The SMS (Sega Master System) was Sega's answer to Nintendo's 8-bit NES (Nintendo Entertainment System). Technically superior, the system never became a big succes in the U.S. In Europe however it was rather the opposite. There are many factors contributing to the SMS' failure in gaining a significant amount of the market (statistics show the NES having 90% of the 8-bit market, with the SMS and Atari 7800 sharing the remaining 10%). One reason was Nintendo's third party policy (if you programmed for Nintendo, you programmed for the Nintendo only). Another simple reason was that Nintendo was released earlier.