SOLVED!! The great Genesis Model 1 comparison list

[YoshiM]

---NEWS UPDATE---

One of our forum's prestigeous game resellers, goatdan, seems to have "cracked the code" on how to determine if a Genesis Model 1 has the copyright screen at power up. It has nothing to do with the looks, what ports it has or even serial numbers.

It's the FCC ID code that gets placed on all electronic devices. Who woulda thunk it?


On the underside of the Genesis you should see a label that has "FCC" on it. The following are the two types of IDs that are on the Model 1's:

FJ846EUSASEGA: a system that has this ID does NOT have the copyright screen.
FJ8USASEGA: a system that has this ID DOES HAVE the copyright screen.

So far this method of identification has been confirmed with my Model 1 machines, Evil E's and goatdan's (of course) but if there are any discrepancies please don't hesitate to post.

Thanks to everyone who participated and, provided there aren't any snafus, this could be entered into the FAQ books.



------
Okay, I'm sure some of you know I've been on a crusade to find the original model 1 Genesis that does not have the "lock out" chip for non-licensed games (like Populous, Starflight, Onslaught, etc.). I tried using a Game Genie to circumvent the chip but some games (namely my favorite game Populous) may not work with the Genie.

Well, I was finally able to get my hands on one (thanks to The Goat Store (http://www.goatstore.com/)) but I know there are others out there that would like to get an original model one but not want to have to play game system roulette when trying to find one. Out of many eBay sellers I've emailed over time on this I'd say 80% had no idea what I was talking about.

I'd like to ask the Genesis collector community for help in figuring out the physical differences between the chipped and non-chipped Model 1's and to create a lift of serial numbesr or at least a range of what are hopefully all non-chipped Model 1 Genesis systems.

Here's my idea of going through with this. Any comments/ideas/smart remarks are always welcome:


1. Check to see if your Model 1 system has the "Sega License" message that pops up on the screen whenever you power up with a cartridge. If it doesn't have that message, move on to....

2. Describe the looks of the console. What connection ports does it have (not including the controller ports and CD expansion port of course)? When I got my non-chipped system I compared it to my other Model 1 that does have the message and the non-chipped has a serial-like 9 pin port.

I also noticed my non chipped has the "High-Definition Graphics" wording above the cartridge slot and the Genesis logo is the black lettering which is surrounded by light grey filled border followed by the white octagonal border. So it might be good to list obvious markings/lettering.

3. List the serial number.


So to start out, here's my Genny Model 1 info:

Physical Attributes:
-9 Pin Ext. port on back of system
-is noticably heavier than my security-chipped Model 1
-Has the words "High Definition Graphics" above the cartridge slot
-Genesis logo: Has a grey octagonal shape on top of the white octagonal border. Chipped model 1 is an all white octagonal shape.
Serial #: 39W28536

[anagrama]

AFAIK, it's just the 9-pin 'EXT' port and the "High Definition Graphics" text that was different (externally, at least).

First-run PAL Mega Drives would also run the early unlicensed games and had the EXT port (though no "High Definition.." text).
Like in the US, later revisions removed this.

[YoshiM]

I edited my parent post (looked a bit egotistical, seeing as how this is a community effort) and got my Genny Model 1 info added.

Good hunting all!

[vulcanjedi]

Hey

There are differences in the circuit boards also. The original has heavier shielding and the power part of the circuit is a seperate little board with a heavier heat sink.

VJ

[alexkidd2000]

Wow didnt realize the demand for these. I still have my original Genesis I bought the first day it came out!

[Emily]

I have one aswell. I didnt realize it was the prefered model.

[chrisbid]

i have a genny 1 with the 9pin expansion port, "High Definition Graphics" on the circular part and it is heavy, but it still has a lockout chip

s/n: 020058252

[Push Upstairs]

This is going to be hell really.

After the "High Definition Graphics" was removed there were a number of circuit board revisions, most of which are not noticeable by simply looking at the system.

The three i know of:

Post lock out, switches used to region mod the system are lined up on the right side (facing the system)

Post lock out, and the switches are not grouped together making the region mod a bit more difficult.

Later Model 1 systems had all the hook-ups on the back moved inward (namely the AC plug). This version also suffers from bad audio problems. I bought mine in late 1992.

