Difference between revisions of "TV Tuner"

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{{AccessoryBob
 
{{AccessoryBob
 
| accessoryimage=Tvtuner.jpg
 
| accessoryimage=Tvtuner.jpg
 +
| accessoryprogramscreen=
 
| title=
 
| title=
 
| maker=[[Sega]]
 
| maker=[[Sega]]
 +
| distributor={{company|[[Ecofilmes]]|region=PT}}, {{company|[[Zegetron]]|region=GR}}, {{company|[[Tec Toy]]|region=BR}}
 +
| type=Miscellaneous
 
| madefor=[[Sega Game Gear]]
 
| madefor=[[Sega Game Gear]]
 
| releases={{releasesGG
 
| releases={{releasesGG
 +
| gg_date_jp=1990
 +
| gg_code_jp=HGG-3001
 +
| gg_rrp_jp=12,800{{ref|https://web.archive.org/web/20130208080438/http://sega.jp/fb/segahard/gg/tuner.html}}
 +
| gg_date_jp_1=1994
 +
| gg_code_jp_1=HGG-3015
 +
| gg_rrp_jp_1=12,800{{ref|https://web.archive.org/web/20130208080438/http://sega.jp/fb/segahard/gg/tuner.html}}
 +
| gg_type_jp_1=TV Auto Tuner
 +
| gg_date_us=1991
 +
| gg_code_us=2101
 +
| gg_date_as=199x
 
| gg_date_uk=1991
 
| gg_date_uk=1991
 
| gg_rrp_uk=74.99{{magref|mm|16|15}}{{magref|segapower|28|15}}
 
| gg_rrp_uk=74.99{{magref|mm|16|15}}{{magref|segapower|28|15}}
Line 10: Line 23:
 
| gg_date_de=1992
 
| gg_date_de=1992
 
| gg_code_de=MK-2101-18
 
| gg_code_de=MK-2101-18
−
| gg_date_it=199x
+
| gg_date_it=1992
 
| gg_code_it=MK-2101-20
 
| gg_code_it=MK-2101-20
−
| gg_date_es=199x
+
| gg_date_es=1992
 
| gg_code_es=MK-2101-20
 
| gg_code_es=MK-2101-20
−
| gg_date_pt=199x
+
| gg_date_pt=1992
 
| gg_code_pt=MK-2101-20
 
| gg_code_pt=MK-2101-20
−
| gg_date_au=199x
+
| gg_date_se=1992
 +
| gg_date_cz=1993
 +
| gg_rrp_cz=3,699{{magref|abc|37-16|31}}
 +
| gg_date_pl=1993
 +
| gg_rrp_pl=250<ref>''Sega Game Gear'' - Gry Komputerowe 5/1995 page 11</ref>
 +
| gg_date_au=1992
 
| gg_code_au=MK-2101-20
 
| gg_code_au=MK-2101-20
−
| gg_date_jp=199x
 
−
| gg_code_jp=HGG-3001
 
−
| gg_rrp_jp=12,800{{ref|http://sega.jp/fb/segahard/gg/tuner.html}}
 
−
| gg_date_jp_1=199x
 
−
| gg_code_jp_1=HGG-3015
 
−
| gg_rrp_jp_1=12,800{{ref|http://sega.jp/fb/segahard/gg/tuner.html}}
 
−
| gg_type_jp_1=2
 
−
| gg_date_us=1991
 
−
| gg_code_us=2101
 
 
| gg_date_br=199x
 
| gg_date_br=199x
 
| gg_code_br=011840
 
| gg_code_br=011840
 
| gg_date_kr=199x
 
| gg_date_kr=199x
−
| gg_date_se=199x
+
| gg_code_kr=STP-150
 
}}
 
}}
 
}}
 
}}
−
The '''TV Tuner''', known as the '''TV Auto Tuner''' (ＴＶオートチューナーパック) in Japan, is a [[Sega Game Gear]] accessory which allows users to watch analogue television on the system's built-in screen.
+
{{stub}}The '''''{{PAGENAME}}''''' is a [[Sega Game Gear]] accessory which allows users to watch analogue television on the system's built-in screen. A revised version with an automatic tuner was released as the '''TV Auto Tuner''' (ＴＶオートチューナーパック), and was only sold in Japan.
  
