Sega Game Gear
Portable Master System
Sega's 1990 colour handheld that was essentially a portable Master System, offering backlit graphics but suffering from poor battery life that limited its success against Game Boy.
Overview
The Sega Game Gear was Sega’s 1990 handheld that offered backlit colour graphics in a market dominated by Game Boy’s monochrome display. Essentially a portable Master System, it featured impressive specs but suffered from battery life issues that limited its commercial success.
Fast Facts
- Released: 1990
- CPU: Z80 @ 3.58 MHz
- Screen: 160×144, 32 colours from 4096
- Battery life: 3-5 hours (6 AA)
- Price: $149
Specifications
| Component | Detail |
|---|---|
| Display | Backlit colour LCD |
| Resolution | 160×144 |
| Colours | 32 on-screen from 4096 |
| Sound | 3 pulse + 1 noise |
| Cartridge | Proprietary format |
Master System Compatibility
A special adapter allowed playing Master System cartridges:
- Near-complete library access
- Colour graphics on portable
- Existing game investment
Why It Lost to Game Boy
| Game Gear | Game Boy |
|---|---|
| 3-5 hour battery | 30+ hour battery |
| $149 price | $89 price |
| Large, heavy | Compact |
| Strong library | Tetris, Pokémon |
Notable Games
| Game | Notes |
|---|---|
| Sonic the Hedgehog | Unique portable version |
| Columns | Pack-in puzzle game |
| Shinobi | Quality action |
| Various ports | Master System conversions |
Legacy
The Game Gear proved that technical superiority doesn’t guarantee success. Its battery consumption demonstrated that portable gaming requires different engineering priorities than home consoles.