Sega Challenge: The Team Sega Newsletter

Sega Challenge, later named the Team Sega Newsletter, is a seven-issue publication which was produced by Sega of America during 1988 and 1989 as promotional material for the Sega Master System. Each issue of the 16-page publication has promotional features on Master System games being released that quarter, an "Ask the Sega Master" section where reader questions are answered, and a software checklist of all games released up to that date. There is also reader-submitted mail, both in the form of questions and advice given from players to other players, in every issue. Early issues of the newsletter also feature a "Sega Challenge Scoreboard," with reader-submitted top scores to various Sega games.

Sega Challenge was renamed Sega: The Team Sega Newsletter in the fall of 1988, shortly after distribution rights for the Master System were given to Tonka Toys. This resulted in layout changes and a slight altering of content, although the newsletter stayed the same otherwise. This change also introduced advertisements to the newsletter from Master System retailers such as Toys 'R' Us and from third-party peripheral manufacturers.

After a six-month pause, the Team Sega Newsletter was revamped into Sega Visions magazine for the launch of the Sega Genesis in the United States. Several of the staff of Team Sega later became editorial staff at Sega Visions, including John Sauer and Ron Elliott.

Subscription

The most common form of subscribing to Sega Challenge was via a promotional insert bundled into various Master System games. The following is an order form included with After Burner.

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Issues

Cover	Description
100px	Sega Challenge Issue 1, Winter 1987: Detailed information on this issue of the newsletter is scarce, seeing as no complete copy or scan is known at this time.
100px	Sega Challenge Issue 2, Spring 1988: This issue leads with the release of After Burner, the first four-mega cartridge released in the United States, and has a two-page feature covering the release. A story on Zaxxon 3-D draws attention to the SegaScope 3-D, and small features cover Zillion and Global Defense. There is an interview with John Sauer (then a copywriter for Sega) explaining his job, a "Tech Talk" feature on the Light Phaser, and an offer to purchase the Rapid Fire Unit. The issue's "Scoreboard Challenge" is for Out Run; the top score listed is 43,845,300 by Richard A. Hardee of San Rafael, California.
100px	Sega Challenge Issue 3, Summer 1988: Shinobi is the main feature in this third issue of Sega Challenge, with Monopoly, Wonder Boy in Monster Land, and Miracle Warrior rounding out the new games of Summer 1988. "Sega Spotlight" features the women of the Sega Customer Service Department, who work the phones both as customer service representatives and game counselors. "Tech Talk" features the Sega Sports Pad and the various games that the controller can be used with. The issue's "Scoreboard Challenge" is for After Burner; the top score listed is 18,808,088 by Tyler Lindquist of Windom, Kansas.
100px	Team Sega Newsletter Issue 4, Fall 1988: Fall 1988 sees the release of Thunder Blade, the main game featured in this issue of Team Sega, along with Double Dragon, Phantasy Star and Where in the World is Carmen Sandiego?. This issue's "Tech Talk" features the SegaScope 3-D and Power Strike, "Sega's first special edition game," is offered at the end of the magazine. The results of the publication's "Draw Your Favorite Sega Game" contest are shown for entrants 15 and younger; the winning artists received a Shinobi T-shirt, Shinobi cap and a Sega Challenge athletic bag.
100px	Team Sega Newsletter Issue 5, January 1989: In a departure from the newsletter's usual set up, this issue features R-Type, Rambo III, Golvellius and Reggie Jackson Baseball in equal-sized features. The results of the publication's "Draw Your Favorite Sega Game" contest are shown for entrants 16 and older; the winning artists received a Shinobi T-shirt, Shinobi cap and a Sega Challenge athletic bag.
100px	Team Sega Newsletter Issue 6, April 1989: The Master System port of the arcade hit Altered Beast is the spotlight of this issue; other games featured include Rastan, Lord of the Sword, Tile Soldiers, Vigilante and California Games. Power Strike is again featured at the end of this issue, warning readers that there is a limited quantity left.
100px	Team Sega Newsletter Issue 7, December 1989: Detailed information on this issue of the newsletter is scarce, seeing as no complete copy or scan is known at this time.