[it290]

Actually, I don't think games like Onslaught are effected by the lockout. I have a late model 1 Genesis and a model 2, and Onslaught and Double Dragon play just fine on both of them. AFAIK, it's only the early EA titles like Budokan and Zany Golf that won't run on later systems (unless you have a Game Genie).

[YoshiM]

Actually, I don't think games like Onslaught are effected by the lockout. I have a late model 1 Genesis and a model 2, and Onslaught and Double Dragon play just fine on both of them. AFAIK, it's only the early EA titles like Budokan and Zany Golf that won't run on later systems (unless you have a Game Genie).

I just assumed Onslaught as it was a non licensed game and the last time I played it was on my first Genesis I bought back in 1990. I haven't had the game since.

Also I ran into an issue where the Genie doesn't work on one EA game (Populous) while it worked on another (Starflight). I'm not sure if it's my particular console or what but it's possible other games may not work.

@Push: well there was hope that maybe there was something that could be a visual tip off if one was buying a store or garage sale (as most people are not going to want to or not able to pull the system apart to see the board). So basically all we have to go on is serial number.

It seems to be a mystery about the pre-lockout systems as the faqs, web sites and message boards I've researched mention the fact there is a difference but no one has really stepped up to figure out what's what. I figure with our vast community we can try to put together some sort of list to attempt to solve this puzzle.

[anagrama]

The easiest & simplest way to tell is by the Model # on the sticker on the bottom of the unit - originals (no lockout, "Hi Def", EXT port) are #1600, while the later units (lockout, no text, no port) are #1601.

(edit: looks like this is just a rough guide rather than 100% definitive. )


If you're getting down to internals differences, I know there's at least 5 revisions of the PAL Mega Drive 2 board, and probably a similar number for the Mega Drive 1. I'd imagine the Genesis is the same.

For what it's worth, here the info for my units:

Genesis 1 - 1601 - no ext port, no text - 020409736

Mega Drive 1 (PAL) - 1600-05 - ext port, Hi Def text - 110000266


Also, I can confirm the Onslaught doesn't work in 1601 units (just bought it this week!)

[Aussie2B]

I recently had two Genesis 1 systems, one with the "High-Definition Graphics" text and one without, and I'm pretty sure both had the "Sega License" message at start-up.

I sold the one that did have the "High-Definition Graphics" text because I seem to recall that someone here said that the models without the text seemed to be a bit more rare.

[Iron Draggon]

I don't think that there's any way to tell for sure. My system matches all of the indicators for a no-lockout board, but the board definitely has the chip. It shows the license text before booting up a game, and the only way that I can play Ishido or Onslaught is with a Game Genie. Every MD import that I've ever tried has worked just fine with a Game Genie as well, but I only have 2 MD imports. I believe that I have an EA box cart or two that will only work with the Game Genie as well, but I don't recall which ones they are. I know that it isn't Budokan, because I still don't have that one yet, but I assume that if I ever get it, all I'll have to do is use the Game Genie to get it to work, if it doesn't work without it. But Starflight works just fine without it, and so do all my other EA carts that came in the plastic cases. If I have any at all that only work with the Game Genie, they're the ones that came in the early cardboard boxes. I still don't have Populous or Zany Golf yet either though. The only EA box carts that I can recall off the top of my head in my collection are Battle Squadron and Swrod of Sodan. So one or both of those may only work with the Game Genie, but I believe that they work just fine without it too. I don't think that I have any of the EA box carts that may have problems. I believe that Budokan, Populous, & Zany Golf are the only ones. So the only carts that I have that I can only play with the Game Genie besides my two MD imports are Ishido and Onslaught. All my other Accolade games work just fine without it, but those two won't boot up without the Game Genie. All I see is a black screen without it. They do the same thing with my Nomad too, but they work just fine on it with the Game Genie. So as far as I know, all you really need is a Game Genie, unless there were some differences in Game Genies that may be the reason why those carts won't work with a Game Genie either. My Game Genie has a black label. The first ones had a gold label. So you may want to start comparing Game Genies too. It could just be that certain Game Genies aren't compatible either.

[it290]

Maybe there are multiple versions of Onslaught, then? Seems unlikely, but who knows.

