Master System Project

[Yawackhary]

Since there is already a NES Ripping Project, it only makes sense to have a project from its rival the Master System.

The good news already is that a majority of the games already significantly ripped from this console. What makes it even better is because there are less games on the Master System than on the NES, it is possible and a bit easier for tSR to have the complete library. Also there is some variation in terms of the games whether they are shoot em ups, RPGs, platformers, fighters and yes even sports games so its not as restricted to a genre, even a few classics are here.

Only 2 games left until the complete US library is here!

Aerial Assault
After Burner
California Games
Casino Games
Choplifter
Dead Angle
F-16 Fighting Falcon/F-16 Fighter
Fantasy Zone 2: The Tears of Opa-Opa
Galaxy Force
Gangster Town* (soon...)
Global Defense / SDI
Great Baseball
Great Ice Hockey
Great Volleyball
James "Buster" Douglas Knockout Boxing / Heavyweight Champ
King's Quest (USA)
Miracle Warriors: Seal of the Dark Lord [have to rip ingame, ROM compressed]
Monopoly
Paperboy
Parlour Games / Family Games / Party Games
Poseidon Wars 3-D
Power Strike / Aleste
Rambo III*
Shooting Gallery
Slap Shot
Super Tennis
Thunder Blade
TransBot / Astro Flash

These are the missing games from the rest of the world (e.g. PAL regions, Brazil, Japan, Korea):

3D Gunner (Prototype)
Ace of Aces
Adventure Kid
Alien3
Andre Agassi Tennis
Assault City (note: this game has both a light phaser and a controller version of the game)
Ayrton Senna's Super Monaco GP II
Back to the Future Part III
Bank Panic
Block Hole (Bootleg/KOR?)**
Bugtris (Bootleg/KOR?) [Appears in a compilation]
California Games II
Castelo Ra-Tim-Bum (Brazil)
Championship Hockey
Chase H.Q.
Cheese Catastrophe starring Speedy Gonzales
Cool Spot
Cosmic Spacehead
Cyborg Z (Bootleg/KOR?)**
Dallyeora Pigu-Wang (Unlicensed)
Dinobasher starring Bignose the Caveman
Double Hawk
Dragon: The Bruce Lee Story
Eagles 5 (Bootleg/KOR?)**
Ecco the Dolphin
FA Tetris (Bootleg/KOR?)**
Fantastic Dizzy
Ferias Frustradas do Pica-Pau (aka Woody Woodpecker) (Brazil)
Fire & Forget II
Flashpoint (Bootleg)**
Galactic Protector (JPN)
Game de Check! Kōtsū Anzen (JPN)
Gangcheol RoboCop (Bootleg)**
George Foreman's KO Boxing
Geraldinho (Brazil)
Global Gladiators
G-LOC: Air Battle
Great Baseball (JPN)
Heroes of the Lance
High School Kimengumi (JPN)
Incredible Crash Dummies
James Pond 2: Codename Robocod
Jurassic Park
Klax
Lemmings
Line of Fire
Loretta no Shouzou: Sherlock Holmes (JPN, SG-1000 mode)***
Mahjong Sengoku Jidai / Mah-Jong (JPN, Hong Kong)
Masters of Combat
Monica no Castelo do Dragao (Brazil, hack of Wonder Boy in Monster Land)
Mortal Kombat
Mortal Kombat II
Nekkyū Kōshien (JPN) [Original Japanese version of Reggie Jackson Baseball but has different graphics]
New Boggle Boggle 2 (Bootleg)*****
Olympic Gold
The Ottifants
Populous
Power Block / Suho Cheonsa (Bootleg)
Power Strike II
Puznic (Bootleg)**
The Pro Yakyuu: Pennant Race (JPN)
Putt & Putter
Rampart
Renegade
RoboCop vs The Terminator
Sagaia (aka Darius 2)
Sapo Xule: S.O.S Lagoa Poludia (Brazil, Portugal)
Satellite 7 (JPN)
Sega World Tournament Golf
Sensible Soccer (soon...)
Shadow of the Beast
Simpsons: Bart vs the World
Sitio do Picapau Amarelo (Brazil)
Space Gun*
Speedball
Speedball 2
Street Master (Bootleg)
Strider II
Submarine Attack [have to rip ingame, ROM compressed, have to use MEKA and hack the palette]
Summer Games
Super Bubble Bobble (Bootleg)**
Super Columns & Tetris (Bootleg)**
Super Kick Off
Super Penguin (Bootleg/KOR?)**
Super Space Invaders
Taz in Escape from Mars (BRZ)
T2: The Arcade Game
Tennis Ace (aka Passing Shot)
Tensai Bakabon (JPN)
The Terminator
The Three Dragon Story (Bootleg/KOR?)**
Turma da Monica em: Os Resgate (Brazil, hack of Wonder Boy 3: The Dragon's Trap)
TV Colosso (Brazil, hack of Asterix and the Secret Mission)
Twin Mouse (Bootleg)
Wolfchild
World Games
Wimbledon
Wimbledon II
Winter Olympics
Wonsiin (Bootleg/KOR?)**
World Class Leader Board
Xevious / The Micro Xevious (Bootleg)**

