Control Pad (Master System)

SMS control pad

The Control Pad (Product No. 3020) is the joypad which comes packaged with Sega Master System systems. The joypad connects to the SMS via a DE-9 port, so it is also compatible with the Commodore 64 and Atari 2600 and partially compatible with the Sega Mega Drive. Resembling the 1st generation NES pads, three versions exist:

1. Three button/mini-joystick. Once the thumbpad button cap was removed, a small "thumbstick" could be inserted.
2. Three button. The third button sits recessed in the center of the thumbpad. The button has no function during gameplay.
3. Two button. The thumbpad button as been entirely removed. This version is most commonly associated with the SMS II when it was introduced.

There are also two versions of the 'standard' control pad; there is a model where the wire connecting the pad to the console runs out of the top of the pad - i.e. directly opposite the player - and a different model where the connecting wire runs out of the right-hand side of the pad, close to its top-right corner.

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  Control Pad in original packaging.