[Push Upstairs]

@Push: well there was hope that maybe there was something that could be a visual tip off if one was buying a store or garage sale (as most people are not going to want to or not able to pull the system apart to see the board). So basically all we have to go on is serial number.


Well, the only real thing to look out for as far as Gen 1 systems are the later systems that have all the hook-ups shifted about 1 in inward.

The early, EXT port systems and even some of the post-EXT port systems all have the AC plug on the far right (looking at the back of the system). This later Genesis with all the plug-ins moved inward has distortion in the music. I noticed some distortion when playing "Streets of Rage" (Level 6 music to be exact) but my other Genesis 1 systems do not have this distortion in the music.

The serial # for this distorted system is: A26300950


As far as the Game Genie bit...i have a gold label version and i have never had any problems with it playing import & older games.

[GarrettCRW]

Like chrisbid, a 1601-era Genesis with the EXT. port intact. The serial # is 020260275. I'm beginning to think that the first way to check for the lockout chip would be to see if the system is a 1600 (as opposed to the likely chipped 1601s).

Question: why didn't EA reissue their early games (particularly a popular game like Populous) once they scored the Sega license?

[leorange]

my model 1:

-"high definition graphics"
-EXT port
-no licensed by sega screen
-plays zany golf and pirate imports
-SN: 39U92969
-model no.: 1601

[The Manimal]

does the no lockout genesis play jap/pal mega drive games like 'mega man: wily wars' that have the 'protection' on them, without need for a mega key or anything like that?

[anagrama]

does the no lockout genesis play jap/pal mega drive games like 'mega man: wily wars' that have the 'protection' on them, without need for a mega key or anything like that?

No, the region-lock is seperate to the Sega license check.

[Lord Contaminous]

My Genesis has the "High Definition Graphics" and grey/white ridging in the Genesis logo just underneath the cartridge port.

It can play my copies of Master of Weapon and Japanese Herzog Zwei with no problem.

[Dimitri]

My Genny doesn't have the "High Definition Graphics" verbiage, but it does have the DB9 EXT port on the back. (I don't think anyone's mentioned having one like that yet) Model number is 1601, and it has the license screen.

I don't have any old EA games to test with it, but I'd assume that they wouldn't play without a Genie since the license screen is there.

Serial: 020039833

[anagrama]

It can play my copies of Master of Weapon and Japanese Herzog Zwei with no problem.

The region check is unrelated to the license check. They are both licensed games without a region lockout, thus they should play on any Genesis/Mega Drive system.

[anagrama]

Here's a summary of the data so far:

Genesis
39W28536 - 160? - "Hi Def" text - EXT port - No license check
39U92969 - 1601 - "Hi Def" text - EXT port - No license check
020039833 - 1601 - no text - EXT port - License check
020058252 - 160? - "Hi Def" text - EXT port - License check
620127457 - 1601 - no text - no EXT port - License check
020260275 - 1601 - "Hi Def" text - EXT port - License check
020409736 - 1601 - no text - no EXT port - License check
B21071859 - 1601 - no text - no EXT port - License check
A26300950 - 1601 - ?? text - no EXT port - License check(?) - some sound distortion


[u]Mega Drive PAL[/b]
110000266 - 1600-05 - "Hi Def" text - EXT port - No license check

Hmm... so far no confirmed Genesis #1600's? :hmm:
YoshiM & chrisbid - are your units model no. #1600 or #1601 ?

More data needed!

[qbertandernie]

dont know if this matters cuz i havent tested them yet, but i have teo 'high def' 'ext port' '1601 systems...one has paper labels on back, one has plastic like labels.

guessing one or the other may denote lockout or not? like maybe they switched to paper labels to offset the cost of the chip install?

maybe not...upon further checking, the paper label ones made in japan, the other in taiwan

[GarrettCRW]

020260275 - 1601 - "Hi Def" text - EXT port - License check(?)

Oops-forgot to mention that my Genny has the license check. :embarrassed:

[Slate]

I have 2 model 1s:

B21071859: 1601. No High Definition Graphics Text, No Ext. Port, Copyright Screen appears, The ports are on the right.

620127457: 1601. No Hi Definition Graphics Text, No Ext. Port, Copyright Screen Appears, The Ports are on the left.

