• Hey, guest user. Hope you're enjoying NeoGAF! Have you considered registering for an account? Come join us and add your take to the daily discourse.

Sega Genesis/MegaDrive Appreciation Thread: Alien Storm > Golden Axe

Q

qq more

Member
Someone on ebay used to sell aftermarket Sega Genesis game cases. They were really neat, although a bit thinner... but the person doesn't sell them anymore. :( Would love to get my hands on a few more.
 
Q

qq more

Member
IrishNinja said:
hmm, i remember buying a few like that off an amazon seller earlier this year, did you check there?
Click to expand...

:eek:

:O

Had no idea that site has them! I'll check that out, thanks!

EDIT: yep! Wow, this is cool. Though 5.99 for 3 cases is a bit more compared to the prices of the pack I bought on ebay. But eh, better than nothing.
 
IrishNinja

IrishNinja

Member
no problem man - fair warning though, read the reviews - the quality of the plastic lining to hold the cover art isn't the same either though. i only use the ones i have left for stuff like california games, haha
 
Q

qq more

Member
If it's the same exact cases that I've bought then no problems. Just have to be a bit careful when you insert the artwork into the case.


Now I just need someone who is willing to print covers and sell them, I don't really want to invest into an expensive printer just to print a few covers.
 
IrishNinja

IrishNinja

Member
yeah...i abused the crap out of the one at my job, and my chick cut them out by the dozens, bless her! i should've taken the advice i saw elsewhere, apparently you can sometimes load a USB stick & take that to Office Max/Depot, have them printed (some people like thick glossy paper but it all looks the same with the clamshell laminated-ish sleeves to me) and apparently have them printed/cut to your specifications, which is prolly more expensive but sounds smarter!
 
S

sixteen-bit

Member
Try buying low-interest genesis lots of boxed sports games, and you may end up with legit high quality replacement game cases for the same price or cheaper than the amazon repro cases.
 
Bar81

Bar81

Member
sixteen-bit said:
Try buying low-interest genesis lots of boxed sports games, and you may end up with legit high quality replacement game cases for the same price or cheaper than the amazon repro cases.
Click to expand...

Good call. I scoured ebay for just cases and they appear regularly in lots. Bought four pieces for about $8 to get three original Sega cases for US repros of some JP only games.
 
B

BoatAck

Member
If there is a Half Priced Books near you, check out the clearance section. There are usually a handful of Genesis sports games in their case for a buck each.
 
Fox Mulder

Fox Mulder

Member
BoatAck said:
If there is a Half Priced Books near you, check out the clearance section. There are usually a handful of Genesis sports games in their case for a buck each.
Click to expand...

I have a book store like that, they had all the road rash and strike games for $1 in a bin with sports stuff.
 
Z

ZealousD

Makes world leading predictions like "The sun will rise tomorrow"
Does anybody know what the going price for a PAL copy of Zero Wing is? There's not that many on eBay and my usual price checking website is rather US-centric.
 
P

Peagles

Member
ZealousD said:
Does anybody know what the going price for a PAL copy of Zero Wing is? There's not that many on eBay and my usual price checking website is rather US-centric.
Click to expand...

I got mine in March last year for $16 NZD plus local shipping here in New Zealand. It hardly ever shows up but I wanted it just for the lols.
 
R

Ramune

Member
So according to Sega-16, I have a non-high definition model 1 Genesis that has the same sound chip as a HD model 1 (space where the Ext. Port would be). Am I supposed to here some slight audible hiss before I reach channel 5 on the headphone volume switch. I mean, the sound isn't muffled (hell, My Brother and I would record to Tape and Minidisc with no problems), and doesn't overpower whatever sound the games are outputting, but I just want to know if its normal and am truly getting the best possible sound without having to get a different model.
 
IrishNinja

IrishNinja

Member
iIPR5Lkv0yZ05.gif


i think it was TRU that gave em away at launch? might've been EB, it was quite a while back
 
T

televator

Member
Ramune said:
So according to Sega-16, I have a non-high definition model 1 Genesis that has the same sound chip as a HD model 1 (space where the Ext. Port would be). Am I supposed to here some slight audible hiss before I reach channel 5 on the headphone volume switch. I mean, the sound isn't muffled (hell, My Brother and I would record to Tape and Minidisc with no problems), and doesn't overpower whatever sound the games are outputting, but I just want to know if its normal and am truly getting the best possible sound without having to get a different model.
Click to expand...

