The Video Game Console Library - Sega SG-1000 (Mark I \ Mark II)

	Sega SG-1000 (Mark I \ Mark II)
	DW FACTS by Dark Watcher
	Page content, development and design by Marriott_Guy

Developer	Manufacturer	Release Date	Country(s)	Initial Price	Model Number	Game Releases	Overall Rating
Sega	Sega	15-Jul-83	Japan, Europe, New Zealand	$129 USD	SG-1000	47 Unique	NA
Ratings	Reviews	Pictures\Media	Specs\Manuals	Games\Emulation	Models	Clones	Links

$Sega SG-1000 (Mark I \ Mark II)$

Ratings
Consoles are rated based upon the available technology at the time of its release. Ratings based upon a 10 point scale (10 being excellent\very rare).
Console Design (appearance, functionality)	N\A
Console Durability (sturdy or frail and fragile)	N\A
Controllers (design, response, feel, use)	N\A
Graphics (graphical capability and presentation)	N\A
Audio (sound, music, speech, effects)	N\A
Media (game media format, design, durability)	N\A
Packaging (appeal, durability of packaging)	N\A
Game Library (quality, quantity of game library)	N\A
Innovations (technological industrial strides)	N\A
Gamer Value (good investment for the gamer?)	N\A
Collector Value (good collector investment?)	N\A
Games Rarity (general availability of games)	N\A
Console Rarity (general availability of a system)	N\A

Reviews

$Sega SG-1000 (Mark I \ Mark II)$

$Sega SG-1000 (Mark I \ Mark II) Card Catcher$

DW FACTS
- by Dark Watcher

Sega's SG-1000 (Sega Game 1000) (a.k.a Mark I) was the company's first attempt at home consoles. It was initially test marketed in 1981 and finally released to Japanese consumers in June of 1983. It was a pretty advanced system for its time and featured impressive technical specifications. The system would be sold in Japan until 1985 and did make it in two overseas markets, Australia & New Zealand.

In 1984, Sega released an updated version of the console called the SG-1000 Mark II. This remodeled version used gamepads instead of the original joysticks, and had mounts to store them on each side. It also featured a slot which allowed a keyboard attachment called SK-1100 and was compatible with software from the Sega SC-3000 computer.

Sega also sold an optional adaptor called Card Catcher This adaptor would allow the SG-1000 to play Sega "Game Card" software.

The SG-1000 reached minor success, but eventually could not compete against the Nintendo Famicom (NES). Sega abandoned the SG-1000 in order to make a console that could compete against the NES, but the SG-1000 game library lived on with Sega's Mark III / Sega Master System thanks to backwards compatibility. The "Game Card" function would also become a built in feature. Too bad people outside of Japan didn't know that the Sega Master System could play SG-1000 games.

FACT: It was believed that the SG-1000 never made it to American or European shores. The console itself didn't. However thanks to a company named Telegames, a clone of the SG-1000 made it. The Telegames Personal Arcade could play SG-1000 carts, but unfortunately no one knew it could.

Othello Multivision is another clone of the SG-1000. Released by Tsukuda Original in 1983. It was sold for 19,800 Yen only in Japan and featured a built in Othello game. Tsukuda Original also released 8 games for the Othello Multivision which of course are all compatible with SG-1000.

The SG-1000, believe it or not, was suppose to be a hybrid 3D system. Its most popular game was Zaxxon, but the 1980s world wasn't quite ready for 3D because it seemed too confusing.

HANDS ON REVIEW

Coming soon....

Pictures & Media

Various picture\media for this console. Click pictures to enlarge.

The following pictures are courtesy of Charles Lee.

Specs & Manuals

For the hardware enthusiasts out there - all the detail you\we love.

