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Info for gamegear


====== Sega Game Gear (1990) ======




===== Features =====

* CPU: 4 MHz Zilog Z80 (8-bit)
* RAM: 8K
* Video RAM: 16K
* Colors Palette: 512; 32 max on screen
* Resolution: 160x140 viewable from 256x224
* Sprite size: 8x8 , 8x16 (16x16 in doubled mode)
* Max # of sprites: 64 on screen; 128 in memory
* Sound: 6 channel FM, 2 channel noise - Stereo
* Battery life: 6 hours on 6 AA batteries



===== Usage =====

MESS emulates two different Game Gear versions: the BIOS-less model by Sega and the Majesco model.
You can switch between the two, changing the -bios parameter. At command line, both for gamegear
and for gamegeaj

"-bios 0" or "-bios none" = No BIOS

"-bios 1" or "-bios majesco" = Majesco BIOS



===== Known Issues =====

== To do (see source): ==

* LCD persistence emulation for GG
* SIO interface for Game Gear (needs netplay, I guess)
* PSG control for Game Gear (needs custom SN76489 with stereo output for each channel)





===== History and Trivia =====

The Game Gear was basically a portable Master System with a lower resolution screen, but allowed for a larger color palette, and therefore potentially better-looking graphics. In addition, it could also produce stereo sound (through headphones) as opposed to the
Master System's monaural output, although very few games made use of the stereo capabilities. Unlike the original Game Boy, the system was held in a "landscape" position, with the controls at the sides, making it less cramped to hold. One of the more famous and unusual peripherals for the Game Gear was the "TV Tuner Adapter", a device that plugged into the system's cartridge slot, and allowed one to watch TV on the Game Gear's screen. Other add-ons included a magnifying glass to compensate for the relatively small size of the Game Gear's screen, and a rechargeable battery pack.

Because of the similarities between the Master System and the Game Gear, it was possible for Master System games to be written directly onto ROMs in Game Gear cartridges. Similarly, an adapter called the "Master Gear" allowed Master System cartridges to be plugged in and played on the Game Gear. The reverse (playing a Game Gear game on a Master System console) was impossible due to the Game Gear's aforementioned larger color palette.

The Game Gear was not very popular in Japan, where it was released to a generally apathetic audience, with build quality issues plaguing it early in its service life. Another problem was battery life: while better than earlier color backlit systems, its 5 hour battery life still wasn't as good as the Game Boy (since Nintendo handheld had a monochrome screen, lack of a backlight, and less powerful hardware).

Also overseas, despite its color backlit screen and ergonomic, which made it technically superior to the Game Boy, the Game Gear did not manage to take over a significant share of the market. Again, elevated price and batteries short life were a relevant factor in the choice of buyers, although Sega highly advertised the system as the best system in the market.

The Game Gear, however, did better than other portable systems that tried to compete with the Game Boy, such as the preceding Atari Lynx. In the end, the Game Gear gained most of its sales by pushing the Lynx out of the market rather than eating into the Game Boy's dominant share.

The blue Game Gear sports edition, identical to the standard Game Gear, except in body color, was released in 1993, with the game World Series Baseball. Another specialty edition was a red Coca-Cola-themed Game Gear unit, released to the Japanese market, which came with a game entitled Coca-Cola Kid.

Support ended in 1997, but Majesco released a core version of the Game Gear in 2000 for a reduced price. The Majesco Core Game Gear differed slightly from the original Game Gear in that it was black and had a purple start button rather than dark grey and a blue start button, the logo on the front of the unit was no longer in color, and it did not support the television tuner accessory. It also had a somewhat better speaker that didn't distort as much when played loudly. It was part of Majesco's strategy of eking profits from products with margins too slim for the original manufacturer to pursue, and was accompanied by Majesco's licensed reissue of several classic Game Gear cartridges. Majesco-reissued cartridges are distinguished by having no plastic case, and a Majesco Sales logo on the label, as well as the current games ratings system, which differs slightly from the one formerly used by Sega. The Majesco logo was not prominent, and these were marketed under the Sega name.

The Game Gear was re-released in a smaller handheld form factor in late 2006. This small handheld device was powered by 3 AAA batteries, had a brighter active matrix screen, and contained 20 Game Gear and Sega Master System games. It was released under several brands including Coleco and PlayPal.

//(info from Wikipedia)//



===== Links =====

* Sega Master System and Game Gear Hardware Reference Manual -- http://www.smspower.org/dev/sdsc/SMSGGHardwareReferenceManual.html
* Charles MacDonald's GG & SMS Infos -- http://cgfm2.emuviews.com/sms.php
* [[wp>Sega_Game_Gear]]



===== Other Emulators =====

* Kega Fusion -- http://www.eidolons-inn.net/tiki-index.php?page=Kega
* MEKA -- http://www.smspower.org/meka/




Generated on Sun Jul 19 10:17:28 2009