Revision as of 14:37, 29 November 2011

SC-3000

Manufacturer: Sega
Variants: SC-3000H
Add-ons: Super Control Station SF-7000, SP-400, Data Recorder SR-1000

The SC-3000 is the computer equivalent of the SG-1000 cartridge-based gaming console manufactured by Sega. Much like the SG-1000 was Sega's first home video game console, the SC-3000 was their first home computer, and in fact the only one developed by Sega on their own. The SC-3000 is compatible with SG-1000 software, and likewise, assuming the software does not require the SC-3000's extra functions, SC-3000 software may be played on an SG-1000 (with keyboard functions used by the SK-1100 add on).

The SC-3000 was launched in Japan in July 1983 for the asking price of ¥29,800, being marketed as an entry-level computer. Since games were compatible with both the SC-3000 and SG-1000, and since the SC-3000 was also able to run computer applications, the SC-3000 outsold the SG-1000. The SC-3000 offered users the chance to create their own programs and games on the machine. It also received a variety of add-ons, including a Speech Synthesis Unit, a Light Pen, and several other third party accessories.

Though it was an initial success in Japan, the SC-3000 inevitably lost out (as did many other computers of the era) to the rising MSX computer standard by the middle of the decade. As it happens, the SC-3000/SG-1000 and MSX share similar hardware, and several games were ported across the two systems. Like the MSX, the SC-3000 was designed to be connected to a standard TV rather than a dedicated monitor.

Like the SG-1000, the SC-3000 only saw a limited release outside of Japan. It was distributed in Australia by John Sands and in New Zealand by Grandstand, and also saw a limited release within Europe (such as France, where it was distributed by Yeno). However at this point these markets were already oversaturated with cheap home computers so the SC-3000 was not a huge success.

The SC-3000H, which originally sold for ¥33,800, was an upgraded version of this system with more RAM and an upgraded keyboard (the original keyboard used small rubber keys), so the upgrade was sorely needed.

Models

Japan

SC-3000 (Black)

The standard SC-3000, released in July 1983. Sometime after the initial production, the packaging was changed.

The SC-3000
SC-3000 Black JP 2.jpg

Computer with original box
SC-3000 Black JP 3.jpg

Computer with later box

SC-3000 (White)

This white SC-3000 was released near the same time as the original black system. This color was exclusive to Japan, and matches the later SG-1000 II and Sega Mark III.

The unit
SC-3000H JP 2.jpg

The box and contents of the box

SC-3000 (Red)

A red version of the SC-3000 was also released much like the Sharp X1, one of the SC-3000's competitors in Japan.

SC-3000 JP Red 1.jpg

The unit with its box
A close up

SC-3000H (Black)

With the SC-3000H's release in 1984, the original rubber keys were replaced with full-travel plastic keys and the system received an increased amount of RAM.

SC-3000H, black version

SC-3000H (White)

The SC-3000H also came in white and is otherwise identical to the black system.

SC-3000H, white version
SC-3000 White JP 2.jpg

Contents of box

Australia

SC-3000

John Sands quickly brought the system to Australia, and was also released in 1983. There is little difference between the two aside from the removal of Japanese characters and slight tweaks to the hardware for PAL television sets. Also unlike Japan, there was only one color - black.

SC-3000 AU 1.jpg

The contents of the box
SC-3000 AU 2.jpg

The keys
Front of box
Label on the underside of unit

SC-3000H

The SC-3000H was released in Australia as well. Again, black was the only color available.

SC-3000H AU 2.jpg

The SC-3000H, Australian version
Close up of the unit

France

SC-3000H

The French SC-3000H was distributed by Yeno, who put their name on the system in the place of Sega's.

