Master Gear
| File:N.E.S.I. Master Gear Box Front.png North American box art used by N.E.S.I. | |
| Also known as | •Master Gear Converter •Master Gear Adaptor |
|---|---|
| Developer | Kalplus Limited |
| Manufacturer | •N.E.S.I.NA •Sega of America •Sega Europe •Tec ToyBR •FreetronHK •WKK Far EastHK •Sega OzisoftAUS |
| Type | Accessory |
| Generation | Fourth generation |
| Release date | N.E.S.I. Sega of America |
| Introductory price | Sega of America USD19.95[2] |
| Media | Fifty-pin Master System cartridge |
| Controller input | One external control pad via EXT. port adapter. |
| Related | •Gear Master •Master Gear Converter 2 •Nuby Converter •Power Base Converter |
The Master Gear,[4] Master Gear Converter,[1] or Master Gear Adaptor[5] is a handheld game console peripheral invented by King-Ho So for Kalplus Limited[6] with the purpose of allowing 50-pin Master System cartridges to fit into and function on a Game Gear.[2][7]
Design And Features
Utilizing 36 wires, two PCBs, and a 50-pin cartridge connector, the Master Gear maps most, but not all of the data lines of a Master System to their Game Gear equivalents. All of the previously described components are retained within a four-part plastic enclosure by eight screws and double-sided adhesive tape, along with a single, spring-loaded mounting screw.
Effect on the Host Console
Once the converter is in use, the Game Gear's EXT. port acts as control port 2 and the start button is digitally remapped in order to allow Master System software to be paused. Monaural audio is output exclusively through either the internal speaker or headphone jack, since the Master System did not have stereo sound capabilities. The digital video output becomes compressed in order to reduce image cropping.
Incompatibilities
Due to the lack of a 44-pin cartridge connector or 35-pin card connector, all My Card/Sega Card titles, in addition to Japanese and Korean cartridge releases, do not natively work. Games that require the Sports Pad, Paddle Control, Light Phaser, or SegaScope 3-D glasses cannot be fully utilized. While the Master Gear is attached to the host console, additional peripherals that require use of the mounting bracket or battery compartments cannot be attached.
| USPTO | |
| Patent[6] | |
| Number | D333,325 |
| Inventor | King-Ho So |
| Assignee | Kalplus Limited |
| Filing date | December 19, 1991 |
| Registration date | February 16, 1993 |
| Expiration date | February 16, 2007 |
| Trademarks[1][4] | |
| Serial Numbers | •Master Gear 74210743 •Master Gear Converter 74213343 |
| Applicants | •Master Gear Kalplus Limited •Master Gear Converter New England Services Inc. |
| Filing dates | •Master Gear October 8, 1991 •Master Gear Converter October 18, 1991 |
| Abandonment dates | •Master Gear November 10, 1994 •Master Gear Converter October 22, 1995 |
| Intellectual Property Office | |
| Design | |
| Number | 2016589 |
| Proprietor | Kalplus Limited |
| Filing date | August 9, 1991 |
| Registration date | January 31, 1992 |
| Expiration date | August 9, 1996 |
See also
References
- ^ a b c "MASTER GEAR CONVERTER". United States Patent and Trademark Office. Retrieved October 29, 2012.
- ^ a b c "SEGA". Economic World. 24. Economic Salon: 51. 1992. Retrieved October 29, 2012.
- ^ D'Auria, David (February 9, 1992). "Master Gear converter". Google Groups. Retrieved December 14, 2012.
- ^ a b "MASTER GEAR". United States Patent and Trademark Office. Retrieved October 29, 2012.
- ^ Caveira, Henrique (June 6, 2010). "MASTER GEAR ADAPTOR – o acessório que veio do Céu". Cemetery Games. Retrieved January 10, 2013.
- ^ a b Electronic game converter
{{citation}}: Unknown parameter|country-code=ignored (help); Unknown parameter|inventor-first=ignored (help); Unknown parameter|inventor-last=ignored (help); Unknown parameter|issue-date=ignored (help); Unknown parameter|patent-number=ignored (help) - ^ "GameSpot Presents: The History of Compatibility". Retrieved August 6, 2008.
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