2 Sega Genesis consoles not booting these games :/

[LostBoyNZ]

Hi everyone!

I'm Graham from New Zealand and I'm just getting all set-up for some retro gaming. I imported a model 1 Genesis with the High Definition Graphics logo across the top (it seems a non-TMSS model as there's no licensed by screen) and a pile of games. Only some don't boot :/

Thinking maybe I had a dud console, or rather, a picky console, I got another one. Same model. Again it plays some games but not others. How odd!

I was wondering if anyone might have any ideas?

These won't play:

Sonic & Knuckles
Super Street Fighter II
Gunstar Heroes
Aladdin
Toy Story
Lion King
6-Pak
Toejam & Earl Panic on Funkotron
Earthworm Jim
Wonder Boy In Monster World

These will play:

Sonic 1
Sonic 2
Sonic 3
Street Fighter II Special Champion Edition
Mortal Kombat II
The Ren & Stimpy Show Presents: Stimpy's Invention
Castlevania Bloodlines
Road Rash 3
Desert Strike
Jungle Strike
Urban Strike
Beyond Oasis
Ghouls 'n Ghosts
NBA Jam T.E
Shining Force
Alex Kidd In The Enchanged Castle
Comix Zone

I've tested all games with both consoles, and the same ones boot and don't boot on both. I know some of the sellers played the games before sending them, so I doubt it's the games. The ones that don't boot, the screen is just black, and there's no sound (checked regular AV out at the back + headphones jack)

Any thoughts would be very interesting. Thanks!!

[SparTonberry]

Tried thoroughly cleaning the pins? (I've had a few games I had to go a few rounds with cotton and glass cleaner before they'd work.)

Could games possibly be detecting if you have a PAL TV and refusing that?

[LostBoyNZ]

Thanks :) I should try that just in case, but it seems they were working for the sellers so it's a bit of a long shot, doh!

I'd be surprised if they could detect the PAL TV, but does anyone know if that's likely? I tried it with both regular AV cables plus going through the xrgb-mini framemeister via RGB.

I've ordered a Game Genie too, it'll be interesting to see if that makes any difference.

[YoshiM]

I say scrub those pins. If you can take the carts apart with a security bit so you can really get them clean, it'll help. And of course try and clean the deck.

It's amazing how a little dirt can create such a hassle.

[y9784]

Don't forget to clean the cartridge slot itself. If you have a cartridge slot cleaning device already, use that obviously. However, if you don't, use our good friend cardboard!

1. Get some cardboard from a shipping container that is thicker than the cartridge slot
2. Cut a piece to the size of the cartridge slot
3. Flatten the cardboard by running over it with some blunt object like the end of a screw driver
4. Use a cotton swab soaked in isopropyl alcohol and run it on both sides of the cardboard piece
5. Before the alcohol evaporates, press it into the cartridge slot
6. Let it sit there for 10 seconds
7. Remove and cut off the end of the piece that was soaked in alcohol
8. Repeat steps 4-7 a few times
9. Afterwards, shine a good LED light into the cartridge slot and clear out any remnants of cardboard

Furthermore, sometimes there are hairs (human, dog, cat, etc) that fall into the cartridge slot and prevent good contact between the cartridge and the slot pins. Get some tweezers and carefully remove those so that they don't break in half and fall deeper into the abyss.

[celerystalker]

Are the games from the same region as the console? Some Genesis games have a region lock, and it can often be bypassed with a Game Genie. The Genesis also has a few quirks, where certain games only like certain models. For instance, Osomatsu-kun only plays on a model 1 Mega Drive.

[dra600n]

Thanks :) I should try that just in case, but it seems they were working for the sellers so it's a bit of a long shot, doh!

I'd be surprised if they could detect the PAL TV, but does anyone know if that's likely? I tried it with both regular AV cables plus going through the xrgb-mini framemeister via RGB.

I've ordered a Game Genie too, it'll be interesting to see if that makes any difference.

Games can detect what region a TV is in, so it is possible that some of those games can't be played on a PAL tv, though I do believe some of those are world roms, meaning they should be compatible across the board. Like others have said, thoroughly clean the pins and the cartridge slot on the consoles and see if that helps at all

[LostBoyNZ]

Success! I grabbed a bunch of the alcohol wipes from work and scrub scrub scrubbed away. They all work now :)

Thanks very much for the suggestions guys, worked very well :)