Difference between revisions of "Master System consoles in North America"

Revision as of 08:54, 24 May 2021

Though the Sega Master System always played second-best to the Nintendo Entertainment System (so much so that few even remember the Master System's existence in this region), many bundles and console revisions were given to the North American audience.

There are three confirmed "sets" of North American Master System; early consoles distributed by Sega, late 80s consoles distributed by Tonka, and a third set for the redesgined Master System II, also distributed by Sega. Canada changed packaging when the US changed distributors, but all consoles in that country were distributed by Irwin Electronics.

Contrary to popular belief, until the advent of the Sega Master System II, Sega did not call the console the "Sega Master System" in North America. Instead the console was referred to as the "Sega System", a rather vague and confusing title which was inevitably scrapped. The console unit itself is often referred to as the "Power Base" (similar to the NES' "Control Deck"), though for unknown reasons the text printed on the top of the unit reads "Master System/Power Base". The "Master System" name clearly stuck, and became the official title for the console in later revisions.

Though there are similarities with European packaging, North American models are easier to spot than one might expect.

United States

Name	Date & Price	Console	Hardware	Software	Documentation
The Sega Base System	US: (19xx)		Control Pad (x2)
The Sega Master System	US: (1986)		Control Pad (x2) Light Phaser	Hang-On / Safari Hunt	Instruction Manual
The Sega Base System	US: (1987)		Control Pad (x2)
The Sega Master System	US: (1987)		Control Pad (x2) Light Phaser	Hang-On / Safari Hunt
Video Game System	US: (1988)		Control Pad (x2) Light Phaser 3-D Glasses	Missile Defense 3-D
Base System	US: (19xx)		Control Pad (x2)
Master System	US: (19xx)		Control Pad (x2) Light Phaser	Hang-On / Safari Hunt
SegaScope 3-D System	US: (1988)	3010-C	Control Pad (x2) Light Phaser 3-D Glasses	Missile Defense 3-D
Master System II	US: $49.9549.95 (199x)		Control Pad	Alex Kidd in Miracle World

Canada

Name	Date & Price	Hardware	Software
The Sega Master System	CA: (19xx)	Control Pad (x2) Light Phaser	Hang-On / Safari Hunt
Master System	CA: (19xx)	Control Pad (x2) Light Phaser	Hang-On / Safari Hunt
Master System	CA: (19xx)	Control Pad (x2) Light Phaser	Hang-On / Safari Hunt
Master System II	CA: (199x)	Control Pad	Alex Kidd in Miracle World

Mexico

Name	Date & Price	Hardware	Software	Documentation
Sega Master System	MX: (19xx)	Control Pad (x2) Light Phaser	Hang-On/Safari Hunt	Manual Seal
SegaScope 3-D System	MX: (19xx)	Control Pad (x2) Light Phaser 3-D Glasses	Missile Defense 3-D	Manual Catalogue
Master System II	MX: (≥ 1990)	Control Pad	Alex Kidd in Miracle World	Manual
Master System II	MX: (199x)	Control Pad	Alex Kidd in Miracle World	Manual

References

Sega Master System
Topics	Sega Master System \| Technical Specifications (Hardware Comparison) \| History \| Boot ROM \| Magazine articles \| Promotional material \| Merchandise
Hardware	Asia \| North America \| Western Europe \| Eastern Europe \| South America \| Australasia \| Africa Sega Mark III \| Sega Game Box 9 \| Master System Girl \| Master System Super Compact \| Kiosk \| Sega System E
Add-ons	Demo Unit II \| Telecon Pack \| FM Sound Unit \| 3-D Glasses
Controllers	SJ-152 \| Control Pad \| 3-D Glasses \| Control Stick \| Handle Controller \| Light Phaser \| Paddle Control \| Rapid Fire Unit \| Sports Pad \| SG Commander
Misc. Hardware	Action Replay \| Card Catcher \| Action Case \| Freedom Connection \| Playkit
Unreleased	Floppy Disk Drive
Consoles-on-a-chip	Arcade Gamer Portable \| TF-DVD560 \| DVD Karaoke Game DVT-G100 \| Fun Play 20-in-1 \| Handheld Electronic Games \| Master System 3 Collection \| Master System 3 \| Master System Evolution \| Master System Handy \| PlayPal Plug & Play \| Poga

