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. 

Nintendo Console: The Nintendo Entertainment System (NES)

Hello gamers,

In Malaysia, the NES Classic edition just arrived this November 2016. A bit late, I must say, and I do have my opinion regarding the system, but that is a story for another day.

First, I would like to review the real deal, what the NES Classic derived from, the one released in 1985, the one which revived the video game industry historical crash in 1983 and then dominated the American market for many years afterwards: the Nintendo Entertainment System.

After the Famicom was released in 1983, it took another 2 years before it reached the US, and was later redesigned into the NES known by all. Function wise is the same, and it plays all the 8-bit games but delivered via 72-pin cartridges compared to the 60-pin ones used in the Famicom.

As a friend once told me, the boxed one I got looks beaten up. I agree, but I guess that's how I like my retro consoles, a bit aged and retaining their war scars. (Plus they're cheaper, hehe) Beaten up or not, it costs me RM500 (USD100). Well, the NES is a bit difficult to come by these days, and after playing an hour of Chip&Dale rescue rangers, all of that was forgotten

Specifications

• Video/Audio: Composite with Mono, also RF as an option

• Controllers: 
• 2 standard detachable controllers attached to the front of the console, with cable length of 2 meters (really long)
• Each controller has the buttons A and B, Select and Start, and a directional pad 
• The D-pad is not as comfortable as the SEGA Master System's and might cause a sore thumb after playing fighting games especially Street Fighter
• The controllers cannot be stored within the console like the famicom

• Extra controller port: None, but other accessories can be connected via the controller ports

• Power supply: the Asian version comes with a 220-240V power adaptor

• Media: 72-pin 8-bit cartridges

• Game save capabilities: None but some game offers passwords in between levels

Main Console:

Here's the body of the console, with the AV port at the side, and an RF port at the back

The AV port situated at the right side of the console

The POWER and RESET button situated at the front

Oblique view of the console

The back of the console showing the slot for an AV adaptor, switch for channel change and an RF port

Controller:

Here you go, a view of the controller, just imagine your thumb on the D-pad

Game Media:

Here's a size comparison for the NES cartridge (left) compared to the Famicom's (right)

I was surpsired when Wikipedia only listed 713 known licensed game for the NES, compared to 2000+ Famicom games.

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

If you wanna read more regarding the NES, I could only find the Wikipedia page as Nintendo website only promotes the new NES mini

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

Alright, that's it for now. I'll comment on another post on NES/FC mini compared to the original thing. Please leave a comment below and tell me what you think. Until next time, Game Doc out

Prologue II: Game console regions

When you're about to buy a console, or game media (CD, Cartridge, DVD, etc) you might wanna be careful on your selection, especially when you buy from overseas.


Always ask the seller and yourself regarding the console's or the game's region. A game or console is usually coded according to the region where it is manufactured, and this prevents it from using other region's media or vice versa. You can still use a console from any region, but only use the SAME REGION'S games.


When I first start retrogaming, I managed to get a PSX, but it only plays NTSC-J games. If I insert games from other regions, it will not be able to read them.


This page is a very simplified information page on what you need to know, but if you want to read the whole story, you can check out:


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


4 regional coding exists for consoles and games, and usually they are written somewhere on the box, manual, or otherwise you need to ask them from the seller.


The regions are:

NTSC-U (North America, South America, Singapore, Malaysia and the Philippines)
PAL (Europe and Oceania)
NTSC-J (Japan, Hong Kong and Taiwan)
NTSC-K (South Korea)


Apart from game medias, the same goes for some extensions and peripherals. Another way you can find them out is by googling the console serial number or look them up in useful pages such as:

1. https://segaretro.org/Main_Page
2. http://www.nintendo.com/

Lastly I would like to share my experience, this is my SEGA 32X which can only run on an NTSC-J Mega Drive. I first tried it on a PAL Mega Drive and it didn't work at all.



That's it from me, hopefully you won't make the same mistake I did. Game Doc just left the building.

SEGA Console: The Master System II

The Master System: SEGA's 3rd generation console to rival the NES/ Famicom. This console was released in 1985 and although lost the battle to dominate the American market, was very successful in Europe and Japan (where Nintendo was not so famous).