Argh.. I think i have/Had budokan.. I don't know if i still do have it..

[Push Upstairs]

A26300950 - 1601 - ?? text - no EXT port - License check(?) - some sound distortion

Sorry @_@

No text, no EXT port, and a License check

[Iron Draggon]

Here's a summary of the data so far:

Genesis
39W28536 - 160? - "Hi Def" text - EXT port - No license check
39U92969 - 1601 - "Hi Def" text - EXT port - No license check
020039833 - 1601 - no text - EXT port - License check
020058252 - 160? - "Hi Def" text - EXT port - License check
620127457 - 1601 - no text - no EXT port - License check
020260275 - 1601 - "Hi Def" text - EXT port - License check
020409736 - 1601 - no text - no EXT port - License check
B21071859 - 1601 - no text - no EXT port - License check
A26300950 - 1601 - ?? text - no EXT port - License check(?) - some sound distortion


[u]Mega Drive PAL[/b]
110000266 - 1600-05 - "Hi Def" text - EXT port - No license check

Hmm... so far no confirmed Genesis #1600's? :hmm:
YoshiM & chrisbid - are your units model no. #1600 or #1601 ?

More data needed!

Mine is 020281699 - 1601 - "Hi Def" text - EXT port - License check

(And quite a pain to get all that info with 32X & model 1 Sega CD attached!)

[YoshiM]

New summary:

Genesis
39W28536 - 1601 - "Hi Def" text - EXT port - No license check
39U92969 - 1601 - "Hi Def" text - EXT port - No license check
020039833 - 1601 - no text - EXT port - License check
020058252 - 160? - "Hi Def" text - EXT port - License check
620127457 - 1601 - no text - no EXT port - License check
020260275 - 1601 - "Hi Def" text - EXT port - License check
020409736 - 1601 - no text - no EXT port - License check
B21071859 - 1601 - no text - no EXT port - License check
A26300950 - 1601 - no text - no EXT port - License check - some sound distortion
020281699 - 1601 - "Hi Def" text - EXT port - License check
B21071859 - 1601 - no text - no EXT port - License Check - The ports are on the right.
620127457 - 1601 - no text - no EXT port - License Check - The Ports are on the left.


[u]Mega Drive PAL[/b]
110000266 - 1600-05 - "Hi Def" text - EXT port - No license check

[Evil E]

Ok, this is interesting: I have 2 genesis model 1's, both have Hi Def text, and ext ports, both are model 1601.
Serial number B20332121--license screen
Serial number 39V24870-- NO license screen

[Evil E]

New summary:

Genesis
39W28536 - 1601 - "Hi Def" text - EXT port - No license check
39U92969 - 1601 - "Hi Def" text - EXT port - No license check
020039833 - 1601 - no text - EXT port - License check
020058252 - 160? - "Hi Def" text - EXT port - License check
620127457 - 1601 - no text - no EXT port - License check
020260275 - 1601 - "Hi Def" text - EXT port - License check
020409736 - 1601 - no text - no EXT port - License check
B21071859 - 1601 - no text - no EXT port - License check
A26300950 - 1601 - no text - no EXT port - License check - some sound distortion
020281699 - 1601 - "Hi Def" text - EXT port - License check
B21071859 - 1601 - no text - no EXT port - License Check - The ports are on the right.
620127457 - 1601 - no text - no EXT port - License Check - The Ports are on the left.


[u]Mega Drive PAL[/b]
110000266 - 1600-05 - "Hi Def" text - EXT port - No license check

It seems to me so far that the ones with serial #'s starting with a 3 are non-chipped, since none of them have had the license screen.

[anagrama]

Couple more thanks to folks at Sega Dreams:

Genesis
020758625 - 1601 - no text - no EXT port - License check

PAL MD
420106614 - 1601-18 - no text - no EXT port - License check

[Push Upstairs]

Found the other Genesis 1 systems i had sitting around:


130019602 -1601 -no text -no EXT port - license check - ports on right -made in China

020850171 -1601 - no text - no EXT port - license check - ports on right -made in Taiwan

My sound distortion system had its ports on the left and it was made in Japan

[YoshiM]

Here's some more:

Genesis

020973516 - 1601 - no text - no EXT port - License Check
B10212057 - 1601 - "Hi Def" text - EXT port - License Check



It seems to me so far that the ones with serial #'s starting with a 3 are non-chipped, since none of them have had the license screen.

