SEGA Console Add-On: The SEGA CD 1/ Mega CD 1

It has been quite some time since I wrote anything...

Busy with work, busy playing games and busy with life.

But I'm still a retro-gamer and besides playing my consoles, I also enjoy writing about them. Today I would like to show one of my favourite. Some call this an abomination, the mega drive's life support which failed and a number of YouTube reviewers think that it is just purely garbage.

We're talking about the Sega CD (US) or the name it goes by in Japan, Mega CD. As an add-on it has 2 variants, the model 1 and 2. In this episode we are going to see first the model 1. It also comes as a fused console, but that will be a story for another day.

This console was first released in 1991 in Japan and a year later in the US, and was discontinued in 1996 due to poor sales. It was SEGA's first attempt to use CD-Rom as a game media, with popular and controversial titles such as Night Trap, Sonic CD and a number of others. 

One other thing is most of its games are in the form of FMV (full motion video) where you don't actually play the game but decide on the direction of the game as it plays through by pressing certain buttons (like playing a movie and get to decide how the story develops rather than play the character of the game).

This is what it looks like when a Model 1 Mega Drive is connected to it. A Model 2 Mega Drive can also be connected to it but this combination looks far better and balanced (since a Mega Drive 2 is smaller and will leave a blank on the left corner.

This is what it looks like on its own. You can see a small hinge at the right upper shoulder where it is connected to the mega drive. 

All the buttons at the front of the console are actually not buttons, but indicator lights, so you can't push them. The only way to operate this is via the menu on your tv screen and you navigate with your gamepad controller, even to eject the tray!

This console is also region-locked, so you can only connect a japan Mega CD to a Mega Drive, and a Sega CD to a Genesis. 

You still use the same MD controllers attached to your MD/ Genesis. 

The downside of this add-on is that it has its own power supply, meaning if your MD/Genesis is attached to a 32X and a Sega/Mega CD, you will end up having to hook-up 3 adapters. 

At the back of this console there is a separate AV in that you do not use, a power jack for the Av adapter and a small audio jack ("mixer"). This mixer slot needs to be connected with the MD/ Genesis 1 audio jack. If you connect a model 2 genesis, you can ignore this.

Below it you can see the serial number and a few vents. The console has 4 small feet which I think shows the elegance of its design and how meticulous SEGA is when they make something.

The above is a picture of an opened right end of a model 1 Mega Drive/ Genesis where the expansion chip is exposed. This is the thing which is connected to the Mega CD's hinge (the very first picture).

There are a total of 209 titles for the Sega CD, and you can browse them here
http://www.gamefaqs.com/segacd/category/999-all
http://www.sega-16.com/sega-cd-reviews/
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_Sega_CD_games


Personally I really like the design of this console. It rejuvenates the Mega Drive/ Genesis and it feels you are upgrading the hardware. In other words when you add a 32X and a Sega CD to the Genesis, you feel like 3 transformer robots combining to form a larger robot, you know, stuff like that.

Sure it is a hassle to have 3 power adapters, and the cables are a mess, but when you see how the consoles stack up, you really feel the awe.

Gameplay wise you can see how improved it is compared to the 16-bit era. 

I really enjoy playing the Sega CD, even until today. My favourites are Heavy Nova and Night Trap.

Get a Mega CD/ Sega CD near you today!

Game Doc out.

Nintendo Console: The Nintendo 64 (N64)

As per my previous post, I didn't get the SNES. I went broke after a few consoles and peripherals. I'll share them afterwards as I would like to dedicate this blog to share and review all of my gaming junks. Maybe I'll get to buy it in the next round.

Malaysian currency plummeted like the dead duck from NES's duck hunt, making it difficult for gamers here.

Ok, back to the N64, This is where the game changes in the console war between Nintendo and SEGA. It is the 5th Generation of console from Nintendo, an answer to SEGA's challenge of the SEGA Saturn released 1994 in Japan and 1995 in the US, and the new kid on the block, Sony Playstation in the same year. 

A lot of things happened between this, SEGA's attempt to prolong the life of the Mega Drive with SEGA CD and 32X, Nintendo-Sony attempt of the Playstation which failed but managed to release a working prototype, the last stand of ATARI with the Jaguar and Jaguar CD, and some other historically important video game landmarks.

But those are stories for another day.

