Difference between revisions of "Sega Mark III"

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{{ConsoleBob
 
{{ConsoleBob
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|logos=[[File:SegaMarkIII logo.png|320px]]
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| logo=SegaMarkIII logo.png
 
| consoleimage=MarkIII.jpg
 
| consoleimage=MarkIII.jpg
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| imgwidth=320px
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| maker=[[Sega Enterprises, Ltd.]]
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| name=
 
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| maker=[[Sega]]
 
 
| variants=[[Sega Master System]]
 
| variants=[[Sega Master System]]
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| add-ons=
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| add-ons=[[Demo Unit II]], [[Telecon Pack]], [[FM Sound Unit]]
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| processor=
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| processor=[[Zilog]] [[Z80]]
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| japan=20 October 1985
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| releases={{releasesSMS
 +
| sms_date_jp=1985-10-20{{ref|http://web.archive.org/web/20180712025929/https://sega.jp/history/hard/segamark3/}}
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| sms_code_jp=SG-1000M3{{ref|http://web.archive.org/web/20130223233135/http://sega.jp/fb/segahard/mk3/data.html}}
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| sms_rrp_jp=15,000{{ref|http://web.archive.org/web/20130209183653/http://sega.jp/fb/segahard/mk3/}}
 +
| sms_date_kr=1988-11<ref>https://archive.ph/rIyg5</ref>
 +
| sms_date_tw=198x
 
}}
 
}}
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The '''Sega Mark III''' is a video game console made by [[Sega]]. The Mark III was the successor to the [[SG-1000 II]], bringing enhanced graphics to the table in order to compete against [[Nintendo]] and their Famicom. The console was only released in Japan, and was the basis for the internationally released [[Sega Master System]].
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}}
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The '''Sega Mark III''' (セガマークIII) is a video game console created by [[Sega]]. It is the successor to Sega's earlier [[SG-1000 II]] (itself a redesigned [[SG-1000]]), and was released in October 1985 in Japan, before being distributed in South Korea and Taiwan later in the decade. No models of the Mark III were released outside of Asia, but the console did form the basis of the [[Sega Master System]] which was distributed internationally.
 +
 
 +
The Mark III stands as Sega's second attempt at capturing a share of the Japanese video game market in the face of the Family Computer (Famicom) created by [[Nintendo]], sporting significant upgrades over its predecessors. The technology was used as a foundation for its successor, the [[Sega Mega Drive]].
 +
 
 +
==Hardware==
 +
The Mark III is built similarly to the SG-1000 II, so much so that to the untrained eye, it is easy to mistake one for the other. It is a long, white system sporting a cartridge slot, a card slot, and two [[DE-9]] controller ports at the front of the unit. On the left lies an expansion port, later utilised by the [[FM Sound Unit]], and in addition to the RF television output, an 8-pin A/V port, giving greater picture quality than the system's predecessors. Like the SG-1000 II (and Famicom), controllers (now [[SJ-152]]s) can be docked on either side of the unit.
  
−
==History==
+
The Mark III offers two major upgrades over the SG-1000 (with the optional FM Sound Unit bringing enhanced sound) - superior visuals offered by a new video display processor, and more RAM. Generally this is represented by twice as many on-screen colours and sprites, and smoother scrolling - everything else is largely the same as the SG-1000. The upgrade puts it ahead of the Famicom in many regards, although without the FM Sound Unit, the Famicom has technically superior sound capabilities (furthered still by the Famicom Disk System add-on).
−
The Mark III was released in Japan on October 20, 1985 to compete with the Nintendo Family Computer, following on from the [[SG-1000]] and [[SG-1000 II]] which had proved unsuccessful. The Mark III was built similarly to the SG-1000 II, with the addition of improved video hardware and an increased amount of [[RAM]]. Like the SG-1000 II and Famicom, controllers (now [[SJ-152]]s) were designed to be stored on the sides of the system, and the console carried over the SG-1000's expansion port (which was later used for the [[FM Sound Unit]]). The system also featured an 8-pin A/V port, in addition to RF output.
+
 
 +
The system is backwards compatible with earlier SG-1000 titles, both in terms of cards and cartridges, and likewise, the controllers are interchangeable. Cartridges and cards are the same physical shape as their SG-1000 counterparts, but will not function in an SG-1000. Sega also released the [[Telecon Pack]], allowing the Mark III to connect to a television wirelessly.
 +
 
 +
In the early days, the Mark III was marketed as an upgrade to both the SG-1000 and [[SC-3000]], with accessories such as the [[Sega Keyboard]], [[4 Color Plotter Printer]] and [[Data Recorder SR-1000]] even mentioned on the console's box as parts of a "complete" system. Few, if any Mark III games make use of these peripherals - whereas the diagrams suggest Mark III games could have been distributed on compact cassette, none were, likely as no Mark III-enhanced BASIC interpreters (or other operating systems) were ever released.
  
