Difference between revisions of "Sega Game Gear"

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| gg_type_us_2=Nationwide
 
| gg_type_us_2=Nationwide
  
| gg_date_uk=1991-06-24
+
| gg_date_uk=1991-06-24{{magref|segapower|28|14}}
 
| gg_rrp_uk=99.99{{fileref|MeanMachines UK 09.pdf|page=11}}{{fileref|Raze UK 11.pdf|page=17}}
 
| gg_rrp_uk=99.99{{fileref|MeanMachines UK 09.pdf|page=11}}{{fileref|Raze UK 11.pdf|page=17}}
 
| gg_date_fr=1991-06
 
| gg_date_fr=1991-06
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| gg_code_kr=SPC-150
 
| gg_code_kr=SPC-150
 
| gg_rrp_kr=198,000
 
| gg_rrp_kr=198,000
| gg_date_mx-199x
+
| gg_date_mx=199x
 +
| gg_date_se=199x
 
}}
 
}}
 
}}
 
}}
<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 />
+
<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 />
  
 
==Hardware==
 
==Hardware==
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==Promotional material==
 
==Promotional material==
===Print advertisements===
+
{{mainArticle|{{PAGENAME}}/Promotional material}}
<gallery>
 
GameGear JP PrintAdvert.jpg|JP
 
GameGear UK PrintAdvert JudgeDredd.jpg|UK (''Judge Dredd')
 
GameGear ES PrintAd 1991-09.jpg|ES (launch)
 
GameGearTVPack ES PrintAd 1993-05 1.jpg|ES (3; variation 1)
 
GameGear ES PrintAd 1993-12 1.jpg|ES (6)
 
GameGear ES PrintAd 1994-04.jpg|ES (8)
 
GameGear ES PrintAd 1994-07.jpg|ES (9; variation 1)
 
MD-GG IT PrintAdvert.jpeg|IT (1)
 
</gallery>
 
{{gallery
 
|{{galleryPrintAd
 
|GamePlayers US 0304.pdf|gameplayers|0304|12-13
 
|GamePlayers US 0305.pdf|gameplayers|0305|28-29
 
}}
 
 
 
|{{galleryPrintAd
 
|GamePlayers US 0306.pdf|gameplayers|0306|28-29
 
|SegaVisions US 05.pdf|sv|5|28-29
 
}}
 
 
 
|{{galleryPrintAd
 
|GamePlayers US 0307.pdf|gameplayers|0307|18-19
 
|GamePro US 025.pdf|gamepro|25|70
 
|EGM US 027.pdf|egm|27|134
 
}}
 
 
 
|{{galleryPrintAd
 
|SegaVisions US 06.pdf|sv|6|48
 
}}
 
 
 
|{{galleryPrintAd
 
|EGM US 027.pdf|egm|27|60-61
 
}}
 
 
 
|{{galleryPrintAd
 
|SegaVisions US 07.pdf|sv|7|37-40
 
|EGM US 030.pdf|egm|30|193
 
}}
 
 
 
|{{galleryPrintAd
 
|SegaVisions US 08.pdf|sv|8|66-67
 
}}
 
 
 
|{{galleryPrintAd
 
|EGM US 036.pdf|egm|36|112-113
 
|GamePro US 037.pdf|gamepro|37|4
 
}}
 
 
 
|{{galleryPrintAd
 
|EGM US 043.pdf|egm|43|56-57
 
|EGM US 044.pdf|egm|44|34
 
}}
 
 
 
|{{galleryPrintAd
 
|CVG UK 116.pdf|cvg|116|96-97
 
|CVG UK 117.pdf|cvg|117|30
 
|Raze UK 11.pdf|raze|11|16
 
|Raze UK 12.pdf|raze|12|72
 
}}
 
 
 
|{{galleryPrintAd
 
|CVG UK 122.pdf|cvg|122|57-60
 
}}
 
 
 
|{{galleryPrintAd
 
|Joystick FR 018.pdf|joystick|18|132-133
 
|ConsolesPlus FR 002.pdf|consolesplus|2|6
 
}}
 
 
 
|{{galleryPrintAd
 
|Joystick FR 019.pdf|joystick|19|117
 
}}
 
 
 
|{{galleryPrintAd
 
|MegaForce FR 02.pdf|megaforce|2|6-7
 
|Joystick FR 020.pdf|joystick|20|124
 
|Joystick FR 021.pdf|joystick|21|130
 
}}
 
 
 
|{{galleryPrintAd
 
|VideoGames DE 1991-04.pdf|videogames|1991-04|93
 
}}
 
 
 
|{{galleryPrintAd
 
|Gamers DE 1992-01.pdf|gamersde|1992-01|74-75
 
}}
 
 
 
|{{galleryPrintAd
 
|HobbyConsolas ES 002.pdf|hobbyconsolas|2|9-11
 
}}
 
 
 
|{{galleryPrintAd
 
|MegaForce ES 01.pdf|megaforcees|1|2-3
 
}}
 
 
 
|{{galleryPrintAd
 
|Micromania ES 056.pdf|micromania2|56|34-35
 
|Micromania ES 057.pdf|micromania2|57|30
 
}}
 
 
 
