Were you a fan of SEGA’s Master System? Do you enjoy really cool art books and books that have lots of video game pieces of stuff? If so, then you may want to check out Bitmap Books current Kickstart er campaign. While they’ve released several books previously, they’re working a new book that’s dedicated to the SEGA Master System.
The SEGA Master System: a visual compendium, is the name of the new book. Inside, you’ll find bits of useful info that ranges from the lifespan of the console, how the same came to be, the ups and downs. Interviews with those who worked on the Master System, including Mark Cerny and more. This definitely sounds like yet another piece of gaming history that no fan of that system should do without.
The book will include 300 pages and will come in both a softcover and hardback editions. Should Bitmap Books hit their stretch goals, they’re claiming the books will end up surpassing over 500 pages. Each page will be lithographically printed, to ensure the highest quality. And if it’s quality you’re after, this company knows a thing or two about that. I picked up their SNES/Super Famicom: a visual compendium a while back, and to say it’s an amazing book. Well, that’s an understatement.
They’re even tossing in a pair of 3D glasses, just like the original SEGA 3D glasses, with every book. I loved these things!
Even though the campaign started a few days ago, the early bird pledges have already sold out. They’ve also hit their original funding amount of $66, 427 dollars. At the time of this article, they’re sitting at $105,708 dollars. They still have 22 days to go, so I have no doubt they’ll hit their stretch goals! Once the campaign is over at the end of July, the books will be sent delivered by February 2019. However, the PDF that is included in every pledge will be delivered by November 2018.
As a fan of the SEGA Master System, I’m definitely behind this project. While many of us growing up had the Nintendo Entertainment System, I was drawn more to SEGA’s 8-bit console. Sure, it didn’t have the games that the NES had, but it features games and character that I wasn’t exposed to. Phantasy Star, a better port of Double Dragon (2 players!), Alex Kidd, Fantasy Zone, Thunderblade, Super Hang-On, Ys, Space Harrier, and Ninja.
I spent so much freaking time playing Ninja.
If this sounds like something you can get behind, then head over to their Kickstarter page. They have several pledges that are still available, or you can just donate to a worthy cause. I’ve already pledged for a hardcover book and can’t wait to add it to my collection.
Now excuse me, I need to go track down a SEGA Master System so I can play Ninja all over again.
