Mega SG Compatible with the SG-1000 Library

Analogue's Mega SG

It feels like forever since I last posted to the SG-1000 Junkyard, but it’s not every day we get SG-1000 related news, so here we go.

I’m sure many of you (yes, all three of you reading) have heard of the new FPGA console from Analogue, the Mega SG. Out the box, the Mega SG will support Megadrive/Genesis games from all regions as well as Mega/Sega CD disks for those who still own the original add-on unit. NTSC-U/PAL Master System games are also supported by means of a pack-in cartridge adapter.

SG-1000 vs Dreamcast: the Games that Appeared on Sega's First and Last Consoles

Members of the Dreamcast Junkyard Facebook group may have seen that I recently posed a question to our members; which Sega series appeared on every single Sega console? The short answer is none, but there were a number of games, series and characters that appeared on both the SG-1000 and the Dreamcast, so I had the bright idea of setting up a comparison of sorts for shits and giggles, while also shamelessly plugging our new website.

Lancia Stratos

Lancia Stratos - Safari Race (1984), Sega Rally 2 (1998)

While not one of the starting cars in the original Sega Rally, the Lancia Stratos is famous for being the faster but less wieldy unlockable car in the subsequent Saturn port. As all good Dreamcast fans should know, it graced the cover of Sega Rally 2 in all regions. What's less well known however, is that the car was licensed to a game much, much earlier in Sega's history.

Unfortunately, no rhinos are featured as hazards in Sega Rally 2.

The SH-400 Handle Controller

The Handle Controller: SH-400. Image courtesy of 'Sega Retro'. 

Last week, one of our readers, Anthony asked if we could expect any articles relating to the SG-1000's many peripherals. In response, I decided to rummage through my closet for the obscure SH-400. Let's take a look!

The SH-400 was released sometime in 1984, marketed as a wheel compatible with the SG-1000 and SC-3000's existing library of racing games. At the bottom of the box, it advertises compatibility with 'Safari Race', 'Zippy Race' and 'Monaco GP', but judging by the box art, it's fairly clear which title Sega's marketing team wanted to push most into the minds of prospective buyers. 

Quick Review: Champion Soccer

The truth is, a lot of shite was made for Sega's first foray into the console market, and here at the SG-1000 Junkyard, we intend to tell the complete story; the good, the bad and the downright ugly unplayable garbage. So with that said and one of my favourite titles now out of the way (Ninja princess), it's time to take a look at one of the not so great games attached to the SG-1000 name... and when I say "not so good", what mean to say is bloody awful. Let's take a look!

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Seeing Maroon

I've recently brought up the subject of Grandstand Leisure's early cassette software for the SC-3000 home computer in New Zealand, and there is an unusual co-incidence that is worth pointing out.

Addition Tutor, SC-3000 launch title,
New Zealand, 1983

Quick Review: Ninja Princess

'Ninja Princess', began life as one of Sega's late System 1 arcade games released in 1985. Many of you probably know it better by the name 'Sega Ninja' or 'The Ninja', as it was renamed for western arcades and its Mark III / Sega Master System releases worldwide, respectively. While it would later receive a port to the MSX, the first port of the game was to Sega's very own SG-1000. Let's take a look.

"Ninja Princess"

The Anomalous Triline Sega Logo of 1983

In the wake of our definitive SG-1000 hardware guide, good friend of the Junkyard, Scarred Sun (an admin over at the Sonic/Sega Retro forums), pointed out the unusual triline font used for the Sega logo on the front plate of New Zealand's version of the SG-1000 - the "Sega 1000" - released under license by electronic game and toy manufacturer Grandstand Leisure.

To be honest, I didn't notice this until it was pointed out

Red vs. Blue: The Definitive SG-1000 hardware guide

Did you know that Sega's logo used to be red? Back in the 60's and 70's, it used to look like this, and was proudly displayed on their early electro-mechanical arcade machines.

While the blue Sega logo we all know and love would be introduced in the late 70's and early 80's, the first version of the SG-1000 would eschew a blue colour scheme, and instead featured a bold black, red and yellow motif.

This design featured in the early promotional material, and first went on sale on 15th July 1983 (although it was rumoured to have been test-marketed in isolated prefectures as early as 1981). The original SJ-200 joystick originally came hardwired to the console for player 1, with a port for a second joystick for Player 2 (sold separately). 

The original packaging for the first black-stripe model

Welcome to the SG-1000 Junkyard!

What started out as a tongue-in-cheek April Fool's Day joke over at our sibling site The Dreamcast Junkyard, the notion of an SG-1000 focused blog continued to play on our minds and has taken root, leading to the decision to start taking the idea somewhat seriously. Welcome to the SG-1000 Junkyard!