−
The system is backwards compatible with earlier SG-1000 titles, containing both a standard cartridge slot, and built-in slot for [[Sega Card]]s. Like the SG-1000 and SG-1000 II, Sega Mark III games were distributed on both cartridge and card, and are physically identical to their SG-1000 counterparts. Likewise, the controllers are interchangeable.
+
The Sega Mark III was redesigned as the Sega Master System for release in other markets. This was mainly a cosmetic revamp; the internals of the console remained largely the same. The redesigned console was itself released in Japan in 1987, but with the features of the FM Sound Unit built in as well as a [[3-D Glasses|3-D glasses]] port and a built-in [[Rapid Fire Unit]].  
  
−
The Mark III is technically superior to the Famicom (NES in the west). It is capable of displaying twice as many colours on screen and has a CPU which is roughly twice as fast as Nintendo's, however as with their earlier consoles, Sega were unable to secure significant amounts of third-party support for the system. At the time of release, Nintendo had control over 95% of the Japanese video game market, and Sega found it an uphill struggle to claim some of the market for themselves.
+
===Models===
 +
{{MainArticle|Master System consoles in Asia}}
  
−
The Sega Mark III was redesigned as the Sega Master System for release in other markets. This was mainly a cosmetic revamp; the internals of the console remained virtually the same. The redesigned console was itself released in Japan in 1987, but with the addition of a built-in Yamaha [[YM-2413]] FM sound chip (this had been an optional extra on the Mark III), [[3-D Glasses|3-D glasses]] port and [[Rapid Fire Unit]].
+
<gallery widths="250px" heights="200px">
 +
MarkIII.jpg|Japanese model
 +
MarkIII KR.jpg|South Korean model
 +
MarkIII TW.jpg|Taiwanese model
 +
</gallery>
  
−
Sega Master System game [[cartridge]]s released outside Japan had a different shape and pin configuration to the Japanese Master System/Mark III cartridges. This may be seen as a form of regional lockout. The Japanese-style cartridge was later used in the rest of Asia and South Korea.
+
===Technical specifications===
 +
:''See [[Sega Master System/Technical specifications|Sega Master System technical specifications]].''
  
−
Once again, neither the Mark III nor the Japanese Sega Master System were commercially successful when compared to Nintendo's Famicom, however the Mark III did fare slightly better than the SG-1000 and SG-1000 II. The final Japanese Mark III game release was ''[[Bomber Raid]]'', on February 4, 1989.
+
====Processors====
 +
* Main CPU: [[Zilog]] [[Z80]]
 +
:* Instruction set: 8-bit instructions
 +
:* Clock rate: 3.579545 MHz
  
−
==Specifications==
+
====Graphics====
 
{{multicol|
 
{{multicol|
−
* '''CPU''': 8-bit 3.579545 MHz [[Zilog Z80]]
+
* Graphics processor (GPU): [[VDP]] (Video Display Processor), derived from [[TMS9918]]
−
*'''Graphics''': VDP (Video Display Processor) derived from Texas Instruments [[TMS9918]]
+
* Screen [[resolution]]s: 256x192 and 256x224 pixels
−
:* Up to 32 simultaneous colors available from a palette of 64 (can also show 64 simultaneous colors using programming tricks)
+
* Color palette: 64 colors
−
:* Screen [[resolution]]s 256x192 and 256x224
+
:* Simultaneous colors on screen: Up to 32 (64 using programming tricks)
 +
* Sprites: Up to 64 sprites on screen
 +
:* Sprites pixel sizes: 8x8 or 8x16 pixel sprites
 
:* 8x8 [[pixel]] characters, max 488 (due to [[VRAM]] space limitation)
 
