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Segaiden #24: The Mark III, feat. Hang On and Teddy Boy Blues (Patreon)

Published:
2021-12-22 13:23:08
Imported:
2024-04
Tags:

Content

I always like to post a meaningful or otherwise better-than-average episode around the holidays, and I'm thrilled to say this year's lineup bears that out. Last week's episode was one for the books, and I'm even happier about this one—not least of all because jumping from SG-1000 hardware to Master System (well, Mark III) was a profound relief. I don't think the Master System gets a lot of respect in the U.S., and I can safely say that's because we didn't have SG-1000 releases up through its debut. As much as I admire what Sega did with that hardware, the leap to its successor is profound and honestly thrilling.

That's to be expected, of course. What may surprise you is just how hard this episode goes on Teddy Boy Blues. It's a pretty interesting game when you look at the broader context around it. 

Anyway, please enjoy this excellent (if I do say so myself) episode, and whatever holiday you celebrate during these darkest of Saturnalian days: Happy Holidays!

Files

Mark III / Hang On / Teddy Boy Blues retrospective: Full throttle upgrade | Segaiden #024

Continuing on from last week, we go from Hang On II to just plain ol' Hang On. But this in no way feels like a downgrade; quite the contrary. With Hang On (and Teddy Boy Blues), Sega brings its home hardware into line with Nintendo's Famicom/NES, boosting the basic SG-1000 architecture with a monstrous upgrade to its graphical capabilities and essentially creating a new console in the process. The continuity created between Hang On and Hang On II offers a remarkably convenient way to compare the SG-1000's state of the art with the capabilities of its successor, and frankly, there simply is no comparison. Also in this episode: Notes on the Mark III hardware (which will be expanded when we make it to the Master System's U.S. launch) and extensive rumination on the history of pop idol video games. We're not done with SG-1000, though, so we'll resume exploring Mark III/Master System once that little journey is complete. Production notes: Master System footage in this episode was recorded from an FM/RGB-modded Mark III SG-1000 with region converter passthrough. SG-1000 footage captured from a combination of Sega SG-1000 II with (with Card Catcher) and @Analogue Mega Sg with card adapter module and DAC. Vintage hardware mods courtesy of @iFixRetro. NES/Famicom footage captured from @Analogue Nt Mini Noir. Video upscaled to 720 with @Retro Tink 5X. 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! Also available in print: Virtual Boy Works Vol. I Hardcover: https://limitedrungames.com/collections/books-board-games-and-more/products/virtual-boy-works-book

Comments

Kris Randazzo

I can’t confirm this, but a full rendition of the Hang On theme apparently existed on the game’s cart. It certainly sounds legit, and I’ve seen it listed as a “hidden track” from several sources. I wonder why it wasn’t ultimately used. It sounds awesome. https://youtu.be/hm6F5LlqbpA

Vinushika

That was particularly excellent! I really appreciate the extensive detail around console launches you give, from design to general climate to the hardware specs, telling people exactly what it is that makes the machine special without getting too hard into the technical weeds. It also helps me better grasp the gravity of these two launch titles - I had no idea Teddy Boy Blues was such a big deal marketing-wise. This definitely predates Nintendo's collaboration with All Night Nippon, and is therefore to my knowledge one of the first big cross-media promotions for console video games that would be a sign of a whole lot of things to come for Sega. Maybe it's not the brightest game of its generation, but compared to anything except Super Mario Bros. out in 1985 on Famicom it certainly makes a strong statement. I do have a note to make however - apparently in Australia, retailer John Sands pushed the SC-3000 and SC-3000H hard enough that the SG-1000 (via its computer-first variant) is fondly remembered in Australia, and the Master System was very successful there as well. Perhaps not as groundbreaking as its presence in Brazil, but it certainly explains why there's such a strong Sega fanbase in Australia of all places.

Jason Le Vaillant
>>74226043

There was also a significant SC-3000 user base in New Zealand, with user groups in a number of cities and towns. Check out Sega Computer (NZ) magazine: https://archive.org/details/segacomputer.