Sega's First Console The SG-1000
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- Опубликовано: 1 июл 2021
- I go over the SG-1000, Sega's first real entry into the home console market. I also look at 24 games from its library and a few of the variants that saw release elsewhere in the world. Please take a moment and read the notes about this episode at the bottom of the description for more info and corrections.
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Opening 3D Logo By:
Jan Neves
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Opening 2D Animation By:
Kevin Bhall
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Episode Notes:
1. Captured via the Mega SG.
2. The SG-1000 had a keyboard accessory that allowed it to use the software for the SC-3000.
3. The Mark III/Master System will play SG-1000 software. The western variants require a cartridge adapter due to form factor differences.
4. Sega's aversion to 3rd party relations continued with the Master System. While Nintendo's methods didn't help the matter any, Sega did not go after license deals the same way. It wasn't until the Genesis/Mega Drive when Sega really sought 3rd party support.
5. Sega's foray into the home console market with the SG-1000 was motivated by the downturn in the arcade industry. As the golden age ended Sega's profits took a heavy blow. Like Nintendo, they believed home games would ultimately come to define the industry.
6. The original video was not recorded properly on the Mega SG. I was using the colors set for the Master System, which made the games look really dark. It was brought up in the comments so I redid some of the footage and re-edited the commentary. These changes affected some of the games quite a bit. Sega Galaga and Choplifter, especially.
7. They say assumptions are the mothers of all f*** ups. I had assumed Telegames was the Sears brand from the 1970/80s, but it appears that it was the Telegames game maker of Lynx/Jaguar fame. The two are unrelated.
8. Compile did a number of SG-1000 games with Sega. Most were tandem projects that Sega published. 
Игры
Hey, the SC-3000 was my first console ever! My parents bought it alongside Basic cartridge, so that I could start learning programing (what I remotely did). Hell, it was nearly 40 years ago, and I remember the day like yesterday. My sisters and I all had to choose one game for the system. All we had to decide was the cover and the description on the back. My sisters chose N-Sub and Sinbad Mystery. I chose Pop Flamer, which was my favorite on the console. Later we got Congo Bongo and a few others. Damn, I spent countless hours on them. Then the NES was released, and I spend the next years trying to convince my parents to get it. Which they never did, oh my the frustration! But then again I grew up, and they agreed for the Genesis. But this is another story.
SG-1000 might have been underpowered, but it’s not as bad as Atari repackaging the 2600 for Japan in 1984.
Even worse, if I recall correctly. Bandai had already released the 2600 in Japan a few years before that 😂
It does not matter at all.Atari 2600 is really more fun than SG-1000.
Before this, I really knew nothing about the SG-1000 except that it was Sega's first console and launched in the early 1980s. This was super informative!
My favorite game not mentioned is Champion Billiards. It's basically pool-themed minigolf, and it got a sequel on the NES called Lunar Pool.
I remember Lunar Pool.
Could not agree more sir! I need champion billiards to go with my very long owned lunar pool (still my original copy from its release)
Woah! Love Lunar Pool! I'll have to check this one out
I consume a loooot of retro gaming content on RUclips and yet somehow I don’t ever recall hearing about this console or even being aware of its existence. SLX strikes again and teaches me something new!
Same.
@@E25hBu77_1 agree. But also think Sega content is more appreciated here in South America, Europe and maybe Oceania than in North America and even Japan.
@JonBourgoin - You're not alone. I first found out about this console a few years back when I got a hold of a little book called History of Sonic The Hedgehog. Until then I always though that Sega Master System was their first console.
Wow these visuals are basic and insanely charming to me, I love them
Really gives me a new appreciation of the graphics the nes was capable of if this was sort of their direct competition
As I had the SMS, Genesis, Saturn, Dreamcast, I had to get the SG-1000. Monoco, Zaxxon, Congo Bongo which were early Sega hits. Flicky was also the first unofficial mascot as well. The origins of Sega. SLX, you need to be a Sega historian and write a book.
I second this. If he had a Sega History Book Kickstarter I would back it immediately.
@@loki.odinson SLX ceases to amaze me with his detailed knowledge of Sega. Was waiting for a complete and thorough presentation of the SG-1000. It is after all, Sega's first console. Super well done SLX.
