Difference between revisions of "Sega Game Gear"

From Sega Retro

 
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:''For the American automobile manufacturer, see [[Mercury (company)]].''
 
{{ConsoleBob
 
{{ConsoleBob
| logos=[[File:Gamegear_us_logo.svg|125px]]
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| logo=Gamegear us logo.svg
 
| consoleimage=Gamegear.jpg
 
| consoleimage=Gamegear.jpg
| imgwidth=320px
 
 
| maker=[[Sega]]
 
| maker=[[Sega]]
 
| variants=
 
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| processor=
 
| processor=
 
| releases={{releasesGG
 
| releases={{releasesGG
| gg_date_jp=1990-10-06
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| gg_date_jp=1990-10-06{{ref|https://web.archive.org/web/20201108225550/https://sega.jp/history/hard/gamegear/}}
 
| gg_rrp_jp=19,800
 
| gg_rrp_jp=19,800
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| gg_code_jp=HGG-3200
  
| gg_date_us_1=1991-04-15 {{fileref|GamePro US 022.pdf|page=8}}
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| gg_date_us_1=1991-04-15{{magref|gamepro|22|8}}
| gg_rrp_us_1=149.95 {{fileref|GamePro US 022.pdf|page=16}}
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| gg_rrp_us_1=149.95{{magref|gamepro|22|16}}
 
| gg_type_us_1=NY/LA
 
| gg_type_us_1=NY/LA
 
| gg_date_us_2=1991-04-26
 
| gg_date_us_2=1991-04-26
| gg_rrp_us_2=149.95 {{fileref|GamePro US 022.pdf|page=16}}
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| gg_rrp_us_2=149.95{{magref|gamepro|22|16}}
 
| gg_type_us_2=Nationwide
 
| gg_type_us_2=Nationwide
  
| gg_date_uk=1991-06-24
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| gg_date_uk=1991-06-29{{fileref|DailyMirror_UK_1991-06-29_08.png}}
| gg_rrp_uk=99.99 {{fileref|MeanMachines UK 09.pdf|page=11}}{{fileref|GameGear UK PrintAdvert.jpg}}
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| gg_rrp_uk=99.99{{fileref|DailyMirror_UK_1991-06-29_08.png}}{{magref|mm|9|11}}{{magref|raze|11|17}}
 
| gg_date_fr=1991-06
 
| gg_date_fr=1991-06
 
| gg_date_de=1991
 
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| gg_date_it=1991
 
| gg_date_pt=199x
 
| gg_date_pt=199x
 
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| gg_date_cz=1992-10
| gg_date_br=1991-07 {{fileref|AcaoGames BR 003.pdf|page=14}}
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| gg_date_br=1991-07{{magref|ag|3|14}}
 
| gg_rrp_br=160,000
 
| gg_rrp_br=160,000
 
| gg_date_au=1992
 
| gg_date_au=1992
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| gg_code_kr=SPC-150
 
| gg_code_kr=SPC-150
 
| gg_rrp_kr=198,000
 
| gg_rrp_kr=198,000
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| gg_date_mx=199x
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| gg_date_se=199x
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| gg_date_sa=199x{{magref|alaabalc|1|12}}
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| gg_rrp_sa=500{{magref|alaabalc|1|12}}
 
}}
 
}}
 
}}
 
}}
The '''Sega Game Gear''' (セガゲームギア) is a handheld video game console developed by [[Sega]] and released in late 1990 as a response to [[Nintendo]]'s Game Boy handheld . It is a full colour console and was Sega's first attempt to compete in the handheld games market (the second being the [[Sega Nomad]] — a handheld [[Sega Mega Drive]]). In South Korea it is known as the '''Handy Gam*Boy''' (핸디겜보이).
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<section begin=intro />The '''Game Gear''' (ゲームギア) is a handheld video game console developed by [[Sega]] and released in late 1990 as a response to [[Nintendo]]'s [[Game Boy]] handheld . It is a full colour console and was Sega's first attempt to compete in the handheld games market (the second being the [[Sega Nomad]] — a handheld [[Mega Drive]]). In South Korea it is known as the '''Handy Gam*Boy''' (핸디겜보이) and '''Handy Aladdin Boy''' (핸디알라딘보이).<section end=intro />
 +
 
 +
After development of the [[Sega Saturn]] began, the Game Gear was retroactively given the codename '''Mercury'''{{ref|1=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wqdN_L4YaDE}}.
  
