Solar Gear

Solar Gear
Made for: Sega Game Gear
Manufacturer: iMP
Type: Battery pack
Release Date RRP Code US 1993 $49.9549.95 PN-700

The Solar Gear by iMP is an accessory for the Sega Game Gear released in the early 1990s.

The Solar Gear acts as an alternative to the six AA batteries needed to power the console, and the official rechargeable options (the Game Gear Battery Pack and later the Game Gear PowerBack) by powering the Game Gear from a large solar panel. A Game Gear is placed into the device, and power is drawn from the sun to keep the console running. This seemingly contradicts official advice which suggests not to play the Game Gear in direct sunlight through fear of overheating.

Given the state of early 90s solar panel technology, it is unknown how reliable the Solar Gear is, however it also doubles up as a battery which can be recharged through more traditional means, i.e. an AC adaptor or through the cigarette lighter of a car (both leads are included in the box). A side effect perhaps of the need to surround the Game Gear casing, is that the Solar Gear can also output audio in stereo.

Similarly large solar panel accessories were also made available for the Game Gear's competitor, the Game Boy.

Physical scans

Game Gear, US