View Full Version : Mega CD paired with a Genesis
Kyle15
02-21-2010, 12:57 AM
So, there's a guy at the local flea who has a complete Japanese Mega CD. He's going to let it go for $25 since I'm a pretty frequent customer. I'm ready to buy, but I have a question: do these things work properly with an American Genesis/MD? The actual port isn't a problem, its the lock-out chip that worries me.
Icarus Moonsight
02-21-2010, 01:05 AM
IDK, never tried or heard of it being tried myself. If I was going to try it, I'd use a High-Def version US Genny to increase the odds as much as possible. Even then, you might just end up with litter of subnormal/retarded Nomads. :p
So, there's a guy at the local flea who has a complete Japanese Mega CD. He's going to let it go for $25 since I'm a pretty frequent customer. I'm ready to buy, but I have a question: do these things work properly with an American Genesis/MD? The actual port isn't a problem, its the lock-out chip that worries me.
Which version is the MCD? What about your Genesis?
The reason I ask is that I'm almost 100% positive a model 1 Japanese MCD will work with a model 1 US Genesis, or at least that is what is reported in several magazines at the CD launch. You will be playing Japanese CD games only, if it does work.
GarrettCRW
02-21-2010, 03:54 AM
You're most likely only going to be able to use it with a region switch on your Genesis, and then you'll only be able to play Japanese Mega CD games without a converter cart.
Breetai
02-21-2010, 08:06 AM
The reason I ask is that I'm almost 100% positive a model 1 Japanese MCD will work with a model 1 US Genesis....
Yup. It should work, BUT the MCD will ONLY play Japanese games. The bios on the CD system is not compatible with foreign systems.
It's a better idea to just have a Sega CD and a Mega CD if you want games from both regions.
todesengel
02-21-2010, 09:02 AM
Even if it doesn't work I say buy it since that's cheap as hell. I've been trying to find a decent priced Japanese Mega CD for almost a year now.
mobiusclimber
02-21-2010, 11:39 AM
I can confirm it DOES work, at least the set-up I'm using (Genny version 1 w/ the MD CD 1 is it? the one that sits next to it).
Kyle15
02-21-2010, 07:49 PM
Which version is the MCD? What about your Genesis?
The reason I ask is that I'm almost 100% positive a model 1 Japanese MCD will work with a model 1 US Genesis, or at least that is what is reported in several magazines at the CD launch. You will be playing Japanese CD games only, if it does work.
The Mega CD is a model 1. I'm currently using an American model 1 with my only model 2 Genesis.
Yup. It should work, BUT the MCD will ONLY play Japanese games. The bios on the CD system is not compatible with foreign systems.
It's a better idea to just have a Sega CD and a Mega CD if you want games from both regions.
I'll be getting it just for the imports. A converter cart for my Sega CD will more or less cost just as much, so going with an actual Japanese system will prove much easier.
Even if it doesn't work I say buy it since that's cheap as hell. I've been trying to find a decent priced Japanese Mega CD for almost a year now.
I'm definately going to pick it up either way. Also, I'm glad to know that $25 is a good deal.
I can confirm it DOES work, at least the set-up I'm using (Genny version 1 w/ the MD CD 1 is it? the one that sits next to it).
I should be fine since my Sega CD 1 works with my Genesis 2. There's probably going to be a catch as usual, though...
Anyway, thanks for letting me know. :D
ApolloBoy
02-21-2010, 09:10 PM
IIRC, you'll need to have a region switch on your system since the Mega CD detects what system it's running on and will be locked out if the Genesis/MD is of a different region. Still, $25 is an incredible deal on a Mega CD and you made a good choice.
Breetai
02-22-2010, 12:51 PM
I'll be getting it just for the imports. A converter cart for my Sega CD will more or less cost just as much, so going with an actual Japanese system will prove much easier.
In that case, just buy the set I'm selling!
mobiusclimber
02-22-2010, 08:30 PM
IIRC, you'll need to have a region switch on your system since the Mega CD detects what system it's running on and will be locked out if the Genesis/MD is of a different region. Still, $25 is an incredible deal on a Mega CD and you made a good choice.