* - Light Phaser game
** - Uses SG-1000 graphics mode
*** - Advertised as a dual compatibility game as in that it works on both the Master System and the SG-1000. Optional.
***** - Shares assets with Super Bubble Bobble, same developer.

Luckily for most of the remaining Japanese games they either can be played without any language barrier problems, are baseball games, both High School Kimengumi and Tensai Bakabon have English translation patches. Only the Sherlock Holmes game has problems with the language barrier due to being an adventure game.

As usual, all it takes is one sheet to have its own section.

How come some games are missing? Wikipedia lists 341, Sega Retro lists 360 but the project lists less games?

This is because they are already on the site. Some Master System games re-release to use different accessories so Sports Pad Football and Sports Pad Soccer are there as Great Football and Great Soccer/World Soccer. American Baseball and American Pro Football are on the site as Reggie Jackson Baseball and Walter Payton Football. Some Master System games have a Game Gear version that is on the site that use identical sprites such as Wonder Boy 3: The Dragon's Trap. Some Game Gear games are literally Master System games in Game Gear cartridges, some examples include Castle of Illusion, Out Run Europa and Rastan.

There are also games that are compilations. Master Games 1 just cycles through the 3 games by resetting/power cycles and most of the existing ones do the same, with the exception of two Korean multicarts that have a basic menu. There are also cases of renames, most of the time it is packaging only such as Super Futebol (World Soccer). Game Box Esports Radicais is just a cutdown version of California Games with the only difference is a title screen.

Speaking of which The Excellent Dizzy Collection is a broken game. Only Panic Dizzy works out of the 3 games and even then its badly glitchy. This is why its not on the list... Game Gear version works no problem though.

While tSR does have a few on the site, the MSX ports are not counted in this project as they are not officially classed as Master System games and many were also on the SG-1000 as well, some with RAM adapters. The exception are the Zemina games as they are cross platform between the Master System [Samsung GamBoy] and the MSX as well as Sieco and FA due to the games are original rather than a company adapting a random game usually from Konami or Compile with the copyright changed or removed. Another reason is that not all of the MSX ports are dumped due to their rarity. 

How can I rip from these?

There are two emulators for the system, they are MEKA and Emulicious. Both have tilemap (background) viewers, tile viewers, MEKA also has layer removal if you want to capture. For some games, you may need TileMolester to rip them if the sprites are dynamic but for many of the games, these two emulators are basically what you need. Since the Master System only has two palettes with half for sprites and half for backgrounds (even though some game do have palette cycles and changes), it also means that you will have less trouble finding which is the correct palette. For someone who wants to start sprite ripping, it's a good system to start off with like the NES or the GBA. It is beginner friendly, feel free to join. 

Finally, how come you decide to go through the project?

After all 11 years ago, my first rip on tSR was from a Master System game. A long time ago, I was ripping Master System games almost single handedly however got burned out since there was a lack of interest. A passionate ripper came along and did an excellent job ripping from the console. After seeing 200 games on the site, it is a case wow how many games are left to do. It would be a great idea to have a complete library from a console on the site, especially from a console that is sort of well known.

