Games - SG-1000

	Games - SG-1000

The SG-1000, which stands for Sega Game 1000, is a cartridge-based video game console manufactured by Sega. This system marked Sega's entry into the video game hardware business, which they would continue to be in until the end of the Dreamcast in 2003. While the system was not very popular, it was the basis for the more successful Sega Master System.

History

It was test marketed in Japan in 1981 and first released to the Japanese market in July 1983 for ¥15,000. The console reached minor success in that market. The system sold well within Asia until 1985. It was also sold in Australia by John Sands, in New Zealand by Grandstand Leisure Limited, and in other countries, such as Italy, Spain, and South Africa. The console in its original form never reached North America.

Game manufacturer Tsukada Original made Othello Multivision, an SG-1000 clone. Bit Corp's Dina 2-in-1 Colecovision clone was brought to North America by a company called Telegames. Telegames called its clone the Telegames Personal Arcade, which could play Colecovision and SG-1000 games.

The SG-1000 is an extremely rare and sought after console.

SG-1000 Mark II

In July 1984, Sega released an updated version of the console called the SG-1000 Mark II, which featured a connector for an optional plug-in SK-1100 keyboard. It was initially priced at ¥15,000. A computer version of this console, with a built-in keyboard, was called the SC-3000, which would go on to outsell the SG-1000.

The SG-1000 runs all SC-3000 games and applications, with the exception of Music and Basic Cartridges. The machine could be used just like the SC-3000, provided one had the keyboard attachment ready. The console also had an optional game card reader add-on called the Card Catcher that allowed for the use of Sega game card software.

The Card Catcher would become built into the SG-1000 Mark III, as well as the first version of the Sega Master System.

SG-1000 Mark III

The SG-1000 Mark III, a yet newer version in Japan with improved video hardware and an increased amount of RAM, would be redesigned to become the Sega Master System.

Screenshots

Image:SG1000_Flipper.png|Video Flipper
Sega (1983) Image:SG1000_Monaco.png|Monaco GP
Sega (1983) Image:SG1000_Zaxxon.png|Zaxxon
Sega (1985) Image:SG1000_Gulkave.png|Gulkave
Sega (1986)

Specifications

CPU: NEC 780C (clone of Zilog Z80)
*3.579545MHz for NTSC, 3.546893MHz for PAL
Main RAM: 16 kbit (2 kB)
Video RAM: 128 kbit (16 kB)
Sound: Texas Instruments SN76489
*4-channel mono sound
*3 sound generators, 4 octaves each, 1 white noise generator
Screen resolution: 256x192 (16 colors)

Ports:
*1 Parallel
*1 Cartridge
*1 Cassette
*1 Composite video
*2 Joystick
*1 Keyboard (Mark II only)

[ Visit the complete Wikipedia entry for SG-1000 ]

Searches on eBay

sg-1000