The SC-3000H, French version
"YENO" branding
"Manufactured by Sega"
Label on the underside of unit
Front of box

External links

Sega SG-1000 Hardware
SG-1000 Variations	SG-1000 \| SG-1000 II \| SC-3000 \| SC-5000 \| Othello Multivision \| Pasocom Gakushuudzukue \| SD-G5 \| Arcade
Add-ons	Super Control Station SF-7000 \| 4 Color Plotter Printer \| Data Recorder SR-1000 \| Sega Keyboard
Game Controllers	Joystick (SJ-200) \| Joystick (SJ-300) \| Joypad (SJ-150) \| SJ-151 \| Handle Controller \| Bike Handle \| Sega Graphic Board
Misc. Hardware	Card Catcher \| Extension Cable Kit (JC-100) \| SD-80 \| Sega Compact Floppy Disk
Unlicensed Clones	Dina 2 in one \| Fullwis Video Game FR-II‎

@@ Line 18: / Line 18: @@
 | southkorea=
 }}
-The '''SC-3000''' is the computer equivalent of the [[SG-1000]] [[cartridge]]-based [[video game console|gaming console]] manufactured by [[Sega]]. Like how the SG-1000 was Sega's first home video game console, the SC-3000 was their first home computer, and in fact the only one developed by Sega on their own. The SC-3000 is backwards compatible with SG-1000 software, and likewise, assuming the software does not require the SC-3000's extra functions, SC-3000 software may be played on an SG-1000 (and keyboard functions can be taken care of by the [[SK-1100]] add on).
+The '''SC-3000''' is the computer equivalent of the [[SG-1000]] [[cartridge]]-based [[video game console|gaming console]] manufactured by [[Sega]]. Much like the SG-1000 was Sega's first home video game console, the SC-3000 was their first home computer, and in fact the only one developed by Sega on their own. The SC-3000 is compatible with SG-1000 software, and likewise, assuming the software does not require the SC-3000's extra functions, SC-3000 software may be played on an SG-1000 (with keyboard functions used by the [[SK-1100]] add on).
-The SC-3000 was launched in Japan in 1983 for the asking price of ¥29,800, being marketed as a computer for beginners. Since games were compatible with both the SC-3000 and SG-1000 and since the SC-3000 was also able to run computer applications, the SC-3000 outsold the SG-1000. The SC-3000 offered users the chance to create their own programs and games on the machine. It also received a variety of add-ons, including a [[Speech Synthesis Unit]], a [[Light Pen]], and several other third party accessories.
+The SC-3000 was launched in Japan in July 1983 for the asking price of ¥29,800, being marketed as an entry-level computer. Since games were compatible with both the SC-3000 and SG-1000, and since the SC-3000 was also able to run computer applications, the SC-3000 outsold the SG-1000. The SC-3000 offered users the chance to create their own programs and games on the machine. It also received a variety of add-ons, including a [[Speech Synthesis Unit]], a [[Light Pen]], and several other third party accessories.
-Though it was an initial success in Japan, the SC-3000 inevitably lost out (as did many other computers of the era) to the rising MSX computer standard by the middle of the decade. As it happens, the SC-3000/SG-1000 and MSX share similar hardware, and so you often see many game conversions between the two. Like the MSX, the SC-3000 is to be plugged into a standard TV rather than a dedicated monitor.
+Though it was an initial success in Japan, the SC-3000 inevitably lost out (as did many other computers of the era) to the rising MSX computer standard by the middle of the decade. As it happens, the SC-3000/SG-1000 and MSX share similar hardware, and several games were ported across the two systems. Like the MSX, the SC-3000 was designed to be connected to a standard TV rather than a dedicated monitor.
 Like the SG-1000, the SC-3000 only saw a limited release outside of Japan. It was distributed in Australia by [[John Sands]] and in New Zealand by [[Grandstand]], and also saw a limited release within Europe (such as France, where it was distributed by [[Yeno]]). However at this point these markets were already oversaturated with cheap home computers so the SC-3000 was not a huge success.