Not just a "39" but the third character was also a letter and the serial numbers are only 8 characters long. Definitely seeing a pattern here, but we won't know for sure until we get some more entries.

Good job everyone!

[Evil E]

Surely there are tons more Genesis owners on this site that can chime in and help the cause!!! I am now curious about this as well!!

[Dimitri]

Surely there are tons more Genesis owners on this site that can chime in and help the cause!!! I am now curious about this as well!!

Indeed, it'd be great to be able to tell them without hooking them up. I'd also like to know if anyone else has a a system like mine -- with the EXT port but no text on the top...

[goatdan]

Hmmm...

There is some an easy, easy way to tell. Unfortunately, I don't remember what it is now. I know that it has worked for 50+ Geni 1 systems that the GOAT Store has had though flawlessly.

I'll see if I can figure it out soon and post back here.

[goatdan]

I figured it out.

It has nothing to do with serial numbers. Well, I guess it could have something to do with serial numbers, but I don't know what it is. The key that I have found is much simpler. Check the FCC ID in the sticker furthest to the left side of the console.

Does it say FJ8USASEGA? Then it is a TMSS version.

Does it say FJ846EUASEGA? Then it is a non-TMSS version.

If I'm incorrect, I have them backwards. Like I said in the post above, this has worked so far in identifying about the 10 non-TMSS consoles out of about 60-75 that we've had in stock. As of yet, it has never been wrong.

If anyone wants to confirm these for me, I'd appreciate it. We stupidly figured it out and then never wrote it down to actually remember what it was :(

[Evil E]

I figured it out.

It has nothing to do with serial numbers. Well, I guess it could have something to do with serial numbers, but I don't know what it is. The key that I have found is much simpler. Check the FCC ID in the sticker furthest to the left side of the console.

Does it say FJ8USASEGA? Then it is a TMSS version.

Does it say FJ846EUASEGA? Then it is a non-TMSS version.

If I'm incorrect, I have them backwards. Like I said in the post above, this has worked so far in identifying about the 10 non-TMSS consoles out of about 60-75 that we've had in stock. As of yet, it has never been wrong.

If anyone wants to confirm these for me, I'd appreciate it. We stupidly figured it out and then never wrote it down to actually remember what it was :( On mine the non-chipped one is indeed FJ846EUSASEGA
and the chipped one is FJ8USASEGA. You are correct as far as my two genny's go......... ;)

[goatdan]

On mine the non-chipped one is indeed FJ846EUSASEGA
and the chipped one is FJ8USASEGA. You are correct as far as my two genny's go......... ;)

Okay, then I think that I can say that so far, this has been right in about 62 cases out of 62, if we include your consoles ;) I really do believe it is true. I don't know why Sega had to apply for a new FCC code for the change...

I'm kind of tempted to take two of them apart and look at the guts carefully. I wonder how big of a change it truly was?

[YoshiM]

On mine the non-chipped one is indeed FJ846EUSASEGA
and the chipped one is FJ8USASEGA. You are correct as far as my two genny's go......... ;)

Okay, then I think that I can say that so far, this has been right in about 62 cases out of 62, if we include your consoles ;) I really do believe it is true. I don't know why Sega had to apply for a new FCC code for the change...

I'm kind of tempted to take two of them apart and look at the guts carefully. I wonder how big of a change it truly was?

I'll check when I go home for lunch and will post. Y'know, I never would have thought to check the FCC code.

[YoshiM]

I checked out my two systems and I concur, the non-TMSS system DOES have the FCC code of FJ846EUSASEGA. My others with the TMSS (one with the EXT port and the other without) has FJ8USASEGA.

I think goatdan's figured out the magic key. Hopefully chrisbid will look at this thread again to see what FCC code his system has but between mine, Evil E's and goatdan's non-TMSS systems I think we can consider this mystery solve-ed.

Thanks to goatdan for passing on this info and thanks to everyone else for taking the time and posting their system information. I'll make a change on the parent post to reflect the findings.