−
[[Sega]] were keen to advertise the TV Tuner shortly after the system's launch for two distinct reasons, firstly because handheld televisions were still a relatively new invention and a dedicated system was still quite pricy in the early 90s, and secondly because in order to cope with a colour television signal, you would require a colour screen - something [[Nintendo]]'s [[Game Boy]] lacked, and which Sega were happy to point out at every given opportunity.
+
==Hardware==
 +
The TV Tuner plugs into the Game Gear's [[cartridge]] slot, and has a mono 3.5 mm A/V input. This means that if required, a VCR, camcorder, or a video game console can be connected and played off the system - it essentially turns the Game Gear into a small color television. There is also another mono 3.5 mm input for an external antenna, with the Japan-only [[Game Gear Car Antenna]] being the only official product to use it.
  
−
The TV Tuner plugs into the Game Gear's [[cartridge]] slot, and has a mono A/V input. This means that if required, a VCR, camcorder or another video game console can be connected and played off the system - it essentially turns the Game Gear into standard 1990s-spec television. Some models have an extra port for an extra antenna (the [[Game Gear Car Antenna]] was the only official product to use it) - this port was removed in some variants because it served no purpose in many regions.
+
TV Tuners also differ depending on the television standard. For example, the Japanese and US models use NTSC, whereas the European model uses PAL. On top of this there are several different types of PAL - the United Kingdom for example uses PAL-I and so had a different TV Tuner to Germany. France and other countries using the SECAM standard are not thought to have officially received the TV Tuner.
  
−
TV Tuners also differ depending on the television standard. For example, the US model uses NTSC, whereas the European model uses PAL. On top of this there are several different types of PAL - the United Kingdom for example uses PAL-I and so had a different TV Tuner to Germany. France and other countries using the SECAM standard are not thought to have officially received the TV Tuner.  
+
==History==
 +
[[Sega]] were keen to advertise the TV Tuner shortly after the system's launch for two distinct reasons, firstly because handheld televisions were still a relatively new invention and were still quite pricey in the early 1990s, and secondly because in order to cope with a color television signal, you would require a color screen - something [[Nintendo]]'s [[Game Boy]] lacked, and which Sega were happy to point out at every given opportunity.
  
−
Unfortunately due to the short battery life of the Game Gear, the TV Tuner is a largely redundant accessory unless the system is connected to an [[AC adapter]]. The battery life will be drained much faster with the TV Tuner than playing Game Gear games. Also as the world switches from analogue television to digital, the system becomes ever more useless, and the TV Tuner is reportedly incompatible with the late 90s Game Gear produced by [[Majesco]].
+
Unfortunately due to the short battery life of the Game Gear, the TV Tuner is a largely redundant accessory unless the system is connected to an [[AC adapter]]. The battery life will be drained much faster with the TV Tuner than playing Game Gear games as it uses the Game Gear's 34V rail to power the tuner inside. In modern times, the TV Tuner is largely useless for watching television as many countries have switched over from analog to digital broadcasting, which the TV Tuner is incompatible with. [[Majesco]] Game Gears are also not compatible with the US TV Tuner.
  
−
Following the release of this device, [[NEC]] responded by releasing the TurboVision, a similar add-on for their rival handheld, the TurboExpress. Unofficial TV tuners would also show up for the [[Game Boy Advance]] and [[Nintendo DS]] in the years which followed.
+
At around the same time, [[NEC]] also had the TurboVision, a TV tuner for their rival handheld, the TurboExpress. Unofficial TV tuners would also show up for the [[Game Boy Advance]] and [[Nintendo DS]] in the years that followed.
 +
 
 +
==Production credits==
 +
{{creditstable|
 +
*[[Masatoshi Mizunaga]]{{ref|1=https://jglobal.jst.go.jp/detail?JGLOBAL_ID=201103066743544441}}
 +
| console=GG
 +
| source=Uncredited
 +
}}
  
 
==Magazine articles==
 
==Magazine articles==
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==Promotional material==
 
==Promotional material==
 +
{{gitem|GG DE TVAdvert 1991.mp4|DE TV advert (1991)}}
 
{{gitem|Game Gear advert GR.mp4|GR TV advert (1993)}}
 
{{gitem|Game Gear advert GR.mp4|GR TV advert (1993)}}
 
{{gitem|Game Gear advert GR 2.mp4|GR TV advert (1993)}}
 
{{gitem|Game Gear advert GR 2.mp4|GR TV advert (1993)}}
 +
{{gitem|Game Gear advert SE.jpg|SE advert}}
 +
{{gitem|Sega TW advert PaiYuing.jpg|TW advert}}
 +
{{gitem|Suuri lelukirja FI 1992 Sega.jpg|FI advert (1992)}}
 +
{{gitem|Suuri_lelukirja_FI_1993_Sega.jpg|FI advert (1993)}}
 