:* 8x8 [[pixel]] characters, max 488 (due to [[VRAM]] space limitation)
−
:* 8x8 or 8x16 pixel sprites, max 64
+
* Horizontal, diagonal, vertical, and partial screen scrolling
−
:* Horizontal, diagonal, vertical, and partial screen scrolling
 
−
* '''Sound (PSG)''': Texas Instruments [[SN76489]]
 
−
:* 4 channel mono sound
 
−
:* 3 sound generators, 4 octaves each, 1 white noise generator
 
−
* '''Sound (FM)''': Yamaha [[YM-2413]]
 
−
:* 9 channel mono 2-operator FM sound
 
−
:* available as plug-in module for Mark III
 
−
:* built into Japanese Master System
 
−
:* supported by certain games only
 
−
* '''ROM''': 64 Kbits (8KB)
 
−
* '''Main RAM''': 64 Kbits (8KB)
 
−
* '''Video RAM''': 128 Kbits (16KB)
 
−
* '''Game card slot'''
 
 
}}
 
}}
−
==Launch Titles==
+
 
 +
====Sound====
 +
* Sound chip (PSG): [[Texas Instruments]] [[SN76489]], integrated with VDP
 +
* 4 channel mono sound
 +
:* 3 sound generators, 4-10 octaves each
 +
:* 1 white noise generator
 +
 
 +
====Memory====
 +
* System [[RAM]]: 24 KB
 +
:* Main RAM: 8 KB
 +
:* Video RAM ([[VRAM]]): 16KB
 +
 
 +
===Other===
 +
* The Sega Mark III does not have a BIOS ROM
 +
* Game card slot
 +
 
 +
==History==
 +
===Background===
 +
Sega's first console, the SG-1000, launched on the same day as the Famicom in Japan, and was, like many other systems of the era, decimated by Nintendo's efforts. Its computer sibling, the [[SC-3000]] was met with more open arms (including in some Australasian and European markets), but by 1985 it was clear that support for Sega's systems were drying up. Nevertheless, Sega's attempts were at the very least notable - whereas other rival systems of the day had been struck off within a year of the Famicom's launch, Sega held a strong, albeit distant, second place in Japan, prompting the company to push forward with a more powerful alternative - the Sega Mark III.
 +
 
 
===Japan===
 
===Japan===
 +
The Mark III was released in Japan on October 20, 1985, with its main competition again being the Family Computer. Despite being a cartridge-based system, for the first eight months, no traditional cartridges were produced, with the library instead being populated by cost-reduced [[Sega Card]]s. The release of ''[[Fantasy Zone]]'' ushered in a new phase of cartridge production, and support lasted until February 1989, ending with ''[[Bomber Raid]]''.
 +
 +
Over one million units were sold in Japan during Mark III's first year, but similar to its predecessors, the Mark III was unable to dethrone Nintendo or win considerable support from the gaming public. The situation is said to have been an improvement over the SG-1000/SC-3000's fate, but even with superior system specifications, Mark III sales paled in comparison to the Famicom's. By 1989, the Sega Mark III had sold [[wikia:w:c:vgsales:Third generation of video games#Japan|over 1.7 million units]] in Japan.
 +
 +
Sega published every Mark III game internally with the exception of two, ''[[Argos no Juujiken]]'' and ''[[Solomon no Kagi: Oujo Rihita no Namida]]'' by [[Salio]].
 +
 +
===Taiwan===
 +
In Taiwan, [[Aaronix]] distributed the Mark III, having previously brought the SG-1000 II to the region.
 +
 +
===South Korea===
 +
The Mark III was distributed in South Korea from November 1988 by [[Korea Oacs]] and [[HiCom]] with help from [[Samsung]], and was the first Sega console to be sold in the country. Sega planed to produce 50,000 units in 1989<ref>https://archive.ph/rIyg5</ref>, but plan was abolish after Samsung released Gam*Boy in April 1989 and all new software was labelled as compatible with Mark III/Gam*Boy.
 +
 +
==Games==
 +
===List of games===
 +
{{MainArticle|List of Master System games}}
 +
 +
===Launch titles===
 +
====Japan====
 
*''[[Hang-On]]'' (Sega Card)
 
*''[[Hang-On]]'' (Sega Card)
 
