Best Sega Mega Drive Convertor?

[Mahoutskai]

I was thinking about getting a sega mega drive convertor so I can play the japanese shooters that have piled up. I don't know what convertor to get though. What convertor is compatible with the most games and works the best? By the way, is it true that japanese mega drive cartridges in fact DO NOT have region coding, and you just use the convertor as a mean of extending you cartridge port? My friend told me to cut that sucker open so I could fit the games in there. x_x

[chrisbid]

just use a game genie, they are super cheap

[anagrama]

Pre-1993 games do not use region coding, so any adaptor will do the trick for those if you don't want to enlarge the cart-slot.
However, from '93 onwards, some publishers did region-lock their games. Make sure you get a Mega Key-type adaptor that has dip-switches for each region, and you should be set for everything.

[noname11]

Super Monaco GP II and Thunderforce IV have region codeing... it was in an issue of EGM and i personally have tested Super Monaco GP II... you get a screen w/ words telling you something about the game not being intended for the region...

Do any other titles have region lock outs that you guys know of ?

[chrisbid]

do these region lockouts occour on original run genesis units w/o the licensing screen?

[anagrama]

do these region lockouts occour on original run genesis units w/o the licensing screen?

Yes. The license check is entirely seperate to the region check.

[rbudrick]

do these region lockouts occour on original run genesis units w/o the licensing screen?

Yes. The license check is entirely seperate to the region check.

Yep, unfortunately it is added to the cart. Strangely, Monaco GP II is the first game I saw do this too (only released in Japan).

-Rob

[InsaneDavid]

Screw all this converter / passthrough crap and hardmod a Genesis or purchase a modded one. Then you can play US and JPN games (EUR PAL carts as well but I've never had the need for that so I don't put the extra 50Hz / 60Hz switch in) all on one system without extra boards or carts.

I have one up now but it's WAY rough in terms of the console due to an aborted paint mod...

http://www.digitpress.com/forum/viewtopic.php?t=66944

...if it wouldn't rain on one freaking Tuesday then I'd have some alternate consoles to pick up and mod. Supposed to rain tomorrow as well. :/ If you want a hardmodded Genesis then watch my thread or PM me and I'll let you know when I have more ready. (will also do custom work) There are other hardmods up from time to time in the Buying & Selling thread but all the others I've seen have the switches ON the right side, which makes connection to a Sega CD impossible. :roll:


My friend told me to cut that sucker open so I could fit the games in there. x_x

In addition to removing the little tabs on the back of the cartridge slot you also have to widen the reverse edges (where it curves on the front) and widen the slot a bit more over all to allow Japanese Mega Drive games to fit smoothly.


Do any other titles have region lock outs that you guys know of ?

There was a thread somewhere on this that sparked a mini-debate, search around for it if you'd like. Really you should just hardmod your systems so it's not an issue.

[Fighter17]

Talking about converters? I can answer this question.

They are three main converters out there:

Game Genie: This method will play un-region lock games, but in US mode. For example I have a Japanese copy of Twin Hawk and when I play the game with the Game Genie, it'll show me the Western logo of the game. My Japanese copy of Fire Shark is the same way. There are some Game Genie codes that are made so you are able to play some games that have region lock in them (Alien Soldier, Thunder Force IV). The down side is you have to enter the code each time when you want to play the game. Also there are only a small amount of region lock games with the Game Genie codes, so you're limited on what games you can play.

Honey Bee: A simple bythru converter. However, this will not let you play region lockout games on your Genesis. Same spects as the Genesis.

Mega Key: This is the best out of the three. It plays any American, Brazilian, Japanese, and European cartridge out there (with a stwich). This cartridge will play 50hz games on your NTSC machine. The only down side that this is hard to find in the wild.

This should explain everything.

[InsaneDavid]

Talking about converters? I can answer this question.