@@ Line 8: / Line 8: @@
 ==United States==
+{{ConsoleReleaseTable|
-{| class="prettytable sortable"
-!Box
-!Name
-!Date & Price
-!Console
-!Label
-!Hardware
-!Software
-!Documentation
-|-
 {{ConsoleRelease
 | front=TSBS US Box Front.jpg
@@ Line 28: / Line 17: @@
 | name=The Sega Base System
-| dateprice=
+| dateprice={{DatePrice|US||19xx}}
 | console=MasterSystem1.jpg
@@ Line 47: / Line 36: @@
 | name=The Sega Master System
-| dateprice={{DatePrice|||1986}}
+| dateprice={{DatePrice|US||1986}}
 | console=MasterSystem1.jpg
@@ Line 64: / Line 53: @@
 | doc1name=Instruction Manual
 }}
 {{ConsoleRelease
@@ Line 74: / Line 62: @@
 | name=The Sega Base System
-| dateprice={{DatePrice|||1987}}
+| dateprice={{DatePrice|US||1987}}
 | console=MasterSystem1.jpg
@@ Line 91: / Line 79: @@
 | name=The Sega Master System
-| dateprice={{DatePrice|||1987}}
+| dateprice={{DatePrice|US||1987}}
 | console=MasterSystem1.jpg
@@ Line 115: / Line 103: @@
 | name=Video Game System
-| dateprice={{DatePrice|||1988}}
+| dateprice={{DatePrice|US||1988}}
 | console=MasterSystem1.jpg
@@ Line 139: / Line 127: @@
 | name=Base System
-| dateprice=
+| dateprice={{DatePrice|US||19xx}}
 | console=MasterSystem1.jpg
@@ Line 155: / Line 143: @@
 | name=Master System
-| dateprice=
+| dateprice={{DatePrice|US||19xx}}
 | console=MasterSystem1.jpg
@@ Line 178: / Line 166: @@
 | name=SegaScope 3-D System
-| dateprice={{DatePrice|||1988}}
+| dateprice={{DatePrice|US||1988}}
 | console=MasterSystem1.jpg
@@ Line 202: / Line 190: @@
 | name=Master System II
-| dateprice=$49.95 (199x)
+| dateprice={{DatePrice|US|49.95|199x}}
 | console=SMS2 US.jpg
@@ Line 213: / Line 201: @@
 | soft1name=''[[Alex Kidd in Miracle World]]''
 }}
-|}
+}}
 ==Canada==
-{| class="prettytable sortable"
+{{ConsoleReleaseTable|
-!Box
-!Name
-!Date & Price
-!Console
-!Label
-!Hardware
-!Software
-!Documentation
-|-
 {{ConsoleRelease
 | front=TSMS CA Box Front.jpg
@@ Line 235: / Line 213: @@
 | name=The Sega Master System
-| dateprice=
+| dateprice={{DatePrice|CA||19xx}}
 | console=MasterSystem1.jpg
@@ Line 258: / Line 236: @@
 | name=Master System
-| dateprice=
+| dateprice={{DatePrice|CA||19xx}}
 | console=MasterSystem1.jpg
@@ Line 280: / Line 258: @@
 | name=Master System
-| dateprice=
+| dateprice={{DatePrice|CA||19xx}}
 | console=MasterSystem1.jpg
@@ Line 302: / Line 280: @@
 | name=Master System II
-| dateprice=
+| dateprice={{DatePrice|CA||199x}}
 | console=SMS2 US.jpg
@@ Line 313: / Line 291: @@
 | soft1name=''[[Alex Kidd in Miracle World]]''
 }}
-|}
+}}
 ==Mexico==
-{| class="prettytable sortable"
+{{ConsoleReleaseTable|
-!Box
-!Name
-!Date & Price
-!Console
-!Label
-!Hardware
-!Software
-!Documentation
-|-
 {{ConsoleRelease
 | front=SMSP MX Box Front.png
@@ Line 334: / Line 303: @@
 | name=Sega Master System
-| dateprice=
+| dateprice={{DatePrice|MX||19xx}}
 | console=MasterSystem1.jpg
@@ Line 361: / Line 330: @@
 | name=SegaScope 3-D System
-| dateprice=
+| dateprice={{DatePrice|MX||19xx}}
 | console=MasterSystem1.jpg
@@ Line 391: / Line 360: @@
 | name=Master System II
-| dateprice={{DatePrice|||{{gte}} 1990}}
+| dateprice={{DatePrice|MX||{{gte}} 1990}}
 | console=SMS2 US.jpg
@@ Line 413: / Line 382: @@
 | name=Master System II
-| dateprice=
+| dateprice={{DatePrice|MX||199x}}
 | console=SMS2 US.jpg
@@ Line 427: / Line 396: @@
 | doc1name=Manual
 }}
-|}
+}}
+==References==
+<references />
 {{MasterSystem}}
 [[Category:Master System hardware]]