 
==Hardware==
 
==Hardware==
:''See also: [[Game Gear consoles]]''
+
The Game Gear is a "portable" device which was designed to address problems with Nintendo's Game Boy. It is held lengthwise at the sides (preventing the cramping of hands which plagued Nintendo's system) and has a backlit, colour LCD screen, allowing for clearer and more vibrant visuals than its main rival.
The Sega Game Gear is a "portable" device which was designed to address problems with Nintendo's Game Boy. It is held lengthwise at the sides (preventing the cramping of hands which plagued Nintendo's system) and has a backlit, colour LCD screen, allowing for clearer and more vibrant visuals than its main rival.
 
  
Similarly to the [[Sega Mega Drive]], which at the time was Sega's main focus in the home console market, the Sega Game Gear is derived from the earlier [[Sega Master System]]. Unlike the Mega Drive, however, the Game Gear is largely identical to the Master System, the major difference being a VDP capable of displaying palettes consisting of a wider variety of colors, and the playback of stereo sound. Game Gear games traditionally run at a smaller resolution too, although with a screen built similarly to televisions of the era, the Game Gear is fully capable of playing games in higher resolutions.
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Similarly to the [[Mega Drive]], which at the time was Sega's main focus in the home console market, the Game Gear is derived from the earlier [[Sega Master System]]. Unlike the Mega Drive, however, the Game Gear is largely identical to the Master System, the major difference being a VDP capable of displaying palettes consisting of a wider variety of colors, and the playback of stereo sound. Game Gear games traditionally run at a smaller resolution too, although with a screen built similarly to televisions of the era, the Game Gear is fully capable of playing games in higher resolutions.
  
 
Like the Master System, the Game Gear features a D-Pad and two buttons, {{1}} and {{2}}, but also adds a third, {{Start}}. This is one button short of a Game Boy.
 
Like the Master System, the Game Gear features a D-Pad and two buttons, {{1}} and {{2}}, but also adds a third, {{Start}}. This is one button short of a Game Boy.
  
Unfortunately, due to technical limitations of the era, the Game Gear demands six AA batteries to be played on the go, of which the fluorescent backlight on the LCD screen will eat through in three to five hours (though a [[Sega Game Gear Battery Pack|battery pack]] provides longer playtime). Furthermore, the system gives off more heat than the Game Boy, often leading to "sweaty palms" after prolonged use. The system was also considered not to be very "portable" - it's bulky size means it does not fit in many pockets, and the power-draining backlight of the LCD screen (which cannot be turned off) meant Game Gears were unusable after a short period of time. An [[AC adaptor]] can be plugged into the system so that it runs off the mains, but this was not considered practical for consumers of the day.
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Unfortunately, due to technical limitations of the era, the Game Gear demands six AA batteries to be played on the go, of which the fluorescent backlight on the LCD screen will eat through in three to five hours (though a [[Sega Game Gear Battery Pack|battery pack]] provides longer playtime). Furthermore, the system gives off more heat than the Game Boy, often leading to "sweaty palms" after prolonged use. The system was also considered not to be very "portable" - its bulky size means it does not fit in many pockets, and the power-draining backlight of the LCD screen (which cannot be turned off) meant Game Gears were unusable after a short period of time. An [[AC adaptor]] can be plugged into the system so that it runs off the mains, but this was not considered practical for consumers of the day.
  
 
Game Gears were also manufactured at a time where capacitor problems were rampant across the electronics industry. As a result, screen and audio failures are common, and fixes are not always simple.
 
Game Gears were also manufactured at a time where capacitor problems were rampant across the electronics industry. As a result, screen and audio failures are common, and fixes are not always simple.
  
