Hardware Heaven
SG-1000
» MANUFACTURER: Sega » YEAR: 1983 » COST: ¥15,000 (launch), £390+ (today, boxed), £350+ (today, unboxed)
Having achieved success in the arcade business, Sega was looking for ways to expand its business using its gaming expertise. It initially settled on the idea of creating an 8-bit home computer for entry-level users, eventually released as the SC-3000, but soon learned that Nintendo was planning to launch a home console. Inspired to enter the market itself, Sega created a console version of the SC-3000 with no keyboard and a single built-in joystick controller. However, the company did allow an upgrade path, with an expansion port for a keyboard peripheral, as well as a port for a second joystick.