The Game Master is a handheld game console manufactured by Hartung,[1][2] and designed to compete with the Nintendo Game Boy. In Germany, it was marketed by Hartung itself, while in the UK it was released as the Systema 2000 by the already well-established maker of cheap LCD games Systema.[1]
 | |
 Game Master | |
| Also known as | Systema 2000 Game Master Game Plus Super Game Game Tronic |
|---|---|
| Manufacturer | Hartung (DE) Systema (UK) Videojet (France) Delplay (France) Prodis (Spain) Virella Electronics (Italy) |
| Type | Handheld game console |
| Generation | Fourth generation |
| Release date |
|
| Media | ROM cartridge |
| CPU | NEC upd7810 |
| Display | 64 × 64 monochrome LCD |
| Sound | Built-in speaker Headphone jack 1 bit dac |
| Power | 6-volt DC external power supply or 4 × AA batteries |
| Dimensions | 170 × 97 × 33mm |
It was also sold under alternate names in France, including the Game Master by Videojet and Game Plus by Delplay, as well as for a few released by Hartung as the Super Game and the Game Tronic.[1][3] It was sold in Italy by Virella Electronics.[1]
The design was much like the Game Gear with a D-Pad and two action buttons,[4] although another variation, the Game Plus, features a more Game Boy-like design which is backed by a company called Caterpillar and was sold by Delplay in France.[3] The cartridges resemble those used by the Watara Supervision, with the card edge of the cartridge jutted out past the plastic of the cartridge. The Game Master utilizes a 40-pin cartridge port like the Watara Supervision but is not compatible with Supervision games.[3]
Models
edit- Hartung Game Master (Germany)[1]
- Systema 2000 (the United Kingdom)[1]
- Videojet Game Master (France)[1]
- Hartung Game Tronic (France)[1]
- Hartung Mega Tronic (France)[1]
- Hartung Super Game (France)[1]
- Prodis PDJ-10 (Spain)[1]
- Delplay Game Plus (France; incompatible with all Game Master cartridges)[1]
- Impel Game Master (Hong Kong)[1]
- Watara Game Master (Hong Kong)[citation needed]
Technical specifications
editThe Game Master has a 64 x 64 monochrome LCD screen.
- Color: monochrome black/white tones
- Power switch
- Contrast adjustment
- 4-way directional pad
- Headphone jack (unit includes small stereo headphones)
- A and B buttons
- Select button
- Start button
- Volume controller
Games
editNineteen games were released for this console:[1]
- Bubble Boy
- Car Racing [a.k.a. Super F-1 on title screen]
- Continental Galaxy [a.k.a. Continental Galaxy 2020 on title screen]
- Dungeon Advanture [a.k.a. Dungeon Adventure on title screen]
- Falling Block [a.k.a. Falling Block! on title screen]
- Finite Zone
- Go Bang! (Go Bang Game) [a.k.a. GO Bang.. on title screen]
- Hyper Space
- Kung Fu [a.k.a. Kung Fu Challenge on title screen]
- Move It
- Pin Ball
- Soccer (Fuss-Ball) [a.k.a. 3on3 Soccer on title screen]
- Space Castle
- Space Invader
- Space Warrior
- Tank War
- Tennis [a.k.a. Tennis Master... on title screen]
- Urban Champion
References
edit- ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l m n "Game Master by Hartung". The Video Game Kraken. Retrieved 2023-07-14.
- ^ "Inside the Hartung GameMaster!". Press Start. 2012-02-06. Archived from the original on 2012-02-06. Retrieved 2023-07-14.
- ^ a b c Sylvain De Chantal (July 2001). "Hartung Game Master Faq". Digital Press. Retrieved 2013-09-07.
- ^ Lane, Gavin (17 April 2019). "The Handheld Rivals Which Tried and Failed to Beat the Game Boy". Nintendo Life.