===Technical Specifications===
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===Models===
*Main Processor: [[Zilog Z80]] (8-bit)
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{{mainArticle|Game Gear consoles}}
*Processor Speed: 3.579545 MHz (same as [[NTSC]] colorburst)
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<gallery widths="250px" heights="200px">
 +
Gamegear.jpg|Worldwide model
 +
GameGear Blue US.jpg|North American model (Sports Edition)
 +
GameGear Majesco.jpg|North American model (Majesco)
 +
GG Blue JP 1.jpg|Japanese model (light blue)
 +
GG Red JP 1.jpg|Japanese model (red)
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GG Yellow JP 1.jpg|Japanese model (yellow)
 +
GG White JP Front.jpg|Japanese model (white)
 +
gg_cc.jpg|Japanese model (''[[Coca Cola Kid]]'' edition (Model #3210CR))
 +
gg_ray.jpg|Japanese model (''[[Magic Knight Rayearth]]'' edition (Model #HGG-3210 RAY))
 +
GG VF JP 1.jpg|''Kid's Gear''{{ref|https://web.archive.org/web/19970215222051/http://www.sega.co.jp/sega/athome/toys/k.html}}{{ref|https://web.archive.org/web/19970216135947/http://www.sega.co.jp/sega_e/athome/toys/k.html}} (キッズギア) Japanese model (''[[Virtua Fighter Mini]]'' edition)
 +
GG Smoke.jpg|Japanese model (Smoke)
 +
HandyGamBoy.jpg|Korean model (Handy Gam*Boy)
 +
Notavailable.svg|Korean model (Handy Aladdin Boy)
 +
GGProto.jpg|Prototype model
 +
</gallery>
 +
 
 +
===Technical specifications===
 +
:''See [[Sega Master System#Technical specifications|Sega Master System specifications]] for further specifications''
 +
 
 +
The hardware is largely identical to the [[Sega Master System]], with some of the differences mentioned below.
 +
 
 +
{{multicol|
 +
*CPU: [[Zilog Z80]] (8-bit)
 +
:*Speed: 3.579545 MHz (same as [[NTSC]] colorburst)
 
*[[Resolution]]: 160 x 144 [[pixel]]s
 
*[[Resolution]]: 160 x 144 [[pixel]]s
*[[Palette|Colors]] Available: 4,096
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*Color [[palette]] available: 4096 colors
*Colors on screen: 32
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:*Colors on screen: 32
*Maximum [[Sprite]]s: 64
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*[[Sprite]]s on screen: 64
*Sprite Size: 8x8
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:*Sprite size: 8x8
*Screen Size: 3.2 Inches
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*Screen size: 3.2 Inches
*Audio: Texas Instruments [[SN76489]]
+
*Audio: [[SN76489]]
 
*[[RAM]]: 24 KB
 
*[[RAM]]: 24 KB
 +
}}
  
 
==History==
 
==History==
===Development===
+
{{mainArticle|History of the Sega Game Gear}}
Development on the Sega Game Gear began in 1989, with the [[Sega planet codenames|codename]] '''Mercury'''. At the time, Nintendo's Game Boy was proving to be a huge success, despite its awkward shape and four shades of green/yellow. Sega felt that consumers may buy a handheld that fixed these problems, and so the Game Gear was born. It was originally announced at [[Tokyo Toy Show 1990]] on the 7th June 1990.
 
  
The Game Gear was not the first attempt at rivaling the Game Boy - this title goes to the Atari Lynx, released in October 1989 with similar goals in mind. The Lynx's existence does not appear to have influenced the Game Gear's development, although the two share similar advantages and shortcomings over Nintendo's console.
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===Localised names===
 
+
{{aka
===Release===
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|en_name=Game Gear
====Japan====
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|jp_name=ゲームギア
The Game Gear was first released in Japan on October 6, 1990 with launch titles ''[[Columns]]'' (bundled with the unit), ''[[Super Monaco GP]]'', and ''[[Pengo]]''. 40,000 units were reportedly sold in Japan in its first two days of sale{{fileref|SegaVisions US 04.pdf|page=6}}, and within a month, 600,000 had been shipped, but Sega struggled to keep the momentum going and sales tailed off by the middle of the decade.
+
|jp_trans=Game Gear
 
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|kr_name=핸디겜보이
Despite its strong launch, Japanese consumers are thought not have been too interested in the handheld, and early units suffered from several hardware faults. By the time of the "second wave" of Game Boy games materialised, prompted by the hugely successful release of Pocket Monsters in early 1996, the Game Gear was in a distant second, though limited software support continued until the release of ''[[G Sonic]]'' in December of that year. Despite strong support for the PC Engine in the region, the PC Engine GT, a handheld version of the aforementioned console, is not thought to have performed admirably and would have likely trailed in third place.
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|kr_trans=Handy Gam*Boy
 
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|il_name=גיימגיר
1.25 million Game Gears are thought to have been sold in Japan by the 20th March 1994{{fileref|Mega UK 23.pdf|page=25}}.
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}}
 
 
Japan was the only region to receive coloured systems (with one exception). Initial units were black, much like the rest of the world, but later, yellow, blue, red and white units were released, as well as several special versions tied to game releases.
 
