Who's into the Sega Master System?

[Guntz]

So yeah, SMS Alien Syndrome is fun, but because it requires SMS controllers, I rarely want to touch it.

I can modify Genesis controllers with a switch for SMS compatibility.

Also, having to get up and go over to the system just to switch items in Golvellius is NOT fun, that is for sure. And it's really, really stupid that the Atari 7800 also has the pause button only on the system, given that the 5200 had pause buttons on the controllers... there is no excuse! 2600 buttons like Reset, Select, and the difficulty switches... alright, you expect those to be on the system. But Pause, which only works in 7800 games anyway? That is not okay.

Yeah I hate that too. It'd almost be easier to just have the SMS set up on a computer desk with a TV.

[Black_Tiger]

Also, having to get up and go over to the system just to switch items in Golvellius is NOT fun, that is for sure. And it's really, really stupid that the Atari 7800 also has the pause button only on the system, given that the 5200 had pause buttons on the controllers... there is no excuse!

You don't have to go over to anything, just keep the console near you and use a long AV cable. It's still less cumbersome that crap people put up with today like keyboard/mouse controls, the Wii U tablet thing, flailing around for Kinect and motion controls in general.

[NeoZeedeater]

Standard SMS controllers get a bad rap but I think that mostly comes from people that experienced the system later on with only second hand, worn down ones. The controllers do deserve criticism for not holding up well after years of use but when they are fairly new they work fine, a little touchy on the diagonals but not a big deal. Many of us early SMS adopters had Gen/MD systems by the time the SMS controllers were worn down anyway.

[MrSega]

Standard SMS controllers get a bad rap but I think that mostly comes from people that experienced the system later on with only second hand, worn down ones. The controllers do deserve criticism for not holding up well after years of use but when they are fairly new they work fine, a little touchy on the diagonals but not a big deal. Many of us early SMS adopters had Gen/MD systems by the time the SMS controllers were worn down anyway.

So they weren't sturdy?

[A Black Falcon]

Yes, in the interest of experiencing videogames as they were generally designed to be played, yes I want to have the opportunity to play with the original interface.
Do I prefer to play with the Master System pads? No. But I do find the SG-1000 II, Mark III, and Master Systems to be very interesting and unique hardware to experience.
Whether it is "fun" or not, getting up and having to push a button on the console to access item menus is integral to playing those games. That is part of the experience. I love it. All its annoyances and imperfections.

I like playing on original systems, but there's a limit... and bad controllers, or buttons on the system, definitely hurt the games on those systems.

I can modify Genesis controllers with a switch for SMS compatibility.

That would be a nice thing to have, wouldn't it.

Yeah I hate that too. It'd almost be easier to just have the SMS set up on a computer desk with a TV.

Heh... yeah, that probably would be easier. But would it be as much fun as playing it on a TV normally (whereever you normally put it) would?

You don't have to go over to anything, just keep the console near you and use a long AV cable.

Other systems are in the way, so I'd have to move them, and don't like having to move systems around (or plug/unplug them every time I want to use them or something), so I have everything set up so it can always be used... and anyway, I don't have a long AV cable for the SMS.

It's still less cumbersome that crap people put up with today like keyboard/mouse controls, the Wii U tablet thing, flailing around for Kinect and motion controls in general.

What? No! I don't like Kinect very much, but I quite disagree on those other two. Keyboard/mouse is by far the best way to play many kinds of games (FPSes, for example), and I like the Wiimote+nunchuck controller. Sure, not all games use them well, but some Wiimote motion is fine, when done right. It's a good controller.

Standard SMS controllers get a bad rap but I think that mostly comes from people that experienced the system later on with only second hand, worn down ones. The controllers do deserve criticism for not holding up well after years of use but when they are fairly new they work fine, a little touchy on the diagonals but not a big deal. Many of us early SMS adopters had Gen/MD systems by the time the SMS controllers were worn down anyway.