Processor Type	Processor Speed	Other Processor Information	RAM \ Video RAM
NEC 780C	3.58 MHz	None	2 KB \ 16 KB
Screen Resolution	Color Palette	Polygons \ Sprites	Audio
256 x 192	16 colors	32 sprites	Texas Instruments SN76489 (4 channel mono sound)
Media Format	Media Capacity	Games Released	Other Supported Formats
Cartridge	48 KB	47 Cartridge	Sega "Game Card", Sega SC-3000 cassettes (optional peripherals required)
Internal Storage	External \ Removable Storage	Game Controllers	Other Game \ Peripheral Devices
None	None	Joystick	Keyboard, FM Sound Unit
Controller Ports	Network Ports	Other Ports	Audio \ Video
Two (2) (one hard-wired)	None	One (1) expansion parallel bus	RF
Power Supply - External	Other Outputs	Other Details \ Notes
Input: AC 100V, 60Hz Output: DC 9V, 7.7W	None	Cassette and printer can be connected to the optional keyboard for the SG-1000
Manuals
Not available. Can you help us out? You will receive full credit in addition to keeping the history of video gaming alive for all! Please contact me.

Games & Emulation

Games, media format, emulators and screen shots for titles released on this system.

Software for the Sega SG-1000 was distributed on two different types of the ROM format: standard game cartridges and Sega My Card.

Sega My Cards were significantly smaller than their standard sized brethren in both dimension and data capacity. Resembling a credit card, this format was exclusive to the Japanese market and required the optional Card Catcher adapter to enable play on the SG-1000 Mark I and Mark II. This format was introduced as a cost savings measure for developers, but was quickly phased out due to the inability to house the more advanced games of the system.

With the release of the SC-3000, a personal computer version of the SG-1000 console, most titles displayed this dual compatibility on the front cover ("Game Cartridge for SC-3000 or SG-1000").

Sega SG-1000 Game Boxes

SG-1000 MY CARD Game Boxes

Sega SG-1000 Game Screenshots

Bank Panic

Bomb Jack

Borderline

Castle

Champion Baseball

Champion Golf

Choplifter

Congo Bongo

Exerion

Ghost House

Golgo 13

Gulkave

Hang On

Hustle Chumy

James Bond 00

Loderunner

Monaco GP

Okamoto Ayako no Match Play Golf

Orguss

Pacar

Pachinko II

Pitfall II

Pre Wrestling

Q*Bert

Safari Race

Sega Flipper

Sega Galaga

Star Jacker

Wonderboy

Zaxxon

Third Party Emulators
Program	Website	Description
MEKA	http://www.smspower.org/meka/	A great emulator for this console. This emulator is Windows based, but there is a DOS version also available.

Models

Additional authorized releases for this console. Pictures courtesy of Hit-Japan. Click pictures to enlarge.

Sega SG-1000 Mark II

Sega SC-3000 Personal Computer

Clones

Non-licensed releases (clones).

Othello Multivision

There is some question as to whether the Othello Multivision was licensed by Sega, but indications seem to support this system being an official release of the Sega SG-1000. The manufacturer, Tsukuda Original, released 8 games under their own flag (sample pictured below). The system is fully compatible with the SG-1000.

Dina 2-in-1 \ Telegames Personal Arcade

Bit Corporation originally release the DINA 2-in-1 console in 1986. This odd piece of hardware was compatible with both the ColecoVision and SG-1000. Telegames would eventually release their version, the Personal Arcade, to the US market in 1987.

To read more information on these hybrid clones, please see our dedicated page here.

Links

Highly recommended additional sites\resources for this system.

Name	Website	Description
Sega Retro	http://www.segaretro.org/SG-1000	Nice Wiki-based site focusing on all Sega hardware

visitors since 01-Apr-2008
Page last updated 25-Jan-2012

Copyright 2008-2011 The Video Game Console Library. This website and the information contained within it is protected by copyright. Reproduction of part or all of the
website contents in any form is prohibited unless expressed written consent of the author has been obtained in advance. Content of this website may not be copied
to any other publication (including electronic, hard copy or others). Interior deep linking or framing of this website is prohibited without permission of the author.