 
 
====North America====
 
North America saw a staggered launch for the Game Gear across April 1991, making it difficult to pin-point an exact launch date.
 
 
 
[[Sega of America]] organised a staged event on the 5th of April, in which a helicopter supposedly carrying the first batch of Game Gear consoles and software, arrived on the docked USS Intrepid aircraft carrier (the home of the [[wikipedia:Intrepid Sea, Air & Space Museum|Intrepid Sea, Air & Space Museum]]) in New York. On board were 600 "avid Sega fans" - kids which had been mobilised by the likes of local radio station [[wikipedia:WHTZ|Z-100]] specifically for the event. Of that figure, 100 were sons and daughters of service personnel who had taken part in [[wikipedia:Gulf War|Operation Desert Storm]] and were currently stationed in Forts Hamilton and Tottem{{fileref|SegaVisions US 05.pdf|page=38}}.
 
 
 
The guests were invited to jump into three swimming pools filled with 10,000 brightly coloured foam balls, 60 of which were specially marked and would win whoever found them a Game Gear console and games. Sega supposedly had plans to roll out similar events across the country{{fileref|SegaVisions US 05.pdf|page=38}}, though it is not known if this actually happened.
 
 
 
On the 15th of April, Sega launched the Game Gear in the test markets of New York and Los Angeles{{fileref|GamePro US 022.pdf|page=8}}, before a nationwide rollout began on the 26th.
 
 
 
Sega of America immediately went on the offensive, attacking the Game Boy at almost every opportunity for its limited colour palette with amusing and bizarre TV spots. This continued throughout the first half of the 1990s despite again trailing in second place, even poking fun at the existence of the coloured Game Boy console lineup of 1995 (i.e. those with coloured shells, not with coloured screens).
 
 
 
Commentators were writing off the Game Boy within a couple of years of launch{{fileref|EGM US 015.pdf|page=44}}, and Sega themselves made (biased) claims that their system was preferred by 91.79% of kids aged 8 to 14{{intref|Press release: 1991-11-21: SEGA SELECTED TOPS BY AMERICAN KIDS}}, however Nintendo's system went on to beat all expectations and Sega were forced to settle for second place.
 
 
 
The Game Gear also debuted at a time when another rival, the Atari Lynx, was taking an (albeit limited) share of the market from Nintendo, though Sega's competitive price and larger library of games trounced Atari's efforts. The NEC TurboExpress, as in Japan in PC Engine GT form, buckled under its high asking price and poor marketing and likely finished fourth. Many of the Game Gear's flaws in regards to screens and battery life also applied to the Lynx and TurboExpress (although the Lynx drained its batteries in slightly less time than Sega's - 4-5 hours).
 
 
 
Four million Game Gears had been sold by the end of 1993{{fileref|PhoenixtheFallandRiseofVideoGames Book US 3rd.pdf|page=186}}.
 
 
 
Blue Game Gears were bundled with copies of ''[[World Series Baseball (Game Gear)|World Series Baseball]]'' and ''[[The Lion King]]'' in this region. They are considerably rarer than the black models, and a darker shade than the Japanese blue models.
 
 
 
[[Majesco]], who were given the rights to distribute older Sega consoles, re-released the Game Gear in February 1999 at an asking price of $29.95 (games being priced at $9.95){{fileref|EGM US 115.pdf|page=32}}. These Game Gears have lightly improved specifications, including a better screen and longer battery life, but can run the entirety of the older back catalogue. Majesco Game Gears can be identified by their non-coloured logos and purple start buttons. They are incompatible with the [[Sega Game Gear TV Tuner|TV Tuner]].
 
 
 
====Europe====
 
Though a reasonably popular handheld in Europe, the Game Gear again played second best to the Game Boy, making it the first Sega console in that region to make less money than Nintendo. [[Sega Europe]] curiously put a greater emphasis on the Game Gear's TV Tuner, bundling it with consoles and using it as a marketing tactic against the system's only rival, however the Game Gear struggled for similar reasons as it had in North America - poor battery life, awkward design choices and a smaller library of games.
 
 
 
====South Korea and Asia====
 
The Game Gear is known to have been released in these markets but its performance is not fully understood. More than likely the system failed to get off the ground due to high asking prices.
 