*''[[Teddy Boy Blues]]'' (Sega Card)
 
*''[[Teddy Boy Blues]]'' (Sega Card)
  
−
==Gallery==
+
==Production credits==
 +
{{creditstable|
 +
*'''Team Leader:''' [[Masami Ishikawa]]
 +
*[[Hideki Sato]]
 +
| source=Developer mentions{{ref|https://www.famitsu.com/news/201308/12038274.html}}{{fileref|Sega_Consumer_History_JP_EnterBrain_Book.pdf|page=23}}
 +
| console=SMS
 +
}}
 +
 
 +
==Magazine articles==
 +
{{mainArticle|{{PAGENAME}}/Magazine articles}}
 +
 
 +
==Promotional material==
 
<gallery>
 
<gallery>
−
File:MarkIII KR.jpg|KR model
+
SegaMarkIIIJPLeaflet.pdf|JP flyer
 
</gallery>
 
</gallery>
  
−
==Physical Scans==
+
==External links==
−
<gallery>
+
* [http://web.archive.org/web/20180712025929/https://sega.jp/history/hard/segamark3/ Sega of Japan catalogue page (Japanese)]
−
File:SegaMarkIII JP Box Front.jpg|JP box (front)
+
 
−
</gallery>
+
==References==
−
{{Sega_Consoles}}
+
<references/>
 +
 
 +
{{Sega Consoles}}
 
{{MasterSystem}}
 
{{MasterSystem}}
−
[[Category:SG-1000| ]]
+
 
 
[[Category:Sega Master System| ]]
 
[[Category:Sega Master System| ]]

Latest revision as of 10:37, 6 November 2024

SegaMarkIII logo.png
MarkIII.jpg
Sega Mark III
Manufacturer: Sega Enterprises, Ltd.
Variants: Sega Master System
Add-ons: Demo Unit II, Telecon Pack, FM Sound Unit
Release Date RRP Code
Sega Master System
JP 		¥15,00015,000[3] SG-1000M3[2]
Sega Master System
KR
Sega Master System
TW

The Sega Mark III (セガマークIII) is a video game console created by Sega. It is the successor to Sega's earlier SG-1000 II (itself a redesigned SG-1000), and was released in October 1985 in Japan, before being distributed in South Korea and Taiwan later in the decade. No models of the Mark III were released outside of Asia, but the console did form the basis of the Sega Master System which was distributed internationally.

The Mark III stands as Sega's second attempt at capturing a share of the Japanese video game market in the face of the Family Computer (Famicom) created by Nintendo, sporting significant upgrades over its predecessors. The technology was used as a foundation for its successor, the Sega Mega Drive.

Hardware

The Mark III is built similarly to the SG-1000 II, so much so that to the untrained eye, it is easy to mistake one for the other. It is a long, white system sporting a cartridge slot, a card slot, and two DE-9 controller ports at the front of the unit. On the left lies an expansion port, later utilised by the FM Sound Unit, and in addition to the RF television output, an 8-pin A/V port, giving greater picture quality than the system's predecessors. Like the SG-1000 II (and Famicom), controllers (now SJ-152s) can be docked on either side of the unit.

The Mark III offers two major upgrades over the SG-1000 (with the optional FM Sound Unit bringing enhanced sound) - superior visuals offered by a new video display processor, and more RAM. Generally this is represented by twice as many on-screen colours and sprites, and smoother scrolling - everything else is largely the same as the SG-1000. The upgrade puts it ahead of the Famicom in many regards, although without the FM Sound Unit, the Famicom has technically superior sound capabilities (furthered still by the Famicom Disk System add-on).

The system is backwards compatible with earlier SG-1000 titles, both in terms of cards and cartridges, and likewise, the controllers are interchangeable. Cartridges and cards are the same physical shape as their SG-1000 counterparts, but will not function in an SG-1000. Sega also released the Telecon Pack, allowing the Mark III to connect to a television wirelessly.

In the early days, the Mark III was marketed as an upgrade to both the SG-1000 and SC-3000, with accessories such as the Sega Keyboard, 4 Color Plotter Printer and Data Recorder SR-1000 even mentioned on the console's box as parts of a "complete" system. Few, if any Mark III games make use of these peripherals - whereas the diagrams suggest Mark III games could have been distributed on compact cassette, none were, likely as no Mark III-enhanced BASIC interpreters (or other operating systems) were ever released.