As for rewards, well this is an unofficial project so its mainly more for fun rather than for badges. Now there are no limits.

[shadowman44]

Insert Han Solo voice clip from a new hope

Golvellius is already on the site though

[Yawackhary]

Oh right. I'm sure that wasn't on the site last time I checked but yeah, you're right.

Anyway, let's start off with:

Cars

General Sprites

Rink

Great Ice Hockey is more or less complete. Surprised for an early title that it didn't have the Sega Mark III logo.

[shadowman44]

I've got Wolfchild, Bart Vs. The World, Dinobasher, and Mortal Kombat in progress right now so you could put a WIP mark on there. I have a bunch of screenshots for Monopoly but I'm not entirely sure if I'm going to end up doing it or not.

[Magma MK-II]

I still wish someone would properly rip the monsters from Phantasy Star.

[shadowman44]

Court

Player(s)

Opponent(s)

You can now mark off Super Tennis.

[Yawackhary]

Portraits

May rip more, see how I feel.

Sir Graham

The last US exclusive Master System game is here, yay! Not that the console got much anyway (only 3 games).

[shadowman44]

Bart

Font

Mark off Bart Vs. the World, this is one of the last games from 2016 that I didn't finish.

[Superjustinbros]

Well done, Shadow.

[Yawackhary]

Portraits

Portraits

Rink

Just got a bunch of sports games out of the way. Championship Hockey in particular is one of the worst games on the console. Bad port of NHL Hockey, more or less unplayable, its a beta version of the Game Gear version that for some reason came out 2 years later and its also on top of that one of the rarest games on the system. Oh and there are unused tiles too.

As for what I'm working on. 

Spoiler

World Class Leader Board - Golfer tiles are ripped and many are arranged, missing tiles due to reuse, have to check in game
Paperboy - Tile reuse and sprite alignment
Tennis Ace - Thought that the portraits are done but each player has their victory pose when you win the tournament. Ouch... After this though the tennis games are done.
Shooting Gallery - This is going to take a while but when the sheet is done the game will be more or less done. Done non-dynamic sprites and most of the stages. Game uses dynamic sprites, ROM uses different tile display modes.
Geraldinho - The ROM doesn't have many sprites and most seem to be from Teddy Boy. It'll be a small and quick rip. Just deciding how to approach it.

After that's done, the real fun can now begin.

[shadowman44]

I'm going ahead and saying that I'm cancelling Wolfchild, that game is isn't as exciting to rip as I thought it would be. Not to mention I hate games that have headswaps. Meanwhile Bignose the Caveman is still in WIP. Also I'm going ahead and saying that I've decided to do Monopoly as well.

HUD

Mark off Space Gun, thought I would get this one out of the way.

[Yawackhary]

[Yawackhary]

Since the last update, an extra 13 games have been ripped.

shadowman has also ripped this: 

Court

Good news: Only 12 games left from the US and there are about 16 games left out of the Japanese library too (well ones that did come out there and not cancelled). It's mostly the light phaser games now. Dizzy is also the 600th sheet, yay!

Bad news: Its slowing down... Games that have already been claimed are perhaps the last ones that I'll be working on this project. Not only that but there is a possible threat so I might be forced to retire due to Article 13.

Progress time and thoughts:

Spoiler

Have claimed most of the games that I would like to do and hopefully get as much as possible. Have a look means possible but doesn't mean that it will get ripped. Plus Winter Olympics was at a time a personal meme game.

Not doing any more games that use the SG-1000 display mode as I don't feel comfortable ripping those. While I could do George Foreman's KO Boxing, I have ripped from this game engine twice now [Game Gear version and James Buster Douglas Boxing] and rather want someone else to have a go.