The SG-1000 like many other consoles at the time was basically a variant of the MSX Computer, and thus had poor scrolling. It's a real shame that the entire lineup of MSX Computers had issues with scrolling, as that really held the system back, even the later models that could produce far better graphics such as the MSX2 and MSX2+.
Sega was smart to use a graphics implementation that offered smooth scrolling in their Mark-III, which was also basically just a variant of the MSX2. Regardless, it was a rather massive improvement over the SG-1000, and I feel it could have competed significantly better with the NES in America had it been advertised like... at all, or if it had actually been available for purchase in most stores instead of only a very select number.
Considering the complete & utter lack of advertising & availability, it's actually a small miracle that it even sold as well as it did.
So was the Coleco Vision!! The hardware was very identical!!
Mark III was backwards compatible right? So does that mean that if you play SG-1000 games on it the scrolling is good?
@@bettermebetterlife8975 The Mark III was backwards compatible, but that didn't make SG-1000 games scroll well. That choppy scrolling was programmed into the games because the SG-1000 didn't support smooth scrolling in hardware.
I'd say the SG-1000 is more like a variant of the Colecovision.
Both MSX and the SG-1000 had the same video-chip and CPU, but that's basically where the comparison ends. Those 2 chips were super common in those days. The sound chips were quite different.
MSX2 could do smooth vertical scrolling quite easily (as many games did), and the MSX2+ could also scroll smoothly horizontally rather easily.
The Mark III however was nothing like the MSX2: they both used very different video chips. Even though they both had backwards compatibility with the old TMS video-chip, the new video modes were very different in both machines. The Mark III's new graphics capabilities were very gaming focused, the MSX2's new graphics capabilities were more general purpose. They both excelled in very different areas.
For example: The MSX2 had bitmapped video modes, the Mark-III did not (it's all character-mapped). The Mark-III had scrolling capabilities in 2 directions with fixed function splits (great for most games), the MSX2 did not. The sprite capabilities were quite different. The MSX2 supported much higher resolutions, more colors, and had a lot more video RAM. The Mark-III's video chip on the other hand was a lot more efficient for gaming; it could often do more with less.
@@jaydy71 Very good explanation of the differences between early microcomputers vs gaming consoles. The video hardware for each was indeed tailored towards certain content.
I discovered the SC-3000 and SG-1000 due to buying a box of random gaming stuff. There was an SC-3000H in the box with a few games. Powered it up and it works! So cool.
Hahah suuuure I'll watch this a second time I suppose
Appreciate that.
@@SegaLordX appreciate you, big dawg. You're one of the illest retro game analyzers on the net.
@@SegaLordX 2nd time watching myself. Love you using the CastleVania Bloodlines track at the start!
So cool having an episode on Sega's most retro of consoles. Great stuff.
This console was pretty much colecovision but from Japan.
Accurate statement
I never thought about it that way. That makes a lot of sense.
I'd say even the Colecovision looks better than this. It's almost like a midway point between the Intellivision and Colecovision. In any case, way weaker than the NES, and I'm not surprised Nintendo ate Sega's lunch in this opening salvo of the console wars.
Imagine if they were the same console but with a different name since Coleco distributed it in the West, I would love to live in that "timeline"
@@baronhausenpheffer The SG-1000 hardware is practically the same as the ColecoVision. However, the ColecoVision had better software, that better took advantage of the capabilities. I have no idea why that would be, but here in the USA the Ti 99/4 was introduced in 1979. This possibly gave programmers more familiarity and experience with the TMS9918 video chip (the same chip used in the ColecoVision, SG-1000, MSX, and many others).
I got into looking at the sg-1000 library of games about 4 years ago when I learned it had ports of some of my favorite apple II games from when I was a kid. Lode Runner, Choplifter, Drol, and Zaxxon. It's great to play them on a crt via 240p video without needing an entire apple computer in my house to do so.
It should be said that the SG-1000 was a nearly complete clone of the colecovision
SEGA had to partner with Coleco to launch the console in the United States, not only would it have had a larger catalog but more people would have loved the successor, The Master System.
