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DW FACTS by Dark Watcher
Sega's SG-1000 (Sega Game 1000) (a.k.a Mark I) was the company's first attempt at home consoles. It was initially test marketed in 1981 and finally released to Japanese consumers in July of 1983. It was a pretty advanced system for its time and featured impressive technical specifications. The system would be sold in Japan until 1985 and was released in various markets throughout European and Australasia. In 1984, Sega released an updated version of the console called the SG-1000 Mark II. This remodeled version used gamepads instead of the original joysticks and had mounts to store them on each side. It also featured a slot which allowed a keyboard attachment called SK-1100 and was compatible with software from the Sega SC-3000 computer. Sega also sold an optional adaptor called Card Catcher. This adaptor would allow the SG-1000 to play Sega "Game Card" software.
The SG-1000 reached minor success, but eventually could not compete against the Nintendo Famicom (NES). Sega abandoned the SG-1000 in order to make a console that could compete against the NES, but the SG-1000 game library lived on with Sega's Mark III / Master System thanks to backwards compatibility. The "Game Card" function would also become a built in feature. FACT: Othello Multivision is another clone of the SG-1000. Released by Tsukuda Original in 1983. It was sold for 19,800 Yen only in Japan and featured a built in Othello game. Tsukuda Original also released 8 games for the Othello Multivision which of course are all compatible with SG-1000.

MODELS Officially licensed releases
Sega SG-1000 Mark I






Sega SG-1000 Mark II




Sega SC-3000 Personal Computer



Tsukuda Original Othello Multivision There is some question as to whether the Othello Multivision was licensed by Sega, but indications seem to support this system being an official release of the Sega SG-1000. The manufacturer, Tsukuda Original, released 8 games under their own flag. The system is fully compatible with the SG-1000. Two models were released during its lifespan.




CLONES Non-licensed hardware releases
Dina 2 in one (2-in-1) Bit Corporation originally release the DINA 2-in-1 console in 1986. This odd piece of hardware was compatible with both the ColecoVision and SG-1000. Telegames would eventually release their version, the Personal Arcade, to the US market in 1987. To read more information on these hybrid clones, please see our dedicated page here.


Fullwis FR-II Video Game Rare clone of the Sega SG-1000 that was reportedly released in 1986 in Taiwan. Other than that, not much else is known about this oddity.

FORMAT, PACKAGING & GENERAL INFO Interesting facts on software for this system
Software for the Sega SG-1000 was distributed on two different types of the ROM format: standard game cartridges and Sega My Card. Sega My Cards were significantly smaller than their standard sized brethren in both dimension and data capacity. Resembling a credit card, this format was exclusive to the Japanese market and required the optional Card Catcher adapter to enable play on the SG-1000 Mark I and Mark II. This format was introduced as a cost savings measure for developers, but was quickly phased out due to the inability to house the more advanced games of the system. With the release of the SC-3000, a personal computer version of the SG-1000 console, most titles displayed this dual compatibility on the front cover ("Game Cartridge for SC-3000 or SG-1000").	applemctom's Games that Defined Compiliation

Sega SG-1000 Game Boxes Sega SG-1000 MY CARD Game Boxes


SCREENSHOTS Captured in-game images
Bank Panic	Bomb Jack	Borderline
Castle	Champion Baseball	Champion Golf
Choplifter	Congo Bongo	Exerion
Ghost House	Golgo 13	Gulkave
Hang On	Hustle Chumy	James Bond 00
Loderunner	Monaco GP	Okamoto Ayako no Match Play Golf
Orguss	Pacar	Pachinko II
Pitfall II	Pro Wrestling	Q*Bert
Safari Race	Sega Flipper	Sega Galaga
Star Jacker	Wonderboy	Zaxxon

EMULATION
First and third party system emulators

MEKA

A great emulator for this console. This emulator is
Windows based,but there is a DOS version also available.

SPECS & MANUALS
For the hardware enthusiasts out there - all the detail you\we love.

Processor Type	Processor Speed	Other Processor Information	RAM \ Video RAM
NEC 780C	3.58 MHz	Texas Instruments TMS9928A VDC	2 KB \ 16 KB
Screen Resolution	Color Palette	Polygons \ Sprites	Audio
256 x 192	16 colors	32 sprites	Texas Instruments SN76489 (4 channel mono sound)
Media Format	Media Capacity	Games Released	Other Supported Formats
Cartridge	48 KB	47 (unique)	Sega "Game Card", Sega SC-3000 cartridges, SC-3000 cassettes (optional peripheral required)
Internal Storage	External \ Removable Storage	Game Controllers	Other Game \ Peripheral Devices
None	None	Joystick, 2 Action Buttons	Keyboard, FM Sound Unit
Controller Ports	Network Ports	Other Ports	Audio \ Video
Two (2) (one hard-wired)	None	One (1) expansion parallel bus	RF
Power Supply - External	Other Outputs	Other Details \ Notes
Input: AC 100V, 60Hz Output: DC 9V, 7.7W	None	None
Manuals
Sega SG-1000 Mark I Owners Manual (PDF) - 0.57 MB Sega SG-1000 Mark II Owners Manual (PDF) - 1.13 MB Sega SC-3000 Owners Manual (PDF) - 3.30 MB