Sega Master System Questions

[Atari 5200 Guy]

It looks like I might be adopting a Master System soon. But I was told it has no controllers, no hook-up, no AC adapter, and no games. I am told it will need work so I am going to try to do a video on it.

 

Games I'm not worried about because every SMS had some sort of game built in, even those without Hang-On and Safari Hunt have the snail game. Controller not an issue...I have access to a Genesis controller but I do plan on trying to get original controllers. RF is not an issue for me, I have a Sega RF switchbox.

 

But, the AC Adapter might be an issue. Are there any I/O members who have a Master System powered by a different power supply than what the machine came with so I can see if I have one similar or track it down?

 

While I'm on the subject game suggestions? OutRun and After Burner are a must but I would love to hear other's suggestions.

[CrossBow]

You can use a Genesis model 1 power supply on the master system. That is actually what I use with mine and have for many years. It provides more current than an SMS needs, but the polarity and voltage are correct so like all systems, the SMS will only draw however much current it actually needs.

 

It also uses the exact same AV cable that a model 1 Genesis uses so you aren't just limited to the RF output. The SMS in fact nearly uses the same video encoder the Genesis uses. You can even use the same exact S-video amp circuit on the SMS. Just have to look at the video encoder and verify the pins you need to attach to.

[Atari 5200 Guy]

I'd be happy with standard composite outs as long as the system works. Unfortunately, the Genesis I won off a Goodwill auction was suppose to come with an adapter but it wasn't included and many contact attempts ended with no return contacts and no adapter. In that case I can use my 5200's power supply which I have used with a cable I made to reverse polarity on my Genesis. So it looks like I will be ready to go once it gets here.

 

Thanks CrossBow!

[RickR]

Nice pickup!  I hope you get it working.  I've always wanted a SMS, but I'm happy to have the SMS adapter for Genesis.  Post some pics when you get a chance.

[Atari 5200 Guy]

I will. Its not here yet. One of the anxieties of being a gamer. I'm excited and trying to be patient but at the same time it couldn't get here fast enough if that makes sense.

 

If you find one out in the wild, Rick, you should nab it. Anyone that loves Atari for arcade game play will enjoy the SMS. I remember being a teenager when I was fortunate enough to have an NES, SMS, and 7800 at the same time. The SMS and 7800 got more play time.

 

Any game recommendations?

Edited July 13, 2018 by kamakazi20012

[RickR]

Choplifter is my favorite.  It's the best home version IMO.

The library is small, so I tend to buy anything that I find and that's cheap.  Most of the games are pretty good.  But the "Great" sports games are laughably bad. 

[Atari 5200 Guy]

Choplifter is my favorite.  It's the best home version IMO.

 

The library is small, so I tend to buy anything that I find and that's cheap.  Most of the games are pretty good.  But the "Great" sports games are laughably bad.

 

My system in the past actually came with Great Football. To my surprise I found it fun. The one accessory I never got to experience is the 3D glasses, and I accidentally picked up 3D Space Harrier not paying attention to the box saying that the glasses were required. So I'm curious because I've heard that the actually work.

 

Then again finding anything for a SMS in my area back in the day was not easy. Only one place got anything related and I believe they only got those because of the need to push inventory. Everything SMS in that store was already sporting clearance price tags on top of other name store tags. I remember looking at the poster of games and hoping to find R-Type but never did. And most of the online stores think that these old games are made with gold making them difficult to obtain. I've seen a few titles with $300 price tags which I find stupid. No game should cost more than the system no matter how rare it is. Then I collect to play and no to let them sit on a shelf to collect dust.

[MaximumRD]

That is awesome kamakazi20012 ! I lucked out a few years back getting a pretty nice SMS lot (ebay if I recall?), even including the 3D Goggles and some boxed games. It really IS a fun system I pretty much ignored back in the NES days as well. Honestly I really need to give it more playtime, it is a great part of SEGA history. It is one of the systems I wish I had picked up an Everdrive for back when I was still buying and had the means Sure I can load them on my EverdriveMD and play them on Genesis but it is just not the same. Is yours an original version? I love the look of that one as it was so different. Keep us updated and congrats. 

