Master System Card Slot, What was the point?

[2Dskillz]

I am wondering what the point was to the Master system having 2 game formats. Were the cards sold for a cheaper price? Was the slot intended for more extras like the 3d glasses?

Just looking for a clear answer on this quirk of design. Thanks

[ccovell]

To support the legacy software of the Japanese SG-1000 cards.

Now to ask the question of why the SG-1000 introduced (in 1985) the card slot in the first place. Possibly it was to get games manufactured cheaper than the older cartridges.

[ANONPLOX]

To support the legacy software of the Japanese SG-1000 cards.

Now to ask the question of why the SG-1000 introduced (in 1985) the card slot in the first place. Possibly it was to get games manufactured cheaper than the older cartridges.
wasn't the 1000 basically Segas version of a PC Engine?

[CRV]

To support the legacy software of the Japanese SG-1000 cards.

That being said, why did they include the slot on Western machines where there was no SG-1000?

[megasdkirby]

That being said, why did they include the slot on Western machines where there was no SG-1000?

My guess is to release cheaper games...budget titles.

I never saw a card game even reach the amount of a cart game.

[ooXxXoo]

I'll say, that the card slot format was just simply reliable for the 3D glasses...

[megasdkirby]

I'll say, that the card slot format was just simply reliable for the 3D glasses...

True.

Also, I notice that most card games (if not all) are less than one megabit in size.

Probably a storage media for small sized video games?

Hell, only 25% of a mega bit! (two games are like this: Ghost House and F16)

[theoakwoody]

To support the legacy software of the Japanese SG-1000 cards.

Now to ask the question of why the SG-1000 introduced (in 1985) the card slot in the first place. Possibly it was to get games manufactured cheaper than the older cartridges.

The problem is I don't think any of the Japanese cards pinouts are compatible with the US Models. Even the Japanese Mark III cards won't work without a mod.

I'm guessing the card was originally planned for budget software but was quickly scrapped after the sms was released. I'm pretty sure all of the mycard games were available directly after release of the system.

[parallaxscroll]

All the games on card sucked IMO (sorry if you disagree).

The card slot was useful for the EXELLENT SegaScope 3-D glasses, however .

[PresidentLeever]

It looked cool and kept you guessing..

[DefaultGen]

.....

[ANONPLOX]

I still say the SG-1000 was segas own take on the Pc-Engine

[InsaneDavid]

Simple reason: "Oh, look, we take two kinds of games, two ways to play, we give you twice as much!! Please put down that NES and buy me instead... please??"

[Wraith Storm]

It was for Ghost House of course.

Yep! It was allllll about Ghost House! It was the perfect excuse for the card slot. I Loved that game. :D

[Tupin]

Yep! It was allllll about Ghost House! It was the perfect excuse for the card slot. I Loved that game. :D
I love that game too, it has the best boxart ever. LOL

But seriously, Ghost House is fun.

[zektor]

As far as I remember the real "push" with the card based games was that they were easier to carry around than the cartridges. You can take a dozen games to your friend's house in your pocket! Too bad a dozen games didn't come out on card....

I personally liked most of the card games. Ghost House always brings back memories. I purchased it with my Sega Master System at "Trader Horn" back then. I also really liked "Transbot" (since Transformers were HUGE at that time, I collected them, and Transbot was like "Transformers The Game" to a kid at that time!). "My Hero" was and IS an awesome game, as is "Teddy Boy". These were both very faithful arcade ports. I didn't really get in to "F-16 Fighting Falcon", but I was never into those types (Flight Simulator) sims.

Personally, I am really glad the card slot was there. It was just different at that time. It may be worthy to note that Europe had some games released on cards that we never did.

[mailman187666]

has anybody modded a US SMS to be able to play 1000 games in the card slot? that would be a cool project for somebody that may collect the 1000 cards and be able to play it off of that. What would really be cool is being able to play TG16 games in it, although probably not the same size.

[k8track]

Even the Japanese Mark III cards won't work without a mod.
I can tell you that at least Woody Pop does work perfectly on a U.S. SMS. The problem with that, though, is that the Sega Paddle Control won't work on a U.S. model properly, which is why I'm now trying to find the Japanese SMS model or Mark III system. I'm going to a lot of trouble just to play two paddle games (Woody Pop and Megumi Rescue)!

[ccovell]

My guess is to release cheaper games...budget titles.

