Questions about the Firecore

[Urzu402]

It's region free right?
Is it as bad as I heard?
When i mean region free, I also mean the games with the lockout chips in them or the coding what ever it is.
I heard it has compatibility issues with large games, would Rockman: Megaworld be too large of a game for it? if it can play Japanese games
Do Japanese Mega Drive games fit in the cart slot without modification (Sorry if these questions seem redundant)

I ask because I need a region free Genesis and I want to know my options

[todesengel]

Just use a Game Genie, it's a hell of a lot cheaper.

[Urzu402]

I know its cheaper, but its a pain in the ass to have to type in 3 lines of codes everytime I want to play

[todesengel]

http://i338.photobucket.com/albums/n440/echosreturn/Facepalm.jpg

[Enigmus]

I know its cheaper, but its a pain in the ass to have to type in 3 lines of codes everytime I want to play

The Fail is back, oh yes sirree, it's the Urzu402 from GameFAQi.

[Urzu402]

Enigmus insulting me, how unexpected.....
Anyway I fail to see how entering 3 lines of Game Genie codes can't get annoying. every time you want to play a game.

[Enigmus]

Enigmus complimenting me, I love it so much.....
Anyway I fail to see how entering 3 lines of Game Genie codes can't get annoying. every time you want to play a game.

When you plug in the Game Genie, do you see the start button on the controller?

Push it, then shut up. It's the truth, really.

[Urzu402]

Yes but you know, when it comes to certain games, they have actual lockout that isn't just physical, and you need to enter Game Genie codes to bypass it.
Rockman Megaworld is one of those games

[Enigmus]

Yes but you know, when it comes to certain games, i am lazy as hell and they have actual lockout that isn't just physical, and you need to enter Game Genie codes to bypass it.
Rockman Megaworld is one of those games that i whine about

Copy and paste codes into Microsoft Word, print out, actually use effort to type in the eighteen digits required to play.

[todesengel]

It doesn't take more than a few seconds to type in those codes.

[Urzu402]

That's the point im trying to make, why do that, if I can spend 10 more dollars and get a Firecore if it can play the games with the lockout code/chip (im not sure what it is). It's just going to get tedious after a while.

[todesengel]

Ok honestly dude, not trying to hate on you or anything but are you really that lazy that you can't take the few seconds to type the code in? I find it pointless to buy a whole new system just for 1 game. Here's a review of the Firecore console anyway complete with pics http://www.gamingbits.com/content/view/6721/43/. The cart slot looks like it can take a JP Mega Drive cart but it doesn't say if it can run games that have region lock outs. The system also seems to run about $30-$50 so the Game Genie would still be cheaper.

[Urzu402]

Thanks for actually helping. I'm only considering the Firecore because it is fairly cheap on Amazon 20 dollars. and I paid 168 dollars for this game so to me it is worth a system just for it, also I would have other uses for a mini Genesis if the Firecore isn't too bad.

[Gameguy]

Instead of a Game Genie you could get an actual region converter cartridge so you won't have to input codes every time. I'm not sure if it would be cheaper than getting a Firecore but it's another option.

The Firecore is region free and has an NTSC/PAL switch so it's suitable for imports. I've heard that it has sound issues as well as slowdown issues, but I haven't used one myself so I can't verify if these issues are true or not.

[Urzu402]

I don't even know where to look for region converter cartridges I look on ebay and there's nothing.

[Blitzwing256]

Another point the douchebags have failed to note, when you plug any battery save game into the game genie , none of your save data will be saved (bug with all genesis game genies) thus making it pretty pointless for any battery backed game (other then sonic3 as it uses a differnt kind of save ram)

and I recall megaman has sram as well.

[Urzu402]

So, I wont be able to save my game if I use a Game Genie?

If so that really blows.

[Wraith Storm]

I have never heard of the Firecore before.

For a second there I thought it actually looked like a pretty cool system. Having the region switch built in and support for IR controllers... Then I noticed in the pictures, that for whatever ludicrous reason, it only outputs Mono sound! :-/ What the hell?!

I hadn't seen it mentioned and just wanted to point that out.

[todesengel]

The Firecore also seems to be just emulating the Genesis as well. The thing just has a generic 32-bit processor and running Genesis emulation.

[Urzu402]

Hmmm the burning question I need the answer too is if it could play games with lock-out. I see on the Sega Forms someone mentions it wont because the region switch only goes from NTSC to PAL, But what that person failed to realize is NTSC is both Japan and the US. then I found reports of Golden Axe 3 working, but it could have been a pirate, but the Golden Axe 3 didnt work in the person's genesis 3 so. Maybe because it emulates the Genesis rather than has real hardware, it can play them it can auto detect the region. but that comes back to is Rockman Mega World too big a game for it to play?