I would agree that they're not very durable, but I don't think that that's the only problem... that d-pad is terrible, too! And the buttons aren't great either. Compared to (original-style) NES or Turbografx controllers, they're quite poor. TG16 especially.. that one is by far the best of the rectangular-block controllers, I would say. The NES ones are uncomfortable, which is why I never use them either (I use the NES Advantage or NES Max, but never the brick controller), but somehow TG16 controllers manage to be comfortable, even if they're still rectangular. It's probably the rounded edges.

[Algus]

Hmm, I started using the MAX with my NES because I am so used to grips now. When I was a kid though I loved the NES pad and actually preferred it to the SNES pad. Maybe it is because I grew up with NES? The first time I touched an SMS pad, I felt very nostalgic. I like the general shape and feel of the controller and the buttons are fine IMO but the d-pad is definitely mushy. It might be hard to tell at first but once I started playing Shinobi and got used to the game, I really started to notice it. Especially when I was trying to execute high jumps or drops. It is annoying as heck to position yourself just right and then hit the button and instead of jumping, you start moving to the left.

I wonder how difficult it would be to refurb these things and get them working like when they were new.

[Guntz]

That would be a nice thing to have, wouldn't it.

I could sell you one...

[omp]

The d-pads fall out of sms pads as well, as the lip around the edge to hold it in is very thin and just snaps off. You can repair them by replacing the lip with thin plastic. I use "chinese container" plastic, works a charm.

Also agree with having pause on the control pad makes life easier.

[Guntz]

It's worth saying again, I must be crazy to like the SMS pads (mine have the cable NES style, not out the side). The D-pad is decent. Also weird because it's square. I love the buttons, they're almost soft and squishy, in a good way. They're all around decent controllers.

[The Coop]

For me, the Master System controllers are just bad controllers. I can push straight up lightly, and still watch my character go up, then up at an angle randomly. I've never used one where the D-pad didn't behave super touchy like that, and when you have to walk down a narrow passage that you can fall off of, I don't want super touchy. So, I use my Genesis controller on the games I can, and only use the SMS one when absolutely required.

I've already got the game trying to kill my character, so I don't need my controller helping it along.

[omp]

I've already got the game trying to kill my character, so I don't need my controller helping it along.

Lol i like this comment!

Another thing i like to do when repairing/cleaning sms pads is to get very thin but firm plastic and with a hole punch, punch out 2 circles of plastic and sit them on top of tge tubber contacts. Sega in their wisdom made the underside of the buttons a cross. This can cut into the rubber contact quite deeply, so much so i have seen them cut almost in quarters.

[Jeckidy]

I am a Master System fan and I agree that the control-pad, plus the fact that the pause button is only on the system are big minuses for the real hardware. This system of course has its shitters, one of the worst and most widely despised being the crappy TecToy ports and our personal favorite, F-16 Fighting Falcon. But regardless, I think it is quality over quantity versus the NES. While I adored many NES games, even the worst SMS titles were no where near as awful as the worst on NES. The unlicensed korean games for instance are surprisingly competant compared to most unlicensed NES trash!

[Robotwo]

While the SMS was a gorgeous system, there's no denying that the pad wasn't exactly the best there is.
The pause button didn't annoy me whatsoever though, it added a bit of character IMO
They could however have either put the pause further away from the reset button, or made it more distinct (this was however fixed on the model 2).

Love the hardware to bits, but doesn't have as many memorable titles as the NES IMO.
Would be swell to see the SMS homebrew scene flourish a bit more

[PHANTOM2040]

Master System should be easy to get into, the hardware and software both sell poorly. I've been trying to sell my SMS stuff for months and no takers.

Maybe because of the master everdrive or the everdrive md and you can just download every sms game ever made off one download torrent. Good luck selling your sms stuff. You have to offer free tacos.

[Barone]

^Also, the cover art of most of the western releases is very very poor IMO (at least when compared to Genesis/Mega Drive stuff); I know several guys that pay a good money for some games just to have a covert art they like in their collection, something not so common with SMS releases.