Sega Master System

Check the dumping hardware overview for a list of known preservation hardware.

If you need help, please come chat with us on the VGPC or No-Intro discord servers.

Modern Sega Master System dumping tools are still a bit harder to come by, but there are still some great options!

Important Notes

• Unopened games should have their ROM and save data dumped before attempting to play them. This avoids inadvertent modification of the data and helps preserve the game in its unused/“factory” state. Note in your submission whether the physical media was sealed and include a photo of the cart/packaging in its sealed state, if possible.
• You should clean the physical media's electrical contacts before trying to dump it, and dump it twice, checking if both dumps match using a file comparison tool or calculating the SHA256 of each file and comparing those values.

1. Retrode2
2. Open Source Cartridge Reader

The Retrode1 is simple system that works really well, and is affordable and readily available.

1. Connect the Master System Adapter with your game, and plug it into the Retrode2.
2. Make sure the voltage setting is at 5V.
3. Connect the Retrode2 to your computer.
4. The Retrode2 should now show up as a regular USB drive, and you can copy the ROM from there for further analysis.

By using the SMS to MD adapter available from the GitHub repository, you can dump Sega Master System games through the Mega Drive/Genesis slot. Then follow the OSCR wiki for proper settings, and dumping instructions.

Unscrew the back of the cartridge with a 4.5mm Gamebit or line head screw driver, lift the back off, and remove the PCB from the two pegs.

Once you've dumped your games, it's time to generate and submit metadata to a preservation project for validating and cataloging. See the dump submission instructions for more information.