 
 
As with later Sega consoles, third-party support for the Game Gear was in short supply, particularly from Japanese developers. However, due to the hardware similarities, many early Game Gear games were modifications of [[Sega Master System]] games made to take advantage of the larger palette capabilities and smaller screen size. This meant many companies could convert their Master System lineup in to Game Gear titles fairly easily (and vice versa), but this only applied to companies supporting Europe, as by the time the Game Gear was released, the Master System had been discontinued in Japan and North America.
 
 
 
===Decline===
 
Typically one can assume the Game Gear always stood in a distant second place when compared to the Game Boy, but this does not seem to be entirely true for many regions of the world, with Sega even claiming a 51% share of the handheld market by early 1995. However, despite an extensively aggressive Western marketing strategy for much of the early 90s, the system's presumed lukewarm acceptance in Japan led to Sega prioritising their [[Sega Mega Drive]], [[Sega 32X]] and [[Sega Saturn]] consoles.
 
 
 
While the Game Boy became ''more'' portable, streamlining its design and adopting better screen and battery technology, no significant changes were made to the Game Gear to overcome its faults. The combination of poor design choices and poor third-party support led to the Game Gear's eventual decline and discontinuation in 1997, although much of this seems to have been driven by a desire to concentrate on the struggling Sega Saturn and [[Sega Dreamcast|future projects]].
 
 
 
Approximately 390 Game Gear games were produced, with 11 million Game Gear units sold worldwide.
 
 
 
After the Game Gear's discontinuation, Sega did not attempt to re-enter the handheld console market, instead choosing to become a third-party developer for other handhelds. Sega of America immediately moved to supporting [[Tiger Electronics]]'s Game.com and [[R-Zone]] units, and by the end of the decade Sega of Japan backed the Neo Geo Pocket Color and licensed games to [[Bandai]] for the WonderSwan and to [[Media Factory]] for Nintendo's Game Boy Color. By the end of 2000 Sega had become a licensed third-party developer for Nintendo's handhelds, releasing ''[[Chu Chu Rocket!]]'' as a launch title for the [[Game Boy Advance]].
 
 
 
===Legacy===
 
The next generation of Game Boy rivals, such as the [[Neo Geo Pocket Color]], the WonderSwan and [[Game.com]] all opted to follow in Nintendo's footsteps - cutting back on performance-degrading backlit screens and demanding graphics, and instead utilising monochrome screens or specifications akin to the 1998 release of the Game Boy Color. Arguably Nintendo themselves did not surpass the Game Gear's 1990 specifications until 2001 with the launch of the [[Game Boy Advance]].
 
 
 
Game Gear games are offered in the [[Nintendo 3DS]]'s [[Virtual Console]] service.
 
  
 
==Games==
 
==Games==
:''See [[List of Game Gear games]] for a complete list.''
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{{mainArticle|Sega Game Gear games}}
  
===Launch titles===
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==Production credits==
{{multicol|
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{{creditstable|
====Japan====
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*[[Hiroshi Yagi]]
*''[[Columns]]''
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*[[Hiroyuki Ohtaka]]
*''[[Super Monaco GP]]''
+
| source=Developer mentions{{ref|https://web.archive.org/web/20210205150032/https://www.4gamer.net/games/999/G999905/20210126043/}}{{ref|https://www.facebook.com/hiroyuki.ohtaka/about_work_and_education}}
*''[[Pengo]]''
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| console=GG
====North America====
 
*''[[Castle of Illusion Starring Mickey Mouse (8-bit)|Castle of Illusion Starring Mickey Mouse]]''
 
*''[[Columns]]''
 
*''[[G-Loc: Air Battle]]''
 
*''[[Psychic World]]''
 
*''[[Revenge of Drancon]]''
 
*''[[Super Monaco GP]]''
 
====Europe====
 
*''[[Castle of Illusion Starring Mickey Mouse (8-bit)|Castle of Illusion Starring Mickey Mouse]]''
 
*''[[Columns]]''
 
*''[[Dragon Crystal]]''
 
*''[[G-Loc: Air Battle]]''
 
*''[[Psychic World]]''
 
*''[[Super Monaco GP]]''
 
*''[[Wonder Boy]]''
 
====Brazil====
 
*''[[Castle of Illusion Starring Mickey Mouse (8-bit)|Castle of Illusion Starring Mickey Mouse]]''
 