[todesengel]

Well I'm just douchebag but the switch for NTSC and PAL I don't think would have anything to do with the region lock. If you throw a region locked NTSC-J cart into a US Genesis you'll still get the lock out message even though they're both NTSC 60hertz. The region lock checks the bio's region, not if it's NTSC/PAL 50hrz/60hrz like the SNES lock out. If you're really worried that much about the region lock then go ahead and get the Firecore if you can find it for cheap. The save issue I had no idea about since I never use the Game Genie with games that have on cart saving since Game Genies usually erase save on you. I also think that Rockman Mega World can still has the original password feature from the Famicom games so it isn't that big of a deal not being able to save (although I think you won't be able to play the Wily Tower bonus game). GameGuy did say though that the Firecore is region free so I would think you shouldn't have a problem. If all else fails you could mod your Genesis with a region switch or do like I did and buy a dirt cheap Japanese Mega Drive, then you won't have to worry about the region lock or poor emulation like the clone systems have. I got my Mega Drive from a user on Digital Press by trading only a handful of common NES games, and most bare Mega Drive's seem to only go for like $20 (that's no controllers or cables but the model 1 Japanese Mega Drive can use the US model 1 cables).

[Urzu402]

I would want to buy a Japanese Mega Drive, but I can't find one for nearly as cheap as you mention, without the shipping being astromnomical. I'll keep looking though. Also there is no password feature in Wily Wars/Mega World.

[todesengel]

Ah well damn I thought Mega World still had the password option there, been years since I've played it. http://www.japangamestock.com/buy_video_games.php?cPath=67&products_id=5441, there's a model 1 Mega Drive for $17, wouldn't hurt to email them to see what the cheapest shipping you can get is.

[Urzu402]

Damn the cheapest shipping, Airmail is 2,760JPY which is slightly more than 31 US dollars, at least thats what it seems like, I'm better off buying from a US seller but then they think Import = More Money :(

[Oldskool]

What game did you pay 168 for on the Mega Drive? There are not many worth that much. It may just pop in and play. If you tell us which one it is, we can tell you if it's got the lock out or not.

If it doesn't just file your cart slot, jam it in there and play it.

[Urzu402]

Oldskool, you were helping me on the Import forum, remember I bought Rockman Mega World thats the game I want to know if it works on the Firecore

[Oldskool]

Oldskool, you were helping me on the Import forum, remember I bought Rockman Mega World thats the game I want to know if it works on the Firecore

Oh, that's right. I even posted the codes for you to make it easy - now I remember.

[Urzu402]

I found this info on the sega-16 forum


The Firecore is about 99% functional with Sega games, the only ones that wont work
are the games that require a higher voltage to run, which around 1% of games do.
Same goes with imports, about 99% accurate.

So now the question is, does Rockman Mega World require a higher voltage to run?

EDIT:
Nevermind I just found this on a different forum.


However, I discovered that it does not seem possible to save your game while using a Firecore! I can load the saved game files that were already on these used cartridges, but I cannot save or delete save game files. So playing RPGs on a Firecore is not really feasible.

Topic over

[Gavica]

firecore has bad sound like all clone systems

[todesengel]

Stick with the game genie for now then just save up to get a JP Mega Drive or region mod your Genesis.

[megasdkirby]

My best suggestion is to mod an existing console.

Modding a model 1 genesis is INCREDIBLY easy to do. Even I, with basic soldering skills (and that's just pushing it...I really know shit about soldering) managed to solder the required wires (thanks to the fact that the solder points on the Genesis Model 1 are big and accessible.

You won't regret it, Urzu. Purchase a cheap ass model 1 somewhere here or around your area. Purchase the wires and the switch of your choice (buy one according to the modding guide), and mod away. It's a great one day job that will net excellent results in the end.

Plus, it's MILES cheaper than getting a crappy Genesis clone. Trust me, you WILL love it!

:)

[Oldskool]

Yup, and a decent soldering iron won't cost you any more than 10 bucks at Radio Shack.

[Urzu402]

I do have a model 1 Genesis, I have soldered one time before in my life so.... Any good Guides on how to do it? preferably with nice big pictures.

[Oldskool]

I do have a model 1 Genesis, I have soldered one time before in my life so.... Any good Guides on how to do it? preferably with nice big pictures.

This guy breaks it down pretty good. He basically shows you how to do it as if you have no experience at all doing it. And there are countless other links on the internet and videos on Youtube on the subject as well. Looks VERY easy, I plan on doing it sometime, I just have yet had the need to. My X'Eye accepts Mega Drive carts without modification, and I don't have a Mega Drive game yet that has a region lockout. But yeah anyways, we are talking about just a few dollars worth of parts. And another 10 bucks or so for a soldering iron + solder. So you could have a region modded Genesis for $15 + $10 for a Genesis 1 at a thrift store/craigslist/ebay/etc.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qEA8Rt763LY

Part 2:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=spdzhaYqDPc&feature=related

[Urzu402]

Well, the Rockman Mega World saves with the Game Genie I tried by clearing a Wily Tower save and then beating Bomb Man in Mega Man 1 and saving it and then turning my nomad off, and then turning it back on, entering the codes and my save was still there with just Bomb Man beaten