SEGA Master System
Master System Specifications
The Sega Master System is a third-generation console developed and manufactured by Sega. It was first released in Japan in 1985 as the Sega Mark III, and was redesigned as the Master System for its North American launch in 1986.
Both versions could play cartridges as well as credit card sized Sega Cards. The cards were cheaper than cartridges but held much less data, only 256 kilobits, and were eventually dropped because of this limit.
The Master System’s hardware was more powerful than the NES, with twice as much memory and a faster CPU, but this was not enough to overcome the NES and Nintendo’s strong franchises. Accessories included 3D glasses and a light gun, both designed for specially made games.
Facing strong competition from Nintendo, the Master System sold only about 10 to 13 million units in its lifetime, far fewer than the NES, which sold over 62 million. Its game library was criticised as too small. Sega’s mascot at the time, Alex Kidd, starred in several of its games, and later releases included Street Fighter II and Dynamite Headdy.
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Sega Master System Emulators
ares is an open source multi-system emulator focused on accuracy and preservation, covering the NES, SNES, N64, Sega consoles and more. The successor to higan.
Emulicious is a free, accurate Java-based emulator for the Master System, Game Gear, Game Boy, Game Boy Color and MSX, with strong debugging tools.
Gearsystem is an accurate, open source emulator for the Sega Master System, Game Gear and SG-1000, with a Z80 core that covers undocumented behaviour.
Genesis Plus GX is an accurate Sega Genesis, Sega CD, Master System, Game Gear and SG-1000 emulator by Eke-Eke, mostly used as a RetroArch core.
Kega Fusion is a Sega multi-system emulator by Steve Snake for the SG-1000, Master System, Game Gear, Genesis, Sega CD and 32X. It was last updated in 2010.
Mednafen is an open source multi-system emulator, controlled from the command line, known for accurate Sega Saturn and PlayStation emulation.
Mesen is an open source multi-system emulator for the NES, SNES, Game Boy, Game Boy Advance and more, with a built-in debugger, for Windows, Linux and macOS.
Phoenix is a freeware emulator for the 3DO, ColecoVision, Sega Master System and Atari Jaguar, known for its very high 3DO compatibility.
PicoDrive is a fast SEGA emulator for the Genesis, SEGA CD, 32X, Pico, Master System and Game Gear, first written for ARM handhelds.
Nemulator is an NES and Sega Master System emulator by James Slepicka, with cycle-accurate timing and support for most NES mappers and unofficial opcodes.
CrabEmu is a discontinued emulator for Sega's 8-bit consoles, the SG-1000 and Master System, for macOS, Linux and even the Dreamcast, but not Windows.