I really like the tone of this video. It feels like I'm watching an old school PBS documentary
Very similar to the Coleco and MSX... actually, the games can be ported to one another!!! Lots of unlicensed games in Asia were MSX games ported to the Master System which had a legacy mode (backwards compatible) to play SG1000 games. Also, a console called Dina 2 in 1 had a way to play both CV and SG1000 games via their respective ROM ports, but no indication (I think) what the 2nd ROM port was for.
yep the famicom was way ahead of these hardwares imo
@@fazares It was, but not more than the Master System.
Sega had originally entered a deal with Coleco to distribute the ColecoVision in Japan. No one knows exactly what caused the deal to fall through, but that explains the similarities.
@@superleviathan Same can be said for the MSX. Where can I confirm the Sega and Coleco colaboration? I've been surfing the webs and I can't find any info on this.
What is CV?
It’s essentially a ColecoVision, but with a much weaker game library. I’ve always been amazed it had any success at all.
Well, the ColecoVision didn't launch in Japan.
Holy moley - I first heard "The Sinking Old Sanctuary" about two weeks ago when I watched someone speedrun Castlevania: Circle of the Moon, and now you're using the Bloodlines version behind this video! Awesome!
Thank you! I was wondering where I knew that from.
Sure! ill watch it again!
It’s more accurate this go around. Choplifter and Galaga vids are accurate now which helped my opinion of them quite a bit.
I had an SC-3000 and went to a John Sands Sega computer camp as a 12 year old in Australia. My uncle sold them.
I didn't even know the SG-1000 existed until I bought a RetroFreak last year and learned it was capable of playing SG-1000 games. I liked Girl's Garden & found the Golgo-13 game to be an amusing diversion, but I didn't find much else to hold my interest. Still, a fun piece of gaming history to explore. Thanks for the video.
Solid console overview, thanks for taking one for the team!
I find it interesting that the SG1000 and Colecovision are basically the same hardware but the SG1000 looked and ran worse on the same games. Wonder if there was a hardware difference or Coleco just had better programmers?
This was a super well done history on the console! I really enjoyed this one a ton!
I've been following Jeremy Parish's SG-1000 coverage with fascination and was intrigued when Top Hat Gaming Man talked about the SC-3000. Despite how clunky some of these games look, they do have a place in history and would like to own some of it.
I really enjoyed this one since it covered a gap in my gaming experience. Thanks for making it!
If you’re up for it, I’d enjoy seeing (hearing) your favorite music from each console. Might make a good series.
Excellent script, and taught me a lot about the history of the console wars back then in Japan and how the SMS's previous gen looked like.
Back in 1988 or 89 I played a game at a friend's house that had me running from enemies while going up and down ladders and crossing through what looked like ropes. I never knew the name of the game but for all this years it has been stuck in my memory... Now I know it was Lode Runner. My friend's dad called it cops and thieves or something like that...
This has better graphics than the PS5 that's for sure.
This was a great review of the console! Learned a lot and found it fun.
I was thinking EXACTLY that these games don't look much better than or just like Colecovision and then SLX mentioned it. Great video as usual.
Excellent video, Mel! My favourite games on the Sega SG-1000 include Ninja Princess, Golgo-13, Monaco GP, Sindbad Mystery, H.E.R.O., Rock n' Bolt, and Congo Bongo...! 🇯🇵🎮👍😁🥰🌈💖
Just found your channel, love the content man! Keep it coming.
I intend to get a Japanese Master System one day and wanted to find some worthwhile SG-1000 games to pickup for it too, so this has been a helpful video. Not a lot of channels talk about the SG-1000.
Very Convenient! I have been trying to learn more about this console and you released this 2 weeks ago.
By comparison to the Famicom, this console was such a poor introduction to consumers for Sega that it is fortunate that they persevered and managed to release a better follow up with the Sega Mark III, or Master System. The early Compile games were interesting to find out about however, and yes I agree that developing a version of Buck Rogers for SMS would have been nice; I'm sure that I would have picked that one up had it been released in 1986 or 1987; would have been a heck of a lot better than Transbot.
Would love to see you review the old Coleco Adam. It was one of my favorites as a kid and was my go-to system until the NES came out. Buck Rogers was on the Coleco Adam and was a favorite of mine. I liked it better than the arcade version.
Checking this out for a 2nd time. You always put together great content.
