KW-503
From Sega Retro
| ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| KW-503 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Manufacturer: King-Wei Electronics | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Distributor: Bitman, R-Style, Electrolab, Songa, Steepler | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
|
The KW-503 is an unlicensed Sega Mega Drive console manufactured in Taiwan by King-Wei Electronics and released in South America and Russia. It was the successor to the KW-502 but it is more similar to the KW-501, and some consoles in this series have the even KW-500 label.
It was also released as the MG-16R and MGW-16 by Electrolab, Pro 16 Bit by Steepler, Super Bitman by Bitman, Songa II by Songa, GC-16II and Magic 2. The KW-503 was shipped with wireless six-button gamepads, and is fully compatible with the Sega Mega-CD. Newer models use a PCB revision named KW-504.
Contents
History
Argentina
MG-16R and MGW-16 were distributed here as successor to the MG-16 by Electrolab.
At the end of 1996, Songa began distribution of Songa II as a successor of Songa I, with advertise as a winner of few awards in video games shows in Germany, Japan, US and Hong Kong.
Russia
Pro 16 bit hit Russian market in 1996 succeeding a previous Pro 16 Bit by Steepler, famous from release of Dendy brand. New console was less popular than his predecessor because Steepler went bankrupt in mid-1996 and rest of sales was taken by Dendy chain stores which wasn't getting so well after Steepler's disappearing.
KW-503 was distributed in Russia also by Bitman, succeeding a previous Super Bitman. It was released around 1996/1997 after clearance sales of older Super Bitman at the end of 1996. It is worth to mention that Bitman was a the time licensed Sega distributor in Russia and CIS. After Bitman was acquired by R-Style, KW-503 was sold until last stocks were gone.
Magazine articles
- Main article: KW-503/Magazine articles.
Promotional material
Gallery
Mainboard
MG-16R
Pro 16 Bit
Super Bitman
Super Bitman Pad
Super Bitman Manual + Warranty Card
Pro 16 bit Manual
Magic 2 model
MGW-16
GC-16II
Physical scans
| Mega Drive, (Songa II) |
|---|
|
| Mega Drive, (MG-16R) |
|---|
 Cover
|
| Mega Drive, RU (Pro 16 Bit) |
|---|
 Cover
|
| Mega Drive, RU (Super Bitman) |
|---|
   Cover
|
| Mega Drive, AR (MGW-16) |
|---|
 Cover
|
| Mega Drive, (GC-16II) |
|---|
|
| Mega Drive, (Magic 2) |
|---|
|
References