Sega Master System blue label/artwork revision information
Trying to find out information about the SMS blue labels/revisions is interesting because Sega cut distribution while they were being made. This means we are not completely sure which games received revisions and which didn't. All we really have to draw on are verified games that collectors own - everything presented as fact is done so because it has been verified. There is still a lot of unverified information we can hopefully clear up eventually.
We know these things about the blue labels/revisions in general:
1. They all have modified artwork.
2. They all have modiifed manuals.
3. The modified manuals all say copyright 1990 or 1991 on the back.
4. The U.S. is the only region with 1st party blue labels.
5. They were released in the 4th generation only.
6. Some revised games were released with red labels.
7. These are the known blue labels/revisions so far (this list does not include non-blue label games released for the first time during this period):
Alex Kidd In Miracle World (revision confirmed, blue label?)
Alex Kidd In Shinobi World (blue label only)
Black Belt (revision confirmed, blue label?)
California Games
Choplifter (revision confirmed, blue label?)
Double Dragon
Enduro Racer
Fantasy Zone
Ghostbusters
Out Run
Rambo: First Blood Part II
Reggie Jackson Baseball
Slap Shot (blue label only)
It seems there were five distinct versions of the SMS artwork/text. The first was the original release with the standard look. Then Sega sold the U.S. distribution rights to Tonka. Every game was modified to include the "From Tonka" text under the Sega name - revision 1. I'm not sure, there may have been other slight alterations in this revision.
After Sega bought the distribution rights back from Tonka they had a ton of stock with the "Tonka" text still on it which they couldn't sell. Sega decided to cover the offending text with the "Sega for the '90's" stickers which is revision 2. Revision 2 is exactly like revision 1 with stickers added to the back of the insert, the rear of the instruction manual and the cartridge label. It's interesting that they put a sticker on the cartridge label because there is no "Tonka text" on any cartridge to cover up. I guess they didn't want anyone to figure out their little trick and it seemed necessary to have stickers on all three.
After all that stock was sold the 3rd revision came in. My theory is that the games that got revised first were the ones that sold the fastest, thereby depleting the old stock quickest. This is where you get the more drastically modified inserts, manuals and cartridges. The front art generally changes only slightly or not at all but the back gets a new arrangement, extra screen shots and adds level and player information (for games that were originally released without it).
The location of certain copyright statements is also changed. The manuals for the 3rd revision are no longer glossy. The game information inside is exactly the same but the cartridge handling and warranty sections are different. All of the 3rd revision manuals say copyright 1990 or 1991 on the back. The cartridge labels are different - if they were not released in blue label form the 3rd revision games seem to have been released in a red label. Some of us often say red label even when we mean maroon but the fourth revision red labels are actually red. The checkerboard pattern is outlined with a thicker/darker black. It has been confirmed that some games went through both blue and red label sub-revisions.
Most of the games being released for the first time during this stage are the ones with the most attractive and colorful artwork (Aerial Assault, Alex Kidd In Shinobi World, Castle Of Illusion, Columns, Dead Angle, Dick Tracy (incidentally Dick Tracy has an error on the back. It refers to the "control stick" as the "control switch"), E-Swat, Ghouls'n Ghosts, Golden Axe, Golden Axe Warrior, James "Buster" Douglas Knockout Boxing, Joe Montana Football, Michael Jackson's Moonwalker, Paperboy, Psycho Fox, Slap Shot and Super Monaco GP).
Now the 4th revision - a step back of sorts. Technically it's not a revision but a version change I believe. The last three U.S. SMS releases, Sonic The Hedgehog (UPC #010086070767) , Spider-man (UPC #010086070651) and Strider (UPC #010086090055), were just the European version of the games with U.S. UPC stickers. The inserts are identical, both having multi-lingual text on the back. The U.S. releases have a U.S. UPC sticker over the Euro UPC which is printed on the insert. The U.S. UPC is always on the plastic, not on the insert itself. Spider-man's UPC sticker is extended to the right to allow extra space for some Marvel copyright text. All three games have the European style horizontal manuals and cartridges with security screws.
Here are some pix of some blue label and revised SMS games:
This is a 3rd revision Choplifter manual next to an original release manual.
Does anyone have anything to add? Thanks in advance to anyone who can add more information to this thread.
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Originally Posted by ShinobiMan