 

[Atari 5200 Guy]

I don't know. All I do know is that my friend found a Master System while going through stuff and that it needs work. I'm hoping it is an original version because I would like to pick up a few of the credit card style games as those were good games. I guess I could ask them. Then again I like the surprise effect so I may wait lol.

 

It still shocks me because it was unexpected. When I read that message my jaw dropped literally. I may invest in the sound upgrade for it, not sure yet.

 

And as much as I've heard some YouTubers mention in their SMS review videos about controllers not being too great when I thought they were good controllers.

 

I agree, it is part of SEGA's history and first console entry in America. I remember enjoying it more than the NES at the time mostly because of OutRun and Space Harrier which seemed to be the only way to play those games at home in my area.

 

Hopefully it will be here next week. I will post something as soon as it arrives. Now I'll have to find Sega posters to decorate my game room with. I did find a keychain on eBay.

[CrossBow]

I'd be happy with standard composite outs as long as the system works. Unfortunately, the Genesis I won off a Goodwill auction was suppose to come with an adapter but it wasn't included and many contact attempts ended with no return contacts and no adapter. In that case I can use my 5200's power supply which I have used with a cable I made to reverse polarity on my Genesis. So it looks like I will be ready to go once it gets here.

 

Thanks CrossBow!

 

If you don't have a composite av out cable for a model 1 Genesis/SMS then you can get them here pretty cheaply. I actually just purchased one of these cable last month and a new DIN connector so I could cut the original connector off and rewire it for use with my TI, Vic-20, and 800xl/130XE systems. 

 

https://console5.com/store/av-cable-for-genesis-1-sega-master-system-neo-geo-aes-sega.html

 

On the sound upgrade, this will really depend on how much you actually plan to play the SMS. Remember that not all the SMS games have FM sound and some of the key titles had the FM removed when they were brought over stateside. I say this because the FM board from Tim plus the shipping will set you back quite a bit. But the FM board is crazy easy to install with the most difficult part being the installation of the 3-way toggle switch and where you want to put it.

 

http://etim.net.au/smsfm/smsfm.html

Edited July 13, 2018 by CrossBow

[CrossBow]

I should also note...that getting the true FM upgrade board is the way to go for the best FM sound out of an SMS. I do wish it were stereo, but it is what it is. The MegaED X7 has a newer firmware release that adds FM sound support to the SMS games through a Genesis. But it doesn't sound nearly as good as the real deal. Still if you have an X7 it is a good way to go and again for the price of the FM board with shipping from AUS and the costs for the games that support it, it does start to justify the cost of the X7 MegaED cart?! LOL

 

Oh... the SMS version of Rampage is pretty good and supports the FM board as well. Then you also have to pick up Golvelius and Wonder Boy Dragon's Trap if you can.

[RickR]

I've been playing mine a lot lately.  Here are the ones I really like:

• Choplifter - still the best version of Choplifter for home systems.
• Shinobi - really good side scrolling action
• Hang On - Really fun, nice and fast.
• Reggie Jackson Baseball - fun, but you gotta press reset until you get a green field.
• Rastan - I like the changing weapons. 

And here are some that I hated:

• California Games - TERRIBLE compared to any other version I've tried -- and that includes the 2600 version and Lynx. 
• Double Dragon - One of my favorite games.  It's not fun at all on this system.  Lots of flicker and each bad guy takes a million hits to kill.

That's a pretty good "great to awful" ratio if you ask me.  All the other games I have fall in the middle.

Edited July 20, 2018 by RickR

[LeeJ07]

I don't think it's been mentioned before now, but the SMS has ZERO region locking. A North American SMS can play both European and South American SMS games. (The one exception is Japanese games. For some reason NA systems won't play Japanese games.)

The SMS was much more popular in Europe and South America, and there are literally DOZENS of games that never released in the US that are well worth tracking down. Brazil especially loved the SMS, and so many SMS games only came out there.

The Master System is a dream console to import games for.

[CrossBow]

I believe the main issue with JPN games is just the difference in the pinouts and PCB boards that were used initially. But yes you can use any of the other regions just fine in most cases. Although there are a few games that were setup for 50hz PAL mode that will play too fast on the US versions. But I don't know which titles that would be. I do know the Sonic games work just fine as does Master of Darkness, but the pricing on these lately has started to climb into ranges I'm not okay with paying for just yet.