[anagrama]

That's all well & good for all you Genesis folk, but we don't have FCC stickers over here!
I'd speculate that the 39xxxxxx serial number would also identify it, and that itwould be a similar case over here. Just need to find a bunch more PAL MD owners to figure it out now... ;)

[FantasiaWHT]

My best friend sold me his first-day-shipped Genesis a looooooong time ago. He then purchased and resold 3 other Genesises because he couldn't decide if he really wanted to keep it or not hehe.

I love mine tho, it's sexy!

[-^Cro§Bow^-]

I concur...my Non TMSS unit has the FJ846EUSASEGA next to the FCC.

However, looking at this, it appears as if the first Gennys were made to be region free as far as Europe and the States go? And this can be backed up with the fact that I have seen many Megadrive carts in the stores around here. They weren't for sale here originally of course..but they ended up here. Makes you wonder if those who owned them must have had original Model 1 Genesis systems?

I have another Genesis tucked away, that it is much better physical shape than my primary. But I don't know what the FCC code on that one is...

-runs to check...

Cool beans! both of my Genny 1 decks are the original run units! Now I will have to start checking in the future...but I would say this holds true..the FCC is the key!

Great work Dan! And...Oh..I need to send you an Email soon...

:)

[anagrama]

However, looking at this, it appears as if the first Gennys were made to be region free as far as Europe and the States go? And this can be backed up with the fact that I have seen many Megadrive carts in the stores around here. They weren't for sale here originally of course..but they ended up here. Makes you wonder if those who owned them must have had original Model 1 Genesis systems?

To clarify once again - the license check discussed in this thread and the region check on some Genesis/Mega Drive carts are entirely seperate and should not be confused.
The license check only determines whether or not the early unlicensed EA & Ballistic/Accolade games will work. Later games with region-coding will still need convertors or a modded console to play on console from a different region.
Non region-locked Mega Drive games like those you mentioned will play equally well on any Genesis, not just the early ones.

[The Manimal]

not writing down numbers, but i checked both of my genny 1's.


one without license screen has that EUSASEGA ending
one with license screen has that USASEGA ending

also, the one without the license screen starts off with 39T4blahblah

[GarrettCRW]

Dan, you are a genius. *bows*

[nebrazca78]

Maybe there are multiple versions of Onslaught, then? Seems unlikely, but who knows.

That's exactly what happened. The earlier Onslaught games will not work on the newer Genesis systems but the later ones will. I know this because:



http://home.comcast.net/~nebrazca78/ballisticdeal.jpg



Games that had their distribution ended before the new Genesis systems came out will only play on the old systems.

[nebrazca78]

Maybe there are multiple versions of Onslaught, then? Seems unlikely, but who knows.

That's exactly what happened. The earlier Onslaught games will not work on the newer Genesis systems but the later ones will. I know this because:



http://home.comcast.net/~nebrazca78/ballisticdeal.jpg



Games that had their distribution ended before the new Genesis systems came out will only play on the old systems.

[dedtech]

Okay a question and then a hypothetical.

Question: Is the license screen just the tag that says “Produced by or under license from Sega Enterprises, Ltd” Maybe I should clarify that. Will sonic sill show up on the version without the license tag or, is it that there is no Sonic screen either and it just goes straight to the game?

Hypothetical: If the major hardware is the same, shouldn’t you be able to dump the bios of the older model Sega Genesis and, then be able to install said chip in other systems? Since that kind of thing is usually on a bios chip it seems that someone with more technical skill/hardware than me could pull it off. Find a license free bios chip, pull it and, dump it. Heck in theory it could even be modified so that the region check could be eliminated for all but PAL. (Maybe? Not sure how the region code is handled in the system code.) Just theoretical though. Also, with the DMCA the way it is highly illegal. But….. in theory technically feasible.

[dedtech]

Okay a question and then a hypothetical.

Question: Is the license screen just the tag that says “Produced by or under license from Sega Enterprises, Ltd” Maybe I should clarify that. Will sonic sill show up on the version without the license tag or, is it that there is no Sonic screen either and it just goes straight to the game?

Hypothetical: If the major hardware is the same, shouldn’t you be able to dump the bios of the older model Sega Genesis and, then be able to install said chip in other systems? Since that kind of thing is usually on a bios chip it seems that someone with more technical skill/hardware than me could pull it off. Find a license free bios chip, pull it and, dump it. Heck in theory it could even be modified so that the region check could be eliminated for all but PAL. (Maybe? Not sure how the region code is handled in the system code.) Just theoretical though. Also, with the DMCA the way it is highly illegal. But….. in theory technically feasible.

