Restoring a Sega Master System/Power Base

More SEGA awesomeness this week, courtesy of this neat little relic from the mid-'80s! This one was very fun and super simple. Hope you enjoy watching as much as I enjoyed making it!
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[@ThePCPitChannel]

It actually sold very well. 22m cannot be complained about. Yes, the Famicom sold three times as many, but it was around a lot longer

[@mattsmedley.onehandedgamin9029]

The 8bit NES was pretty much a household object in the US back in the day. Not so much here in the UK, (was a role reversal this side of the pond) , the Sega Master System was much more popular than the Nintendo. I'm about to take my 8bit Sega apart for a clean.

[@afriend9428]

*Power Base in Canada and South Africa sir! This is actually the Mark 3 in Japan but with-out the fantastic FM chip which some games sound fantastic like Arcade sir!* ⭐️

[@bobrocks79]

The console platform was called the Master System. The Power Base was the particular unit. There was the Power Base, Control Pad, Control Stick, Cartridge, Card, etc. So each unit had an official name but they all fell under the Master System platform. The adapter for the Genesis is called the "Power Base Converter" because it converts the slot on the Genesis to allow for games that fit in the power base of the Master System.

[@InvictvsNox]

That makes sense, thank you! All I knew was that it was the final base console iteration of the original SG-1000.

[@Geobardi]

@@InvictvsNox The SG-1000 is more similar to an Atari 2600 in graphics and sound. The Sega Mark III, or Master System is a much more powerful machine.

[@stewartfullerton1965]

Sonic 2 for the SMS was a Europe only release, where the Master System was very successful. It outsold the NES by a huge number there and games were still being made for it till around 1997.

[@videogamemusicrenditionsby7625]

Brazil as well...

[@TheErnestopmorales]

You missed out,it was a great system depending on the version there was a hidden snail game in the system by pushing both buttons on the controller at the sega title screen.

[@Jonnynot1plate]

I'm the same as you. I had a model 1 genesis and prefer it over the other 2 models and didn't know the master system existed. Now I prefer this model just looks badass

[@lawfullucyless6715]

💯 anytime I'm testing a master system I get sucked in.

[@Jonnynot1plate]

@@lawfullucyless6715 like the way you think, Kelsey

[@Hrefnesholt]

Thumbs up for that Darkthrone shirt!

[@InvictvsNox]

Leave no thumbs downturned!

[@travisperegrine7329]

Sonic 2 was only released a month before the Genesis Sonic 2 so it was late in the console's life cycle. It is also a different game than the Genesis one.

[@InvictvsNox]

Interesting. I'll have to look into this as I thought it would've been a direct port.

[@infantiltinferno]

@@InvictvsNox Other unique games for the SMS that are mistaken for ports: Sonic the Hedgehog and Ninja Gaiden. Both are excellent and worth seeking out.

[@InvictvsNox]

@@infantiltinferno I've heard Sonic was actually a Game Gear port.

[@Geobardi]

Also, don't forget Castle of Illusion, totally different gameplay and mechanics than the Mega Drive version and much better stages and bosses. And no, Sonic wasn't a Game Gear port, it was released first on the Master System. it's true that a lot of games that are on both systems, the Game Gear and the Master System, are pretty similar, but they play much better on the Master System.

[@iwanttocomplain]

I noticed you tried to do the spin dash. This is actually available in Sonic 3 sms game. All sms Sonic games are original games. The sms had no hope of running anything close to the smd Sonic games.

[@pericleschiarelli2004]

your work was very good, congratulations

[@SparksNZeros]

I love restoration videos for these old systems as its what I love to do most in my own free time, its great to see others feel the same way! I do always find it bizarre though when americans do videos on mastersystems because their perspective is always 'i've no idea what this is / I don't remember it at all, it failed miserably i guess?' despite it being an enormous success everywhere in the world other than america. It gets a bit annoying after a while.

[@InvictvsNox]

Yeah, it's crazy how well it did in Brazil!

[@RetroRepairs]

SMS was definitely an afterthought in North America, that's for sure. As a kid, I had a Genesis. I assumed the Genesis was Sega's first console, being called the Genesis after all. There wasn't that helpful thing called the internet either, to tell me about the great things such as the SMS, or the real Super Mario Bros 2. Wild game rumours were crazy back then. Nintendo was definitely king until the Playstation came out.

