Best way to play Mega CD games

[swlovinist]

I recently got some Mega CD games, and wanted to know what is the best way to play them. I have a Pioneer Laseractive, but recently found that I cannot play games on my US system without spending alot of money. I would love to see what other options I have to be able to play Mega CD games. Are there any other US consoles that can play Mega CD games. Is there a converter cart of some type? Thanks, John

[Gameguy]

Is there a converter cart of some type?
Look into the Datel Pro-CDX/CDX-Plus. The only thing is they're very hard to find and can be a bit expensive.

[Vlcice]

I think the Everdrive (http://krikzz.com/everdrive-md.html) can let you play foreign games by loading a foreign system's BIOS. The site links to an all-region BIOS but I don't know if it works on Laseractive. You could probably download a Japanese LA BIOS and use that, though.

[Zebbe]

Get a Mega Cart.

[Az]

Using a Laseractive? I'm not sure if any of the available converter carts work with it. Unless you have a regular Gen/CD combo, you might end up with an expensive paperweight.

There are a few programs that will try to convert MCD's to SCD's for burning onto a CD-R, but the compatibility is somewhat poor and won't work on a lot of Japanese to US conversions.

[Steve W]

You know, one of the reasons I originally wanted a Pioneer Laseractive when it came out is because I had read that it didn't have a region lock-out in the Mega LD pack. I never managed to find a Mega CD game in the wild (I did find a Japanese copy of Popful Mail at a flea market, but the disc was missing :( ) so I never had the chance to try it out for myself.

There is a way of hacking the region settings in the Mega LD pack, but I never had the nerve to do it.

[Enigmus]

Kega Fusion and an USB controller. I don't have a SCD yet, but this works just the same.

[Vlcice]

You know, one of the reasons I originally wanted a Pioneer Laseractive when it came out is because I had read that it didn't have a region lock-out in the Mega LD pack. I never managed to find a Mega CD game in the wild (I did find a Japanese copy of Popful Mail at a flea market, but the disc was missing :( ) so I never had the chance to try it out for myself.

There is a way of hacking the region settings in the Mega LD pack, but I never had the nerve to do it.

Mega LD has no regioning for Mega LD games, but Mega CD games are still region-locked. It'd be nice if it worked with both.

[TheClash603]

The CLD-A100 is not region locked, only each of the pacs. This is not for the Laseractive games, but for the Sega/MD and TG16/PC-E games.

If you already have a Laseractive, you should be able to find a Pac S1 for about $100. That's a fairly reasonable price to play MD games.

Lastly, the system is big and bulky, but I've realized that since it can play Genesis, Sega CD, MD, Mega CD, TG 16, and PCE games, it actually is quite convenient once you get all the Pacs.

[Steve W]

How much does the Japanese PC-Engine pac cost, out of curiosity? I'm guessing it'll be much higher, probably on par with the US Turbo pac.

[Vlcice]

The price is incredibly variable. They don't sell often enough to have a normal selling price. While I once saw one go for as cheap as $150 or so, they typically run $300 - 400, and sometimes sell for higher.

[Edmond Dantes]

I hope nobody minds me bumping this topic since I recently developed a similar interest.

I'm kind of confused about what this "Everdrive" is. How does it work?

Someone mentioned a "Mega Cart." What is that?

Thanks.

[theclaw]

Everdrive pairs very well with the Sega CDX. That combo has immense compatibility relative to form factor. Greater than even JVC X'eye because Everdrive's SMS loading works correct on CDX.

Majority of Master System, Genesis, and CD games should run or are patch-able. Exceptions include Virtua Racing (no SVP chip), games where 50hz is mandatory, and SMS titles using a VDP mode not supported by Genesis.

Both Everdrive and Mega Cart allow CD BIOS loading to enable most imports. Though IIRC neither contains the backup RAM needed by Shining Force CD.

[Amon_Re]

Easiest/Cheapest way is off course emulation. That's how I play my PC-Engine CD games (on a handheld even!)

[Edmond Dantes]

Both Everdrive and Mega Cart allow CD BIOS loading to enable most imports. Though IIRC neither contains the backup RAM needed by Shining Force CD.

So if I stuck an Everdrive or a Mega Cart in the Genesis and stuck an actual Mega CD game in the Sega CD, I could play it?

Keep in mind I have a Model 2 Genny/CD combo.

Also, why can't Shining Force save to the internal RAM?

[theclaw]

Yes. Most should with a correct region BIOS loaded.

Apparently, though I don't own either the game or a backup RAM cart to say for sure, save progress of the main Shining Force chapters requires greater memory than Sega CD provides. Hence needing a true save RAM cart for its additional levels.

Still you'll be able to demo many of the pricier games you're unsure you'd like on an actual console. Diving hundreds into your wallet for elusive titles like Power Strike II, MUSHA, Panarama Cotton, Mega Man The Wily Wars, etc only to find disappointment would be no fun.