- Still working on the last Sapo Xule game. While there are only 3 levels in the entire game, it takes time to check. There is an unused Hang On/Astro Warrior menu in the ROM, probably indicated what version was used to hack the game.
- Looked at Monica no Castelo do Dragao. While Monica herself is possible to rip, sadly I would require an expert on Wonder Boy in Monster Land as she changes her palette when she upgrades her equipment. I am awful at this game no matter which version I play and the cheats don't work for me.
- High School! Kimengumi is a bit worrying since most of the ROM is compressed including the dynamic sprites. While I have ripped the uncompressed sprites of Kawa Yui, it isn't all her sprites and the situational ones such as playing the harmonica are dynamic but compressed. There is a Tile Decoder code available but I'm not smart enough to use it because I know nothing about assembly. Put on hold for now.
- Twin Mouse is one of those easy to rip the tiles games but... The game has 8 levels and changes the palette, the last two levels also happen to have different sprites. The game is not fun to play since the collision detection is off meant that there are some unfair deaths. Shame really since it would have been a decent game. Had that not been an issue, it would have been already done.
- Shooting Gallery progress is slow. Needs a good day to get around ripping it.
- The Helicopter from Choplifter has its tiles ripped and have to sort 65 files out. At least the first ever cartridge Master System game is on its way of getting ripped.
- Power Strike 1 The title screen is already done, just waiting until the enemies are finished. Power Strike 2 will take its time but will be done since its a GOOD game.
- Most of Summer Games is compressed via the ROM but can rip the gymnast from it.
- Submarine Attack is ROM compressed but I will find a way of ripping it. It was featured on Bullseye after all along with the Master System as a prize. Bullseye = old UK game show that was well loved.
- Tile arrangement issues with World Games. Not sure whether to keep going or not.
- Cool Spot actually has quite a bit of animation for a Master System game and big sprites too so it will take a few days.
- Not officially but technically is a Master System game, working on an arcade game called Slap Shooter. It's really just palettes since it was ROM ripped and MAME's palette order doesn't match with the sprites. MAME doesn't show the tile viewer btw.
- Some of the games that are already on the site, will go back to for more rips to finish off a bit. James Buster Douglas Boxing in particular. Possibly California Games and Aerial Assault as well if there is enough time. 

[shadowman44]

Meanwhile, I planned on finishing the tokens for Monopoly tomorrow or the next day.

As for Cool Spot, yeah I actually did plan on ripping that years ago but noticed how many frames of animation there were and went lolno

Also Yawackhary, if you do have to end up retiring thanks to cooperate bullshit... You can count on me to finish up this project. After all, it was you who inspired me to continue ripping the Sega Master System (and for ripping the more obscure systems in general)

Also one more thing, what does "dynamic" mean in your case?

[Yawackhary]

Over 250 games now:

Falcon Flyer

My sort of rip. Fast, easy and enjoyed doing it!

It is sorry to say that I had to drop doing World Games, Monica no Castelo do Dragao, Submarine Attack and for the looks of things, High School! Kimengumi. Shooting Gallery has too much work done but still needs more to do. Update: Sigh... It seems the bricks suffer from either the same issue as HSK or Mark Cerny is one clever coder, making it annoying! Ohhhhh.... If there are any issues later down the line, then I might have to show WIP sheets and ripped tiles.

As for right now, currently working on Dallyeora Pigu-Wang and the players are ripped. Currently assembling and splitting them, the latter because it would have been one massive sheet otherwise. There is just one big problem... The team names are in Korean!



If anyone knows Korean, please let me know what the Team Names are.

Meanwhile, I planned on finishing the tokens for Monopoly tomorrow or the next day.

As for Cool Spot, yeah I actually did plan on ripping that years ago but noticed how many frames of animation there were and went lolno

Also Yawackhary, if you do have to end up retiring thanks to cooperate bullshit... You can count on me to finish up this project. After all, it was you who inspired me to continue ripping the Sega Master System (and for ripping the more obscure systems in general)

Also one more thing, what does "dynamic" mean in your case?

Same here for you, if it wasn't for your great work then this project would have never started. Oh. It's my choice of words, sorry. Here's a example on a tile viewer (yes, I know the tiles are double sized):



See the yellow box that I highlighted where the pink haired girl is? Those sprites change throughout the level/area. If your character moves or does an action, the sprites change. That's why I call them dynamic. The blue box that is highlighted are the sprites that don't change and only change every level/area/menu. They can even show sprites that aren't used in that time, leftovers from another time or even unused.

Most of the time, the sprites that are in the yellow box can be ripped via Tile Molester (should really teach you how to use it) because they are in the ROM and they are read from there. High School Kimengumi is an annoying exception.