The Sega Mark III was redesigned as the Sega Master System for release in other markets. This was mainly a cosmetic revamp; the internals of the console remained largely the same. The redesigned console was itself released in Japan in 1987, but with the features of the FM Sound Unit built in as well as a 3-D glasses port and a built-in Rapid Fire Unit.

Models

Main article: Master System consoles in Asia.

  • Japanese model

  • South Korean model

  • Taiwanese model

Technical specifications

See Sega Master System technical specifications.

Processors

  • Instruction set: 8-bit instructions
  • Clock rate: 3.579545 MHz

Graphics

  • Graphics processor (GPU): VDP (Video Display Processor), derived from TMS9918
  • Screen resolutions: 256x192 and 256x224 pixels
  • Color palette: 64 colors
  • Simultaneous colors on screen: Up to 32 (64 using programming tricks)
  • Sprites: Up to 64 sprites on screen
  • Sprites pixel sizes: 8x8 or 8x16 pixel sprites
  • 8x8 pixel characters, max 488 (due to VRAM space limitation)
  • Horizontal, diagonal, vertical, and partial screen scrolling

Sound

  • 3 sound generators, 4-10 octaves each
  • 1 white noise generator

Memory

  • System RAM: 24 KB
  • Main RAM: 8 KB
  • Video RAM (VRAM): 16KB

Other

  • The Sega Mark III does not have a BIOS ROM
  • Game card slot

History

Background

Sega's first console, the SG-1000, launched on the same day as the Famicom in Japan, and was, like many other systems of the era, decimated by Nintendo's efforts. Its computer sibling, the SC-3000 was met with more open arms (including in some Australasian and European markets), but by 1985 it was clear that support for Sega's systems were drying up. Nevertheless, Sega's attempts were at the very least notable - whereas other rival systems of the day had been struck off within a year of the Famicom's launch, Sega held a strong, albeit distant, second place in Japan, prompting the company to push forward with a more powerful alternative - the Sega Mark III.

Japan

The Mark III was released in Japan on October 20, 1985, with its main competition again being the Family Computer. Despite being a cartridge-based system, for the first eight months, no traditional cartridges were produced, with the library instead being populated by cost-reduced Sega Cards. The release of Fantasy Zone ushered in a new phase of cartridge production, and support lasted until February 1989, ending with Bomber Raid.

Over one million units were sold in Japan during Mark III's first year, but similar to its predecessors, the Mark III was unable to dethrone Nintendo or win considerable support from the gaming public. The situation is said to have been an improvement over the SG-1000/SC-3000's fate, but even with superior system specifications, Mark III sales paled in comparison to the Famicom's. By 1989, the Sega Mark III had sold over 1.7 million units in Japan.

Sega published every Mark III game internally with the exception of two, Argos no Juujiken and Solomon no Kagi: Oujo Rihita no Namida by Salio.

Taiwan

In Taiwan, Aaronix distributed the Mark III, having previously brought the SG-1000 II to the region.

South Korea

The Mark III was distributed in South Korea from November 1988 by Korea Oacs and HiCom with help from Samsung, and was the first Sega console to be sold in the country. Sega planed to produce 50,000 units in 1989[5], but plan was abolish after Samsung released Gam*Boy in April 1989 and all new software was labelled as compatible with Mark III/Gam*Boy.

Games

List of games

Main article: List of Master System games.

Launch titles

Japan

Production credits

Source:
Developer mentions[6][7]


Magazine articles

Main article: Sega Mark III/Magazine articles.

Promotional material

  • JP flyer

External links

References

  1. ↑ https://sega.jp/history/hard/segamark3/ (Wayback Machine: 2018-07-12 02:59)
  2. ↑ http://sega.jp/fb/segahard/mk3/data.html (Wayback Machine: 2013-02-23 23:31)
  3. ↑ http://sega.jp/fb/segahard/mk3/ (Wayback Machine: 2013-02-09 18:36)
  4. ↑ https://archive.ph/rIyg5
  5. ↑ https://archive.ph/rIyg5
  6. ↑ https://www.famitsu.com/news/201308/12038274.html
  7. ↑ File:Sega_Consumer_History_JP_EnterBrain_Book.pdf, page 23
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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
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