Jeremy Parish

Segaiden #17: Othello / Space Invaders / Dragon Wang (feat. Card Catcher) (Patreon)

Published:

2021-09-08 12:15:14

Imported:

2024-04

Tags:

mycard sega segaiden sg-1000 space invaders video

Content

Moving into 1985, I'll be making fewer apologies for the unimpressive nature of the games tracked in Segaiden. This episode amounts to getting the last bits of mundanity out of the system before shifting into the newly galvanized approach Sega adopted with the advent of MyCards and, before too long, the Mark III. ("Master System," if you're nasty.) I'm quite excited for the Segaiden episodes ahead; the MyCard lineup was really what made me want to tackle this project in the first place! Stay tuned for Manifold Delights. Probably.

Files

Othello / Space Invaders / Dragon Wang retrospective: All in the cards | Segaiden #17

Sega's 8-bit family goes on a diet this episode, with the SG-1000 media format suddenly slimming down from chunky cartridges to the svelte MyCard format, a credit card-sized chip that was so well-received that Hudson ripped it off wholesale for their PC Engine/TurboGrafx HuCards. Of course, this is really just a cosmetic change; the SG-1000 wouldn't enjoy proper technical enhancements until later in 1985 with the arrival of the Mark III. (Well, that was probably later in 1985; as this episode once again explains, Sega did a godawful job of tracking SG-1000 software launch dates.) As for the games, well... we're right on the cusp of the MyCard renaissance, but this is a pretty unimpressive lot. Another version of Othello for those who didn't buy a Multivision (so, basically, everyone); possibly the first-ever Japanese console adaptation of Taito's Space Invaders (possibly in that Nintendo's might have come first, maybe? Again, awful launch date tracking); and a well-meaning but unwieldy clone of Irem's Kung-Fu. Video Works is funded via Patreon (http://www.patreon.com/gamespite) — support the show and get access to every episode up to two weeks in advance of its YouTube debut! Plus, exclusive podcasts, eBooks, and more! Production note: Footage in this episode was captured from a combination of Sega SG-1000 II (RGB amp mod by @iFixRetro) and @Analogue Mega Sg with card adapter and DAC. Video upscaled to 720 with xRGB Mini Framemeister and @Retro Tink 5X.