*''[[Columns]]''
 
*''[[G-Loc: Air Battle]]''
 
*''[[Psychic World]]''
 
*''[[Super Monaco GP]]''
 
*''[[Wonder Boy]]''
 
 
}}
 
}}
 
==Gallery==
 
<gallery>
 
gamegear us logo.svg|US/JP logo
 
gamegear eu logo.svg|EU logo
 
gamegear outline.svg|Console outline
 
Gamegear.jpg|Console (black)
 
GameGear Blue US.jpg|US model (Sports Edition)
 
GameGear Majesco.jpg|US model (Majesco)
 
GG Blue JP 1.jpg|JP model (light blue)
 
GG Red JP 1.jpg|JP model (red)
 
GG Yellow JP 1.jpg|JP model (yellow)
 
GG White JP 3.jpg|JP model (white)
 
gg_cc.jpg|JP model (''[[Coca Cola Kid]]'' edition (Model #3210CR))
 
gg_ray.jpg|JP model (''[[Magic Knight Rayearth]]'' edition (Model #HGG-3210 RAY))
 
GG VF JP 1.jpg|JP model (''[[Virtua Fighter Mini]]'' edition)
 
GGSmoke.jpg|JP model (Smoke)
 
HandyGamBoy.jpg|KR model (Handy Gam*Boy)
 
GGProto.jpg|Prototype model
 
</gallery>
 
  
 
==Magazine articles==
 
==Magazine articles==
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==Promotional material==
 
==Promotional material==
===Print advertisements===
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{{mainArticle|{{PAGENAME}}/Promotional material}}
<gallery>
+
 
GameGear US PrintAdvert SuperSonicSavings.jpg|US (Super Sonic Savings)
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==Logos by regions==
GameGear US PrintAdvert 2.jpg|US
+
{|class="prettytable sortable" style="background: #f2f2f2;"
GameGear JP PrintAdvert.jpg|JP
+
|-
GameGear UK PrintAdvert.jpg|UK
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! style="width:100px;" style="text-align: center;" |'''Logo'''
GameGear UK PrintAdvert JudgeDredd.jpg|UK (''Judge Dredd')
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! style="width:100px;" style="text-align: center;" |'''Region'''
GG FR PrintAdvert.jpg|FR (1)
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|- style="background: silver;"
GG FR PrintAdvert 2.jpg|FR (2)
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|-
GameGear ES PrintAd 1991-09.jpg|ES (launch)
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|<gallery>gamegear us logo.svg</gallery>
GameGear PreciosSega06 ES PrintAd 1992-04.jpg|ES (1)
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|International logo
GameGear SoftwareSega3 ES PrintAd 1992-11.jpg|ES (2)
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|-
GameGearTVPack ES PrintAd 1993-05 1.jpg|ES (3; variation 1)
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|<gallery>GameGear JP logo.png</gallery>
GameGearTVPack ES PrintAd 1993-05 2.jpg|ES (3; variation 2)
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|Used in Japan, Asia and Africa
GameGear ES PrintAd 1993-09.jpg|ES (4)
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|-
GameGear ES PrintAd 1993-10.jpg|ES (5)
+
|<gallery>GG US logo 1991.png
GameGear ES PrintAd 1993-12 1.jpg|ES (6)
+
GG US logo 1992.png
GameGear ES PrintAd 1993-12 2.jpg|ES (7; variation 1)
 
GameGear ES PrintAd 1993-12 3.jpg|ES (7; variation 2)
 
GameGear ES PrintAd 1994-04.jpg|ES (8)
 
GameGear ES PrintAd 1994-07.jpg|ES (9; variation 1)
 
GameGear ES PrintAd 1994-09.jpg|ES (9; variation 2)
 
GameGear ES PrintAd 1995-07.jpg|ES (10)
 
GameGear ES PrintAd 1995-12.jpg|ES (11)
 
MD-GG IT PrintAdvert.jpeg|IT (1)
 
