The Sega Genesis 'Tower of Power' How high can it actually go?

[The Adventurer]

I picked up a Genesis Game Genie the other day and it got me thinking, people often make fun of the fact that the Genesis had a million add-ons, both official and unoffical. And gets looking pretty ridiculous with them all attached the same time.

But my question becomes, how many system add-ons and peripherals can you actually have attached to a Genesis at one given time, and still get a result? A 'result' being, when you power the system on a cartridge based game will actually play.

Unfortunately I don't have all possible peripherals to test myself. But my guess is Model 1 Sega CD > Model 1 Genesis > 32X Add-On > Game Genie > Sonic & Knuckles Game Cart > Sonic 2/3

I'm unsure if you can use the 3DX with the Power Base Converter installed, if you can. That's another layer.

[Sosage]

We had a couple threads discussing this a long time ago. Depends on if you want it to be a functional set up or just stack stuff as high as you can get it. :P

You forgot to add an X-Band in there. That's at least two cartridges worth of height.

[The Adventurer]

We had a couple threads discussing this a long time ago. Depends on if you want it to be a functional set up or just stack stuff as high as you can get it. :P
'Fuctional' is definitely my question. An infinite number of Sonic & Knuckles carts isn't my idea of a good time.


You forgot to add an X-Band in there. That's at least two cartridges worth of height.

I suppose also not necessarily physical height. Just total unique peripherals.

[SparTonberry]

I'm unsure if you can use the 3DX with the Power Base Converter installed, if you can. That's another layer.

My guess is you can't use a PBC in the 32X. I think one of the pins on the PBC needs to boot the Genesis into SMS mode to work.

[Emperor Megas]

Model 1 SEGA CD
Model 1 Genesis
SEGA 32X
Game Genie
Sonic and Knuckles
Sonic the Hedgehog 2 locked on

I'm pretty sure that this set up works, and the model 1 SEGA CD and Genesis are thicker than the model 2, so you get a little more height. I'll try it once I dig my 32X out, unless someone can already confirm that it doesn't.

[Gameguy]

You could also use one of those region converter type carts, just to add to it.

[Rickstilwell1]

Sonic 3 & Knuckles will work in a Game Genie. There are specific Game Genie codes for that version.

Power Base converter doesn't work in 32X, nor does using Everdrive to play SMS games thru a 32X. The 32X is missing required hardware to send the signal to boot SMS mode directly to the Genesis. Using the PBC and an SMS game would be shorter than 32X + Game Genie + Sonic & Knuckles + Sonic 2 or 3 anyway.

[The Adventurer]

Right, but can you book Genesis games through the 32X if its inserted into the Power Base Converter?

I'm basing this off the assumption that you can just play Genesis games with the Power Base Converter installed. Which is what I always thought was the case.

[SparTonberry]

Very unlikely because again, the PBC connector would set the pin that boots the Genesis into SMS mode so whatever was inserted it would try to boot as a SMS game.

[Gameguy]

I'm basing this off the assumption that you can just play Genesis games with the Power Base Converter installed. Which is what I always thought was the case.
That's not how it works, you have to remove the Power Base Converter to play Genesis games. It only works with Master System games.

[The Adventurer]

That's not how it works, you have to remove the Power Base Converter to play Genesis games. It only works with Master System games.

Oh. Good to know!

[Bing147]

Thats actually not true. Genesis games work fine with the PBC in, you don't have to remove it at all. I use mine with it in all the time.

[SpaceHarrier]

I don't know the answer to this, though I have played my 32X with Sonic & Knuckles, Sonic 3 and a Game Genie together. I desperately want to test this though:

http://www.sonicstadium.org/wp-content/uploads/2012/07/Tower_of_Sonic.jpg

How much are S+K carts going for now? I want to stand on the roof holding the top cart, and have someone on the front lawn turn the system on. LOL

[The Adventurer]

I'm surprised two S&K carts even function together.

[BlastProcessing402]

Thats actually not true. Genesis games work fine with the PBC in, you don't have to remove it at all. I use mine with it in all the time.

You can stick Genesis games into a 32X and play them without removing it, which I hope is what you're thinking of, because anyone trying to do this with a PBC will quickly find out that you can't even fit a Genesis cart into a PBC, the cart slot isn't the same size.

If you could stick SMS and Genesis carts into the same slot, there'd be no need for a PBC at all, as all it really does is change the slot shape for you. It's not like the Coleco and Intellivision addons that basically had a whole 2600 clone inside, the Genesis already contains all the SMS hardware itself.

But I've only had my Genesis for 25 years, and my PBC for almost that long, so maybe I'm wrong. (I'm not wrong).

[Jorpho]

Gee, I knew it used the Genesis Z80, but the Power Base Converter is so bulky that I always thought there was more to it than that.

Does this mean some enterprising individual has at one point tried to make a mini Power Base Converter?

[Rickstilwell1]

Gee, I knew it used the Genesis Z80, but the Power Base Converter is so bulky that I always thought there was more to it than that.

Does this mean some enterprising individual has at one point tried to make a mini Power Base Converter?

Stone Age Gamer sells mini power base converters right now.

[The Adventurer]

Stone Age Gamer sells mini power base converters right now.

Which I have one of. Its great. Can't play card games of course.

[Blitzwing256]

you guys forgot about the pro action replay for another item.

[Arkanoid_Katamari]

I don't know the answer to this, though I have played my 32X with Sonic & Knuckles, Sonic 3 and a Game Genie together. I desperately want to test this though:

http://www.sonicstadium.org/wp-content/uploads/2012/07/Tower_of_Sonic.jpg

How much are S+K carts going for now? I want to stand on the roof holding the top cart, and have someone on the front lawn turn the system on. LOL

I think the game is prolly at $10 or something. I spent $8 about a year ago for my copy at a store that generally prices games at the standard internet prices.

Also, I don't think the 32x can fit into a PBC. I don't have one but isn't it designed to convert the Genesis to play Mast System games? I mean, u can't put SNES games into the Super Gameboy...

[SparTonberry]

I just tried and, as said before, a regular Genesis cart won't fit in the PBC as it has a larger pin connector than Master System games.
So I presume a 32X won't fit either (but I don't own one to test).

[j_factor]

Does this mean some enterprising individual has at one point tried to make a mini Power Base Converter?


Stone Age Gamer sells mini power base converters right now.

Not only that, Sega themselves made one, due to the fact that the original Power Base Converter won't fit on a model 2 system. But they only sold it in Europe (and maybe South America?):

http://puu.sh/bIWRb/cb0e40a0b2.jpg

Plus similar third-party ones from Datel, HES, etc.

[old_skoolin_jim]

Gee, I knew it used the Genesis Z80, but the Power Base Converter is so bulky that I always thought there was more to it than that.

Does this mean some enterprising individual has at one point tried to make a mini Power Base Converter?

If "mini power base converter" means "took a hacksaw to the stupid, pointless plastic tab on the back which kept it from fitting on my model 2 Genesis", then yes, yes I have made a mini power base converter. :D