The Japanese one looks boss. Is there anywhere I could find a compatibility/voltage thing if I wanted to import one into Australia?
I think I want one.
If it's "region free," it should have 2 switches: one for language (Japanese/Other) and one for frequency (60hz/50hz).I have a chance to get a JP model Mega Drive with region free and a 50/60hz switch for £20.
If it's "region free," it should have 2 switches: one for language (Japanese/Other) and one for frequency (60hz/50hz).
50/60hz and will fit all region games, also has a "HD audio" motherboard inside for best audio quality.
Looks shit. I'll give you 30 of your currency for it.fuck it. I bought one. £20, free shipping. 50/60hz modded, and region free. This is the ebay image - does it look alright?
The region of the console is determined by a combination of those two specific settings.Really? Aw shit, looks like this only has the one for 50/60hz. I didn't realise there was a language setting for the console, I assumed it was just like the SNES. The description simply said:
If the language setting isn't set to a switch, I might have to do it myself
The region of the console is determined a combination of those two specific settings.
JPN Mega Drive = JPN/60Hz
USA Genesis = ENG/60Hz
PAL Mega Drive = ENG/50Hz
If you don't have a way to flip one or both of those settings on command, then you won't be able to load every game.
Some games also load different versions dependent on the region that the console is set to. For example, the Japanese version of Gunstar Heroes also has the international release on the cartridge, but it's only compatible on Japanese and PAL systems. You can get it to properly load on an American console, though, by starting the machine in ENG/50Hz and switching it over to ENG/60Hz after it finishes booting up.
That mod doesn't look feature-complete. The writer even comments that such a mod won't play PAL games.So if I add another switch, I'll be fine? I'm going by this guide:
http://www.instructables.com/id/Seg...dification/step3/Locating-the-proper-jumpers/
Sonic 3K GOAT
Really? Aw shit, looks like this only has the one for 50/60hz. I didn't realise there was a language setting for the console, I assumed it was just like the SNES.
Early models didn't have the hardware for the region lock out, so all games should be playable on them (and for example the Sega copyright message wasn't there yet).
If it is an early MD, you might be in luck
Region lock is game-dependent, not console-dependent.Early models didn't have the hardware for the region lock out, so all games should be playable on them (and for example the Sega copyright message wasn't there yet).
If it is an early MD, you might be in luck
Region lock is game-dependent, not console-dependent.
)PRODUCED BY OR UNDER LINCENCE FROM SEGA ENTERPRISES
Happy Birthday MD!!!
I just love my JPN MegaDrive, the crimson red and massive '16-BIT' logo!!
The Master System had done so poorly in the US that Sega was naming their next system to imply that they were making a fresh start, I think... which they were: the SMS had been initially distributed by Tonka, the Genesis was Sega of America's first entirely in-house effort. But really, when your last system finishes in third place (out of three!), beaten not only by the utterly dominant NES but even, in the US, by the Atari 7800, would you particularly WANT to remember it afterwards?I have always been confused why it was called the genesis in America.
"Guys we need to name our second system, so I was thinking Genesis!"
You are indeed confusing the copyright notice with the region lock. The two are entirely unrelated.I thought it needs both. Only a few games had region lockout, in software, but this did not work on early MDs. (Or maybe I am confusing it with the copyright notice?)
You are indeed confusing the copyright notice with the region lock. The two are entirely unrelated.
Hey, while we're at it, let's not forget the mod to end all mods:
Overclock your MD1
(I haven't verified that site specifically, but I've seen it in a YT video)
You're right, it's their third. It's easy to forget about the SG-1000... but it exists, yes. Of course it failed badly everywhere, but it WAS released.The Genesis/MD isn't even Sega's "second" home console, either.
Good, it's easy to make that mistake but it is incorrect.Yeah, already edited my initial post on that matter, so no wrong information spreads.
Plus googling the issue resulted in me reading up on some tech specs, like how the 6 button controller worked (could be considered a hack), memory layout, etc. good stuff
I also didn't know, that two of the catridge-connection-pins were for streaming audio, nice.
Because they stand out more that way. And yes, most US EA carts are like that too.Why did EA games have taller cartridges with the yellow thing on (in Europe at least)?
Reduce slowdowns I think is the main thing. I can't be arsed looking for the video, but the obvious example used on YT was the slowdown when playing 2P in Sonic 2 and one loses their rings... but I'm sure there would be others. Not in all games (and obviously it would completely break some titles) but maybe others would see more obvious benefits. From memory, I think both Skitchin' and Road Rash 3 both suffered from slowdown?I'm just curious what the practical benefit of this would be?
Reduced slowdowns or more potential sprites being able to load on screen from memory for example?
The geek in me finds this kind of thing fascinating.
Why did EA games have taller cartridges with the yellow thing on (in Europe at least)?
It can eliminate slowdown to an extent.I'm just curious what the practical benefit of this would be?
Reduced slowdowns or more potential sprites being able to load on screen from memory for example?
The geek in me finds this kind of thing fascinating.
I took a quick and dirty photo of my mega drive with some of my faves last night.. I'm in the middle of reorganizing my game room so this is the best tribute i could give to it for now.
