Sega Graphic Board

[Virtualogik]

You guys have any ideas what this is exactly ? :

http://www.virtualogik.com/images/segagb.jpg

[Ed Oscuro]

Lucky for us both, The Internet has heard of it:

http://www.smspower.org/museum/terebioekaki/

I thought I'd heard of it before, nice catch. Overlay-type pen drawing systems were not too uncommon for Japanese computers in the 80s; MSX computers had at least one compatible unit I saw, and I'm sure more existed.

[Virtualogik]

Yeah well I saw this page before posting here but, it seems this thing is japanese and white ... the one here is clearly the black "sega master" type of lettering and plastic ... and it comes with an eprom of the software of "graphic board v2.0" ... it doesn't seem this thing was ever released in America? Was it? ...

[Ed Oscuro]

Alright, that's a question that will bring out some experts (not me).

I will say this: Aside from the English-lettered variants on the SMS Power website, there is the fact of there being a "Sega Master System" released in Japan, which is a step up from the US SMS - same styling, but with the Mark III's additional FM Sound module integrated, as you know. This could have possibly been a re-release to match that Tonka styling. It seems odd, though, given this was a niche product.

Other than that, there is a Rumor Mill (http://www.digitpress.com/DP/cmf/game.cmf?gameid=17890) entry for the game in the Digital Press online search. Somebody else will have to comment but I've not heard of that guide being wrong on a major console like this. If it's the real deal and US branded, it's a nice find. Got the box?

[Scrimble]

I have seen the white one before, but not the black. I would guess they planned a US/Euro release, or maybe a second release (v2.0?) in Japan and they made an updated board for the Japanese SMS console, as Ed said above? Either way I want it, I want it noooow.

[ccovell]

You're all wrong. That is the poor-selling peripheral for use with 'Art Alive'. :-D

Just kidding, of course. Hold on to that peripheral, Virtualogik (or sell it to me!); it's one of the announced but unreleased accessories for the Mega Drive way back in 1988-89. Here's a pic from an early 1989 Beep:

http://www.disgruntleddesigner.com/chrisc/secret/1980s/MD_Accessories1sm.jpg
http://www.disgruntleddesigner.com/chrisc/secret/1980s/MD_Accessories2sm.jpg

Basically, Nintendo, Sega, and NEC engaged in what could only be called a "vaporware arms race" from the mid-80s, all the way up to the SegaCD and Saturn age. When one company announced something (say, a BASIC program and disk drive), the others rushed to announce the same thing to try to take the wind out of the competitor's sails. It was really rather pointless, and NEC wised up early in the 90s and pulled out of making useless peripherals, but not before releasing a scanner, graphics tablet (surprise, surprise) and printer in 1989 or so.

[Enigmus]

Wait a minute, if he has the tablet board, then isn't there a strong possibility the floppy drive and keyboard are still in existence, if they ever were?

[Arkhan]

These things are all pretty pointless on home consoles. No wonder they were about as successful as crystal pepsi. :D

computers on the other hand, they were awesome.

Koala Pad was used in alot of commercial games for title screens since the software allowed you to export files/data to include with game code.

[Virtualogik]

Got the box?

No it came in a white plain box with some stampings from Tonka or something :

http://www.virtualogik.com/images/segaboardfinal.jpg

Thanks to those who provided some lights as to what this thing is ... now if anyone can provide some information as to why this thing ended in North America ... was there a planned release over here?

Also, not sure if I'm in the right forum for this but, I'm not sure I will keep this thing so any of you experts out there can provide me an idea of the value it could have ?

[tomaitheous]

The interesting part, is that the "tonka" receive date (month) is the same time the Japanese Megadrive was released in Japan. A whole 2 years before the North American release of it. That is interesting. I take it the rom board there is for the SMS and not the Genesis, though?

[ccovell]

The month may be the same, but the year isn't. The MD was released in October 1988 in Japan.

[tomaitheous]

The month may be the same, but the year isn't. The MD was released in October 1988 in Japan.

HAha, must have got PCE on the brainer. *smacks head*

[Virtualogik]

I managed to get the cart chip working in a Sega Master System, so I suppose it wasn't originally intended as a Genesis peripheral as suggested in those catalog pictures...

The cart detects if the board is connected :

http://www.virtualogik.com/images/segagb2.JPG

http://www.virtualogik.com/images/segagb3.JPG

And the actual screen :

http://www.virtualogik.com/images/segagb4.JPG

Still looking for additional info if any of you have any. Thanks !

[Enigmus]

It'd be interesting to get a dump of that and then get tablet support in Kega.

[tom]

nice.

[portnoyd]

It's likely Bock will sex your leg off shortly.

[pseudonym]

Bock posted in his other thread about this. I forgot where I saw it now.

Very cool item.

