Master System consoles in Asia

For one reason or another, neither the Japanese or Asian models of the Sega Master System were particularly successful, and hence have been grouped together.

Japan

Sega Mark III

The Master System started off life as the Sega Mark III, sold as an update to the SG-1000 and SG-1000 II models in Japan. It has a Japanese-style cartridge slot, a card slot and shipped with two Mark III SJ-152 controllers. Like the SG-1000 II, it relied on extensions for the user to get the most out of the system, and wasn't a particularly successful machine in comparison to its main rival, the Nintendo Famicom.

The Sega Master System

As Sega started to see some success in other markets with their redesigned Sega Master System (based on the Mark III), the Sega Mark III was replaced with the western model in late 1987. On the surface, the Japanese Master System looks identical to its North American and European counterparts, but there are some notable differences. Firstly, the text printed on the left hand side of the unit reads "Sega Master System" (as opposed to "Sega Master System/Power Base"). Secondly, the system only accepts "Asian-style" cartridges, which are taller, thicker and more narrow than western carts.

Most importantly though, the Japanese Master System includes a built-in FM Sound Unit, which was previously released as an extension to the Mark III. No non-Japanese machines received an FM Sound Unit in any form, and a handful of cartridges had their FM compatibility removed when shipped internationally. The Japanese Master System also outputs an NTSC-J TV signal, as you would expect. There are two controllers, but no games built-in to the system or bundled with the unit. There is also no RF output, unlike the Mark III and western Master System; RF output is provided through an external modulator.

As far as we know, this was the only Master System bundle to reach Japan. With the Sega Mega Drive being released the following year, Sega mostly dropped support for the console, with software support drying up by Feburary 1989.

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Asia

Sega Master System

The rest of Asia saw a Master System release too. This first model is virtually identical to the Japanese Sega Master System, but with Asian branding. It lacks the FM Sound Unit and will produce a different TV signal, but still accepts "Asian-style" cartridges. This version of the Master System is also very rare.

Sega Master System II

Rarer still is the Asian Sega Master System II. Similar to its western counterparts the Asian SMS2 lacks a card slot, but still contains a Japanese-style cartridge slot.

Hong Kong

The Sega Master System

In a daring feat by Sega, the original Sega Master System was released to a Hong Kong audience, making this the only legitimate Chinese language Master System console. Included were two control pads and a copy of Hang-On. Asia unfortunately suffers from high levels of piracy, and although the Master System was not widely targeted, it did have to compete with Famicom/NES and later Mega Drive clones, sold at a vastly reduced price.

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