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====== Sega Game Gear ======

Sega's attempt to crush the [[eop:video_game_consoles-portable:4th_generation:nintendo_game_boy|Game Boy]]. Releasing on April 26th (15th in NY/LA), 1991 in the USA, it achieved moderate success but failed to make a significant dent in Nintendo's dominance, outside of Europe where it achieved something close to 45% market share. This was despite it's pretty powerful specifications, containing a Zilog Z80 clocked at 3.57 MHz, a 160x144 screen with a 4096-color palette, and 24KB RAM. Of course, like with other portables of this era, it's poor battery life of only a few hours resulted in it's failure to overtake anyone but other less capable competitors, such as Atari.

===== Operating Systems (Zilog Z80) =====

=== Windows for the GG (homebrew) ===

This is just a program imitating the appearance of Windows 98, but it has some function.

https://www.smspower.org/Homebrew/WindowsForTheGG-GG

https://www.planetemu.net/rom/sega-game-gear-public-domain/windows-for-gg-by-victor-kemp-pd

===== Version & Revision Guide =====

For general information, see the [[eop:essays:game_console_revisions_overview|Game Console Revisions Overview]].
==== Versions ====

//There are two versions of this console, arranged chronologically.//

=== Sega Game Gear (1991-1997) ===

The original version of the Game Gear, and the only one to be released by Sega. Easily identified by the 3 ovals above "Game Gear" being in color. Features the usual color screen, poor battery life, leaky and unreliable capacitors, and so on. Compatible with all accessories, unsurprisingly.

=== Majesco Game Gear (2000-200?) ===

Majesco's "reissuing" of the Game Gear, when Sega had already stopped supporting the console. Easily identified by the 3 ovals above "Game Gear" being in white. Very similar to the original Game Gear, although it has a vaguely better screen (still really bad) and slightly better reliability (still bad). Essentially, if one doesn't want to mod their Game Gear at all, the Majesco Game Gear is a bit better. In actuality, however, everyone should really consider modding their Game Gear, as the improvements the Majesco makes are almost nil compared to the improvements mods can bring. It is also important to note that the Majesco is not compatible with certain interesting accessories such as the TV Tuner or Master Gear converter.

==== Revisions ====

While some revisions do exist for the Game Gears, the impacts of each revision are limited to modding. However, there is an unknown motherboard revision or set of revisions which introduces the "TMSS" screen to the Game Gear. Despite the fact that the motherboard revision with this is unknown, it is actually possible to identify a TMSS system by the shape of it's screen glass! Simply look at your Game Gear from the side and see if your screen's glass is curved or flat. If it's flat - you have a non-TMSS Game Gear.

https://segaretro.org/Sega_Game_Gear

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Game_Gear

https://www.retrorgb.com/gamegearversions.html

https://console5.com/techwiki/index.php?title=Game_Gear