{{gitem|TVTuner GG UK PrintAdvert.jpg|UK print advert}}
 
{{gitem|TVTuner GG UK PrintAdvert.jpg|UK print advert}}
 
{{gitem|TVTuner GG UK PrintAdvert JudgeDredd.jpg|UK ''Judge Dredd'' print advert}}
 
{{gitem|TVTuner GG UK PrintAdvert JudgeDredd.jpg|UK ''Judge Dredd'' print advert}}
 +
{{GalleryPrintAd
 +
|topmd|3|4
 +
}}
 +
{{GalleryPrintAd
 +
|topmd|4|2-3
 +
}}
 
{{galleryPrintAd
 
{{galleryPrintAd
−
|SegaIsraelSegaClub IL PrintAd.jpg|freak|10|
+
|gamechamp|1992-12|163
 +
|gamechamp|1993-02|154
 +
|gamechamp|1993-04|148
 
}}
 
}}
 +
{{galleryPrintAd
 +
|gamechamp|1993-03|5-6
 +
}}
 +
{{gitem
 +
|SegaIsraelSegaClub IL PrintAd.jpg|Print advert in Freak (IL) #10 (1993-xx-xx)
 +
}}
 +
{{gitem
 +
|Riki 01 SK Computer Center advert.jpg|Print advert in Riki (SK) #1: "September 1994" (1994-09-01)}}
 +
 +
==Patents==
 +
<gallery>
 +
Patent US5161803.pdf|US5161803
 +
</gallery>
  
 
==Photo gallery==
 
==Photo gallery==
 
<gallery>
 
<gallery>
 
TVTuner GG US.jpg|US model
 
TVTuner GG US.jpg|US model
−
Gg jp tvtuner.jpg|JP model
+
Gg jp tvtuner.jpg|JP Auto Tuner model
 
GG DE TV Tuner.jpg|DE model back
 
GG DE TV Tuner.jpg|DE model back
−
</gallery>
+
TVTUNER_GG_KR.jpg|KR model
−
 
+
TVTUNER_GG_KR_back.jpg|KR model back
−
==Patents==
 
−
<gallery>
 
−
Patent US5161803.pdf|US5161803
 
 
</gallery>
 
</gallery>
  
 
==Physical scans==
 
==Physical scans==
 
{{Scanbox
 
{{Scanbox
 +
| console=Game Gear
 +
| region=JP (older)
 +
| front=TVTuner GG JP Box Front.jpg
 +
| back=TVTuner GG JP Box Back.jpg
 +
| spinemissing=yes
 +
| square=yes
 +
| cart=
 +
}}{{Scanbox
 +
| console=Game Gear
 +
| region=JP (Auto Tuner)
 +
| front=Gg tvtuner jpbox front.jpg
 +
| back=Gg tvtuner jpbox back.jpg
 +
| spinemissing=yes
 +
| square=yes
 +
| cart=
 +
}}{{Scanbox
 
| console=Game Gear
 
| console=Game Gear
 
| region=US
 
| region=US
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}}{{Scanbox
 
}}{{Scanbox
 
| console=Game Gear
 
| console=Game Gear
−
| region=JP (older)
+
| region=UK
−
| front=TVTuner GG JP Box Front.jpg
+
| front=TVTuner GG UK Box Front.jpg
−
| back=TVTuner GG JP Box Back.jpg
+
| back=TVTuner GG UK Box Back.jpg
−
| spinemissing=yes
+
| spine=TV Tuner Pack GG UK BoxSpine.jpg
 
| square=yes
 
| square=yes
−
| cart=
+
| manual=TVTuner GG EU Manual.jpg
 
}}{{Scanbox
 
}}{{Scanbox
 
| console=Game Gear
 
| console=Game Gear
−
| region=JP (newer)
+
| region=PT
−
| front=Gg tvtuner jpbox front.jpg
+
| front=TVTuner GG PT Box Front.jpg
−
| back=Gg tvtuner jpbox back.jpg
+
| back=TVTuner GG PT Box Back.jpg
 
| spinemissing=yes
 
| spinemissing=yes
 
| square=yes
 
| square=yes
−
| cart=
+
| manual=TV Tuner GG PT Manual.pdf
−
}}{{Scanbox
+
}}
 +
{{Scanbox
 +
| console=Game Gear
 +
| region=GR
 +
| front=
 +
}}
 +
{{Scanbox
 