-The '''SC-3000H''', which originally sold for ¥33,800, was an upgraded version of this system with more [[RAM]] and an upgraded keyboard (the original keyboard was of the low-end membrane type), so the upgrade was sorely needed.
+The '''SC-3000H''', which originally sold for ¥33,800, was an upgraded version of this system with more [[RAM]] and an upgraded keyboard (the original keyboard used small rubber keys), so the upgrade was sorely needed.
 =Models=
 ==Japan==
-===SC-3000 Black Verison===
+===SC-3000 (Black)===
-The standard SC-3000, released in July of 1983. Sometime after the initial production the packaging was changed.
+The standard SC-3000, released in July 1983. Sometime after the initial production, the packaging was changed.
 <gallery>
 File:SC-3000 Black JP 1.jpg|The SC-3000
@@ Line 37: / Line 37: @@
 File:SC-3000 Black JP 3.jpg|Computer with later box
 </gallery>
-===SC-3000 White Verison===
+===SC-3000 (White)===
-A white edition released in the same month. This color was exclusive to Japan, and matches the [[SG-1000 II]] and [[Sega Mark III]]
+This white SC-3000 was released near the same time as the original black system. This color was exclusive to Japan, and matches the later [[SG-1000 II]] and [[Sega Mark III]].
 <gallery>
 File:SC-3000H JP 1.jpg|The unit
 File:SC-3000H JP 2.jpg|The box and contents of the box
 </gallery>
-===SC-3000 Red Verison===
+===SC-3000 (Red)===
-Interestingly Japan got a red version of the unit as well. Even to this day the west usually sees computers only released in black or white shells, but in Japan, red was acceptable too (the Sharp X1 was bright red).
+A red version of the SC-3000 was also released much like the Sharp X1, one of the SC-3000's competitors in Japan.
 <gallery>
 File:SC-3000 JP Red 1.jpg|The unit with its box
 File:SC-3000 JP Red 2.jpg|A close up
 </gallery>
-===SC-3000H Black Verison===
+===SC-3000H (Black)===
-With the SC-3000H, gone were the rubber keys in favour of the traditional plastic keyboard setup.
+With the SC-3000H's release in 1984, the original rubber keys were replaced with full-travel plastic keys and the system received an increased amount of RAM.
 <gallery>
 File:Sc3000h.jpg|SC-3000H, black version
 </gallery>
-===SC-3000H White Verison===
+===SC-3000H (White)===
-The SC-3000H also came in white. Otherwise it's identical to the above.
+The SC-3000H also came in white and is otherwise identical to the black system.
 <gallery>
 File:SC-3000 White JP 1.jpg|SC-3000H, white version
@@ Line 62: / Line 62: @@
 ==Australia==
 ===SC-3000===
-John Sands quickly brought the system to Australia, and it too was released within 1983. There is little difference between the two aside from the removal of Japanese characters and slight tweaks to the hardware for PAL television sets. Also unlike Japan, there was only one color - black.
+John Sands quickly brought the system to Australia, and was also released in 1983. There is little difference between the two aside from the removal of Japanese characters and slight tweaks to the hardware for PAL television sets. Also unlike Japan, there was only one color - black.
 <gallery>
 File:SC-3000 AU 1.jpg|The contents of the box
@@ Line 70: / Line 70: @@
 </gallery>
 ===SC-3000H===
-The SC-3000H was given the English treatment also. Again, this was the only color available.
+The SC-3000H was released in Australia as well. Again, black was the only color available.
 <gallery>
 File:SC-3000H AU 2.jpg|The SC-3000H, Australian version
@@ Line 77: / Line 77: @@
 ==France==
 ===SC-3000H===
-The French SC-3000H was distributed by Yano, who put their name on the system in the place of Sega's.
+The French SC-3000H was distributed by Yeno, who put their name on the system in the place of Sega's.
 <gallery>
 File:SC-3000H FR 1.jpg|The SC-3000H, French version

Difference between revisions of "SC-3000"

From Sega Retro

Revision as of 14:37, 29 November 2011

Contents

Models

Japan

SC-3000 (Black)

SC-3000 (White)

SC-3000 (Red)

SC-3000H (Black)

SC-3000H (White)

Australia

SC-3000

SC-3000H

France

SC-3000H

External links