The N64 was released much later in 1996 compared to other consoles of the 5th generation from SEGA and Sony. The answer was clear, despite the change to CD in other video game companies, Nintendo continued with cartridges, a media with much lower storage capacity.

I got mine at a cheap price of RM200 (USD 40). There are a lot of things to tell regarding this console.

This is a US set, and there are differences between a US and Japanese set besides the AC adapter. We'll see the specs:

Specifications:

• Video/Audio: The original set comes with an AV composite with stereo sound, it has a 64-bit CPU where it's name is derived from

• Main Console: 

• The main console comes with 4 controller ports (the grey ones) at the front of the console, an on/off switch (no LED), and a reset button.

• There's no cartridge ejector so you'll need to yank it out

• If you notice at the front, there's a small slot with a lid covering it, this is actually a slot for a RAM pack which adds extra memory to play certain high end games (sold separately)

• The console comes with a 4MB RAM, and the RAM pak pushes it to 8MB

• At the back of the console there are ports for the bulky AC adapter and the AV cable

• One more thing worth mentioning is the cartridge slot where it is covered with a lid to prevent dust accumulation, and has plastic protrusion at the edges which prevents the console from playing games from different regions

• Here are other pages that show how to modify your console (involves cutting out the edges) so that it can play games from different regions

• http://www.racketboy.com/retro/nintendo/n64/how-to-mod-the-n64-to-play-imports-region-mod
• https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QfZcZYBB40U 

•  But if you're like me, who doesn't really like to cut up their consoles, you have the option of buying another N64 from a different region, or using this, a universal cartridge adapter

• But just a side note that the adapter makes the cartridge a bit wobbly when inserted into it and then into the console

• Controllers: The controllers are shaped like a trident with a number of different buttons
• 4 yellow buttons with direction marks 
• A green "B" button
• A blue "A" button
• A Directional pad
• A red "Start" button
• A central analog control at the center
• 2 extra buttons, one on each shoulder

• At the back of the controller there is a slot for a vibrator (the rumble pak) or a memory card (the picture below shows that it a memory card is inserted)
• The controller cable is long at 2 metres, and if that's not long enough, you can buy an extension for another 2metres
• Just a side note that the controller is unique but less practical where you will need to switch the way you hold it depending on which buttons you want to use, but after a while you'll get the hang of it
• At the back there is also another black button

• Extra controller port: There is no other extra controller port besides the 4 main ports at the front body of the console

• Power Supply: The power supply is attached to the console as the picture above, and voltage varies depending on the console's region, mine (US) came with a 240V

• Media: Cartridge base, officially having only 388 titles (link below)
• The cartridge is smaller compared to the NES as shown below

• The picture below shows how different regions have different cartridge shoulders which does not allow them to be played cross-regional unless the console is modified or using a universal adapter

• On the left is an Japanese cartridge, and the right is a US cartridge, observe the lower edges

• The cartidge also lacks a side label like that of the NES

• Game save capabilities: The game comes with a Memory Card (called the Controller Pak) which can be slotted into the controller and most game has save game features (256KB capacity). Here is how it looks like

Personally I feel the N64 has a number of good titles and this is the start when Nintendo starts to recreate our favorite classics into 3D. Some where succssful like Mario and Zelda, and some failed to live to gamers' expectations like Castlevania 64.

Regardless, I feel that the N64 just like any other console, is a great delivery by Nintendo. It was not as popular as the Playstation which dominated the 5th generation, but I feel it's still worth a gamer's attention.

If you wanna read more on the N64, here are useful sites:

• https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Nintendo_64
• https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Fifth_generation_of_video_game_consoles
• http://www.nintendo.com/consumer/systems/nintendo64/index.jsp
• https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_Nintendo_64_games

Alright, that's it from me for now, I'll post on SEGA's MD life support after this. Until then, keep on gaming!

SEGA Console: The Mega Drive/ Genesis (MD2)

I feel that after the success of the Genesis/ MD, SEGA might have hit a thought block or something. They keep on refining this particular console, until there are 3 versions of the same console. There's no major difference in the game properties, plus the cartridges it plays are the same as MD 1. 

So this will be a quick one. I'll highlight the differences it has compared to its immediate predecessor. 

If it plays the same games and there's not much difference, why did I still buy it? Well, the two main reasons are I am a video game collector, and I managed to get it relatively cheap, around RM200 (circa USD 40) I know that to the standards of some other people, this boxed console might be considered beaten, but to me, it is still a fine piece of console.