[substantial_snake]

So if I stuck an Everdrive or a Mega Cart in the Genesis and stuck an actual Mega CD game in the Sega CD, I could play it?

Keep in mind I have a Model 2 Genny/CD combo.

Also, why can't Shining Force save to the internal RAM?

I don't no anything about the Mega Cart so can't help you with that.

The Everdrive is a flash cart that allows you to run practically the entire Genesis Library, most of the Master System library, homebrew, and fan hacks. Along with a ton of other functions you can also load region specific Sega CD bios onto the flash cart, which will then start your Sega CD and load whatever Disc you put into it.

Quick Video showing how simple it is:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zLUswB2aY0o

It should work fine with anything that uses the official Sega CD bios (aka made by Sega). I am not so sure about things like the X'eye/Wondermega.

Shining Force might be a game that just needs more memory then the Sega CD onboard has to offer. I don't remember exactly how much there was but its was a tiny amount.

tl/dr

Buy an everdrive, download the JPN/EU bios from somewhere, load it on everdrive, enjoy region free Sega CD. :)

[chrisbid]

this may be too conventional, but cant you use a japanese mega cd system with a US genesis to play japanese mega cd games?

[theclaw]

Good question. Never seen that attempted, it might need a region switch on the genesis.

[Edmond Dantes]

this may be too conventional, but cant you use a japanese mega cd system with a US genesis to play japanese mega cd games?

That would require me buying another CD unit, possibly having to open it up and replace the battery... I'd rather not have to do that.

If I could find a unit that someone's already done that to though, it would be a different story.

[Vlcice]

Re: Shining Force: every game chapter gets its own save, and those saves are big. The Sega CD has enough internal RAM to store one chapter's save with a little leftover room, but not more than that. Since accessing chapters 3 and 4 requires a completed savegame from chapters 1 and 2, you basically have to have a RAM cart to get the entire game. If you only care about the main game you can squeeze by without one, though.

[theclaw]

That would require me buying another CD unit, possibly having to open it up and replace the battery... I'd rather not have to do that.

If I could find a unit that someone's already done that to though, it would be a different story.

Obviously given overseas postage to import a Mega CD (unless you find one here somehow?), Everdrive is the better choice bar none.

[SteveSpeeze]

I hope nobody minds me bumping this topic since I recently developed a similar interest.

I'm kind of confused about what this "Everdrive" is. How does it work?

Someone mentioned a "Mega Cart." What is that?

Thanks.

i have one, sometimes its a hassle though so i just got a mega cd player.

[blue lander]

I put a multibios in my Sega CD, now I can play everything. I just use a toggle switch to change from us to japan.

[RCM]

I use the Tototek Mega Cart and have no complaints running Mega CD on my Sega CD 1 & 2. Very easy, and I think it's a flashcart for Genesis and 32X games too.

[Edmond Dantes]

Re: Shining Force: every game chapter gets its own save, and those saves are big. The Sega CD has enough internal RAM to store one chapter's save with a little leftover room, but not more than that. Since accessing chapters 3 and 4 requires a completed savegame from chapters 1 and 2, you basically have to have a RAM cart to get the entire game. If you only care about the main game you can squeeze by without one, though.

So basically, the 16-Bit version of Metal Gear Solid 4 then.

I'm not supposing there's some way to simply put more RAM in the Sega CD itself, is there?

Or to use the Everdrive or something similar as a RAM cart itself?

[Leo_A]

The Everdrive is a flash cart...

How come you're always coming into a thread and restating answers for questions that were already answered?

[xelement5x]

So basically, the 16-Bit version of Metal Gear Solid 4 then.

I'm not supposing there's some way to simply put more RAM in the Sega CD itself, is there?

Or to use the Everdrive or something similar as a RAM cart itself?

I think it's possible to add more memory to the Sega CD, as I believe someone drew up proof of concept schematics. But I remember that it was not going to be very easy to do, hence why they never executed it

The EverDrive can't be used as a RAM cart as far as I know, due to the way the RAM cart interacts with the system. Someone in Brazil had made their own though and made them ridiculously large as well.

FWIW, I would just shell out the cash for a Backup cart if you need the extra space. They're also region free so if you can find a JP on the cheap it's a good route to take.

[substantial_snake]

How come you're always coming into a thread and restating answers for questions that were already answered?

There is a time code stamp on the post before mine of two minutes, that reply was posted as I was typing out mine. :roll:

[Leo_A]

There is a time code stamp on the post before mine of two minutes, that reply was posted as I was typing out mine. :roll:

Everything you added to it was already basically explained quite a bit earlier in the thread over half a day before (What the Everdrive can do, that the Sega CD doesn't have enough internal ram for Shining Force, that the Everdrive allows you to load a different region's bios). I've noticed you doing this quite a bit lately, and was puzzled by it.

