Description
Sega Master System Controller Pause Button Mod Kit
The Sega Master System is a fun console but Sega did not include a pause button on the controller, instead they put one on the console itself. Many games require pausing to access the game inventories and because of this lack of an easy access pause button it can often make what should be a fun experience into a bit of a chore. Did you know you can turn on the ring you collect in Alex Kidd in Miracle World and shoot stuff? makes for a much more fun experience. This kit allows you to access the important in game menus with your controller to vastly improve the Master System gaming experience.
Up until now the only way to install the pause button into the controller was to do a messy deadbug install with no real way of making sure the switch hole was positioned well.
My kit makes the install a breeze.
Dual Pause Board
The Dual Pause board has everything needed to control the pause button via two controllers and it installs on the bottom of the Master System mainboard with pads placed for easy wiring.
Controller Switch Board
The controller switch boards do two things. They house the components to make the pause button work via an impossible button combination and they double as drill templates for cutting the switch holes.
With these boards the switch installs will be perfect and repeatable every time.
How does it work?
It uses a switch to activate two buttons from the D-Pad called an impossible button combination such as up and down together. This impossible button combination is ignored in software and accepted by a logic gate which then grounds the console’s real pause button.
For more info on how it works please read the install guide.
How to choose?
This info is a work in progress.
| Region | Top Markings | Bottom Markings | Top Stamp | PCB Revision | Case Revision | I/O Chip | I Own |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| NTSC-J | NEED TO CHECK | NEED TO CHECK | NEED TO CHECK | NEED TO CHECK | MK-2000 | NEED TO CHECK | Yes |
| NTSC-U | 837-6067 SEGA(R) M4 POWERBASE/NTSC (C)SEGA 1986 MADE IN JAPAN |
171-5379 | 6 I 10. 30 | 171-5379 / 837-6067 | NEED HELP | SEGA 315-5216 | NEED TO CHECK |
| NTSC-U | TCMK 29EHB (C)SEGA 1988 SEGA(R)M4 POWERBASE/NTSC 837-6629 |
171-5535 | NONE | 171-5533 / 837-6629 | NEED HELP | SEGA 315-5216 | NEED TO CHECK |
| NTSC-U | HDK H2ITT MMK-4094V-0 (C)SEGA 1988 SEGA(R)M4 POWERBASE/NTSC 837-6629 |
171-5533-01A | 30 MM 1988 | 171-5533-01A / 837-6629 | NEED HELP | SEGA 315-5216 | No |
| NTSC-U | TCMK 29EHB (C)SEGA 1988 SEGA(R)M4 POWERBASE/NTSC 837-6700 |
171-5696 | 6 OCT 1990 | 171-5696 / 837-6700 | NEED HELP | SEGA 315-5216 | No |
| PAL | (C)SEGA 1986 MADE IN HONG KONG M4 POWER BASE/PAL SEGA |
171-5385 | 837-6097 9 SEP 1987 |
171-5385 / 837-6097 | NEED TO CHECK | SEGA 315-5216 | Yes |
| PAL | SEGA(R) POWER BASE VA2/PAL |
(C)SEGA 1988 171-5672 DL 94V0 DL8 1089 MADE IN HONG KONG |
18 APR ?? | 171-5672 | 3005-05-A | SEGA 315-5216 | Yes |
| PAL | SEGA POWER BASE PAL VA3 |
(C) SEGA 1989 171-5535-10 UC 389J DLB 94V0 MADE IN HONG KONG |
21 OCT 1990 Q.C. 31 Q.C. ?? |
171-5535-10 | NEED TO CHECK | SEGA 315-5237 | Yes |
mark –
I absolutely love this kit! Really adds something that was missing to the OEM controller. I can’t believe how cheap this kit is either, because it’s clearly good quality, and made by someone who loves the retro gaming hobby.
Was super easy to install using the incredibly easy to follow install guide provided.
Thanks!
B T J Schofield –
Excellent mod, I now don’t have to sit next to the console.
Jesse – Ivory Tower Collections –
I too have been using and offering these kits in SMS services I provide here in the US. But I also wanted to mention another system I’ve found these kits useful for. The Atari 7800. The 7800 is the same in that is has a dedicated pause line to the console. So these kits can be retrofitted for use on a 7800 console and when combined with a modified controller in a similar fashion, you can remotely pause your games while playing. The ONLY difference is that that resistors on the controller PCBs, will not work on the 7800 and it does require the use of some diodes instead. But the rest of the main PCB you install in the console will work as it just fine. I don’t get many requests for this on the 7800, so I’ve not done any sort of document to note how to wire it up etc. But it does work great and I suspect any console with a dedicated pause line on their circuit could use this.