Difference between revisions of "Sega Game Gear"

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<section begin=intro />The '''Sega Game Gear''' (セガゲームギア) is a handheld video game console developed by [[Sega]] and released in late 1990 as a response to [[Nintendo]]'s [[Game Boy]] handheld . It is a full colour console and was Sega's first attempt to compete in the handheld games market (the second being the [[Sega Nomad]] — a handheld [[Sega Mega Drive]]). In South Korea it is known as the '''Handy Gam*Boy''' (핸디겜보이).<section end=intro />
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<section begin=intro />The '''Sega Game Gear''' ('''jp'''.セガゲームギア , '''il'''.גיימגיר ) is a handheld video game console developed by [[Sega]] and released in late 1990 as a response to [[Nintendo]]'s [[Game Boy]] handheld . It is a full colour console and was Sega's first attempt to compete in the handheld games market (the second being the [[Sega Nomad]] — a handheld [[Sega Mega Drive]]). In South Korea it is known as the '''Handy Gam*Boy''' (핸디겜보이).<section end=intro />
  
 
==Hardware==
 
==Hardware==

Revision as of 07:56, 20 June 2019

Gamegear.jpg
Sega Game Gear
Manufacturer: Sega
Release Date RRP Code
Sega Game Gear
JP 		¥19,80019,800
Sega Game Gear
US
(NY/LA) 		$149.95149.95[2]
Sega Game Gear
US
(Nationwide) 		$149.95149.95[2]
Sega Game Gear
DE
Sega Game Gear
ES
Sega Game Gear
FR
Sega Game Gear
PT
Sega Game Gear
UK 		£99.9999.99[4][5]
Sega Game Gear
SE
Sega Game Gear
IT
Sega Game Gear
AU
Sega Game Gear
MX
Sega Game Gear
BR 		R$160,000160,000
Sega Game Gear
KR 		₩198,000198,000 SPC-150

The Sega Game Gear (jp.セガゲームギア , il.גיימגיר ) is a handheld video game console developed by Sega and released in late 1990 as a response to Nintendo's Game Boy handheld . It is a full colour console and was Sega's first attempt to compete in the handheld games market (the second being the Sega Nomad — a handheld Sega Mega Drive). In South Korea it is known as the Handy Gam*Boy (핸디겜보이).

Hardware

The Sega Game Gear is a "portable" device which was designed to address problems with Nintendo's Game Boy. It is held lengthwise at the sides (preventing the cramping of hands which plagued Nintendo's system) and has a backlit, colour LCD screen, allowing for clearer and more vibrant visuals than its main rival.

Similarly to the Sega Mega Drive, which at the time was Sega's main focus in the home console market, the Sega Game Gear is derived from the earlier Sega Master System. Unlike the Mega Drive, however, the Game Gear is largely identical to the Master System, the major difference being a VDP capable of displaying palettes consisting of a wider variety of colors, and the playback of stereo sound. Game Gear games traditionally run at a smaller resolution too, although with a screen built similarly to televisions of the era, the Game Gear is fully capable of playing games in higher resolutions.

Like the Master System, the Game Gear features a D-Pad and two buttons, 1 and 2, but also adds a third,  START . This is one button short of a Game Boy.

Unfortunately, due to technical limitations of the era, the Game Gear demands six AA batteries to be played on the go, of which the fluorescent backlight on the LCD screen will eat through in three to five hours (though a battery pack provides longer playtime). Furthermore, the system gives off more heat than the Game Boy, often leading to "sweaty palms" after prolonged use. The system was also considered not to be very "portable" - it's bulky size means it does not fit in many pockets, and the power-draining backlight of the LCD screen (which cannot be turned off) meant Game Gears were unusable after a short period of time. An AC adaptor can be plugged into the system so that it runs off the mains, but this was not considered practical for consumers of the day.

Game Gears were also manufactured at a time where capacitor problems were rampant across the electronics industry. As a result, screen and audio failures are common, and fixes are not always simple.

Models

Main article: Game Gear consoles.

  • Worldwide model

  • North American model (Sports Edition)

  • North American model (Majesco)

  • Japanese model (light blue)

  • Japanese model (red)

  • Japanese model (yellow)

  • Japanese model (white)

  • Japanese model (Coca Cola Kid edition (Model #3210CR))

  • Japanese model (Magic Knight Rayearth edition (Model #HGG-3210 RAY))

  • Japanese model (Virtua Fighter Mini edition)

  • Japanese model (Smoke)

  • Korean model (Handy Gam*Boy)

  • Prototype model

Technical specifications

See Sega Master System specifications for further specifications

The hardware is largely identical to the Sega Master System, with some of the differences mentioned below.

History

Main article: History of the Sega Game Gear.

Games

Main article: Sega Game Gear games.

Magazine articles

Main article: Sega Game Gear/Magazine articles.

Promotional material

Main article: Sega Game Gear/Promotional material.

Artwork

  • North American/Japanese logo

  • North American logo (1991)

  • North American logo (1992)

  • European logo-

  • Console outline

External links

  • Console Database - Sega Game Gear info and FAQs
  • SMS Power - Technical information and more on the Game Gear and its bigger brother, the Master System

References

  1. ↑ GamePro, "May 1991" (US; 1991-xx-xx), page 8
  2. ↑ 2.0 2.1 GamePro, "May 1991" (US; 1991-xx-xx), page 16
  3. ↑ Sega Power, "March 1992" (UK; 1992-02-06), page 14
  4. ↑ Mean Machines, "June 1991" (UK; 1991-05-29), page 11
  5. ↑ Raze, "September 1991" (UK; 1991-07-25), page 17
  6. ↑ Ação Games, "Julho 1991" (BR; 1991-07-xx), page 14
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Topics Sega Game Gear | History | Magazine articles | Promotional material | Merchandise
Hardware Japan | North America | Western Europe | Eastern Europe | Asia | South America | Australasia | Africa
Wide Gear | Fun Play 20-in-1
Add-ons Pro Action Replay | Game Genie | X-Terminator | Master Gear Converter (Gear Master | Nuby Converter) | Stereo FM Tuner | TV Tuner
Cases Carry-All | Deluxe Carry-All Case | Gear Bag | Holster Case | Standard Carrying Case | Soft Case | Third Party (Play & Carry Case)
Accessories A/V Cable | Battery Pack | Car Adaptor | Car Antenna | Cleaning Gear | Gear-to-Gear Cable | PowerBack (Third Party) | Screen Magnifier (Wide Gear | Super Wide Gear | Third-Party)

Handy Gear | Master Link Cable

Development Tools Sega Game Gear Development Board
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