Retro Renegades - Episode: Master Of Systems

he Master System[c] is a third-generation 8-bit home video game console  manufactured by Sega. It was originally a remodeled export version of  the Sega Mark III, the third iteration of the SG-1000 series of  consoles, which was released in Japan in 1985 and featured enhanced  graphical capabilities over its predecessors. The Master System launched  in North America in 1986, followed by Europe in 1987, and Brazil in  1989. A Japanese version of the Master System was also launched in 1987,  which features a few enhancements over the export models (and by proxy  the original Mark III): a built-in FM audio chip, a rapid-fire switch,  and a dedicated port for the 3D glasses. The Master System II, a cheaper  model, was released in 1990 in North America and Europe.  The original Master System models use both cartridges and a credit  card-sized format known as Sega Cards. Accessories for the consoles  include a light gun and 3D glasses that work with a range of specially  designed games. The later Master System II redesign removed the card  slot, turning it into a strictly cartridge-only system and is  incompatible with the 3D glasses.  The Master System was released in competition with the Nintendo  Entertainment System (NES). Its library is smaller and with fewer  well-reviewed games than the NES, due in part to Nintendo licensing  policies requiring platform exclusivity. Though the Master System had  newer, improved hardware, it failed to overturn Nintendo's significant  market share advantage in Japan and North America. However, it attained  significantly more success in Europe and Brazil.