Yeah that's normal.... unfortunately. The headphone jack adds a lot of static noise. That's the price of stereo sound and true YM2612 from the Genesis. You can try just turning the dial down a bit and using a good receiver to turn it up instead. It makes it a bit more bearable. It's probably the biggest reason I'd love a Genesis/MegaDrive emulator on the same level as BSNES. Just so I could get crystal clear YM2612.
 
R

Ramune

Member
televator said:
Yeah that's normal.... unfortunately. The headphone jack adds a lot of static noise. That's the price of stereo sound and true YM2612 from the Genesis. You can try just turning the dial down a bit and using a good receiver to turn it up instead. It makes it a bit more bearable. It's probably the biggest reason I'd love a Genesis/MegaDrive emulator on the same level as BSNES. Just so I could get crystal clear YM2612.
Click to expand...

I see, so it is as I thought. Thanks!

Quackula said:
I always keep that volume slider at around halfway up personally
Click to expand...

I remember someone had a scan of the sega cd model 2 manual, and it said around level 5-6 was considered "normal" for connecting to speaker systems. Personally, anything above 5-6 was too ear bleedingly loud (and still is) for personal listening IMO. @_@;
 
S

Shaneus

Member
Teknoman said:
Speaking of sound:

Required watching / listening:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jLNK...st=PLoxs7x1Yn9F99tpdXQ4pRmnH9__WKj-FF&index=3

Also anyone know anything about a game called Vixen 357? Noticed music from the game was credited in the video, and im guessing its the few tracks I couldnt place...which actually sound pretty cool.
Click to expand...
Is there some kind of list of what games used the third (backward-compatible) sound chip? I had no idea that even existed, and the way that YT video made it sound, it wasn't something that was frequently utilised.

Also, holy fucking shit at that Thunder Force IV music. I've always tried to look up good examples from that game but never ran across them until this video. Christ almighty.
 
Genesis Knight

Genesis Knight

Member
Shaneus said:
Is there some kind of list of what games used the third (backward-compatible) sound chip? I had no idea that even existed, and the way that YT video made it sound, it wasn't something that was frequently utilised.

Also, holy fucking shit at that Thunder Force IV music. I've always tried to look up good examples from that game but never ran across them until this video. Christ almighty.
Click to expand...

Yeah, Biobase is one of the top three tracks from the game. But it's all god-tier.
 
S

Shadow Hog

Member
Shaneus said:
Is there some kind of list of what games used the third (backward-compatible) sound chip? I had no idea that even existed, and the way that YT video made it sound, it wasn't something that was frequently utilised.
Click to expand...
There isn't a third chip. Just the FM synth/DAC from the YM2612 and the PSG from the SN76496 - the latter of which was used in the Master System, as well, but was readily available to use in Genesis games.

Of course, some games didn't make use of that chip at all, which is somewhat impressive... IIRC none of the Konami games did, nor any game Jesper Kyd worked on.

Shaneus said:
Also, holy fucking shit at that Thunder Force IV music. I've always tried to look up good examples from that game but never ran across them until this video. Christ almighty.
Click to expand...
You could have just asked; I've got plenty of examples.

And I haven't even played the game.
 
T

Teknoman

Member
Are you in North America? If i find an extra, i'll send you one. No one should NOT have played TFIV at least once...unless they just arent into shooters.
 
M

Mikhal

Member
Siliconera posted a translation of the Sonic the Hedgehog 3D Classics interview with M2. I love how they made a virtual successor to the Genesis/MegaDrive when thinking about how to port the game to the 3DS.

GigaDrive (aka Super MegaDrive) Specs, Draft v1.0.

In a fictional version of the early 1990s where 3D TVs have proliferated, M2 has finalized the specs for an imaginary 3D TV-compatible SEGA game console, the GigaDrive. The 3D MegaDrive, which will subsequently be released by SEGA, will conform to these imaginary hardware specs. While highly unlikely to ever see the light of day, in the off chance that it does, M2 has taken careful consideration to ensure backwards compatibility with MegaDrive cartridges. In this era, once 3D MegaDrive titles popped up, a fair selection of games were released for the GigaDrive.

Hey you!! Why not give SEGA’s new imaginary console a test drive with 3D Sonic?

* Please note the specs below are in draft form. There will be changes in subsequent revisions.

■ The GigaDrive supports backward compatibility with MegaDrive games (Unmodified MDROMs will run normally without modification)

・Expanded VDP register for controlling expanded functionality included

・Expanded VRAM included

・Four extra background layers included

・Z-values can be set for each extra background or raster line

・Every sprite has a Z-value setting.