Another great vid SLX, I never knew this story, fascinating 👏
I have never heard of this console. I’m gonna be honest it looks pretty good. Graphics and fluidity of movement are solid. I would say this is on par with Atari 2600 and ColecoVision but, better. 1983 was a Coleco year for me but, had I known about this console I would’ve gotten it instead.
The SG-1000 version of Wonder Boy was included in the Wonder Boy/Monster World collection on PS2 from the Sega Ages 2500 line, which is the only way I've played it. It really was pretty rough, and not worth playing outside of curiousity if you don't have a nostalgic attachment to it. It was neat that it was included, though.
It's interesting how Sega went all in on its CPU for the 1000. That Z80 was beefy, essentially double what the NES was doing (3.58 vs 1.79 MHz). But that's pretty much it for the 1000. The NES also had a "Picture Processing Unit" which essentially was it GPU. This is what gave it the step up above the SG1000. Younger gamers might not remember but there was a time when GPUs were not a part of computer hardware. Their popularity exploded when 3D games hit the scene in the early to mid 90s (and now are an integral part of any computer setup).
The SG-1000 had an off-the-shelf TI VDP... which was admittedly inferior to the Nintendo custom one. The term "GPU" didn't come into use until the 3D accelerators in the second half of the 90s. "VDP" is what these video helper chips were called back then.
A 3.58MHz Z80 is roughly the same speed as a 1.79MHz 6502, since the 6502 executes instructions in about half the cycles. Note that this Z80 was a budget CPU, the same CPU and roughly the same speed as the extreme budget computer ZX-81.
Basically, they just slapped in whatever CPU was cheap because most of the actual work was being done by the video display chip - using a memory space that is NOT directly accessible by the CPU. So, even if you wanted to use a fast CPU to do some fancy rendering, you just couldn't because the CPU lacks direct access to video RAM.
your videos are pretty good. I'm glad you're still putting them out.
I added the sg1000 library to my Wii. Found a nice version of H.E.R.O. on there and a couple others that are still fun. That was just skimming the library. Interesting console. Great video with lots of good information!
Back on August 31, 2014, many of us were Starjackers.
Nice video! I never have seen this console before, some games looks nice for it, and I really thank you for your English, is easy to understand for me being not a native speaker of it
Thanks for your work man. Your stuff is solid.
I just recently got into this catalog of games via an emulation device... I must say, quite a few gems amidst a plethora of genres... That being said... The original Wonder Boy gets the most play from yours truly... Game on Sega Lord X!!!:)
Definitely choppy scrolling though...
7:52 It’s not a bug, it’s a feature, the game is called Flickies, after all 😂
This video brought back so many memories.
you owned an SG1000?
@@SA77888 Yes i still have it, but i didn´t played it since nearly 20 years.
@@Gaming_since_the_eighties Cool, Ive never even seen one before. :)
Back in the day I used to have a subscription to Gametap and they featured some SG-1000 games. I thought it was awesome because up to that point I had no knowledge about the console at all. its a cool little bit of Sega history
Good content, Interesting. It made me think of the difficulty of the games for the SC-3000 I had in my youth. Anyone playing or mastering these early games would have had an edge playing on others systems later on as some of these titles are unforgiving, as you suggest.
UFF, the time before my birth (SNES & Sega CD 1991)
The cultural gap between Sega USA and Sega Japan was HUGE pre SMS.
In Japan, they went on their own and would rather in-license and directly convert desirable third parties.
America had the opposite opinion, they out-license their titles to Coleco for ColecoVision (they also made 2600 games, and out-licensed 5200 versiom to a company (I don't know who made Zaxxon 5200.) Atari made 2600 and 5200 Pengo.
I wonder if the Gulf+Western owned era and the post selloff era changed the American strategy.
I think ColecoVision is very similar to the SG1000.
Congo Bongo was WAY better for CV. It at least had the right isometric perspective.
I've never seen you do Sega USA (and other regions) pre -SMS.
My first introduction to Sega was the Colecoversions of Carnival, Zaxxon, Congo Bongo, and Space Fury, along with Arcade Pitfall and Arcade Lose Runner, which were both funfamentally different than the original Atari 2600 and Apple IIe respectively. Pitfall was bigger and more complex than Pitfallb2, and Lode Runner had more "arcadey" levels where you have to act quick rather than stopping and thinking, thanks to a death clock.