| console=Game Gear
 
| console=Game Gear
 
| region=BR
 
| region=BR
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}}{{Scanbox
 
}}{{Scanbox
 
| console=Game Gear
 
| console=Game Gear
−
| region=UK
+
| region=KR
−
| front=TVTuner GG UK Box Front.jpg
+
| front=TVTuner GG KR Box Front.jpg
−
| back=TVTuner GG UK Box Back.jpg
+
| back=
 
| spinemissing=
 
| spinemissing=
 
| square=yes
 
| square=yes
 
| cart=
 
| cart=
−
}}{{Scanbox
+
}}
 +
{{Scanbox
 
| console=Game Gear
 
| console=Game Gear
−
| region=KR
+
| region=AS
−
| front=TVTuner GG KR Box Front.jpg
+
| front=
 
| back=
 
| back=
 
| spinemissing=
 
| spinemissing=
 
| square=yes
 
| square=yes
 
| cart=
 
| cart=
−
}}{{Scanbox
 
−
| console=Game Gear
 
−
| region=PT
 
−
| manual=TV Tuner GG PT Manual.pdf
 
 
}}
 
}}
  
 
==External links==
 
==External links==
−
* [https://web.archive.org/web/*/http://sega.jp/fb/segahard/gg/tuner.html Sega of Japan catalogue page (Japanese)]
+
* Sega of Japan catalogue pages (Japanese): [https://web.archive.org/web/*/http://sega.jp/fb/segahard/gg/tuner.html Game Gear]
 +
* https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Digital_television_transition
  
 
==References==
 
==References==
−
<references />
+
<references/>
  
 
{{GameGear}}
 
{{GameGear}}

Latest revision as of 09:32, 1 October 2024

Tvtuner.jpg
TV Tuner
Made for: Sega Game Gear
Manufacturer: Sega
Distributor: Ecofilmes (PT), Zegetron (GR), Tec Toy (BR)
Type: Miscellaneous
Release Date RRP Code
Sega Game Gear
JP 		¥12,80012,800[1] HGG-3001
Sega Game Gear
JP
(TV Auto Tuner) 		¥12,80012,800[1] HGG-3015
Sega Game Gear
US 		2101
Sega Game Gear
DE 		MK-2101-18
Sega Game Gear
ES 		MK-2101-20
Sega Game Gear
PT 		MK-2101-20
Sega Game Gear
UK 		£74.9974.99[2][3] MK-2101-05
Sega Game Gear
SE
Sega Game Gear
IT 		MK-2101-20
Sega Game Gear
CZ 		3,699 Kč3,699[4]
Sega Game Gear
PL 		250zł250[5]
Sega Game Gear
AU 		MK-2101-20
Sega Game Gear
BR 		011840
Sega Game Gear
KR 		STP-150
Sega Game Gear
AS

This short article is in need of work. You can help Sega Retro by adding to it.

The TV Tuner is a Sega Game Gear accessory which allows users to watch analogue television on the system's built-in screen. A revised version with an automatic tuner was released as the TV Auto Tuner (ＴＶオートチューナーパック), and was only sold in Japan.

Hardware

The TV Tuner plugs into the Game Gear's cartridge slot, and has a mono 3.5 mm A/V input. This means that if required, a VCR, camcorder, or a video game console can be connected and played off the system - it essentially turns the Game Gear into a small color television. There is also another mono 3.5 mm input for an external antenna, with the Japan-only Game Gear Car Antenna being the only official product to use it.

TV Tuners also differ depending on the television standard. For example, the Japanese and US models use NTSC, whereas the European model uses PAL. On top of this there are several different types of PAL - the United Kingdom for example uses PAL-I and so had a different TV Tuner to Germany. France and other countries using the SECAM standard are not thought to have officially received the TV Tuner.

History

Sega were keen to advertise the TV Tuner shortly after the system's launch for two distinct reasons, firstly because handheld televisions were still a relatively new invention and were still quite pricey in the early 1990s, and secondly because in order to cope with a color television signal, you would require a color screen - something Nintendo's Game Boy lacked, and which Sega were happy to point out at every given opportunity.

Unfortunately due to the short battery life of the Game Gear, the TV Tuner is a largely redundant accessory unless the system is connected to an AC adapter. The battery life will be drained much faster with the TV Tuner than playing Game Gear games as it uses the Game Gear's 34V rail to power the tuner inside. In modern times, the TV Tuner is largely useless for watching television as many countries have switched over from analog to digital broadcasting, which the TV Tuner is incompatible with. Majesco Game Gears are also not compatible with the US TV Tuner.

