Quick Questions about genesis power base converter

[Crush Crawfish]

Hello. I have recently heard about an adaptor for the genesis that allows you to play master system games on it.

This sounds like a great item to have, but I just have a few questions:
1. Is it rare and expensive?
2. Does it work on the model 2 genesis or do I need the original?
3. Do all master system games work with it or are some incompatible?

Thanks for any help!

[GameGuru]

When I owned it I had the original Genesis but I think I had heard it works on the Genesis 2 for sure but not the Genesis 3. I only had a handful of Master System games then (Phantasy Star being my favorite) and they all played great.

[Ed Oscuro]

I bought an original boxed Power Base Converter some time back. There's also a Power Base 2 out there for the Genesis 2.

The Power Base Converter, if it's a US one, is NOT compatible with the Genesis 2. Takkealook.

http://www.gamespot.com/gamespot/features/video/compat/p3_01.html

[GameGuru]

Glad we cleared that up.

[Ed Oscuro]

Yeah. To expand a bit, the reason it won't work on the Genesis 3 is that the Genesis 3 has this wierd single-chip (more or less) design and doesn't incorporate a Z80. It's got everything (besides resistors, capacitors, maybe a few other things) on a single chip...pretty nice idea, but the mono sound and inferior video are two more strikes against it.

[Alex Kidd]

As well, if your an Alien Syndrome fan, you'll need to pick up an SMS controller, cause Genesis controllers make you walk to the top right constantly for some reason...
Same thing will happen if you try to use a Genny controller on an SMS with that game too...

Anyone know why this is?

Alex Kidd

[rbudrick]

From what I understand, the PBC 1 will indeed work with the Genesis two, it just won't fit, since the back/bottom of the PBC was meant to hang over the back of the Model 1 Genesis. The Genesis 2's back goes back a little further. I would reccomend one of those Japanese to American Genesis cartridge converters if you must use a model 2 and don't feel like opening the Model 2 to stick the PBC on it. Game Genie will not work for this purpose, as it does on genesis cartridges.

Now, about the model 2 PBC...anyone got info on this? Can't say I've ever seen one. I think I vaguely remember hearing about one. What, was it Europe only or something?

-Rob

[Ed Oscuro]

Yeah, GameSpot's article says it's Europe only. I had read that reason why the Genesis 2 is incompatible...forgot though :P~

Some people here at the forums have gotten it to work, I think...right? I'd take a Genesis 2 apart before a PBC for sure, though (don't you love acroynms that are the same as acronyms that are also widely used in the hobby? Hmm...)

[Red Warrior]

Speaking of PBC's and SMS games...
Anyone have any idea what games are incompatible with the PBC besides Alien Syndrome's weird issues? I haven't had a problem getting any game to work so far. Even import titles like Sonic the Hedgehog and The Lion King work fine. However, today I received a copy of Aladdin for SMS. I read somewhere that this was a Brazil release only, but I thought all imports would work with the PBC. Well, I can't get this game to start. I get nothing but a blank screen. The game appears to be in mint condition, so I can't see it being broken. Sorry to hijack the thread like this, but I figured I could post this here, being that the subject is PBC's and incompatibility. Can anyone tell me if Aladdin doesn't work with American PBC's and SMS's?

[Raccoon Lad]

There's only one that won't work at all, F-16 Fighting Falcon.

Others with Genesis controller issues:
Wonder Boy in Monster Land
Montezuma's Revenge
Penguin Land

[anagrama]

The PBC will work on a Megadrive/Genesis 2, *if* the large 'lip' on the back has been hacked off. It's just the shape of the thing that naturally prevents it working.
Of course, I'd never recommend this course of action to anyone, but mine was pre-hacked when I found it.

[Bighab]

What I recommend people getting is a device called a Pro Megamaster. Its a powerbase converter in cartage form. It was put out by Datel in the UK. It plays my SMS games fine on my Genesis 2. The converter cart also has a built in pause button. I tried playing SMS games on my Nomad but they didn't work.

[The Manimal]

I purchased two PBC's off eBay, took the uglier of the two (one had some scratches on it, so I took that one) and I sawed off the whole back end really nastily. I know it will make some cringe here, but I wanted a PBC for my Genny 1 and a PBC for my Genny 2. :lol Works fine (the one I mutilated). I don't "regret" it, though I would have if I broke it. What I need to do is see if one of those 32X spacers (that make it fit flush with the Genny 2) could be attached/glued/whatever to the hacked up PBC bottom and will likewise make that flush :)

[jgenotte]

Oldish topic revival:

Has anyone ever tried putting a PCB on a 32x? This should physically fit and will probably work. Anybody?

[Ikari Warrior]

The 32x has the same problem, the back lip of thePBC won't fit over the cords in the back of the 32x.

[jgenotte]

The 32x has the same problem, the back lip of thePBC won't fit over the cords in the back of the 32x.


ok, nevermind.

[ubersaurus]

There's only one that won't work at all, F-16 Fighting Falcon.

Others with Genesis controller issues:
Wonder Boy in Monster Land
Montezuma's Revenge
Penguin Land

The two brazillian releases I have won't work on the Power Base Convertor either, so I assume that goes for all of those.

The convertor fits great on a CDX, if you don't mind the cd tray not being able to open. Fit's pretty much perfectly, although it'll push down the plug on the back of the cdx a bit, it's not enough to disturb the console's operation.

[rbudrick]

Does anyone have one of those Japanese to American Converters for the Genesis? They are just extenders, so then we could try it on the 32x. ANy volunteers?

Does the PBC work on a Laseractive?

-Rob

[Trebuken]

Has anyone ever taken apart a PBC 1 and plugged it into a Nomad??? Isee someone tries the Pro Megamaster, but I was curious about this. The Nomad has a better screen than the Game Gear and I would like to see it this works before I disassemble my PBC.

Trebuken