Most practical solution for all region nes/fc, gen/md, sms.

[mills]

Title edited to prevent creating a new thread.

What is the most practical solution for all region NES and Famicom games in one. Same goes for Sega Master System, and Sega Genesis/ Mega Drive?

If there is a single unit for each of those that will play all region, without having to purchase expensive adapters or have modifications, please tell. This would be the most ideal and hopefully inexpensive solution for me.

[Tupin]

With early games, the only difference is physical, so you can play them with a Game Genie.

For later games with lockout, you need an internal modification.

[Gameguy]

Topic. I want to get a Genesis again, or a mega drive. I want to get play both american and japanese games with as little hassle as possible, is there a model that will do this with no modifications?
Yes, the first version of the Model 1 Genesis didn't have a lockout chip, it can play import games without problems. All you need is a Game Genie to get past the physical differences between carts(it's easier to find a Game Genie compared to a Honey Bee converter, no codes are necessary for the Game Genie). This is the only version of Genesis that can play Budokan, and a few other early unlicensed games. It's not that rare or expensive to get either.

[Tupin]

Yes, the first version of the Model 1 Genesis didn't have a lockout chip, it can play import games without problems. All you need is a Game Genie to get past the physical differences between carts(it's easier to find a Game Genie compared to a Honey Bee converter, no codes are necessary for the Game Genie). This is the only version of Genesis that can play Budokan, and a few other early unlicensed games. It's not that rare or expensive to get either.
Seriously? I thought they all had lockout chips.

[Gameguy]

Seriously? I thought they all had lockout chips.
I'm serious, I have a couple of them(one is my first Genesis, the other I found in the wild. I think I had one more that I sold off too). They don't have the "Licensed by Sega" screen, the games start up right away.

There's a way to check if a Model 1 system is an early model, I'll post a quote I've come across awhile back(I think from this forum).


On the underside of the Genesis you should see a label that has "FCC" on it. The following are the two types of IDs that are on the Model 1's:

FJ846EUSASEGA: a system that has this ID does NOT have the copyright screen.
FJ8USASEGA: a system that has this ID DOES HAVE the copyright screen.

[suppafly]

If you can mod a system: Put region switches in a console

If you cant mod it: Get a Super Mega Key. Its compatible with all regions and even defeats 50/60 hz region protections...

[Tupin]

I'm serious, I have a couple of them(one is my first Genesis, the other I found in the wild. I think I had one more that I sold off too). They don't have the "Licensed by Sega" screen, the games start up right away.

There's a way to check if a Model 1 system is an early model, I'll post a quote I've come across awhile back(I think from this forum).
So if they have the "Licensed by Sega" screen, they won't play imports?

[Gameguy]

So if they have the "Licensed by Sega" screen, they won't play imports?
They won't play all imports. As you mentioned, early games were lockout free so they'll work on any console.

I don't have many imported games, but what I do have works on any console without issues. I even have a European copy of Kid Chameleon and it works without problems. I just thought the early Model 1 would be fine for importing Japanese games while still being somewhat cheap to get. It might have some problems playing certain PAL games though, I'm not really sure if that would be an issue. Some websites I've been to claim the early Model 1 Genesis has better quality sound, that might be something else to consider besides importing(I haven't really noticed a difference in sound though).

Here's a pretty decent guide for importing Genesis/Mega Drive games.
http://www.sega-16.com/feature_page.php?id=120&title=Locked%20Out:%20Importing%20Made%20Easy

[tubeway]

Going on a related tangent, here... what would be the best way to play import Sega CD titles on a US Genesis and Sega CD setup? I only have the first model of Genesis, but I have both models of Sega CD....

[Gameguy]

Going on a related tangent, here... what would be the best way to play import Sega CD titles on a US Genesis and Sega CD setup? I only have the first model of Genesis, but I have both models of Sega CD....
There's a few options. You can mod the CD console with a multi-bios chip, you can get a converter cart like the Pro CDX which isn't 100% compatible(this was made when the console was current), or you can use a flash cart like the Mega Cart (http://www.sega-16.com/feature_page.php?id=238&title=Sega%20Gear:%20Tototek%20Mega%20Cart) which claims to be 100% compatible(read the article for details).

[ooXxXoo]

The Mega Cart is great!

[tubeway]

Rad! Thank you for the help, Gameguy.

[The 1 2 P]

If you cant mod it: Get a Super Mega Key. Its compatible with all regions and even defeats 50/60 hz region protections...

I need to get me one of those. I have a game genie and an import convertor but atleast one of my import games still won't play.

[Breetai]

While we're on the topic, and before this thread gets too old...

I have an NTSC Genesis model 1 and Sega CD model 2. I live in Japan, and was thinking of picking up some Mega Drive and Mega CD games. From my understanding, a Game Genie can take care of pretty much all the Mega Drive games that are region-locked, as long as I have the right codes. What about Mega CD games? Will those work on a Game Genie, which I do have, with a code? If the Game Genie won't cover it, I'm not really interested in springing up $70-$100 or so for a Mega Cart. I can get a Mega Drive here for really cheap, and I'm sure a Mega CD will come up sooner or later for a good price. It's just a lot of hardware to lug around when I already have the machinery in a different region!

In short, does a Game Genie cover me on a Japanese Mega CD, or do I need to take extreme measures (mod/bios chip, Mega Cart, etc.)?

[Push Upstairs]

Yes, the first version of the Model 1 Genesis didn't have a lockout chip, it can play import games without problems. All you need is a Game Genie to get past the physical differences between carts(it's easier to find a Game Genie compared to a Honey Bee converter, no codes are necessary for the Game Genie). This is the only version of Genesis that can play Budokan, and a few other early unlicensed games. It's not that rare or expensive to get either.

Not true. I have got Budokan to play on a Nomad and Model 2 via a game genie that didn't have any codes put in.

[Gameguy]

Not true. I have got Budokan to play on a Nomad and Model 2 via a game genie that didn't have any codes put in.
Could you explain how? I tried the same thing with my Model 2, and a Nomad and it wouldn't start up past the Game Genie screens(the screen went and stayed black).

I don't have Budokan any more so I can't try it again.

[RASK1904]

This guy built a Super Genintari! This could save some room. It's a Super Nintendo, Genesis, Nes, and Atari alll in one. One power cable one av cable.Awsome.http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uFGQnU4TaYU

Thanx RASK1904

[TaxiTitan]

This guy built a Super Genintari! This could save some room. It's a Super Nintendo, Genesis, Nes, and Atari alll in one. One power cable one av cable.Awsome.http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uFGQnU4TaYU

Thanx RASK1904

Cool work!
Only thing missing was an RGB output. (He used the composit cable)
Still awesome!

[duo_r]

So modding a Genny to be multi region is well documented, but for the NES / Famicom the only option appears to be a converter of some sort. Converters are hard to come by these days, please let me know what options are available. I know there is the Gyromite converter, but it is kinda hard to find those.