[rbudrick]

Question: Is the license screen just the tag that says “Produced by or under license from Sega Enterprises, Ltd” Maybe I should clarify that. Will sonic sill show up on the version without the license tag or, is it that there is no Sonic screen either and it just goes straight to the game?

Yeah, I was kinda wondering that too.

Anyway, I wonder if a similar thing (FCC ID) can be figured to see whether some one has a 1 ASIC or 2 ASIC Game Gear...the 2 ASIC is currently easier to mod to hook to a TV than a 1 ASIC:

http://www.smspower.org/forums/viewtopic.php?t=2539&postdays=0&postorder=asc&start=0

-Rob

[rbudrick]

Question: Is the license screen just the tag that says “Produced by or under license from Sega Enterprises, Ltd” Maybe I should clarify that. Will sonic sill show up on the version without the license tag or, is it that there is no Sonic screen either and it just goes straight to the game?

Yeah, I was kinda wondering that too.

Anyway, I wonder if a similar thing (FCC ID) can be figured to see whether some one has a 1 ASIC or 2 ASIC Game Gear...the 2 ASIC is currently easier to mod to hook to a TV than a 1 ASIC:

http://www.smspower.org/forums/viewtopic.php?t=2539&postdays=0&postorder=asc&start=0

-Rob

[anagrama]

I'm pretty sure it's just the "Produced by or under license..." screen that differs. The rest of the intro is identical on any machine.

[anagrama]

I'm pretty sure it's just the "Produced by or under license..." screen that differs. The rest of the intro is identical on any machine.

[gdement]

I realize this has apparently been solved for the US market, but as somebody mentioned, the FCC codes aren't there on European units. Also, I might as well provide more confirmation of previous findings. So here are my system's characteristics:

No license checking.

EXT port
"High Definition Graphics"

Model 1601
39W 39230
Made In Taiwan

FJ846EUSASEGA

Motherboard:
IC BD M5 USA VA3
837-7071

The latest date code I can find is 8940, which is on a Signetics 68000.

There seems to be some hand rework on this board. There's a couple ceramic capacitors on the top side, 1 connected to the CDROM port's pin 23. Maybe those are original but they look a little out of place.
I also have a couple caps on the bottom side, which surely isn't normal. One is a ceramic cap attached to the 68000, another is an electrolytic up near the RF area.

[cyberfluxor]

...the FCC codes aren't there on European units.
Are there supposed to be?

[GarrettCRW]

The FCC is an American agency, so there's no reason at all that a European console would have even a hint of the FCC's existence on the casing.

[rbudrick]

Hmmm so no European nations have standards of electronic interference? I find that weird. Isn't there an equivalent?

-Rob

[MegaDrive20XX]

Mine says

FCC ID FJ8USASEGA

Model 1601
Serial No. B10433327
EXT Port
"Hi-Def" Text
Made in Japan

Thanks for the help YoshiM and everyone else :)

[BIGMIKE]

my two copper coins in........

luckily have two models of the genny 1 and one with license one without.......wooooooooooooo

with>>>1601>>>serial r20115983.......no hi def

without..1601...30t14933...has hi def

coolness has been achieved

[savageone]

Bumping up this topic to post up this oddity I came across in the wild a few weeks back.

This is a Sega Genesis FJ8USASEGA system with no high definition graphics logo, but it does NOT have the copyright screen. More interesting is that there is a sticker on the bottom specifying the system was reconditioned by Sega of America at some point.

No idea what the story behind this one is but I just thought I'd toss it in here.

http://i958.photobucket.com/albums/ae62/s1pbuck/th_genesis1r.jpg (http://s958.photobucket.com/albums/ae62/s1pbuck/?action=view&current=genesis1r.jpg)http://i958.photobucket.com/albums/ae62/s1pbuck/th_genesis2r.jpg (http://s958.photobucket.com/albums/ae62/s1pbuck/?action=view&current=genesis2r.jpg)http://i958.photobucket.com/albums/ae62/s1pbuck/th_genesis3r.jpg (http://s958.photobucket.com/albums/ae62/s1pbuck/?action=view&current=genesis3r.jpg)http://i958.photobucket.com/albums/ae62/s1pbuck/th_genesis4r.jpg (http://s958.photobucket.com/albums/ae62/s1pbuck/?action=view&current=genesis4r.jpg)

[Kitsune Sniper]

If it was reconditioned, then maybe they replaced the outer case.

