View Full Version : WTB Game Gear with no Bios. AKA no SEGA splash screen
rbudrick
10-13-2005, 03:37 PM
I'm looking for a Game Gear that contains no Bios...the earlier model that goes straight to the game rather than start every game with a SEGA splash screen. Hope you can help!
-Rob
CYRiX
10-13-2005, 03:54 PM
If you want a game gear with out a bios you would get a game gear that you couldn't do anything with.
you mean one with the earlier bios.
rbudrick
10-13-2005, 04:09 PM
I was under the impression it doesn't have one. At least, That's what Chris Covell says here:
http://www.smspower.org/forums/viewtopic.php?t=2539&postdays=0&postorder=asc&start=60
Chris is usually dead on about these things. Are you sure?
-Rob
rbudrick
10-16-2005, 11:29 AM
Anyone? :)
-Rob
rbudrick
10-18-2005, 12:56 PM
Ummm, pretty please? :) Does anyone know if these saw a stateside release or if they were Japan only? Europe?
-Rob
FABombjoy
10-18-2005, 01:58 PM
My bought-near-release-day US Game Gear is exactly as you describe. Straight to game, no bios. So yes, they are available here. I've never seen another one, tho.
rbudrick
10-18-2005, 03:05 PM
Would you care to sell it, FABombjoy? :)
-Rob
Truffle
10-18-2005, 03:10 PM
I need to check mine, but I dont remember ever seeing this
"Sega splash screen" .
It may just be available....
[-Sentinel-]
10-18-2005, 03:11 PM
It's impossible for a system to run without bios. O_O
Like said, must be a old bios soft.
FABombjoy
10-18-2005, 06:40 PM
Would you care to sell it, FABombjoy? :)
Nah, and you wouldn't want it anyway since 1/2 the display is corrupted.
rbudrick
10-19-2005, 12:14 PM
It's impossible for a system to run without bios.
Like said, must be a old bios soft.
Well, according to the folks over at SMSpower.org, the foremost experts on anything Sega, they say otherwise.
Oh, and plenty of earlier game systems had no bios.
-Rob
rbudrick
10-24-2005, 10:58 AM
A little bump here,
Looks like Truffle's unit is broken right now. :( Sorry to hear it, Truffle! Good luck with it!
Anyone else up to sell theirs? Thanks again!
-Rob
Truffle
10-24-2005, 01:46 PM
Sorry I couldnt help you out!
I tested a couple of GG I saw in thrifts but they had the splash screen :/
Ill keep an eye out for you, I know Ive passed on plenty of these things.
rbudrick
10-24-2005, 03:50 PM
Thanks, Truffle!
You rock! That's very nice of you. :-)
-Rob
Cauterize
10-25-2005, 05:32 AM
Rob, i think you might be in luck...
I have a few spare units for trade in the Loft, and i think i have a Complete one with No Splash Screen if interested?
Ill have a look today once i wake up properly and get dressed! ;)
Adam
rbudrick
10-25-2005, 05:50 PM
Definitely interested, Adam. Can't wait to find out! Maybe PM me?
-Rob
yok-dfa
10-26-2005, 04:16 AM
Well, according to the folks over at SMSpower.org, the foremost experts on anything Sega, they say otherwise.
Oh, and plenty of earlier game systems had no bios.
-Rob
Experts can be wrong too. It's impossible for a Game Gear to not have a BIOS. The splashscreen was added to a later version of the BIOS, but the Game Gears without the screen definately have a BIOS.
But let's say you are right. That would mean that there are 2 kinds of Game Gears. With and without BIOS. Old games (made in the time there was no BIOS) would run on both. 1) Newer games (made in the time GGs had a BIOS) would only run on the newer models (since the old models do not have the BIOS they require) or 2) they would work on both models but not use the BIOS at all. I've never heard of games that only work on a specific model of GG so assumption 1) is not valid. 2) is not valid either since why would Sega add a BIOS and not use it?
Also, i think almost all game consoles after the Colecovision & Intellivision had BIOS'es, but feel free to prove me wrong. I am actually interested in knowing this. :D
Cauterize
10-26-2005, 02:03 PM
Sorry for the Delay... However its a good Delay as your in luck!
I have 2 spare GGs without a splash screen! One fully working and one withput sound...
Ull be getting the fully working one dont worry! davidleeroth wanted one too, and said he doesnt mind not having sound...
here is a photo just incase u wanted to check it out...
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v366/cauterize4/ggs-001.jpg
The screen looks flushed, but its just the flash over powering it...
As sexy as Non Bios/Early Bios GG's come! ;)
PM me once you get the reply :)
rbudrick
10-27-2005, 11:28 AM
Thanks, Adam! PM sent. :-)
Yok-dfa, the bios really didn't do much on the later models. To quote Maxim at the SMSpower.org boards,
The issue here is that it isn't really a BIOS in the traditional sense - it doesn't contain code that the game can execute to perform certain functions. It's basically the same as the Mega Drive BIOS - it just shows that screen, and does a few checks on the cartridge to detect if there's one plugged in. Nobody's really sure why Sega added that in to both the GG and MD, it may have been a legal issue to make it easier to go after unlicenced software makers.
I believe the first Sega console with a "proper" BIOS was the Mega CD. All GG, SMS and MD games are fully self-contained with all the code needed to do everything required.
This pretty much confirmed what I believe. Contrary to some people's beliefs, some systems just don't need a bios...while a bios can add functionality, it just isn't always necessary. If it's not there, the code still boots...it's not necessqry as you mentioned. It is widely accepted the orginial GGs did not have one (the 2 ASIC board designs with no splash screen). I guess you can say it doesn't, but I'm going to have to lean toward the experts on this one.
-Rob