They are three main converters out there:

Game Genie: This method will play un-region lock games, but in US mode. For example I have a Japanese copy of Twin Hawk and when I play the game with the Game Genie, it'll show me the Western logo of the game. My Japanese copy of Fire Shark is the same way. There are some Game Genie codes that are made so you are able to play some games that have region lock in them (Alien Soldier, Thunder Force IV). The down side is you have to enter the code each time when you want to play the game. Also there are only a small amount of region lock games with the Game Genie codes, so you're limited on what games you can play.

Honey Bee: A simple bythru converter. However, this will not let you play region lockout games on your Genesis. Same spects as the Genesis.

Mega Key: This is the best out of the three. It plays any American, Brazilian, Japanese, and European cartridge out there (with a stwich). This cartridge will play 50hz games on your NTSC machine. The only down side that this is hard to find in the wild.

This should explain everything.

All three are still a lot of bother, especially when a pair of switches and a wider cartridge slot accomplish everything all three do.

[Fighter17]

All three are still a lot of bother, especially when a pair of switches and a wider cartridge slot accomplish everything all three do.

If you're able to find a cheap Mega Key, this will save your a lot of money. And I don't like people opening my system.

[CosmicMonkey]

I'm with David on this one (are you really insane?)

I can understand you not wanting to crack open your console if you have a brand-spanking-new expensive X360, but an ancient Megadrive? Come on, if you do mess-up the mod (unlikely) you can get a new MD for next to nothing.

Sega were nice enough to provide us with easily moddable consoles with the MD and the Saturn, so take advantage of it. Same goes for modding a SNES for 50/60hz and disabling that region chip; go for it.

[Fighter17]

I'm with David on this one (are you really insane?)

I can understand you not wanting to crack open your console if you have a brand-spanking-new expensive X360, but an ancient Megadrive? Come on, if you do mess-up the mod (unlikely) you can get a new MD for next to nothing.

Sega were nice enough to provide us with easily moddable consoles with the MD and the Saturn, so take advantage of it. Same goes for modding a SNES for 50/60hz and disabling that region chip; go for it.

Insane, there's a crazy nutjob who wants $60 for a SVIDEO mod, that guy is out of his mind!

[InsaneDavid]

All three are still a lot of bother, especially when a pair of switches and a wider cartridge slot accomplish everything all three do.

If you're able to find a cheap Mega Key, this will save your a lot of money. And I don't like people opening my system.



I'm with David on this one (are you really insane?)

I can understand you not wanting to crack open your console if you have a brand-spanking-new expensive X360, but an ancient Megadrive? Come on, if you do mess-up the mod (unlikely) you can get a new MD for next to nothing.

Thanks. The Genesis was pretty much designed for easy disassembly. (as most systems of this era) It's all easy to get to and take apart. It's not like there are six boards and an optics assembly to disconnect or a thousand screws to keep track of. Well you do have to have some basic electronics knoweledge to perform the mods (more so for the Genesis 2 mods although I find those easier) it's the best way to go. Usually cheaper to have it done than what you'll pay for an overpriced MagicKey anyway.



I'm with David on this one (are you really insane?)

Insane, there's a crazy nutjob who wants $60 for a SVIDEO mod, that guy is out of his mind!

CosmicMonkey's comment was directed at me. :D

[Push Upstairs]

Just hard mod with a JP/US switch.

There is much fun to be had with that mod.

I'd also pick up a Game Genie. I say this because if you want to play *ALL* games including the early stuff like "Budokan" a GG is your new best friend. No codes, just press start and it will load on *ANY* Genesis system (well, Model 1 & 2's anyway).

[segagamer]

From 1992 onward, regional lockout was implemented in the games for the various regions. My first game with regional lockout was Thunder Force IV. As for converters, I would definitely recommend Magic Key or Mega Key, as both have dip switches for various lockout settings. I use it all the time. The extra benefit is that games with multiple versions on the same cart can be unlocked using such devices. It's like having JP, US, and EU consoles in one unit.

[Mark III]

Insane, there's a crazy nutjob who wants $60 for a SVIDEO mod, that guy is out of his mind!


$60 sounds about right for that kind of mod, why is he insane? It's not like he's opening it up a flicking a switch, he has to build the circuit and install it along with the s-video and composite jacks. $60 for parts and labour sounds reasonable.