I never saw a card game even reach the amount of a cart game.

True, but if you read my comment about the SG-1000, and do a little research, you'll see that the SG Mycards are all 32k, larger than or as large as all SG cartridge games, except for Home Mahjong. The card could therefore fit the same sized games as SG cartridges, for less money.

When the SMS/Mark III came out, it was a different matter, and games quickly needed more space than 32k.


The problem is I don't think any of the Japanese cards pinouts are compatible with the US Models. Even the Japanese Mark III cards won't work without a mod.

I think they are pin-compatible, but the US BIOS usually locks out foreign games, cartridge and card.

And yes, Woody Pop and Ghost House are great[/good] card games.

[megasdkirby]

All the games on card sucked IMO (sorry if you disagree).

The card slot was useful for the EXELLENT SegaScope 3-D glasses, however .

True. Though IMO, Ghost House was pretty good, though insanely hard on the second half (still beat it though :p)


True, but if you read my comment about the SG-1000, and do a little research, you'll see that the SG Mycards are all 32k, larger than or as large as all SG cartridge games, except for Home Mahjong. The card could therefore fit the same sized games as SG cartridges, for less money.

When the SMS/Mark III came out, it was a different matter, and games quickly needed more space than 32k.

I realized that when I was comparing US card games. I honestly thought Ghost House was larger in size, but wow, 1/4 of one megabit...still very impressive for me.

For me, it was just budget titles. Even when the games were "brand new" back then, the price would be no where as close as cart games.

[2Dskillz]

Awesome, I thought that budget played in, but did not really know the history with the 1000 in Japan. Thanks.

So were those 3Dglasses anything special?

[Cryomancer]

I still say the SG-1000 was segas own take on the Pc-Engine

Because they both have card slots? The SG-1000 was available 4 years before the PC Engine.

[Cornelius]

So were those 3Dglasses anything special?

Yes, actually. They work great, and give as good of a 3D effect as anything else I've come across (except for the Wii head tracking stuff, but that hasn't been applied). Unfortunately none of the 3d games really have impressed me much.

[2Dskillz]

looks like I need some of those shades then. I have GhostHouse and Transbot, anything else a must have for this card slot?

[icbrkr]

Of course, Spy Vs. Spy. I played the C64 versions to death and the SMS is pretty accurate compared to its computer counterparts.

[zektor]

looks like I need some of those shades then. I have GhostHouse and Transbot, anything else a must have for this card slot?

Absolutely get the glasses. Still (in my humble opinion) the best 3-D effect any game system has to offer. I was really wowed by it back then, and still think it is pretty amazing today.

I still say "My Hero" is an absolute must have. It's a hard game, but it is very addicting if you really try. I always have time for a round of it....heck..maybe I'll go play it again right now! :)

[fuchikoma]

What, no Teddy Boy love?

[zektor]

What, no Teddy Boy love?

I mentioned Teddy Boy in my previous post :) I am not sure why this game does not get the props it should. It is a classic shooter and a great game as well!

[joystickjunki3]

The cards were indeed cheaper, also of lower quality and size. And yes, it was also there from addons like the 3D glasses.

[megasdkirby]

Come to think of it, I think the card slot was intended to swipe credit cards and purchase online games.

Connect the modem to the expansion port under the SMS, connect online, choose the game you want, and insert your credit card in the SMS card slot to complete the purchase.

There, mystery solved. :)

BTW, this was a joke post. :p But I fathom to imagine the amount of people who actually stuck a credit card in the slot, expecting to get something in return...

[rbudrick]

True. Though IMO, Ghost House was pretty good, though insanely hard on the second half (still beat it though :p)



Whoa, whoa whoa...I've played this game hundreds of times and only made it to level 3 ONCE. Beacause I got super lucky. You are telling me you beat all 6 stages, and then beat the impossibleX666+ass second quest too? WTF?

That is not possible. How the f...no, seriously, what am I doing wrong? Dracula PWNS my ass just about every time in stage 1 with his cheap, shitty ass. I hate him.

I played it in emulation and cheated my ass off with save states for a really long time and beat it, but even then it was HARD. Hell, I remember the last 1 or 2 Draculas being literally impossible in the real world. I mean seriously impossible, not difficult, just impossible for real.

There's no continues, the game is cheap as hell, and everything makes you die. How, I ask? How?

-Rob