Well, here goes:

The console was released in 1993, after the MD 1 was released in 1988 (1989 in the US as the Genesis). In summary the major revisions of the console is the upgrade of sound output from Mono in MD1 to Stereo, but the audio jack was removed, and the second main thing is the controller. is upgraded into the 6-button smaller version.

Ok, let's go into the specs...

Specifications:

• Video/Audio:
• AV Composite with Stereo
• The audio jack together with the volume control is removed, a feature which makes the MD less special compared to the SFC/SNES and less unique
• The AV port and cable is NOT COMPATIBLE with the MD1, as the size of the plug and the metal pins are much smaller, but you can get an adapter for this MD1 to MD2 AV conversion

• Main console:
• The console became much smaller than the longer MD1
• It has a power button on the front left, and a reset button on the right
• There's no cartridge ejector so you have to yank it out to remove
• There is a retractable lid to protect the cartridge slot from dust
• If you see the bottom most picture, you can appreciate there's just the AV slot on the left, and a power slot on the right

• Controllers:
• Now here's the defining part, where the previous 3-button controller was upgraded into this new one.
• It has 6 buttons, a start button and a D-pad
• The upper case buttons are X,Y and Z while the lower case buttons are A,B and C
• The D-Pad is still more comforting that Nintendo's (Sega does what Nintendon't?)
• The controllers are attached to the front of the console, and the cable of the original controller is around 2 meters (much shorter around 1 meter if you buy an unlicensed copy)

• Extra controller port: None, and whatever accessory goes to the controller port

• Power supply: Mine came with an original NTSC-J original 110v adapter

• Media: 16-bit cartridge like before

• Game save capabilities: None but passwords like before

Interesting in-depth facts regarding this can be read at the SEGA retro page:

https://segaretro.org/Sega_Mega_Drive#Mega_Drive_2

http://segaretro.org/Six_Button_Control_Pad_(Mega_Drive)

If you wanna see how does a 16-bit game looks like, you can click on my previous page regarding the MD1. If I haven't posted it there yet, then just have to wait a while.

Until next time, I plan to show my N64 (US) next. Game Doc out

Nintendo Console: The Super Family Computer/ Super Famicom (SFC)

The bit war continued after the NES 8-bit console was rivaled with SEGA MD 16-bit console. Nintendo, being a major player of the video game industry at the time, released its own 16-bit console.

It was first released in Japan as Super Famicom in 1990. It was later redesigned for the American market and released as Super Nintendo Entertainment System in 1992.

Enough of the historical mumbo-jumbo, I'll show you my SFC. I got it at RM250 (circa 50 USD) and I got it boxed. 

Here was how it looked like when I received it. It was really something, warms up a cold space in my heart of unrealized childhood dreams. I imagine myself having an SFC/ SNES at the time, 1992, when I was 8 years old. 

The graphics would have been superb for the time. The time I killed doing nothing would have been well spent on this machine. 

Well, here's the good stuff:

And the console was even better. It's kinda difficult describing it in words... 

It's a bit yellowed, I know but it still looks cool to me. Very simplistic and functional. Easy storage and very practical.

Ok. here is what I think about the specifications:

Specifications:

• Video/Audio: AV Composite or RF. Obviously if you have a newer TV you would rather use an AV composite instead of old RF. Look at the picture below, the left most is the AV composite slot, next to it the RF, a channel switch button and the right most is for the AC Adapter.

• Main Console: It has a power button on the left most, a cartridge ejector at the center, and a reset button at the left most, while the cartridge slot has a floppy lid which will retract down when you push a cartridge against it

• Controllers: 
• Very fun-colored controller with 4 main buttons Upper case buttons X.Y and lower case buttons A and B. Another 2 upper edge buttons R and L, a Start and Select button at the center, and a D-Pad
• It looks like they haven't fixed the D-Pad from the last NES or FC design so playing it for a prolonged time will eventually hurt your thumbs
• The cables are SHORT around 1.5m ONLY, and this is a problem I see with the previous FAMICOM as well, what the heck man...
• The controllers are detachable and are connected to the front of the console, so that's an improvement compared to the famicom

• Extra controller port: none, but you can slot in other accessories (I'm gonna talk about this much later) in the controller port

• Power Supply: the SFC I got comes with a 240v adapter but usually Japanese console come with a 110v one

• Media: 16-bit cartridge to rival the MD/ Genesis! The cartridge on the right is the SFC cartridge in comparison with the huge NES cartridge

• Save capabilities: None up to this generation. People are still playing relatively short term games and used passwords to save your progress in longer games

The system has around 1447 games based on Wikipedia, so it's not impossible to collect them all, I guess.