[Push Upstairs]

From 1992 onward, regional lockout was implemented in the games for the various regions.

The first game i noticed with the lockout was "Streets of Rage 2". I'd guess that mostly any game beyond mid-1992 has a lockout.

I say mostly becuase i have the game "High Seas Havoc" that dosn't have a lockout and i can get it to show up with its Japanese title (which i don't remember at this time).


And i still say a hard mod is the way to go because you can have some with not only Genesis/MD games but also any other accessory (minus SEGA CD) that plugs into the Genesis.

I've had Master System games pop up the "Mark III" logo and i've even got my (now gone) 32X to pop up the "Super 32X" logo.

Fun times.

[InsaneDavid]

It's like having JP, US, and EU consoles in one unit.

Or you hardmod with a pair of switches and a cart slot widening job and you DO have JPN, US, and EUR consoles all on one unit. Hell, you already do, unlock them with a hardmod!

[Vroomfunkel]

You do need to be wary with some of the dip-switch converters as some of them will not play all of the protected games. There are a few games in particular that seem to be problematic in that respect - including Golden Axe 3, Mega Man Yu Yu Hakushu and Alien Soldier.

I have owned inumerable converters, most of which would not play these games - even some of the dip-switch converters. The only converters I have found that would play ALL games that I tried were:

Nitro 2 Converter

Magic Key 3 converter

Once again, be wary with the Magic Key converters though - there are a lot of different converters that all go under the name of 'Magic Key' Most of them will not play these games. If there's no photo, make sure the one you are buying has four dip switches on the back - if so, it is the correct one.

[LiquidPolicenaut]

I myself own the Magic Key III and it has worked flawlessly. I use it to play Bare Knuckle 3 on my American Genesis and play Mega Man:The Wily Wars (PAL version) on both American Genesis and my Wondermega. Never had a trouble with either game or either system.

I happen to have also had my Genesis modded by a DP member here to output S-Video and he did a great job. Playing Gensis and Sega CD games in S-Video is pretty big difference after playing them all these years in composite!

[segagamer]

Yes, there were exceptions to the regional lockout in games released after mid-1992, and sometimes the same title was locked in one region but not others. And then there were titles without any regional lockout at all. Very inconsistent.

As for the type of converter that works best, I have the one called Mega Key or Nitro Key (black plastic unit with 3 dip switches on the back), and I have never had problems with all of the games I have, especially Alien Solider, Golden Axe III, Mega Man and Yu Yu Hakusho (by Treasure).

[Melf]

I did an article (http://sega-16.com/Locked%20Out-%20Importing%20Made%20Easy.htm) on this very subject for my site some time ago, but I agree with InsaneDavid; a hardmod is the way to go.

[segagamer]

That may be true, but I prefer not to modify my hardware at all when there is an alternative to playing imports. While others may have reported problems with some games, I have not experienced any of those problems myself. This extends to Saturn and Dreamcast games.

As for Afterburner II, I find it hard to believe that a game released in 1990 could incorporate regional lockout.

[Mahoutskai]

Information overload. @_@ x_x
My question some to have sparked quite a discussion, and I am grateful for all of your replies. It seems that I should be on the look out for a mega key or hard mod my console is that it? First of all, I did a little e-Bay browsing on the mega key, but I just ended up with a bundle of mega man key chains. And secondly, how do I hard mod my console? You all make it sound like something any average bloke would know how to do, but I have to say I am not sure how to do it. I have two PAL systems, one for playing and one for touching so I guess maybe I could manhandle my play system a little for the sake of gaming. If it isn't the complexed for me that is. :embarrassed: Well, could anyone put their mega key out there or tell me how to hardmod this thing?

[anagrama]

It's a fairly straightforward mod, which involves soldering wires onto a couple of nice big jumper pads and attatching these to a couple of switches.

I've got a copy of an incredibly detailed .pdf file that describes the process step-by-step - you really can;t go wrong as long as you know which end of a soldering iron is the hot one ;) PM me you email address and I'll send it along...

