Best way to play Mega CD games

[swlovinist]

I recently got some Mega CD games, and wanted to know what is the best way to play them. I have a Pioneer Laseractive, but recently found that I cannot play games on my US system without spending alot of money. I would love to see what other options I have to be able to play Mega CD games. Are there any other US consoles that can play Mega CD games. Is there a converter cart of some type? Thanks, John

[Gameguy]

Is there a converter cart of some type?

Look into the Datel Pro-CDX/CDX-Plus. The only thing is they're very hard to find and can be a bit expensive.

[Vlcice]

I think the Everdrive can let you play foreign games by loading a foreign system's BIOS. The site links to an all-region BIOS but I don't know if it works on Laseractive. You could probably download a Japanese LA BIOS and use that, though.

[Zebbe]

Get a Mega Cart.

[Az]

Using a Laseractive? I'm not sure if any of the available converter carts work with it. Unless you have a regular Gen/CD combo, you might end up with an expensive paperweight.

There are a few programs that will try to convert MCD's to SCD's for burning onto a CD-R, but the compatibility is somewhat poor and won't work on a lot of Japanese to US conversions.

[Steve W]

You know, one of the reasons I originally wanted a Pioneer Laseractive when it came out is because I had read that it didn't have a region lock-out in the Mega LD pack. I never managed to find a Mega CD game in the wild (I did find a Japanese copy of Popful Mail at a flea market, but the disc was missing ) so I never had the chance to try it out for myself.

There is a way of hacking the region settings in the Mega LD pack, but I never had the nerve to do it.

[Enigmus]

Kega Fusion and an USB controller. I don't have a SCD yet, but this works just the same.

[Vlcice]

You know, one of the reasons I originally wanted a Pioneer Laseractive when it came out is because I had read that it didn't have a region lock-out in the Mega LD pack. I never managed to find a Mega CD game in the wild (I did find a Japanese copy of Popful Mail at a flea market, but the disc was missing ) so I never had the chance to try it out for myself.

There is a way of hacking the region settings in the Mega LD pack, but I never had the nerve to do it.

Mega LD has no regioning for Mega LD games, but Mega CD games are still region-locked. It'd be nice if it worked with both.

[TheClash603]

The CLD-A100 is not region locked, only each of the pacs. This is not for the Laseractive games, but for the Sega/MD and TG16/PC-E games.

If you already have a Laseractive, you should be able to find a Pac S1 for about $100. That's a fairly reasonable price to play MD games.

Lastly, the system is big and bulky, but I've realized that since it can play Genesis, Sega CD, MD, Mega CD, TG 16, and PCE games, it actually is quite convenient once you get all the Pacs.

[Steve W]

How much does the Japanese PC-Engine pac cost, out of curiosity? I'm guessing it'll be much higher, probably on par with the US Turbo pac.

[Vlcice]

The price is incredibly variable. They don't sell often enough to have a normal selling price. While I once saw one go for as cheap as $150 or so, they typically run $300 - 400, and sometimes sell for higher.

[Edmond Dantes]

I hope nobody minds me bumping this topic since I recently developed a similar interest.

I'm kind of confused about what this "Everdrive" is. How does it work?

Someone mentioned a "Mega Cart." What is that?

Thanks.

[theclaw]

Everdrive pairs very well with the Sega CDX. That combo has immense compatibility relative to form factor. Greater than even JVC X'eye because Everdrive's SMS loading works correct on CDX.

Majority of Master System, Genesis, and CD games should run or are patch-able. Exceptions include Virtua Racing (no SVP chip), games where 50hz is mandatory, and SMS titles using a VDP mode not supported by Genesis.

Both Everdrive and Mega Cart allow CD BIOS loading to enable most imports. Though IIRC neither contains the backup RAM needed by Shining Force CD.

[Amon_Re]

Easiest/Cheapest way is off course emulation. That's how I play my PC-Engine CD games (on a handheld even!)

[Edmond Dantes]

Both Everdrive and Mega Cart allow CD BIOS loading to enable most imports. Though IIRC neither contains the backup RAM needed by Shining Force CD.

So if I stuck an Everdrive or a Mega Cart in the Genesis and stuck an actual Mega CD game in the Sega CD, I could play it?

Keep in mind I have a Model 2 Genny/CD combo.

Also, why can't Shining Force save to the internal RAM?

[theclaw]

Yes. Most should with a correct region BIOS loaded.

Apparently, though I don't own either the game or a backup RAM cart to say for sure, save progress of the main Shining Force chapters requires greater memory than Sega CD provides. Hence needing a true save RAM cart for its additional levels.

Still you'll be able to demo many of the pricier games you're unsure you'd like on an actual console. Diving hundreds into your wallet for elusive titles like Power Strike II, MUSHA, Panarama Cotton, Mega Man The Wily Wars, etc only to find disappointment would be no fun.

[substantial_snake]

So if I stuck an Everdrive or a Mega Cart in the Genesis and stuck an actual Mega CD game in the Sega CD, I could play it?

Keep in mind I have a Model 2 Genny/CD combo.

Also, why can't Shining Force save to the internal RAM?

I don't no anything about the Mega Cart so can't help you with that.

The Everdrive is a flash cart that allows you to run practically the entire Genesis Library, most of the Master System library, homebrew, and fan hacks. Along with a ton of other functions you can also load region specific Sega CD bios onto the flash cart, which will then start your Sega CD and load whatever Disc you put into it.

Quick Video showing how simple it is:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zLUswB2aY0o

It should work fine with anything that uses the official Sega CD bios (aka made by Sega). I am not so sure about things like the X'eye/Wondermega.

Shining Force might be a game that just needs more memory then the Sega CD onboard has to offer. I don't remember exactly how much there was but its was a tiny amount.

tl/dr

Buy an everdrive, download the JPN/EU bios from somewhere, load it on everdrive, enjoy region free Sega CD.

[chrisbid]

this may be too conventional, but cant you use a japanese mega cd system with a US genesis to play japanese mega cd games?

[theclaw]

Good question. Never seen that attempted, it might need a region switch on the genesis.

[Edmond Dantes]

this may be too conventional, but cant you use a japanese mega cd system with a US genesis to play japanese mega cd games?

That would require me buying another CD unit, possibly having to open it up and replace the battery... I'd rather not have to do that.

If I could find a unit that someone's already done that to though, it would be a different story.