Here are a few long-winded more specific sites I can suggest if you really want to know more than the average gamer:
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_Super_Famicom_games
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Super_Nintendo_Entertainment_System
http://retrogamerjapan.com/classic-games/super-famicom-games
http://nintendo.wikia.com/wiki/Nintendo_Wiki

The Nintendo Wiki only has a section on SNES console, which is the American version of SFC. 

Well, the SFC is really a vibrant looking console. It has a cheerful appearance, compared to SEGA's black MD. If you think about it, the rivalry sounds like Batman vs Superman. Nintendo looks like the colorful, righteous and appeals more to the younger fans compared to Batman's dark, practical and pragmatic approach winning over older fans.

That's all for now, I'm gonna try to score an SNES if budget permits, if not, the next Nintendo posting will be about the N64. Until then, see ya.

SEGA Console: the Mega Drive/ Genesis 1 (MD 1)

Ah... the Mega Drive reminds me about the "bit war", where the video game industry's key players were competing to win the American market.

It was not a straight forward race where each company keeps on coming up with a better console, but the was also a marketing war. 

One of the few terms related to the MD was "blast processor" which was said to be one of MD's advantage against Nintendo's console at the time, the SNES.

Also SEGA started to use the popular statement: SEGA does what Nintendon't.

Well, the SEGA MD 1 was first released in 1988 in Japan and reached American shores a year later. Although initially named as SEGA Mark V while under development, it was later introduced as the MEGA DRIVE (Japanese market) and GENESIS (American market). It is SEGA's most successful console to date. 

I got mine from a local seller at the price of ~RM200 (USD40). It's a boxed console, but just like most of my stuff, the thing looks worn and old.

But like I said before, I like old things that look their age. I like my consoles having all their war scars. Plus I need cash to buy other consoles, haha.

Regardless, I was very happy to have obtained this set. As a child growing up, I have heard about SEGA's MD but have never played any of them.

Specifications

• Video/Audio: Composite with Mono. The console also has an audio jack for speakers/headphones with a volume dial. The end of the video cable that you slot in the console's port has thick metal points

• Controllers: the original controller was first release with 3 buttons A, B and C, a Start button and a D-Pad
• The D-Pad is very comfortable and in my opinion is the best D-Pad ever
• Later a 6-button version of the controller which is also smaller was released
• Both controllers are detachable, and the cables are of good length circa 2 meters
• The controllers can also be used with an ATARI 2600 and a Collecovision

• Extra controller port: None, but other accessories can be connected through the controller port
• Power Supply: Mine is an NTSC-J version which should've come with a 110v adaptor, but the seller changed it with a 240v one.
• Media: 16-bit cartridges
• Game save capabilities: None, but some games do offer passwords in between levels to mark your progress

Main Console

Here's what the main console looks like:

The picture above is the back part of the console. If you are observant you can see that the left most port looks like a controller port but it's not. This port is common in Japanese MDs and it is to accommodate rare peripheral accessories and I heard can also accommodate a modem (? honestly I'm not very sure about this).

The picture above is the front part of the console featuring the audio jack (left most) and 2 controller ports (right).

According to Wikipedia a  total of 897 games were officially released for the MD. I guess with Nintendo not allowing game developers which have developed games for it to make any for rival consoles, SEGA had to rely on making games for its own consoles with aid from other smaller developers: Games in the Genesis can never be expected to be found in the SNES and vice versa. You can get the full list of MD games here:
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_Sega_Genesis_games

Another thing worth mentioning is how SEGA MD cartridges are sold: inside a really cool looking plastic case:

This is Contra Hard Corps sold for the MD.

Aaaand when you open up the plastic case:

This is how big he MD's actual cartridge is compared to the NES:

Well, that's all for now from me about the MD. It's really worth having one. The MD/ Genesis also has other updated versions which I will post later. 

If you wanna know more about the MD/ Genesis, these are useful sites:

https://segaretro.org/Sega_Mega_Drive#Technical_specifications

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sega_Genesis

Please give me your feedback, or if you want me to help you find an MD, you can leave a comment below. Thanks, Game Doc leaving the building.... seeya.