[Bock]

Hehe
Here what I posted in the other thread (which seems dead):

Looks like a western-version prototype of the Japanese Terebi Oekaki (テレビおえかき） released in 1986 for the SG-1000/SC-3000 and compatible with Mark III and Japanese Master System. Original is white.

http://www.smspower.org/museum/terebioekaki/TerebiOekaki-03.jpg
http://www.smspower.org/museum/terebioekaki/TerebiOekaki-picture-01.gif
http://www.smspower.org/museum/terebioekaki/TerebiOekaki-picture-02.gif

http://www.smspower.org/museum/terebioekaki/

It is emulated by my emulator MEKA (http://www.smspower.org/meka) if you want to try it. Because of restriction with the video mode used and the technology used to read the pen it's actually pretty bad to use.

The cartridge board and connection on the pictures match those of the western Sega Master System format (which is different from the Japanese/Korean format).

The Japanese Graphic Board doesn't have those there "Modes" buttons so it suggest that it use a different software. Also the original has the cartridge connected to the graphic board where as this one is separate and communicate via the standard DB9 joypad port (also used by other peripherals such as Sports Pad or Paddle Control).

The original software is 8 KB and use legacy video mode 2 (SG-1000/SC-3000) to provide a simili bitmap mode editing. Although the SMS has more advanced video mode it is less suited than old mode 2 for random bitmap drawing, so I suspect that this software is based on the old software, or if its a new software it would use the legacy SG-1000/SC-3000 video mode.

The 16-bit sum on the EPROM chip doesn't match the existing Terebi Oekaki ROM that I dumped so it's at least a different version of the software (unless the 4-digit number happens not to be a 16-bit sum of the EPROM content but it is generally the case). I can't read from the picture which type of EPROM it is.

This prototype is pictured along with a Megadrive in some ads so perhaps the SMS version was scrapped in the west to make a MD one. etc. There's pictures of a similar prototype but white in German publications so it was also considered to release in Europe I guess, but eventually didn't make it out of Japan.

It's beautiful.

PM-ed (want to buy and dump and emulate! :))

[Bock]

And a newer message based on your last post:

First: wow! :)

You don't have to confirm the EPROM checksum or anything since its evident that the software has been upgraded here. Apart from the title screen the painting uses SG-1000/SC-3000 video mode so its very possible that this could work on earlier system (and it won't show up on a Megadrive with Mega Adapter btw). The limit of that mode is that actually you can't use more than 2 colors per block of 8x8 pixels so its actually pretty shitty to do precision drawing. Essentially the tablet hardware has pixel-ish precision that the video mode cannot display.

I like how it says "Not graphic board!!", its very japanese engrish. I like to think as it reading "Hot graphic board".

Nothing else to add. I would evidently sell my family to get my hands on that.
Where do I sign?

[Bock]

Please remember to keep the cartridge away from sunlight/uv as it could leak if the sticker over the window is in bad shape.

[Virtualogik]

Hello again guys ! 4 years later, that password was hard to remember ! lol !

So, long story short, I'm now interested in selling this historic piece. I've been doing some research again on the web and apparently since the last time I posted here, nobody came up with another prototype and my pictures here were lifted to be put on many other websites with people implying that more than one prototype versions have been "spotted", yet only my pictures are around.

My question : Because of the unique nature of the item, is there any kind of auction house through which I could go to sell this item to collectors. eBay is out of the question, since I want a safe transaction with a safe payment method and possibly through a 3rd party. Anyone have experience in selling such a unique item related to videogames?

Thanks in advance!

[XYXZYZ]

Hello again guys ! 4 years later, that password was hard to remember ! lol !

So, long story short, I'm now interested in selling this historic piece. I've been doing some research again on the web and apparently since the last time I posted here, nobody came up with another prototype and my pictures here were lifted to be put on many other websites with people implying that more than one prototype versions have been "spotted", yet only my pictures are around.

My question : Because of the unique nature of the item, is there any kind of auction house through which I could go to sell this item to collectors. eBay is out of the question, since I want a safe transaction with a safe payment method and possibly through a 3rd party. Anyone have experience in selling such a unique item related to videogames?

Thanks in advance!

Ever heard of Game Gavel (http://www.gamegavel.com/)?

And why is eBay not safe?

[otaku]

Couple things. My not being a sega historian of a particularly detailed variety found this fascinating new info I really need to read that book I found on kindle recently about sega. Also game gavel is great and ebay can be fine

[Tanooki]

ebay has a higher percentage of a chance of fraud and they often annoyingly will side with the buyer over the seller. Game Gavel though having a very much smaller group of people on there are more inclined to side with the right party when it comes to issues or buyers trying to defraud the seller out of a partial refund, sending back bricks, lying about tracking numbers and arrivals. I've got a Game Gavel acct but anytime I've tried to sell there I've never had one purchase of my goods, and it's decent stuff I put on ebay and I ask less since their fees are less so that is an issue with them.

