we did was plug up his Master System. We'd try to get to level 2 of the built in Alex Kidd first, then we'd slam Strider in there and have a go at it. Good times, man.
Back in the days I kinda wanted one though I didn't know much about it. It's a good thing I didn't get one as many of the good games didn't even come out in America.
I don't remember much of the Master System around the time it was popular, but I do know that around here people had this really annoying habit of just calling the consoles "Sega". So when you get the quote "I've been playing on my Sega" you'd have to ask another question to clarify whether they were talking about the Master System or Mega Drive. Even today there's people my age that don't know the difference.
Yeah, its the same here. I thing it was a pretty common thing, as lots of people called the NES and SNES just Nintendo, and most people call any atari model just an atari. I didnt have a master system, it was traded just before I was born for our megadrive (which is still kicking today thank you) but we had a bunch of games for it.
Ha, in my area people called the Genesis "the Sega". NES was Nintendo and SNES was Super Nintendo. It's strange seeing so many people with fond memories of the Master System. I didn't even see one in person until sometime last year when I saw an original model sitting on the floor at a games convention. Over here, it was all about the NES. Americans mainly didn't care for Sega until the Genesis.
Nik's and my story are pretty much the same. I got mine for Christmas either 1990 or 1991. I loved it. I remember coming home from swimming in the summer, and sitting in front of the TV with a spearmint stick in my mouth, determined to beat that damned Alex Kidd game. When I was older, we had elderly neighbours next door, who also had a Master System II with Alex Kidd built in. They didn't have it for their grandchildren, it was for them, they loved it too. By this stage I had a Mega Drive (and power base converter), but I went next door a few times to relive those great Alex Kidd moments.
I've yet to see one in person. Hell, I didn't know what one was until one day I booted up DSMasterPlus and noticed my Sonic 1 rom had a better resolution. Looking it up, I realized what it was. The Master System honestly looks like it was a really weak console outside of Brazil (but there, it was strong)
Not just Brazil - It also stomped the NES in Europe, and we continued to get games well into the 1990s.
I really want a Master System so bad! Gah a few years ago Slackers, my local store for classic and new games had a few for sale, but then I went back a few days after seeing that they had some only to be disappointed because there was a post it note that read "Sold out!" on the box. T.T Now they only sell a few carts for it, meh. :'( I hope someone trades in a power converter for the Genesis or maybe even a Master System in the future.
I really want a Japanese Master System with the built in FM Synthesiser, or at least a MarkIII with the FM add-on, so I can listen to all my old games with cool new sound.
Never had one at the time, though I DID have a Game Gear that I got in 1994 which as we all know is essentially a handheld Master System with some added colour features. =P Sonic Chaos still remains one of my favourite Sonic titles. As for the present day - I have a bunch of Master Systems now, and a sizable game catalogue. Still adding to it, too =P
A bit off topic, but I really would love to buy Sonic the Hedgehog for Master System-- the American version which seems insanely rare. I always check Ebay and it's never listed. Anyone ever see it for sale?
I played with one a long time ago, and I kinda want one for myself, if only to add to my Sega collection. Not a bad system. It's a shame it didn't do better over here. It actually did certain games better than the NES (I'm counting just the games that the two systems shared). It really needs more love in America.
According to this rarity guide, it's the second most rare game for the Master System (in the US, of course). Rarity guides can definitely be wrong or inaccurate, but it seems incredibly rare.
Master System was my first console. I bought a new one this year and my long-term goal is to own every game for it -- around 250 EU titles, 60 Japanese and a handful of Brazil exclusives. Probably won't bother with the US versions or EU variants.
I bought a MS model 1 at a brownie jumble sale for £1. I was probably about eight. It was fortunate the jumble sale was that particular week because I was kicked out for bad behavior at the next meeting. I wasn't that bothered I was too busy enjoying my new, albeit old console. There was something I got wrong about it though, I already owned a Game Gear, I was dissapointed when the GG games didn't fit the MS.
Are there no US exclusives? I'm interested in doing this as well since a year ago I finished 100% of the US DC collection (though I need to figure out if there are any EU exclusives)