・VDP and Expanded VDP registers are memory-mapped and accessible

・VRAM and Expanded VRAM are memory-mapped and accessible

/*

* Memory Map

*

* $c00000 r/w VDP DATA

* $c00002 r/w VDP DATA

* $c00004 r/w VDP STATUS(read)/CTRL(write)

* $c00006 r/w VDP STATUS(read)/CTRL(write)

* $c00100-$c0012f -/w VDP REGS(write only)

* $c00130-$c0015f -/w EXT VDP REGS(write only)

* $c00200-$c0024f r/w VSRAM

* $c00300-$c0030f r/w DIPSW

* $d00000-$d0ffff r/w 64KB VRAM

* $d10000-$d1ffff r/w 64KB EXT VRAM

――Detailed I/O Map spec omitted――
Click to expand...
 
S

Shadow Hog

Member
Teknoman said:
Are you in North America? If i find an extra, i'll send you one. No one should NOT have played TFIV at least once...unless they just arent into shooters.
Click to expand...
Sure, I'm game.

Admittedly shmups aren't my forte in the slightest, but I dunno, I kinda liked Radiant Silvergun at least.
 
S

Shaneus

Member
Shadow Hog said:
There isn't a third chip. Just the FM synth/DAC from the YM2612 and the PSG from the SN76496 - the latter of which was used in the Master System, as well, but was readily available to use in Genesis games.

Of course, some games didn't make use of that chip at all, which is somewhat impressive... IIRC none of the Konami games did, nor any game Jesper Kyd worked on.
Click to expand...
Wow. That's surprising, especially about Kyd's scores. Sub-Terrania has some of my favourite MD music scores in it. Any reason why they wouldn't have utilised that chip, or just preference?

Shadow Hog said:
You could have just asked; I've got plenty of examples.

And I haven't even played the game.
Click to expand...
:p
 
S

Shadow Hog

Member
Shaneus said:
Wow. That's surprising, especially about Kyd's scores. Sub-Terrania has some of my favourite MD music scores in it. Any reason why they wouldn't have utilised that chip, or just preference?
Click to expand...
Custom sound drivers that didn't support it, I believe. I mean, as far as drivers go, generally you had GEMS in the West and SMPS in the East, but often times developers used their own (not sure about SMPS, since the Sonic games alone prove it can shine, but for GEMS the reasoning is pretty clear: it's really bad, and is generally the driver being used for the tinniest or screechiest soundtracks on the console), and those custom drivers didn't always take the PSG into account.

That, or they were saving the PSG for sound effects, not unlike how The Legend of Zelda doesn't use the NES's Noise channel in the music so it can use it for all the game's sound effects. (Aladdin generally does this; only a scant few music tracks actually use the PSG, while PSG sound effects are common.)

I stand somewhat corrected on the Konami claim, btw; I checked, and Rocket Knight Adventures uses the PSG. Animaniacs, Castlevania Bloodlines, Contra Hard Corps and Sparkster all don't, however.
 
S

Shaneus

Member
Shadow Hog said:
Custom sound drivers that didn't support it, I believe. I mean, as far as drivers go, generally you had GEMS in the West and SMPS in the East, but often times developers used their own (not sure about SMPS, since the Sonic games alone prove it can shine, but for GEMS the reasoning is pretty clear: it's really bad, and is generally the driver being used for the tinniest or screechiest soundtracks on the console), and those custom drivers didn't always take the PSG into account.

That, or they were saving the PSG for sound effects, not unlike how The Legend of Zelda doesn't use the NES's Noise channel in the music so it can use it for all the game's sound effects. (Aladdin generally does this; only a scant few music tracks actually use the PSG, while PSG sound effects are common.)

I stand somewhat corrected on the Konami claim, btw; I checked, and Rocket Knight Adventures uses the PSG. Animaniacs, Castlevania Bloodlines, Contra Hard Corps and Sparkster all don't, however.
Click to expand...
Man, that is *super* interesting. Thanks for filling me in :)
 
You must log in or register to reply here.

Similar threads

The 50 worst Sega Genesis/Megadrive Games- Kim Justice
Opinion Analysis Platform
8
2K
nush replied
GTA 3 (Dreamcast "Super Early Version" vs PlayStation 2) - Gameplay Comparison
Retro Trailer Indie 2 3
117
14K
polybius80 replied
First time you realized Japanese devs were GOAT?
Drama Retro Game Dev 2 3
118
4K
Spukc replied
Dreams that came true: Remember the timeline of the main rumors about the ''Dreamcast 2''
37
3K
Havoc2049 replied
SEGA's IP's. Which ones should be revived and how would you want them to be revived?
Opinion 2
95
3K
Come On Tars replied
Top Bottom