GameGear BR PrintAdvert.jpg|BR
 
 
</gallery>
 
</gallery>
{{gallery
+
|Used in North America, Asia<br> and parts of South America
|GamePlayers US 0304.pdf¦page#12-13¦US print advert in {{MagazineName|gameplayers|0304}}; also published in {{MagazineName|gameplayers|0305}}{{fileref|GamePlayers US 0305.pdf|page=28}}
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|-
|GamePlayers US 0306.pdf¦page#28-29¦US print advert in {{MagazineName|gameplayers|0306}}; also published in {{MagazineName|sv|5}}{{fileref|SegaVisions US 05.pdf|page=28}}
+
|<gallery>Notavailable.svg</gallery>
|GamePlayers US 0307.pdf¦page#18-19¦US print advert in {{MagazineName|gameplayers|0307}}
+
|Used in Brazil, Argentina, Paraguay<br>and Uruguay
|SegaVisions US 06.pdf¦page#48¦US print advert in {{MagazineName|sv|6}}
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|-
|Bestial PT 03.pdf¦page#14-15¦PT print advert in {{MagazineName|bestial|3}}
+
|<gallery>gamegear eu logo.svg</gallery>
}}
+
|Used in Western and Eastern Europe,<br> Asia, Africa and Australasia
 +
|-
 +
|<gallery>GG logo Arabic.png</gallery>
 +
|Used in Arabian Peninsula
 +
|-
 +
|<gallery>Game Gear SE logo.jpg</gallery>
 +
|Used in Scandinavia
 +
|-
 +
|<gallery>Notavailable.svg</gallery>
 +
|Used in South Korea
 +
|-
 +
|}
  
===Television advertisements===
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==Artwork==
 
<gallery>
 
<gallery>
GG Gear Up Commercial.flv|US (1991)
+
gamegear outline.svg|Console outline
GG Men From Boys Commercial.flv|US
 
1992 Sega Game Gear Spinach Commercial.flv|US (1992)
 
GG One Color Electronics Commercial.flv|US (1993)
 
GG Squirrel Commercial.flv|US (1994)
 
GG US TVAdvert 1995.mp4|US (1995?)
 
GG Japanese Color Commercial 1.flv|JP1 (1990)
 
GG Japanese Color Commercial 2.flv|JP2 (1990)
 
GG Takahashi Yumiko Hat Commercial.flv|JP3 (1991)
 
GG Takahashi Yumiko Train Commercial.flv|JP4 (1991)
 
GG Portuguese Commercial.flv|Portuguese (1994)
 
1994 Spanish Game Gear Commercial.flv|Spanish (1994)
 
French Game Gear commercial.flv|French
 
Australian Sega Game Gear Commercial 1992.flv|Australian (1992)
 
 
</gallery>
 
</gallery>
  
== External links ==
+
==External links==
 +
* Sega of Japan catalogue pages (Japanese): [https://sega.jp/history/hard/gamegear/ Game Gear]
 
* [http://www.consoledatabase.com Console Database] - Sega Game Gear info and FAQs
 
* [http://www.consoledatabase.com Console Database] - Sega Game Gear info and FAQs
 
* [http://www.smspower.org SMS Power] - Technical information and more on the Game Gear and its bigger brother, the Master System
 
* [http://www.smspower.org SMS Power] - Technical information and more on the Game Gear and its bigger brother, the Master System
  
 
==References==
 
==References==
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Latest revision as of 15:07, 26 March 2024

For the American automobile manufacturer, see Mercury (company).
Gamegear us logo.svg
Gamegear.jpg
Sega Game Gear
Manufacturer: Sega
Release Date RRP Code
Sega Game Gear
JP
¥19,80019,800 HGG-3200
Sega Game Gear
US
(NY/LA)
$149.95149.95[3]
Sega Game Gear
US
(Nationwide)
$149.95149.95[3]
Sega Game Gear
DE
Sega Game Gear
ES
Sega Game Gear
FR
Sega Game Gear
PT
Sega Game Gear
UK
£99.9999.99[4][5][6]
Sega Game Gear
SE
Sega Game Gear
IT
Sega Game Gear
CZ
Sega Game Gear
AU
Sega Game Gear
MX
Sega Game Gear
BR
R$160,000160,000
Sega Game Gear
KR
₩198,000198,000 SPC-150
Sega Game Gear
SA
500‎﷼‎500[8]

The Game Gear (ゲームギア) is a handheld video game console developed by Sega and released in late 1990 as a response to Nintendo's Game Boy handheld . It is a full colour console and was Sega's first attempt to compete in the handheld games market (the second being the Sega Nomad — a handheld Mega Drive). In South Korea it is known as the Handy Gam*Boy (핸디겜보이) and Handy Aladdin Boy (핸디알라딘보이).