[Ryaan1234]

Can't you play imports on a Sega Genesis 3?

[anagrama]

Can't you play imports on a Sega Genesis 3?

Only those without region-coding.

[esquire]

I have the Super Mega Key by Realtec. It has the four dip switches on the back of the cart and works with everything I've tried to date, mostly japanese shmups, and pal Mega Man Wily Wars. The only problem I've had with it is that I can't get it to work on a Genesis 2, and only on a Genesis 1. Of course I've had the same problem with other Realtec products as well like Whac-A-Critter. Perhaps this is a hardware lockout for nonlicensed products on the Genesis 2?

[InsaneDavid]

I did an article (http://sega-16.com/Locked%20Out-%20Importing%20Made%20Easy.htm) on this very subject for my site some time ago, but I agree with InsaneDavid; a hardmod is the way to go.

Thanks. :)


It's a fairly straightforward mod, which involves soldering wires onto a couple of nice big jumper pads and attatching these to a couple of switches.

Not if it's a Genesis 2!! Modding a Genesis 2 requires you trace a couple of pins from the 315-XXXX chip and isolate them. Pin 107 of this chip runs to a +5v plain for US and a GND plain for JPN. Basically you want to find where it meets up with the +5v plain and isolate it by cutting around it until it is isolated - don't just cut the trace as there's a VIA you can pick up the connection from that you want to leave in tact. Then you solder the center of a SPDT to the VIA or connecting point that runs to pin 107 of the 315-XXXX chip. One of the other pins on the switch gets connected to +5v (I usually get it from any connection found that meets up with A26 / B26 of the expansion port as that's +5v) for US mode, and the other pin goes to GND (again, A12, B12, A30 and B30 of the expansion port are GND but GNDs are easy to find) for JPN mode. 50Hz (PAL) / 60Hz (NTSC) is controlled by the same chip except pin 46 instead - GND for 50Hz and +5v for 60Hz. Procedure is pretty much the same. Sounds more complicated but I like modding Genesis 2 systems more. Remember if you're modding PAL Mega Drive systems you REALLY need to put in a 50Hz / 60Hz switch - world of difference.

Genesis 3's are really easy and that information can be easily found. As for the JVC X'Eye, you can find a walkthrough on how to US/JPN mod it at my site - it's very similar to a Genesis 2.



Can't you play imports on a Sega Genesis 3?

Only those without region-coding.

Yup, while the cartridge slot is wider and will accept Japanese cartridges without modification (although it's REALLY tight and SHOULD be widened just a bit) it still has region lockouts. However they are easy to bypass with a, say it with me kids, HARDMOD but the difficulty of this perticular hardmod (there is one for each version of the console) is the constrictive working conditions inside.

[DKTheArcadeRat]

Best Converter - From my knowledge it would have to be InsaneDavid

[InsaneDavid]

Best Converter - From my knowledge it would have to be InsaneDavid

ROFL What's funny is up until I got my JVC X'Eye I really didn't give two damns about Genesis / Mega Drive region conversion. Bishoujo Senshi Sailormoon + import friendly cartridge slot in the X'Eye + region lock preventing play = much research, documentation, and modding. :) Now Genesis 2's are my favorite mod to do.

[Push Upstairs]

Best resource for the MOD (and easier for you kids in the UK!)

http://www.geocities.com/homgran1/multi_region.html

This is the guide i used.

[InsaneDavid]

And I pretty much wrote out the entire Genesis 1 mod over here...

http://www.digitpress.com/forum/viewtopic.php?t=82610

:)

[anagrama]

Best resource for the MOD (and easier for you kids in the UK!)


Heh, that's the one I was referring to above - it used to be hosted on GameFAQs ;)

[chaoticjelly]

Well theres always people who wont be able to solder even 2 easy switches, and if you have to get someone else to do it, buying a converter or sending your console away via the post would probably cost around the same amount.

If anyones interested ive got a large amount of brand new, unused Nitro 2 Adaptors, and a couple of Magic Key 3's - as Vroom says, these play all the games..

PM if interested