Genesis cart issue (never seen anything like it!)

[Duncan]

Bought a complete copy of Forgotten Worlds for Genesis this weekend for $10. I was quite happy until I popped it in to play it.

I was treated to, in order:

1) Shiny "SEGA" logo
2) Title screen with "START" or "OPTIONS" choices (pressed start)
3) An intro set of cutscenes, showing two burly guys discussing their problem (I didn't catch all the text)
4) A quick on-screen "fizzle"
5) A picture of one dead burly guy and the words "GAME OVER"

You can then repeat those steps, in order, as many times as you'd like. I could get the options screen to come up, but the game refused to start.

For troubleshooting purposes, here are all the things I've already tried:

1) Blowing out the cartridge and the console.
2) Cleaning the cartridge (which was actually in pristine shape with bright golden connectors).
3) Disconnecting the Sega CD from the Genesis.
4) Using a three-button pad instead of a six-button (both Sega-branded).
5) Opening up the cartridge (everything was in order, no obvious breakage or evidence of repair).

So, what else? If it's not worth fixing, I can still take it back -- but it's the only copy I've ever seen locally.

[FABombjoy]

It'll do that if you use a 6-button controller.

At least, it does it on my Genesis.

[Duncan]

It'll do that if you use a 6-button controller.

At least, it does it on my Genesis.

Forgot to list that in the troubleshooting guide (fixed). I tried it with a three-button controller, too. (Always good to have both.) Same problem, though.

Arrrggh! :angry:

[FABombjoy]

I'd try it with a few different controllers just to be sure. Ya never know.

But the symptoms you describe are precisely what happens on my Gen2/CD2/32x combo if I use a 6 button controller. Try starting the game & unplugging the controller.

[Duncan]

I'd try it with a few different controllers just to be sure. Ya never know.

But the symptoms you describe are precisely what happens on my Gen2/CD2/32x combo if I use a 6 button controller. Try starting the game & unplugging the controller.

Will do. It is an early-release game after all, so I can forgive it. (I'm running an early-edition "High Definition Graphics" Genesis on top of a tray-loader Sega CD.)

[Duncan]

Fixed! :D

The only controller I can get to work with the game is a very original three-button Sega unit -- and even then, it seems to work only with the red-lettered version (my gray-lettered version triggered the problem too).

Pain in the ass, but at least the game works. Weird game, too, but fun.

[FABombjoy]

Well, I tried my copy and had these results:

Sega 3 button, red ABC button letters - Works fine
Sega 3 button, black ABC button letter - Works fine
3rd party 6 button - Crash after start
--same controller with MODE held down on bootup - Instant 'game over' after intro

Strange behaviors, for sure.

[Duncan]

Odd, yes. The only other game I can think of that has problems with six-button controllers is Desert Strike.

Thanks much for the help! :)

[suppafly]

HAHAHA

HAve you noticed theres a MODE button in the 6-button controllers? press it duing startup and the game wont crash....

[FABombjoy]

HAHAHA

HAve you noticed theres a MODE button in the 6-button controllers? press it duing startup and the game wont crash....

Hmm... Reread my last post ;)

[suppafly]

Opps my bad!!!

[Mr. Smashy]

I had the same problem with Forgotten Worlds when I first got it. I didn't have a problem playing it using the mode button on the 6-button Genesis controller. I also tried it on a Nomad yesterday and it works fine when the mode button is used.

[VinnyT]

Shit, I had this same exact problem! I thought you had bought my returned copy...

Fuck, I could have kept it.

Well, it's not like my original Genesis controller works anymore anyway.

[Duncan]

Maybe this is a larger issue, then. (And I thought it was settled!)

See, the "mode" button does nothing for me most of the time. Maybe it's the age of my Genesis -- it's the super-original "High Definition Graphics" version, the kind that doesn't even show the "Produced or Licensed by Sega of America" on start-up.

Perhaps it's only meant to work with later versions? :/

[The Manimal]

Maybe this is a larger issue, then. (And I thought it was settled!)

See, the "mode" button does nothing for me most of the time. Maybe it's the age of my Genesis -- it's the super-original "High Definition Graphics" version, the kind that doesn't even show the "Produced or Licensed by Sega of America" on start-up.

Perhaps it's only meant to work with later versions? :/


I noticed one of my two 1st style Genesis consoles is like that. Doesn't display any message, and has a RC232 sorta looking port on the back...