You seem to rarely emphasize the American side (or European, or Brazilian) expect in specific America-centric (or Eurocentric or Brazil-centfic) videos. Them again this is a very Japan centered single video.
You do mention the Dina and Telegames, in the USA as budget systems, though I never heard of either until searching for ColecoVision on eBay in the 90s.
I understand some topics don't segue well into others. Your individual videos focus on the specified "unit theme" well. About 90% or more of the material directly relate to the main topic of the single video.
But as long as we're both able to do what we do, (for this purpose, you produce web videos and me watch them) you'll have enough Sega themed talk topics for a long time.
I just have to be patient, and remember, it's your channel to produce.
And you seem to welcome the "Genesisn't" crowd. You talk about both the good and the bad of all involved, Sega, partner companies, competing companies, all with the perspective of being a Sega Fan, but neither. "Nintendon't" guy nor do you "wear brown lipstick" for Sega guy. You see your perspective, and see how other co-fans and "opposing fans" see it too.
There's enough fact and opinion, both yours and others, and you clearly differentiate and document it well.
Never knew of these systems. I like the look of it and color scheme a lot.
Deja vu. But great content is great content
Was thinking the same thing. Wondering why the reupload
I was trying to watch it before work and the video stopped and then it said the video was private.
Glad to see it back up, SegaLord X's videos are so good
When I decided to search for SG-1000 I was not expecting to find such a recent video about the subject.
Been waiting for this video. Thank you!
11:56 Subtitle fail..."Shoplifter" would be an interesting concept for a game! LOL
Love this video! I've always liked these old consoles that never came out in the west. Some of these games actually look fairly good compared to Famicom games of the time.
I'd definitely watch a second video where you just give your opinions on other SG1000 games!
EDIT: And I had no idea about that Dina console and everything from 18:00 onwards! Nice stuff!
I'm so invested in this but...the desire to hear "Moving in Stereo" by the Cars overwhelmed me. BRB
I love any and and all things in Sega History
You should do a deep dive study on Coleco. They're actually the most important company to ever exist. The innovations put into their Pong consoles is underrated, and Colecovision started modern consoles as we know them. It's place in the market was much like the IBM PC's place about 5 years later. But it was very short-lived. The Adam computer was another mind blowing product from Coleco. They could've conquered the world with it. Releases in 1985. Nintendo and Sega only had the chance to take over because the Adam computer didn't work. The return rate was highest for any computer ever. Killed the company. The SG-1000 is literally a clone of the Colecovision. The next decade of innovations from Sega and Nintendo, Coleco actually did all that between 1982 and 1985. And the RPG sand tactual side of early consoles was lifted directly from Intellivision who 1983 were making JRPGs with the D&D license, but then fell to the crash later that year.
It's very interesting.
Coleco inadvertently scuttled Atari's deal with Nintendo to distribute the Famicom in the USA by using Donkey Kong to demonstrate the Adam's ability to play ColecoVision cartridges'.
Atari didn't actually have the money to distribute the Famicom, and just wanted to tie up the rights and keep it out of the American market, which Coleco foiled completely by accident.
A single video about this system. That's how you do it.
I’m 43 and never heard of this system. Very cool stuff
I'd love to see you start a series covering master system games that were not released in the Us.. You could do many parts too it....
I own an SC-3000H. I bought it in a box of gaming random gear and got it working. I'm a Sega guy and didn't even know they existed.
Been watching a lot of these videos lately. Great stuff on this channel. Nostalgia sure, but I learned a lot too because I didn't know shit about the industry when I was playing these. Awesome. Would like to know your thoughts on Crusader of Centy!
GTV Japan covered this well also. You both should collab
Wow, big difference on some games! Looking much better!
Great choice of Bloodlines music for the intro.
I recall that Buck Rodgers game on a friend's Coleco Adam. I think it had more colors than the SG1000 version but looked very similar. It seems like it was all we ever played on the Adam... Perhaps because it was pretty great in that era.
I love my Sg-1000 I bought it for £600 and it was worth it. It’s beautiful. And yes the games are dated but to own the console in functioning order and to be able to easily repair it when capacitors fail feels amazing. I have the sg-1000Ii and mark 3 aswell. And to be honest I love the games they are simple but beautiful.