Again, that's not true of ALL of them. I have a Sega Genesis model 1 hooked up to a Mega CD model 1 and no region switch.
Kyle15
02-22-2010, 10:32 PM
In that case, just buy the set I'm selling!
Oh, I'd definately buy a whole set or two of your great import goodness. I'm really booked this month; three new game releases AND the Mega CD. Didn't really fit it in money-wise, but I'll find a way.
I was also wondering, do you take import requests? I'm looking to get a copy of Ninku for the Sega Saturn.
Again, that's not true of ALL of them. I have a Sega Genesis model 1 hooked up to a Mega CD model 1 and no region switch.
So some need region switches and others don't? That's kind of...odd. I never heard of that until now.
mobiusclimber
02-23-2010, 12:17 AM
The original Model 1 Genesis didn't have a region lockout chip at all. Not sure if ALL model 1s went w/o a lockout chip or not tho.
But that's not what I"m saying anyway. What I'm saying is that I do not have a region switch on my Genesis, yet I have a Mega CD hooked up to it and it works fine. Make of it what you will, I can only tell you my own experience.
Kyle15
02-27-2010, 07:20 PM
The original Model 1 Genesis didn't have a region lockout chip at all. Not sure if ALL model 1s went w/o a lockout chip or not tho.
But that's not what I"m saying anyway. What I'm saying is that I do not have a region switch on my Genesis, yet I have a Mega CD hooked up to it and it works fine. Make of it what you will, I can only tell you my own experience.
That's still good to know. Thanks! :)
NayusDante
02-27-2010, 07:49 PM
If I'm not mistaken, you can rip a Sega CD ISO and use a utility to change the region, then burn the backup, if that helps.
Zigfried
02-27-2010, 10:39 PM
I know the core question is already answered, but just throwing some extra info out there:
A model-1 Genesis will also work with a model-2 Mega CD. Of course it only plays Japanese CDs and US carts, but the neat thing is that the US RAM cart works for saving Japanese CD games.
Kyle15
02-28-2010, 01:50 AM
If I'm not mistaken, you can rip a Sega CD ISO and use a utility to change the region, then burn the backup, if that helps.
Eh, too much trouble for what its worth. I'd take the Japanese system any day if I could get one. In this case, that's not a problem.
Anyway, thanks for the tip as always. :)
I know the core question is already answered, but just throwing some extra info out there:
A model-1 Genesis will also work with a model-2 Mega CD. Of course it only plays Japanese CDs and US carts, but the neat thing is that the US RAM cart works for saving Japanese CD games.
That reminds me, I still need a working Genesis 1. I got a bare one for $5 a couple of months back, but the switch is all crusty. Not to mention the rest of the deep grooves....they're literally FILLED with grime. @_@
Better just trash it and try again....unless some fiddling around inside would fix some things.
Nico87
03-03-2010, 11:02 AM
To be honest, there aren't really that many good japanese Sega CD games.
Kyle15
03-06-2010, 04:23 PM
Bit of a dilemma: there wasn't a power cord and I ended up buying the thing anyway. (Its mint beyond that, I don't worry about the system not working.)
I don't need a specific Japanese model for it, do I?
Thanks! :)
+UPDATE+
Hooked it up to my old, model 1 Genesis. The lights still aren't activating on the MCD, but I could have sworn that something moved a bit inside....
Back to square one. If this turns out to be a different problem than the power cord, anybody want a boxed Mega CD? :/
Breetai
03-07-2010, 08:54 AM
I was also wondering, do you take import requests? I'm looking to get a copy of Ninku for the Sega Saturn.
I haven't looked at this thread in a while. I missed this question, even though we've been chatting on the other site.
I can't take anymore requests as I'm leaving Japan in a few weeks. Sorry...
Hopefully you can figure out the problem.
Kyle15
03-07-2010, 12:12 PM
I haven't looked at this thread in a while. I missed this question, even though we've been chatting on the other site.
I can't take anymore requests as I'm leaving Japan in a few weeks. Sorry...
Hopefully you can figure out the problem.
That's okay.
I'd be happy to request something if you ever went back, though! :)