[@InvictvsNox]

@@RetroRepairs Couldn't agree more!

[@lean.drocalil]

The Sega Master System actually was a huge success. It wasn't that much of a blast in the US, but sold millions and millions in Europe and Brazil.

[@jamesgarrison7397]

I had this system as a kid

[@supakusuta]

Sonic 2 was released for the Master System due to the system being very popular in Europe, Australiasia and Brazil. Sonic 2 SMS was never released in North America and Japan.

[@2j4ez]

The master system was very popular here in the uk I hardly saw any NES stuff in the shops. I didn't even no they done a nes 2 up until recently . 8bit sonic 2 got it for Christmas 1992 very good game

[@InvictvsNox]

You haven't even heard of the NES/Famicom until recently? That's actually shocking!

[@2j4ez]

I'm from the UK in the shops there was very little nes stuff but loads of master system stuff I new 1 person who has a nes most people in my class has a master system or a 8bit computer like amstrad zx spectrum c64

[@mattsmedley.onehandedgamin9029]

I worked in a computer game shop, in the 80s,untill 92. The Nintendo 8 bit system wasn't given any shelf space.

[@bjbegui]

I might have to do this. I still own the same master system since I was 6.

[@InvictvsNox]

That's awesome! I hope this helps in case you do decide to!

[@WelcomToTheNextLevel]

I may be a bit late to the video here but... when Sega Introduced the “Master System” they released several versions depending on what accessories you wanted to buy with it. The Base System which came with the 2 controllers and a game. Then you could buy it with the light gun and cintrillers... this version was called the Master System. Then you also had the console that added the 3D glasses which was called The Sega Scope 3D System. It all depended on the accessories you got. Later on they just put the Master System name on the box.

[@therealdeal6442]

Sega master system was a banging home console to have in the late 80s

[@MrSamadolfo]

🙂 In the Summer it can help by doing this outside, take apart and use either a shaving brush or a good wooly paint brush, brush and blow everything out, afterwards if u wana sanitise u cud take a chance and use hot soap and water, or a spray can of Electronics Cleaner from the auto parts store, besides air gun u can also let it bake dry out in the sun. So are u going to clean up other consoles? Hows about cleaning up an old Core2Quad Desktop and installing a video card and a controller, yay 😀

[@InvictvsNox]

I have plenty of consoles to go, yes, but I'm alllll about putting together old PC hardware as well because I really want both a nice Windows 95/98 build as well as an XP build!

[@MrSamadolfo]

@@InvictvsNox 🤟😎 Excellent! 🤟😎

[@thehotyounggrandpas8207]

Very nice job indeed.

[@jakobespinoza9253]

My man your awesome 👏

[@InvictvsNox]

No, that's you my friend.

[@SpecterVideoGamer]

I wouldn't feel comfortable getting the mother board that wet lol

[@MarquisDeSang]

I use to work in an arcade distributor and repair. We always put the arcade PCB in the sink with dish soap and brushed them with a toothbrush. Then we put the board in the oven at minimum the door opened. It is fine, no problems.

[@abrahamordonezzarco785]

awesooome, Turn it on with out any cartdridge!!!! some of those came with an integrated game. mine does!!!

[@marcosmacoeove5915]

Wow, so cool, I sud.💚💚💚

[@burnier10]

I grew up in Brazil and this console was extremely popular there in the beginning of the 90ies.

[@halo3odst]

Make sure you replace the thermal compound between that heat sink and the voltage regulator.

[@stevenbenson9976]

You should add in a region switch (it's pretty easy to do) and push audio to work with genesis cables. Also adding in a pause button on the controller and Fm audio are fun projects

[@JosephSalomonsen]

Awesome job - I would only just drop the RF shielding.

[@gazh1261]

it also acts as a secondary heatsink for one of the voltage regulators on the board

[@xavierluna4769]

THANK, help me a lot to clean my SEGA MASTER SYSTEM

[@owendeweese6389]

Hey, love the video! I’m actually buying one to restore soon, but before I do, what types of screwdrivers will i need to take it apart?

[@InvictvsNox]

Just a plain ol' #1 Phillips!

[@owendeweese6389]

InvictvsNox Awesome, thank you!