I personally feel that the Master System was an equally good console to the NES, and it has better features than the Famicom. Game titles wise is just as good, and I remember playing Operation Wolf using an emulator when I was actively playing PC games.

I only managed to get the Master System II, and a loose/unboxed one. Honestly I prefer the design of the first release, the Master System I, but I hope to be able to buy one (with a reasonable price *cough *cough *cheap) one day.

Well here's the machine: 

It's not as elegant as the Master System I or even the Mark III, but I do think it looks better than the Famicom.

Here's the main console:

The SEGA logo is actually a lid protecting the port where you insert the cartridge. 

But when I use the controller, it feels a bit odd, since it does not have a designated Start or Select button, just an A and B, like in the first picture.

Specifications

• Video/ Audio : RF (Radio Frequency) output
• The original one comes with a cable that you need to screw to an old television set and change to a channel 95, but you can just change to a regular RF cable where you plug into the aerial socket of your TV, and search for the channel

• To search, use manual search instead of auto, the TV will cycle UHF to VHF continuously until it finds the picture

• RF is, however, well known for having background noise even when you get a good picture

• Controllers: 
• 2 Standard detachable controllers connected to the front of the console with a long cable ~ 2 meters each
• Each controller has the buttons 1 (with start) and 2 and a Directional-Pad
• You cannot store the controllers anywhere
• The controller can be replaced with a Light Phaser (the gun)

• Extra controller port: None

• Power supply: 240V AC adaptor

• Media: 8-bit Cartridge
• This console has a built in Alex Kidd game (you can have either Alex Kidd or Sonic the Hedgehog as a built in game)
• The console has a lid which you can close to prevent dust accumulation, with no ejector so it's gonna be a bit hard to yank the cart from its port

• Game Save capabilities: None, but some games provide passwords to save basic achievement like cleared stages

Comparing the Famicom Cartridge (left) and the Master System Cartridge (right)

Controller

Here's a picture of the controller for the Master System II, like I described earlier

The D-pad is very soft and comfortable, which paved the way for a better D-pad in SEGA's Mega Drive/ Genesis later on

Functional Differences compared to Master System I

• Unable to read games in card form, which is another available media for Master System games
• Does not support the 3D glasses

Alright, although I mentioned my preference to Master System I over this version, I still think that this is a good 8-bit gaming console.

Titles like Alex Kidd, Operation Wolf, Black Belt and many more great memorable games can be played. A list of its games can be viewed here:

1. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_Master_System_games

2. http://www.sega-16.com/forum/showthread.php?29198-Official-List-of-Sega-Master-System-games-by-Region (this is a forum by avid fans)

As usual, my blog is not really meant to give a complete historical and technical account on these consoles, but rather my views and opinions. If you want to know more, you can go to these sites:

1. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Master_System

2. http://segaretro.org/Sega_Master_System

If you want to help me out obtain the Master System I, or you want me to help you out to obtain the Master System II, or cartridges, or have anything to comment on my reviews, leave a comment below.

That's it for now from the Game Doc

Prologue: Console Generations

Ok gamers, we all know that new game consoles are developed after every few years.

There was the NES, the SNES, and then N64, Gamecube and Wii... so on and so forth. Game development is not random. Because of the fierce competition between video game companies, new video games usually come out in batches.

The tycoons: Nintendo, SEGA, Microsoft and Sony compete with each other that when one company produces a new console, others will too.

This has been going on since this first video game console was marketed. So many companies have competed, and so many have lost in the race, even when they were so successful when they started. Such examples would be Atari who once dominated the console industry with its 2600 model, and SEGA with its Mega Drive / Genesis model, a powerful rival to the Nintendo, now no longer producing any consoles... lost in the console war.

I present to you the table of each generation and time period, with the companies involved and their respective model. I got it from Wikipedia, and I find it really useful if you want to understand roughly about video game history.

