SG-1000

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SG-1000
SG-1000 console
Manufacturer Sega
Type stationary game console
generation third generation of consoles
publication
JapanJapan July 15, 1983
Main processor NEC 780C
Graphics processor TMS9918A
Storage media Modules , via adapter also plug-in cards (Sega Card)
Controller Joystick , 2 fire buttons
Online service none
Units sold about 1.6 million
Most successful game unknown
predecessor none
successor Sega Mark III

The SG-1000 (short for Sega Game-1000 ; Japanese エ ス ジ ー ・ セ ン , esu jī sen ), released in Japan in 1983 , is the first game console from the Japanese company Sega . This was published on the same day as Nintendo 's Famicom , which in America and Europe as the NES was marketed.

General information

As the predecessor of the Master System , the SG-1000 was Sega's first video game console and was released in 1983. The controller of this system had a digital joystick with two fire buttons. The first controller was permanently connected to the console, another controller could be connected to the right side of the device. The permanently installed controller could be converted via Sega's JC-100 so that the removable controller could be connected. In addition to an antenna output, the SG-1000 had an expansion port for connecting a compatible keyboard (SK-1100), disk station (SF-7000) and RAM expansion. Outside of Japan, the console was still sold in New Zealand by the Grandstand company .

SG-1000 with SK-1100 and Yeno Data Recorder

In the same year Sega released the home computer version of the console with a 4 MHz processor and keyboard under the name SC-3000 . The SF-7000 extension was also released for the SC-3000, adding a 3 "floppy disk drive, an RS-232 connection, a Centronics interface (parallel connection) and 64 kB of RAM to the console . The device also has a twice as large memory as the SG-1000. The distribution of the console was expanded to include Australia, France, Italy and Finland. In 1984, the SG-1000 II (or Sega Mark II ), a slightly modified version of the SG- 1000. In the USA the design of the SG-1000 was licensed as Othello Multivision under the manufacturer Tsukuda Original. In addition, unlicensed clones such as Fullwis Video Game FR-II and the Dina 2 in one from Bit Corporation , which in addition to SG- 1000 titles also supported ColecoVision games.

All the variants of the game console mentioned were backwards compatible with the SG-1000, for which most of the games were published. The Sega Card Catcher served as an adapter to support the production of the cheaper Sega Cards ( My Cards in Japan ) for SG-1000, SC-3000 and Mark II. These had a memory limitation of 32 kB.

In 1985 the successor Sega Mark III appeared , a version downwardly compatible with the SG-1000, which is largely compatible with the master system.

SC-3000

Yeno SC-3000

Simultaneously with the presentation of the SG-1000, Sega introduced a home computer version , the S ega C omputer 3000. The goal of finding more licensees was quickly abandoned with the emergence of the MSX standard. Distribution was focused on Japan, Australia (through John Sands), New Zealand, France (ITMC under the Yeno brand), Italy and Finland. The later revision 3000H improved the SC-3000 with a full-fledged mechanical keyboard. In addition to the published software titles for the SG-1000, programs were sold on cassette which could be loaded, for example, by the Data Recorder SR-1000 . Documents could be printed out using the SP-400 printer . The SC-3000 was wrongly advertised with a main memory size of 48 kB RAM. In fact, the home computer only had 4 kB of video memory, 2 kB of working memory which could be expanded with basic cartridges up to 32 kB of working memory and 16 kB of video memory. A special feature was the game Terebi Oekaki, which was delivered with a Sega graphic board . The inputs were made via the stylus on a 10.8 cm × 8 cm glass plate. In 1986 the Sega AI computer was released, which also uses a graphics tablet for input.

Sega SC-3000H with attached Sega Graphic Board

SG-1000 II

Sega SG-1000 II with two controllers

In July 1984 Sega published an update of the device under the name SG-1000 II. Technically it was identical to the SG-1000, but the housing had been redesigned and the connection for the SK-1100 keyboard was from the back of the device to the Front has been moved. The controller, which was no longer permanently connected to the console, was also revised. Compared to the SJ-200, the SJ-150 had a detachable thumbstick similar to the SJ-152, which was used in the Mark III. The connections for this were on the back of the console. At the market launch the device cost ¥ 15,000 (approx. 180 DM ).

Games

Cartridge next to card catcher with inserted Sega card

Sega was already active in the arcade sector before the SG-1000 was released , which is why many implementations from the arcade appeared. Due to the extensive hardware support of the home computer variation, games could be on modules, plug-in cards, 3 "floppy disks and cassettes. 68 modules and 29 plug-in cards are known, some of which require a keyboard or RAM expansion. Game production was officially discontinued in 1987 .

abstract

Technical specifications

Web links

Commons : SG-1000  - collection of pictures, videos and audio files