At around the same time, NEC also had the TurboVision, a TV tuner for their rival handheld, the TurboExpress. Unofficial TV tuners would also show up for the Game Boy Advance and Nintendo DS in the years that followed.

Production credits

Source:
Uncredited


Magazine articles

Main article: TV Tuner/Magazine articles.

Promotional material

DE TV advert (1991)
GR TV advert (1993)
GR TV advert (1993)
Game Gear advert SE.jpg
SE advert
Game Gear advert SE.jpg
Sega TW advert PaiYuing.jpg
TW advert
Sega TW advert PaiYuing.jpg
Suuri lelukirja FI 1992 Sega.jpg
FI advert (1992)
Suuri lelukirja FI 1992 Sega.jpg
Suuri lelukirja FI 1993 Sega.jpg
FI advert (1993)
Suuri lelukirja FI 1993 Sega.jpg
TVTuner GG UK PrintAdvert.jpg
UK print advert
TVTuner GG UK PrintAdvert.jpg
TVTuner GG UK PrintAdvert JudgeDredd.jpg
UK Judge Dredd print advert
TVTuner GG UK PrintAdvert JudgeDredd.jpg
Logo-pdf.svg
Print advert in Top Mega-Drive (TW) #3: "xxxx xxxx" (199x-xx-xx)
Logo-pdf.svg
Logo-pdf.svg
Print advert in Top Mega-Drive (TW) #4: "xxxx xxxx" (199x-xx-xx)
Logo-pdf.svg
Logo-pdf.svg
Print advert in Game Champ (KR) #1992-12: "92/12" ()
also published in:
Logo-pdf.svg
Logo-pdf.svg
Print advert in Game Champ (KR) #1993-03: "xxxx" (199x-xx-xx)
Logo-pdf.svg
SegaIsraelSegaClub IL PrintAd.jpg
Print advert in Freak (IL) #10 (1993-xx-xx)
SegaIsraelSegaClub IL PrintAd.jpg
Riki 01 SK Computer Center advert.jpg
Print advert in Riki (SK) #1: "September 1994" (1994-09-01)
Riki 01 SK Computer Center advert.jpg

Patents

  • US5161803

Photo gallery

  • US model

  • JP Auto Tuner model

  • DE model back

  • KR model

  • KR model back

Physical scans

Game Gear, JP (older)
TVTuner GG JP Box Back.jpgNospine-small.pngTVTuner GG JP Box Front.jpg
Cover
Game Gear, JP (Auto Tuner)
Gg tvtuner jpbox back.jpgNospine-small.pngGg tvtuner jpbox front.jpg
Cover
Game Gear, US
TVTuner GG US Box Back.jpgNospine-small.pngTVTuner GG US Box Front.jpg
Cover
SegaGameGearTVTunerNAmericanInstructionManual.pdf
Manual
Game Gear, EU
TVTuner GG EU Box Front.JPG
Cover
Game Gear, UK
TVTuner GG UK Box Back.jpgTV Tuner Pack GG UK BoxSpine.jpgTVTuner GG UK Box Front.jpg
Cover
TVTuner GG EU Manual.jpg
Manual
Game Gear, PT
TVTuner GG PT Box Back.jpgNospine-small.pngTVTuner GG PT Box Front.jpg
Cover
TV Tuner GG PT Manual.pdf
Manual
Game Gear, GR

Game Gear, BR
ModulodeTV GG BR Box Top.jpg
ModulodeTV GG BR Box Back.jpgModulodeTV GG BR Box Spine.jpgModulodeTV GG BR Box Front.jpgModulodeTV GG BR Box Spine2.jpg
ModulodeTV GG BR Box Bottom.jpg
Cover
Game Gear, KR
TVTuner GG KR Box Front.jpg
Cover
Game Gear, AS†

External links

References

  1. ↑ 1.0 1.1 http://sega.jp/fb/segahard/gg/tuner.html (Wayback Machine: 2013-02-08 08:04)
  2. ↑ Mean Machines, "January 1992" (UK; 1991-12-27), page 15
  3. ↑ Sega Power, "March 1992" (UK; 1992-02-06), page 15
  4. ↑ ABC, "Ročník 37, 16" (CZ; 1993-04-24), page 31
  5. ↑ Sega Game Gear - Gry Komputerowe 5/1995 page 11
  6. ↑ https://jglobal.jst.go.jp/detail?JGLOBAL_ID=201103066743544441
  7. ↑ Game Champ, "xxxx" (KR; 199x-xx-xx), page 154
  8. ↑ Game Champ, "xxxx" (KR; 199x-xx-xx), page 148
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