[substantial_snake]

Everything you added to it was already basically explained quite a bit earlier in the thread over half a day before (What the Everdrive can do, that the Sega CD doesn't have enough internal ram for Shining Force, that the Everdrive allows you to load a different region's bios). I've noticed you doing this quite a bit lately, and was puzzled by it.

Mostly because it seemed like the person I was replying to needed more clarification on what the Everdrive actually did or how you go about region free. I figured a brief explanation of what the Everdrive was and how it worked with region free would be useful, if not I am deeply sorry for wasting you and everyone else's time.

[Leo_A]

I figured a brief explanation of what the Everdrive was and how it worked with region free would be useful, if not I am deeply sorry for wasting you and everyone else's time.

Don't take it so personal, it was just an observation that I was curious about.

[Edmond Dantes]

FWIW, I would just shell out the cash for a Backup cart if you need the extra space. They're also region free so if you can find a JP on the cheap it's a good route to take.

The main question in my mind was "what if, for whatever reason, I wanted to play the Japanese version of Shining Force CD on an American Sega CD?"

I guess though if I ever became that dedicated, I could always just get a Wondermega, or a Japanese Mega Drive with the CD. Shining Force isn't exactly a series I enjoy for its plot regardless, so the quality of the English version's translation probably won't be that big of an issue.

[substantial_snake]

Don't take it so personal, it was just an observation that I was curious about.

And how else am I supposed to take it, you personally called me out? :|


The main question in my mind was "what if, for whatever reason, I wanted to play the Japanese version of Shining Force CD on an American Sega CD?"

I guess though if I ever became that dedicated, I could always just get a Wondermega, or a Japanese Mega Drive with the CD. Shining Force isn't exactly a series I enjoy for its plot regardless, so the quality of the English version's translation probably won't be that big of an issue.

In the case of this one game the MegaCart seems like the way to go, it has both the extra onboard memory and region free bios that you need while the Everdrive doesn't.

(oops my opinion coincides with others in this thread..guess I did it again)

[Edmond Dantes]

Okay, I shall seek out a MegaCart.

Incidentally I don't see much point getting too upset at Leo_A. He probably didn't realize how his post sounded. And anyway, I personally thought your information was helpful, since it answered the specific questions I had and cleared up things previous posters didn't.

(on top of that, I'd rather see this topic used to discuss the Sega CD and importing, not forum users)

[substantial_snake]

Okay, I shall seek out a MegaCart.

Incidentally I don't see much point getting too upset at Leo_A. He probably didn't realize how his post sounded. And anyway, I personally thought your information was helpful, since it answered the specific questions I had and cleared up things previous posters didn't.

(on top of that, I'd rather see this topic used to discuss the Sega CD and importing, not forum users)

Like I said before I have no personal experience with the MegaCart but from whats said on their website, reviews, and others in this thread it seems like a solid bet.

http://products.genny4ever.net/megacart_v1x.html

Yeah sorry shoulda let that go, just a bad day.

[xelement5x]

I've always wondered if there were any games that were really worth importing for the Sega (Mega) CD. The only ones I've heard mentioned that might be worth it are the Urusei Yatsura game, and Heavy Nova. The Sega CD is odd in that (as far as I know) a majority of the games for it that were made in Japan got localized for the US as well.

[Vlcice]

There are some interesting Japanese exclusive games, but most of them are very Japanese language-heavy so they're pretty much inaccessible if you can't understand it. Stuff like Urusei Yatsura, Illusion City, Shadowrun, etc.

[Az]

The main question in my mind was "what if, for whatever reason, I wanted to play the Japanese version of Shining Force CD on an American Sega CD?"


You're still SOL if you want to play the last chapter, regardless if you're using an Everdrive or Megacart. The only options would be both to buy a backup RAM cart and solder in a new bios chip, or the slim possibility that Shining Force CD can be region converted through software (but you'd still have to buy a backup RAM cart).

The Megacart acts like the Pro Action Replay for Saturn; you can save/restore system memory to it but you can't access it on the fly like you can a regular backup RAM cart.

[Az]

I've always wondered if there were any games that were really worth importing for the Sega (Mega) CD.

Night Striker and The Ninja Warriors are both alright if found for a decent price. Final Fight CD is worth buying for the uncensored version if you're a big enough FF nut (I am!).

I've noticed a few titles are sometimes cheaper or easier to come across in their PAL format than NTSC, so there's that factor also.

[synbiosfan]

I've noticed a few titles are sometimes cheaper or easier to come across in their PAL format than NTSC, so there's that factor also.

Keio Flying Squadron was that way when I bought the PAL Mega CD version. I haven't checked lately but I'd imagine the MCD version is still cheaper. Great game but not worth the price for the US one.