After development of the Sega Saturn began, the Game Gear was retroactively given the codename Mercury[9].

Hardware

The Game Gear is a "portable" device which was designed to address problems with Nintendo's Game Boy. It is held lengthwise at the sides (preventing the cramping of hands which plagued Nintendo's system) and has a backlit, colour LCD screen, allowing for clearer and more vibrant visuals than its main rival.

Similarly to the Mega Drive, which at the time was Sega's main focus in the home console market, the Game Gear is derived from the earlier Sega Master System. Unlike the Mega Drive, however, the Game Gear is largely identical to the Master System, the major difference being a VDP capable of displaying palettes consisting of a wider variety of colors, and the playback of stereo sound. Game Gear games traditionally run at a smaller resolution too, although with a screen built similarly to televisions of the era, the Game Gear is fully capable of playing games in higher resolutions.

Like the Master System, the Game Gear features a D-Pad and two buttons, 1 and 2, but also adds a third,  START . This is one button short of a Game Boy.

Unfortunately, due to technical limitations of the era, the Game Gear demands six AA batteries to be played on the go, of which the fluorescent backlight on the LCD screen will eat through in three to five hours (though a battery pack provides longer playtime). Furthermore, the system gives off more heat than the Game Boy, often leading to "sweaty palms" after prolonged use. The system was also considered not to be very "portable" - its bulky size means it does not fit in many pockets, and the power-draining backlight of the LCD screen (which cannot be turned off) meant Game Gears were unusable after a short period of time. An AC adaptor can be plugged into the system so that it runs off the mains, but this was not considered practical for consumers of the day.

Game Gears were also manufactured at a time where capacitor problems were rampant across the electronics industry. As a result, screen and audio failures are common, and fixes are not always simple.

Models

Main article: Game Gear consoles.

Technical specifications

See Sega Master System specifications for further specifications

The hardware is largely identical to the Sega Master System, with some of the differences mentioned below.

  • Speed: 3.579545 MHz (same as NTSC colorburst)
  • Colors on screen: 32
  • Sprite size: 8x8

History

Main article: History of the Sega Game Gear.

Localised names

Also known as
Language Localised Name English Translation
English Game Gear Game Gear
Japanese ゲームギア Game Gear
Korean 핸디겜보이 Handy Gam*Boy
Hebrew גיימגיר

Games

Main article: Sega Game Gear games.

Production credits

Source:
Developer mentions[12][13]


Magazine articles

Main article: Sega Game Gear/Magazine articles.

Promotional material

Main article: Sega Game Gear/Promotional material.

Logos by regions

Logo Region
International logo
Used in Japan, Asia and Africa
Used in North America, Asia
and parts of South America
Used in Brazil, Argentina, Paraguay
and Uruguay
Used in Western and Eastern Europe,
Asia, Africa and Australasia
Used in Arabian Peninsula
Used in Scandinavia
Used in South Korea

Artwork

External links

  • Sega of Japan catalogue pages (Japanese): Game Gear
  • Console Database - Sega Game Gear info and FAQs
  • SMS Power - Technical information and more on the Game Gear and its bigger brother, the Master System

References

Sega Home Video Game Systems
83 84 85 86 87 88 89 90 91 92 93 94 95 96 97 98 99 00 01 02 03 04 05 06 07 08 09 10 11
SG-1000 SG-1000 II Mega Drive Mega Drive II
SC-3000 Mega-CD Mega-CD II Genesis 3
Sega Mark III 32X Dreamcast
Master System Master System II
AI Computer Game Gear
Saturn
Pico Beena
Sega Game Gear
Topics Sega Game Gear | History | Magazine articles | Promotional material | Merchandise
Hardware Japan | North America | Western Europe | Eastern Europe | Asia | South America | Australasia | Africa
Wide Gear
Add-ons Pro Action Replay | Game Genie | X-Terminator | Master Gear Converter (Gear Master | Nuby Converter) | Stereo FM Tuner | TV Tuner
Cases Carry-All | Deluxe Carry-All Case | Gear Bag | Holster Case | Standard Carrying Case | Soft Case | Third Party (Play & Carry Case)
Accessories A/V Cable | Battery Pack | Car Adaptor | Car Antenna | Cleaning Gear | Gear-to-Gear Cable | PowerBack (Third Party) | Screen Magnifier (Wide Gear | Super Wide Gear | Third-Party)

Handy Gear | Master Link Cable