(Click on the image for a larger version)

Just to be clear, the timeline of each generation is as follow, (rough estimate):

1st Generation: 1972 -1975

2nd Generation: 1976 - 1983 (ended with the historic video game crash of 1983)

3rd Generation: 1983 - 1989

4th Generation: 1990 - 1993

5th Generation: 1994 - 1997

6th Generation: 1998 - 2006

7th Generation: 2007 - 2009

8th Generation: 2010 - 2016 (Ended with the birth of Nintendo Switch)

For better understanding of all the companies and consoles involved in each generation, here's a useful link:

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

So after this, when people say 3rd Generation or 4th Generation, you have an idea which consoles are involved. If you look into the table above, you'll notice SEGA stopped producing console after the Dreamcast, and ATARI much earlier than that (retro reproduction doesn't count).

It's sad that SEGA and ATARI dropped out because I honestly think they are really good manufacturers, and the SEGA Dreamcast and the ATARI Jaguar are really good consoles. 

I hope one day, they can rise from the ashes of defeat, and come up with consoles to rival the others.

Game Doc, signing out.

Nintendo Console: The FAMICOM (Family Computer/ FC)

 As I said in my introduction post, I started off knowing video games with a Famiclone. As the name implies, the famiclone is actually a clone of an original Nintendo console: the Family Computer or also known as the FAMICOM. This is a console which plays 8-bit video games and was released by Nintendo in 1983.

In the video game console history, this is a part of the 3rd generation of consoles. This console is purely marketed in Japan. In southeast Asia it is marketed by other distributing companies as clones such as Micro Genius, Mastergame, Goodboy etc.

But this is the original thing. Here is the boxed version of Nintendo Famicom that I managed to buy from a local dealer. It costs me RM200 (approximately USD 40) since it is a boxed set.

Here is what it looks like unboxed. A pure beauty.

Here are pointers regarding this console:

• Although it is the Japanese version of the NES marketed in the US, it plays the 60-pin cartridge instead of the 72-pin cartridge, but the game titles are mostly the same for both consoles
• You can also buy a converter to allow Famicom (FC) games to be played on the NES, and a different converter to do vice versa

Specifications

• Video/ Audio : RF (Radio Frequency) output
• The original one comes with a cable that you need to screw to an old television set and change to a channel 95, but you can just change to a regular RF cable where you plug into the aerial socket of your TV, and search for the channel

• To search, use manual search instead of auto, the TV will cycle UHF to VHF continuously until it finds the picture

• RF is however, well known for background noise even when you get a good picture

• Controllers: 
• 2 Standard non-detachable controllers connected to the back of the console with a short cable ~ 1 meter each
• Each controller has an A, B, Start, Select and a Directional-Pad
• You can store the controllers at the side of the console

• Extra controller port: 1 extra port at the front of the console for a zapper/ light gun (refer above picture)
• Remember, the light gun can only be used on a CRT TV (old fat TV)

• Power supply: 100V AC adaptor

• Media: 8-bit 60-pin Cartridge
• The console has a lid which you can close to prevent dust accumulation, and an ejector to remove the cartridge

• Game Save capabilities: None, but some games provide passwords to save basic achievement like cleared stages

Controller

Here's a picture of the controller for the Famicom, like I described earlier

Game Media

The difference between an 72-pin NES cartridge (left) and a 60-pin Famicom Cartridge (right). My apologies for the bootleg display, hehe.

I don't think I need to enlighten you regarding the cool games both the NES and FC has. Enough to say the 8-bit era was started with these 2 giants. Super Mario Bros, Double Dragon, Contra, Castlevania and a lot of good games were created for these 2 platforms. 

If I'm not mistaken the FC contains around 2000+ titles, but here is the best list I can find in the net
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_Family_Computer_games

If you wanna know the History, time of release and all the necessary information regarding the Famicom, here are a few websites I recommend:

1. http://famicomworld.com/

2. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Nintendo_Entertainment_System

Please comment below if you wanna know more, or think I should improve on my blog, or even if you want me to help you find a Famicom.

If you wanna know how does 8-bit games of the Famicom looks like, these are YouTube videos from my favorite sites. I may come up with one of my own videos one of these days, but for now, I'll just share with you my favorites:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GhyCDBOY7vw (MetalJesusRocks)
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7DePjIH1ips (Lord Karnage)
https://www.youtube.com/user/FamicomDojo (Famicom Dojo)