[fahlim003]

I'll add my two cents to this topic stating it assisted me in bagging a ID less Genesis (HIGH DEFINITION no TMSS logo) at a Goodwill for a couple bucks this past summer. Good times.

[Jeffauto]

Does anyone know if the chip can be removed?

[Ace]

TMSS is a BIOS ROM embedded within a custom Sega chip that's critical to the Genesis' functioning. There is no chip per-se that has TMSS on it.

It can be bypassed, though, but I'm not sure of the specifics of how to go about doing so.

[Lady Jaye]

Thanks guys for all that info! I now know that I have a chipped Model 1 Genesis. The copy of Populous we found is the first print run (with the cardboard box) and of course it won't work at all on my Genesis. Oh well, didn't really intend on keeping it...

[Frankie_Says_Relax]

Thanks guys for all that info! I now know that I have a chipped Model 1 Genesis. The copy of Populous we found is the first print run (with the cardboard box) and of course it won't work at all on my Genesis. Oh well, didn't really intend on keeping it...

I was always under the impression that the simplest way to bypass that lock-out was to load a commercial Genesis game that wasn't a locked-out EA title like Populous, let it load past the SEGA logo, rip it out with the console powered up, put the EA title in with the console still running and then hit the reset button.

[theclaw]

Game Genie is said to work for some of those games. It was mentioned back on page 1.

Japanese systems have neither an RF modulator, or the metal shielding over their main board.

The TMSS screen only appears for Genesis or 32X games. Master System and Sega CD modes will not display it.

[Polygon]

I probably already know the answer to this, but I'm assuming that all "High Definition" models had the ext port?

[xelement5x]

I probably already know the answer to this, but I'm assuming that all "High Definition" models had the ext port?

Unless someone was swapping shells then most likely. That's what I would guess was the case for that reconditioned systems mentioned.

THis thread on Sega-16 is also very useful for determining revisions:
http://www.sega-16.com/forum/showthread.php?7796-GUIDE-Telling-apart-good-Genesis-1s-and-Genesis-2s-from-bad-ones

[goldenband]

Game Genie is said to work for some of those games. It was mentioned back on page 1.

Of the five US releases that don't pass TMSS (Budokan, Ishido, Onslaught, Populous, Zany Golf), a Game Genie works for all of them except Budokan. The US release of that game won't boot on any Model 2/Nomad system I've tried, though the European release will.

(Someone mentioned having a Budokan that would boot on their Nomad, but that's the only contrary report I've heard.)

There are a handful of Japanese releases or variants that don't pass TMSS; I think the only one that could be troublesome is Super Daisenryaku (I don't know if it uses a battery or a password, but if it uses a battery, you won't be able to save through a Game Genie).

There are also a handful of unlicensed games that use a Russian devkit that won't boot because the game code trashes the registers used for TMSS. There are ROM patches/hex editing values that fix some of those. In general unlicensed/pirate games often don't get along well with TMSS for whatever reason.

[Polygon]

Unless someone was swapping shells then most likely. That's what I would guess was the case for that reconditioned systems mentioned.

THis thread on Sega-16 is also very useful for determining revisions:
http://www.sega-16.com/forum/showthread.php?7796-GUIDE-Telling-apart-good-Genesis-1s-and-Genesis-2s-from-bad-ones

That's awesome! Thanks for the link.

I'm actually trying to figure our what model 1 I should get to modify. I have a few model 1s, all have TMSS and none are VA7. However, according to that link all of the model 1s have equal audio except the VA7. However, I'm seeing links saying that non-TMSS units have superior sound to TMSS units. Is that true? I thought the only real difference was being able to play unlicensed games.

[PreZZ]

I dont know why, but my non tmss sounds a lot louder trough the headphone jack than my other hi def tmss model 1. Sounds a little bit better too.