[Duncan]

I'll be double-specfiic, just to get everything as clear as possible. :)

ORIGINAL GENESIS, v1.0

This is the original model with a circular bulge on top ringing the cartridge port. At the top edge of the ring, nearest the slot, are the words "HIGH DEFINITITION GRAPHICS".

This console has a left-to-right power switch that triggers a red LED light at the bottom of the ring. Next to the power switch is a volume control slider, which adjusts the volume (from levels "1" through "10") of the 3.5mm headphone jack just below it. Note that this volume control DOES NOT control the volume of the game UNLESS it's being played through headphones -- even then, you'll still have to adjust the volume of the television set yourself.

The connections on the back of the unit are as follows:

* 9V DC power input
* RF output for picture and mono sound (RCA plug; most commonly connects to a standard RF switch); also has a Channel 3/4 switch for better reception
* DIN output for picture and stereo sound (looks a little like a PS/2 port on a computer, but functions differently); note that the required cable is nigh on impossible to find today
* RS-232 output (function unknown; possibly unneeded for US versions)

ORIGINAL GENESIS, v1.1

This model is almost exactly the same as v1.0 above, but with the following changes.

*The RS-232 port has been removed.

ORIGINAL GENESIS, v1.2

This model is almost exactly the same as v1.1 above, but with the following changes.

* The words "HIGH DEFINITION GRAPHICS" have been removed.
* The programming has been changed so that only official, NTSC-released cartridges can be played. Such titles are noted by the following on-screen text before the game itself starts:


PRODUCED BY OR LICENSED FROM
SEGA ENTERPRISES LTD.

Any other cartridge will only produce a black screen.

I'm planning on doing this sort of work for all consoles someday, so everyone knows what's what. :)

[The Manimal]

My one Genesis in mention has one more port than what you listed for V1.0


http://www.vidgame.net/SEGA/Sega/Genesis/gen_back.jpg

it is like this.

[Duncan]

Huh...almost looks like a controller port (the RS-232 you mentioned). Mine doesn't have that. I'll adjust my listing accordingly.

I'm gonna assume that's the very earliest model out there.

[FABombjoy]

The presence of the "Hi-def" moniker doesn't guarantee a lockout-free Genesis. I have a few Genesis units with that text on the case & license screens on bootup.

[The Manimal]

BTW, it's not necessarily an RS-232 port, I just meant that it looks like one, from what I remember. It's labelled an EXT port and no idea what it's function is. :)


So what is the lockout-free Genesis (the one w/o the 'license' screen) able play that the other will not? PAL games? I know the cartridge slot is the same as the others.. I wonder if I could play Mega Man: The Wily Wars on that thing without having to get a Mega Key and flip some switches?

[Iron Draggon]

Very weird. Mine has all the characteristics of the v1.0 model listed above, but it shows the license text on all the games, however the only game that ever produced a black screen on it so far was Onslaught. And even then, the game is still playable with a Game Genie, which shows the license text. But I haven't modded the cart port to accept import games to see if they produce a black screen too, I just use a Game Genie to play all them also. I don't think it's the earliest Genesis either, it came with Sonic as the pack-in. So did I luck out or what? You mean that some of them won't play imports even with a Game Genie? OMG, that would really piss me off! BTW, are the required cables really that hard to find for it now? I think I have some extras.

[Duncan]

BTW, are the required cables really that hard to find for it now? I think I have some extras.

Well, you can use a regular old RF Modulator with any Genesis. If you're talking about that DIN output (which converts into composite AV output), then yeah, they're harder to find. I've got a non-specific one on my Genny which works fine, but it doesn't output in real stereo without an extra splitter -- and even then, it's still not right.

What's involved with the cables you've got? If it's DIN on the one side and white-red-yellow RCA on the other, I'd like two (for the Genny and the Master System).

[Iron Draggon]

Well I only have two like that here, one for my Genesis & one for my Saturn. Then I have a really weird one that's DIN on one end, Yellow/White RCA on the other, apparently it's a mono cable that must've come with my Nomad. I also have one that's Red/White RCA on both ends for my Sega CD, which I got at Radio Shack, so I would think that you could get any other cables you need at Radio Shack also. I still can't understand or even believe why these cables would be so hard to find though, seeing as how they work with both the Genesis & the Saturn, not to mention the 32X, the Nomad, & the SMS. If they work with every Sega system besides the Dreamcast, there should be millions of them in the world by now, and surely they'd still make them!