|{{galleryPrintAd
 
|Micromania ES 058.pdf|micromania2|58|3
 
|Micromania ES 059.pdf|micromania2|59|3
 
}}
 
 
 
|{{galleryPrintAd
 
|Micromania ES 060.pdf|micromania2|60|15
 
|Micromania ES 061.pdf|micromania2|61|48
 
}}
 
 
 
|{{galleryPrintAd
 
|Micromania ES 064.pdf|micromania2|64|25
 
}}
 
 
 
|{{galleryPrintAd
 
|Micromania ES 065.pdf|micromania2|65|62-63
 
|Micromania ES 066.pdf|micromania2|66|16
 
|TodoSega ES 09.pdf|todosega|9|20
 
}}
 
 
 
|{{galleryPrintAd
 
|Micromania ES 067.pdf|micromania2|67|28-29
 
}}
 
 
 
|{{galleryPrintAd
 
|Micromania ES 068.pdf|micromania2|68|30-31
 
}}
 
 
 
|{{galleryPrintAd
 
|TodoSega ES 14.pdf|todosega|14|2-3
 
}}
 
 
 
|{{galleryPrintAd
 
|HobbyConsolas ES 036.pdf|hobbyconsolas|36|2-3
 
}}
 
 
 
|{{galleryPrintAd
 
|HobbyConsolas ES 046.pdf|hobbyconsolas|46|119
 
}}
 
 
 
|{{galleryPrintAd
 
|HobbyConsolas ES 051.pdf|hobbyconsolas|51|19
 
|HobbyConsolas ES 052.pdf|hobbyconsolas|52|83
 
}}
 
 
 
|{{galleryPrintAd
 
|GamePower IT 07.pdf|gamepower|7|6
 
}}
 
 
 
|{{galleryPrintAd
 
|MegaForce PT 01.pdf|megaforcept|1|67
 
}}
 
 
 
|{{galleryPrintAd
 
|MegaForce PT 03.pdf|megaforcept|3|24-25
 
|Bestial PT 03.pdf|bestial|3|14-15
 
}}
 
 
 
|{{galleryPrintAd
 
|Megazone AU 26.pdf|mz|26|2
 
|Megazone AU 27.pdf|mz|27|95
 
}}
 
 
 
|{{galleryPrintAd
 
|Megazone AU 26.pdf|mz|26|16
 
|Megazone AU 27.pdf|mz|27|24
 
}}
 
 
 
|{{galleryPrintAd
 
|Megazone AU 28.pdf|mz|28|2-3
 
|Megazone AU 30.pdf|mz|30|2
 
|Megazone AU 31.pdf|mz|31|2
 
}}
 
 
 
|{{galleryPrintAd
 
|AcaoGames BR 005.pdf|ag|5|38-39
 
|AcaoGames BR 006.pdf|ag|6|20
 
|AcaoGames BR 008.pdf|ag|8|4
 
|Supergame BR 03.pdf|supergame|3|22
 
|Supergame BR 06.pdf|supergame|6|24
 
}}
 
 
 
|{{galleryPrintAd
 
|SegaForce SE 1993 02.pdf|sfsw|1993-02|2
 
}}
 
 
 
|{{galleryPrintAd
 
|SegaForce SE 1993 02.pdf|sfsw|1993-02|35
 
|SegaForce SE 1993 03.pdf|sfsw|1993-03|2
 
|SegaForce SE 1993 05.pdf|sfsw|1993-05|36
 
|SegaForce SE 1994 04.pdf|sfsw|1994-04|44
 
|SegaForce SE 1994 06.pdf|sfsw|1994-06|2
 
}}
 
}}
 
 
 
===Television advertisements===
 
<gallery>
 
GG Gear Up Commercial.mp4|US (1991)
 
GG Men From Boys Commercial.mp4|US
 
1992 Sega Game Gear Spinach Commercial.mp4|US (1992)
 
GG One Color Electronics Commercial.mp4|US (1993)
 
GG Squirrel Commercial.mp4|US (1994)
 
GG US TVAdvert 1995.mp4|US (1995?)
 
GG Japanese Color Commercial 1.mp4|JP1 (1990)
 
GG Japanese Color Commercial 2.mp4|JP2 (1990)
 
GG Takahashi Yumiko Hat Commercial.mp4|JP3 (1991)
 
GG Takahashi Yumiko Train Commercial.mp4|JP4 (1991)
 
GG Portuguese Commercial.mp4|Portuguese (1994)
 
1994 Spanish Game Gear Commercial.mp4|Spanish (1994)
 
French Game Gear commercial.mp4|French
 
Australian Sega Game Gear Commercial 1992.mp4|Australian (1992)
 
</gallery>
 
  
 
==Artwork==
 
==Artwork==

Revision as of 16:47, 10 December 2018

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 (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).

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.

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

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

Sega Home Video Game Systems
83 84 85 86 87 88 89 90 91 92 93 94 95 96 97 98 99 00 01 02 03 04 05 06 07 08 09 10 11
SG-1000 SG-1000 II Mega Drive Mega Drive II
SC-3000 Mega-CD Mega-CD II Genesis 3
Sega Mark III 32X Dreamcast
Master System Master System II
AI Computer Game Gear
Saturn
Pico Beena
Sega Game Gear
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
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