Sega Master System logo and accessory/game packaging
“The Sega Master System is a third-generation home video game console that was manufactured by Sega. It was originally released in 1985 as the Sega Mark III in Japan. After being redesigned prior to its North American launch, the console was renamed Master System and released in 1986 in North America, 1987 in Europe, and 1989 in Brazil.” — Wikipedia
The Light weight of Ed Benguiat’s ITC Modern No. 216 was used for the system’s logo and packaging of the console. Most of the initial game packaging also used the typeface, creating a cohesive identity for the brand. To our contemporary eyes it seems odd to see a bookish serif promoting video games, but tightly spaced, large x-height serifs were commonly used in the ’80s for every kind of high-tech product. (See Apple.)
Later, the type in the logo switched to a wider, small-size-optimized version of Century and the game titles replaced ITC Modern 216 with the much bolder Pistilli Roman or their own branding.
For more on the main Sega logo, see Sega logo (1976–present).
4 Comments on “Sega Master System logo and accessory/game packaging”
To be honest those covers were atrocious, specially if you compare them to the japanese originals…
Any Idea what the font for the “Action”, “Shooting”, and other upper left labels are? They aren’t any of those listed here. Arial comes close, but I noticed in specific, the G in “Shooting” is way off using Arial. Thanks.
If you’re asking about “Shooting” in the second-to-last image for Fantasy Zone, that’s Franklin Gothic Extra Condensed. Now added to the list of typefaces.
Phenomenal! Thank you. I’ve also been using WhatTheFont to find out what some other fonts are that make appearances on different box fronts. Working on a complete re-construction of the entire set of box fronts.