[bb_hood]

If you are afraid of using ebay, put it up on craigslist.

[xelement5x]

It's very cool, I hope whoever you sell it to has an eye on preserving and documenting it instead of just sticking in in a hoarding palace.

That said, if I had a one of a kind piece like this I would hit the big relevant boards to first get a bit more info out and about and mention that you are considering selling it right now. If you have no offers that fit what you want, put it up on ebay with lots of detailed pictures and a ludicrous BIN price, but include a way for people to contact you about the item if they have questions.

You may get a lot of tire kickers, but hopefully someone out there will fit the bill for what you're looking for. You're essentially just using ebay as free advertising but they're a horrible company anyway.


Again, I would love it though if you could at least get the ROM dumped before selling it. I think that while the ROM obviously has value, the majority of the value is in the fact that it is a documented prototype piece of hardware. I and lots of other Sega folks would love to have something like this, but obviously only one will get it ;)

[Virtualogik]

Hi again! Just a quick heads-up to let you guys know that I've decided to go with eBay for the piece. Seems like the best place after all, so here it is if you'd like to take a shot at it :

http://cgi.ebay.ca/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=281431233333

[Gameguy]

As much as I'd like this I know I can't afford it. Good luck. :)

[Virtualogik]

As much as I'd like this I know I can't afford it. Good luck. :)

Well, it's only selling for 1 cent right now, bid 2 and you never know ;)

EDIT : Sorry, 99 cents ! Thought this thing started at 1 cent ... Let's say I do hope it ends a bit higher than this hehehe

[Gameguy]

Just looking at the auction again, I didn't realize you were located in Canada. No import fees!! It's looking a lot better for Canadians now. I'll be keeping an eye on this, mostly to see how it's going. If it stays under $20 by the end then maybe.....

[Tanooki]

It's up to $122C so far, you're out. :) I'm curious to see where this goes as I used to have a SMS not that long ago.

[Bock]

Virtualogik, thanks for putting this up. Are you may be aware I've been trying to contact you by all means for the past 4 years (and failing somehow? maybe you thought I was a stalker! or just discarded my e-mails! sorry!)

Anyway so happy it's finally back :)
I'll buy it for SMS Power! and we will release the content publicly and as much info as possible.

[xelement5x]

Virtualogik, thanks for putting this up. Are you may be aware I've been trying to contact you by all means for the past 4 years (and failing somehow? maybe you thought I was a stalker! or just discarded my e-mails! sorry!)

Anyway so happy it's finally back :)
I'll buy it for SMS Power! and we will release the content publicly and as much info as possible.

I really hope you get it. SMS Power is a pretty awesome resource already and this would only add to it.

[Virtualogik]

Thanks to everyone who have shown interest in this piece, this historic unique item will now sell in the next 24 hours to the highest bidder.

After a lot of action in the first few days, things have died down quite a bit over the week and, all hopes of selling as high as possible aside as the current owner, I really think this piece would be a steal at the current price (and I'll be losing money too in the process). Good luck to Bock (if you're not already the highest bidder) and anyone else who's looking to maybe snipe a bid at the last minute, you'll be getting quite an incredible piece for your collection here.

Once again, you can find this on eBay now : http://www.ebay.com/itm/Sega-Master-System-Graphic-Board-UNIQUE-PROTOTYPE-Incredible-Collector-Lot-/281431233333

[Hwj_Chim]

I managed to get the cart chip working in a Sega Master System, so I suppose it wasn't originally intended as a Genesis peripheral as suggested in those catalog pictures...

The cart detects if the board is connected :

http://www.virtualogik.com/images/segagb2.JPG

http://www.virtualogik.com/images/segagb3.JPG

And the actual screen :

http://www.virtualogik.com/images/segagb4.JPG

Still looking for additional info if any of you have any. Thanks !

Well that explains why tonka had it:). Cool find

[DK1105]

I randomly clicked on the link and it had 2 minutes to go. Hot damn that thing shot up in price like a rocket. $200 to $2250 in less than 2 minutes. I hope those were legit bids and that this is going to someone who will preserve it.

[Bock]

Lost it in the last minute :( amazing tip.
Wonder where it is going. I hope Virtualogik can be kind and ask the buyer to try to get in contact with us, maybe we have a chance for a dump there.

[Virtualogik]

Lost it in the last minute :( amazing tip.
Wonder where it is going. I hope Virtualogik can be kind and ask the buyer to try to get in contact with us, maybe we have a chance for a dump there.

Check your private messages Bock. Thanks.

[Greg2600]

Sheesh, price went up 100 fold in the last minute.

[Bock]

I have released the ROM dump & hardware info, the hardware is now emulated by MEKA.
http://www.smspower.org/forums/viewtopic.php?t=15039

[Greg2600]

Wow, glad that it will be preserved physically as well as virtually.