[@scomdnz9]

I had this and the NES growing up. I still mine in my parents attic but it doesn't work atm. I should try to restore it :) and get some Afterburner goin.

[@MrSamadolfo]

🤩 yay Outrun! ✌️😎

[@InvictvsNox]

Ughhdhdgsghd I need Outrun! I have 8 games and that isn't one of them.

[@MrSamadolfo]

@@InvictvsNox 😰 Yeah you do! 😱

[@MrSamadolfo]

@@InvictvsNox 😎 theres a couple of different Outrun versions on retro Xbox as well, over the Summer we went to a Retro Arcade and they had an original Outrun yay! 😍

[@MrSamadolfo]

@@InvictvsNox 😒 yeah i remember even when I was a kid, the Outrun title was always sold out at all my local stores, i never bought it either 😓

[@InvictvsNox]

@@MrSamadolfo There's even some great moto GP style racers for the system I wanna check out, but Outrun is absolutely mandatory.

[@Jonnynot1plate]

Question. Do you have a video showing your compressed air set up? I could use that when I clean up consoles. Bought 1 can of compressed air and I already regret that

[@InvictvsNox]

I don't actually. But this is literally just an air compressor with lines running to my workbench through the ceiling with the compressor in a different room so it doesn't make as much noise.

[@Jonnynot1plate]

@@InvictvsNox thanks. Just got into restoring and looking for alternatives cause I'm told I cant use a vacuum

[@InvictvsNox]

@@Jonnynot1plate anytime! I prefer this over a vacuum, personally.

[@HerbieTheVolkswagen]

Master system rules

[@jorgeelracing]

Buen video

[@InvictvsNox]

gracias!

[@fixedguitar47]

What sucked is when you needed to hit pause quickly and you’d hit reset by accident.

[@ulysses2162]

The Master System faired better in the UK, Europe, Brazil, Australia, and New Zealand, and only did average in Japan. It didn't do as well in the US due to the NES and Nintendo's anti-competitive practices back in those days in the US market.

[@Lilithe]

I used to have this version of Sonic 2 for the Game Gear since it was based on the SMS. That's why. That and Brazil.

[@TheErnestopmorales]

It was called the mark III in Japan and before that name the unit before in Japan was the sh-1000.

[@SonicOrbStudios]

Just a tip, lower your music track more while talking, it's hard to hear you.

[@InvictvsNox]

I struggle with audio on these types of videos. Couldn't tell if it was too high or too quiet. Thanks for your help!

[@tehcy7430]

@@InvictvsNox That is easy to fix. Do not use any !! It is nothing more than a distraction, and adds nothing of substance to the video.

[@wigg1yscott554]

What model is this? My master system didn’t look like this but for some reason this thing looks familiar.

[@InvictvsNox]

I believe this is the first one. I believe there is a more compact model called the Master System II.

[@doubtingthomas1312]

💜💜💜, do you know the track at 6:02

[@iwanttocomplain]

You can't beat that Sega build quality. Early SMS control pads had a small hole in the center of the dpad for screwing a tiny joystick onto. I'm not sure why you disassembled it before testing it. I'm sure it would have worked for another 50 years at least without any cleaning. It was pretty much spotless to begin with. The reason the SMS existed alongside the Genesis/SMD was as a budget console for poor people like me or Brazil. It was a way to play the best 8bit games around for peanuts. Sega are very socially conscious. Also, the budget console market ended with the SMS. Still a huge gap I feel. and a profitable system for the company pretty much everywhere apart from the US or Japan. EDIT: Although he budget console market now is second hand consoles, it must be said.

[@davidkarowski9100]

Aside from the Grimey Dust inside you can see the residue build ups around the solder joints clear as day.

[@sickpup820]

Master System outsold Nintendo in the UK and rest of Europe. As well as Brazil, Australia and New Zealand.

[@goulashgarage8302]

When I was a kid I was jealous of everybody that had an NES, because all I had was the Sega Master system! It was preloaded with a hunting game similar to duck hunt but it had different levels and instead of having three shots you had a whole row of bullets that went across the bottom of the screen, looking back it was pretty awesome it also had the game rampage and a little card that stuck in the front of it that played spy versus spy

[@InvictvsNox]

Yep! I wish I had a card-based game I could have tested. I wanted an NES too but when I got my Genesis, I was a Sega kid for life. This thing is awesome.