That space invaders cover I've actually repaired that back to new for my artwork
Another great video. Lots of background information. As u say scrolling seemed to be a real problem on this hardware.
Ive been waiting for this one thanks lol
keep up the top notch videos man.
man that basic cartridge box is friggin gangster
Holy shit, HD remake reboot of Girl's Garden when, Sega, when?
I liked in precedent episodes how you put some seconds of gameplay without comment after you presented each of these games.
I do that most of the time but here I covered 24 games and did not want the episode running overly long. These games were also crazy simplistic in design so watching 20 seconds of gameplay is more than enough to see what they are about.
YAY SEGA LORD! Thanks buddy :-)
Sega master was actually a dumbed down mark three which was released in Japan slotted for mark three carts then released In USA with the only difference being the redesigned slots to accept wider boards (really early region locking) so we have the dumbed down mark three with no fm sound. And you cannot review older units like they are modern but still a good video sir very informative of the beginning venture into video games.
I love your honestly in every video i always look forward to the next video thanks for the great hard work i just recently bought my daughter a sega pico hopefully one day you get the time too make a video on it that pico leys me play my dreamcast in peace since she always wants to play sonic adventures hahaha keep up the awesome work
I'm a pretty well-rounded gamer and I don't ever believe I've seen that console at anyone's home and I owned a sears pong machine at one time.. ancient device
I love Sega since i opened my master system on Christmas 87 but they were crazy trying to compete with the famicon with that system that is more inline with the 7800
I don't have an sg _1000 but I have an emulator on my screamcast. something cool about playing Sega's first console games on it's last console.
As the Sega Master System competed mainly with the NES, I'd say the SG-1000 was mainly competing with the likes of Atari ##00 and Magnavox Odyssey. When you compare on that level, it was WELL better than the competition.
The SG-1000 was released the same day as the Famicom. It was its main competition from day 1.
It is interesting that the SC-3000 was in the works and then Sega caught wind of the Famicom and made the SG-1000. Underpowered from the start but a nice start for their home market. There is fun to be had experiencing some early Sega that not a lot of people know of let alone have played.
It was actually beating the Famicom in its first few months until the Software dried up and the Famicom's later games started to look much more complex. SEGA made the right decision to redesign the SG-1000 for the Master System.
Great video.
Girl's Garden !!!
The Almost same hardware can be found in the SG-3000 computer, that together with the Spectravideo SG-318 and 328 were lightly modified to create the MSX standard
10:10 / 12:55 - Man, I never knew they made a game with the same title as my nickname!
I didn't even know this console existed until your channel now I want one .
I watch it again , Sega Lord X , great content.
We've also got a bunch of MS-X games unofficially ported by Taiwanese bootleggers. Cabbage Patch Kids, Legend of Kage, and more all got bootleg Taiwanese versions which all require a little doodad that adds just a smidge more RAM power called the Daji Expansion Pack.
Thought I watched this earlier... Aw well one more watch!
So many systems used the TMS9918 video chip (usually with Z80 CPU). All of them have the same look. All of them have the same issues with scrolling. I think the only really successful home console using it was the Colecovision, but that was here in the USA, where the main home computer using the same TMS9918 chip was the flailing Ti99/4A. In other countries, the MSX platform was popular - particularly in Japan.
So here's the thing. Why by a locked down console when you could instead get a more popular MSX with lots of great software and the ability to program your own stuff?
Note that for the most part, the better MSX games tended to use flip screen rather than scrolling.
If Texas Instruments had included scrolling registers on the TMS9918, history could have been very different. As it was, in 1979 scrolling wasn't really a thing in video games yet. Even Jay Miner's brilliant Atari 400/800 video chip designs - oriented to spectacular video game graphics - lacked horizontal smooth scroll. It's hard to imagine anyone at Texas Instruments being so forward thinking as to anticipate the importance of smooth scroll registers for the TMS9918 in 1979.
Actually, the Telegames which sold the DINA as the Telegames Personal Arcade is not related to Sears. Seats used the Tele-Games branding for its clone Atari and Intellivision consoles.
Telegames was known for selling classic game consoles and classic game software until a tornado destroyed their warehouse in Texas in the 1990s. They were also the primary third-party publisher for Atari's Lynx and Jaguar systems.
There are some cute games.
seems cool