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.

[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.

[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]

.....

[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 )

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?

[rbudrick]

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

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

[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)!