Master System
Sega's Master System was first released as the Sega Mark III in Japan in 1985. It was rebranded as the Master System and released in North America in 1986 and Europe in 1987. Designed to be a direct competitor to Nintendo's NES, the Master System featured newer hardware and the ability to play both game cartridges and a credit-card-sized format known as Sega Cards. Like the NES, the Master System featured 8-bit graphics and multiple accessories—including the Light Phaser light gun and 3D glasses. The Master System also boasted a number of quality games, including Altered Beast, Golden Axe Warrior, Sonic the Hedgehog 2, Psycho Fox, and Phantasy Star. While the Master System was not immensely popular in Japan or North America—and was replaced by the Genesis in 1988—it was a relative hit in Europe, where it sold nearly seven million units.