[@iwanttocomplain]

I had the original sms too. It had the secret snail maze game, Hang On and Safari Hunt built in. I never had a card game but even poorer friend of mine had card games as they were like £6 each new.

[@345.explore]

They made S2 for the paupers

[@InvictvsNox]

S3 on Genesis was my jam. Hope I can pick up SCD some point soon!

[@MatthewWilliamsCFDEV]

This was the very first system I owned growing up. I traded it for a NES at some point as not a single other person I knew actually had one.

[@InvictvsNox]

Yeah, the NES undoubtedly was the better console. But I must admit that this thing was built far better for its intended purpose. The top loader NES though, now that's a good'n.

[@lawfullucyless6715]

My reset and pause are NOT registering on the console. So bummed when I found out it wasn't like fixing a stuck N64 RESET BUTTON lol

[@christinaknight1412]

Whats the name of the song at 3:53

[@InvictvsNox]

Forest - Alexander Munk! :)

[@christinaknight1412]

@@InvictvsNox Thanks!

[@atarianos]

name of soudtrack?

[@InvictvsNox]

All are various songs from Epidemic Sound. :)

[@milkcandlejuice892]

Is it really safe to spray all that alcohol on your system

[@InvictvsNox]

Sure. Just as long as you've cleaned it all off before turning the unit on. This is industrial grade 99% so it evaporates entirely with all that compressed air.

[@milkcandlejuice892]

InvictvsNox ok thanks!

[@afriend9428]

*LOL Wii think you put too much this time sir! Nevermind*

[@waltersobchak7275]

@@afriend9428 Yeah never mind you don’t understand how alcohol works so yeah but out

[@afriend9428]

Walter Sobchak *People and your old mother drinks it and after 5 glasses people get drunk is how it works!* 💡

[@Mikedastud]

I brought a Sega Master System from EBay not too long ago, when I press the power button the green light comes on but the screen is black 😔

[@InvictvsNox]

Check different carts and clean each with ISO. Then check different points on the board with a multimeter for continuity. :)

[@Mikedastud]

InvictvsNox I wish I could just mail it to you and pay you to fix it... that sounds complicated 😅

[@InvictvsNox]

@@Mikedastud I could surely take a look at it but there are definitely folks more qualified for in-depth problem solving and modding. Check out Mobius Strip Tech!

[@KameariKillScreen]

Ah memories. This console sucked! But it had a nice color palette. Space harrier 3d, Alex kidd in miracle world, mickey and the bullshit castle. Spent many hours on this thing.

[@InvictvsNox]

Sound like it couldn't have been too bad if it held your attention for so long. ;)

[@enjoythesho1992]

This console is cool looking however they had awful cover art for all the games and the carts looked boring as hell

[@InvictvsNox]

This is true.

[@newcastle6666]

Music is too loud and it sucks too

[@livelongandprosper70]

stupid music from around 1:55 makes it hard to hear what your saying.. NEVER have background music on videos with narration.. rule no 1 !

[@waltersobchak7275]

Rule number two never have somebody running that mouth in the comments. That means you shut that mouth coward.

[@philb9015]

I owned both systems at the same time as a child, I can tell you all right now, the NES was a loathsome piece of shit next to the Master System. Yes, the NES is now a legend and an icon in the gaming industry, thanks to Mario and later on, Zelda, Castlevania, Mega Man..etc. But the Master System was VASTLY technically superior to the NES both in graphics, and sound. The major problem the Master System and Sega in general had, was the relatively small library of game publishers. The Master System had its share of amazing titles like: Wonder Boy 1-2-3, Space Harrier, Phantasy Star, Great baseball, Kenseiden, R-TYPE, etc.... But it had way too many shitty titles also, with little developer power behind it. In short, Capcom and Konami killed the Master System. Not Nintendo.

[@ranmasaotome7613]

Yes and no. Nintendo's exclusive licensing also killed the Master System.

[@livelongandprosper70]

video is RUINED with fucking background music !! STOP putting background music to videos with *narration* .. it ONLY makes it HARDER to hear what you are saying and is VERY distracting ... EVERYONE STOP DOING THIS.. we are NOT here to listen to music !!

[@tehcy7430]

The video is fine. But stop with the damn annoying music. Totally not needed. AT ALL !!