From various sources online apparently EA at one point did not have licensing rights to produce games on the Mega Drive so they basically reverse engineer the hardware and made their own carts for the system.
http://gaming.stackexchange.com/que...-genesismega-drive-have-a-different-cartridge
I would probably would take this with a grain of salt. I'm sure copyright violations would be involved if where any truth of these claims.
Finally, after all these years, I get that cleared up!But the yellow tab? That's just to make EA carts look different and stand out.
No, that happened. EA reverse engineered the Genesis, then went to Sega, told Sega (of America) that either they give EA a good licensing deal (on EA's terms) or EA would publish unlicensed games for the system. Sega caved. However, early EA titles do use methods to run which don't work on TMSS (with the "licensed by Sega" screen) Genesises, because Sega cracked down on that particular way of getting around the lock after the EA thing...From various sources online apparently EA at one point did not have licensing rights to produce games on the Mega Drive so they basically reverse engineer the hardware and made their own carts for the system.
http://gaming.stackexchange.com/que...-genesismega-drive-have-a-different-cartridge
I would probably would take this with a grain of salt. I'm sure copyright violations would be involved if where any truth of these claims.
The first step looks like it's obvious timing/sync issues, but the latter OC just has to be the CPU overheating. Looks like more than just a timing thing.It can eliminate slowdown to an extent.
Just don't take it too far.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uF7Vw0m_GnM
No, that happened. EA reverse engineered the Genesis, then went to Sega, told Sega (of America) that either they give EA a good licensing deal (on EA's terms) or EA would publish unlicensed games for the system. Sega caved. However, early EA titles do use methods to run which don't work on TMSS (with the "licensed by Sega" screen) Genesises, because Sega cracked down on that particular way of getting around the lock after the EA thing...
As for Accolade, they reverse-engineered it on their own and initially published without a license. Sega sued them, and initially won, but then Accolade won on appeal. After that apparently they settled before the case continued, with an agreement for Accolade to publish a bunch of games on Sega's platform, which they did -- look at how many more games Accolade published on Genesis than SNES. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sega_v._Accolade
Top comment:It's interesting how the game gets progressively worse and worse at 16.7Mhz.
IIRC, EA felt that Sega was less willing to challenge them than Nintendo, as Sega had more to gain by letting EA more or less do what they want.Why didn't EA and Accolade do this with Nintendo too?
Both did publish some games on the SNES too, though both released more Genesis games than SNES... but yeah, they didn't try to publish unlicenesed on the SNES. I think the SNES was harder to crack, for one thing... the only unlicensed SNES game released during its lifetime was Super Noah's Ark 3D, which uses a passthrough system (so you had to plug a legit cart into the top of it for it to work). Maybe they couldn't figure out how to break SNES copy protection? Either that or they were more scared of Nintendo's legal department than Sega's. Nintendo had a history of suing people after all.Why didn't EA and Accolade do this with Nintendo too?
Good point. For sure, Sega, as the upstart, had a lot more to gain by allowing this stuff. Already-powerful Nintendo would have had little reason to bend. And indeed, EA's Genesis support particularly ended up being an extremely important point in its success...IIRC, EA felt that Sega was less willing to challenge them than Nintendo, as Sega had more to gain by letting EA more or less do what they want.
IIRC, EA felt that Sega was less willing to challenge them than Nintendo, as Sega had more to gain by letting EA more or less do what they want.
Interesting! I love getting gaming history like this on NeoGaf!Both did publish some games on the SNES too, though both released more Genesis games than SNES... but yeah, they didn't try to publish unlicenesed on the SNES. I think the SNES was harder to crack, for one thing... the only unlicensed SNES game released during its lifetime was Super Noah's Ark 3D, which uses a passthrough system (so you had to plug a legit cart into the top of it for it to work). Maybe they couldn't figure out how to break SNES copy protection? Either that or they were more scared of Nintendo's legal department than Sega's. Nintendo had a history of suing people after all.
On that note, of course, Nintendo did sue Tengen (aka Atari Games) over Tengen's reverse-engineering of the NES for copy protection avoidance purposes...
Good point. For sure, Sega, as the upstart, had a lot more to gain by allowing this stuff. Already-powerful Nintendo would have had little reason to bend. And indeed, EA's Genesis support particularly ended up being an extremely important point in its success...
it's coming with SMS controllers(?!?)
*Awesome Game List*
I never noticed the huge 16-BIT in the front of the console
No commercial release hit 50K polygons per second as far as I know.And the 32x which allowed for 32,678 colors (Over the Mega Drive' max of 512), and capability to render 50,000 polygons per second which is showcased it's earliest examples of 3D in the bonus stages of Knuckles Chaotix
One was Nintendo the other was Sega.Why didn't EA and Accolade do this with Nintendo too?
Oh god, why did I even bother looking up consoles? This popped up as a *local* sale (keep in mind, I'm in Australia)"
It doesn't look to be in fantastic nick and obviously it's coming with SMS controllers(?!?) but it's $80 plus shipping. Can't say I'm not tempted, even though I'm probably barely going to use it (although having said that, if I set it up and was able to get a decent picture to my plasma, I may well keep it set up permanently).
It's only huge on the Japanese model