This month in 1983, Sega released the SG-1000 and SC-3000 in Japan. In spite of the fact that they were arguably the most 3D capable systems of the time with ports of arcade hits like Zaxxon and Hang On, it failed to ignite the passions of the public who were not ready for 3D games, which is ironic when you consider that the Saturn would do the exact opposite 12 years later and also fail. It did manage to hold onto a tiny share of the market against the juggernaut that was Nintendo's Famicom to be reborn as the Mark III and eventually the Mega Drive.

To commemorate the occasion, I suggest you fire up Meka and check out the SG-1000 software catalogue. Personal favourites include Gulkave (Compile's first shooter), Choplifter, Lode Runner and Championship Lode Runner, Flicky, Girl's Garden, Space Invaders, Congo Bongo, Star Force, Pitfall II, Chack'n Pop, Ninja Princess, Rock n Bolt, Wonder Boy, and The Castle.

I think I may indeed do just that. Sounds like a good time.

If I can get Meka configured properly, that is.

edit: had a go through a no-intro romset. I think the game I enjoyed most was indeed Girl's Garden. It's one of those games that's just complicated enough but still simple. I played it at least until the flower types started repeating which was more playtime than I gave the others. Are there any other versions of that game? Flicky I could not get the hang of jumping back up the platforms, kept somehow hitting them and falling back down and hitting cats. i always sucked at Flicky anyway. Most everything else seemed like (for obvious reasons) to be arcade ports and such, and therefore were solid games, but have potentially superior versions on other platforms. Amazing to see an even more privative version of Wonder Boy, heh. So yeah, It was fun but I'm not sure that I would play these versions over their arcade counterparts. Meka took a little getting used to and setting up but ultimately is a pretty nice emulator. the "sega fanboy" settings are hilarious. It's interesting to note that the pre-mega drive sega emulators seem to often be very much designed for fans of the hardware and games. The one I have on DS is similarly themed and skinned so that it's very much nostalgic for someone really into these games. Not many other emulators seem to do that sort of thing.

It's also the 25th anniversary of the Famicom on July 15th. Such things had not gone unnoticed. (end shameless plug)

I don't think so. It's an SG-1000 exclusive as far as I know.


Yeah, but it's a nice little history lesson. Some of them are SG-1000 exclusives, or have SG-1000 exclusive layouts, so they still have some worth. One of these days, I'd like to start a website devoted to the SG-1000, with reviews that compare the games to their arcade counterparts and conversions on other systems, and rates them from the viewpoint of a modern gamer. No-one seems to have really done that before, not that I know of at least.


And there should be more of it, I say.

Cool stuff Doc. I don't appreciate it quite on the level you do, obviously, but I can see some of the appeal. Lemme know if you do ever make that whole website thing, perhaps I can assist.

I wasn't the only one who noticed the milestone

http://www.sc-3000.com/index.php/Ultime/Ha...ay-SC-3000.html

Download your own SJ-200 box! Yay!

HI! I'm new to this forum, but as SEGA early hardware fan I'm glad that you mentioned our site SEGA SC-3000 Survivors :)

I'm glad you appreciate the SJ-200 box, I can anticipate you that more boxes have to come in future. And of course we are working at more new stuff for next updates.

Thank you for your appreciation.