Sega Master System

The Master System reached Europe in 1987 distributed by Mastertronic, then by Sega directly — at a time when Nintendo had locked up exclusivity deals with nearly every major Japanese publisher, leaving Sega a relatively open market. Early European models had Alex Kidd in Miracle World burned into the boot ROM: boot without a cartridge and the game launched directly. The FM Sound chip, present in Japanese models and some Korean-produced European units, produced audio quality noticeably superior to the standard PSG — audibly distinct on titles like OutRun and Phantasy Star. "Sega Cards" — the thin credit-card-sized media used for some early titles — are practically indestructible but increasingly rare to find in excellent condition with original sleeve.