Make my Genesis/megadrive region free?

Post by **Thermoptic** » Thu Jun 14, 2007 8:41 am

I have a bunch of NTSC genesis games laying around but I cant play them on my PAL megadrive. I'm looking for a guide/walkthrough to make my megadrive region free. if you have some links please post. thanks!

Post by **lordofduct** » Thu Jun 14, 2007 9:07 am

Which model do you have?

GamesX.com has instructions for every model accept the model 1. And it's model 2 instructions have no pictures (pics for every other version including the 3, JVC and nomad).

Eidolons-inn.net is also another great resource for mod information for the genesis... there is even a forum there for very good assistance (not sure how active it still is today... research through the forum before posting). They will definately cover the model 1, and probably have better information about the model 2 (pics...) then gamesx.com.

OR... i forgot... you can go to mmmonkey.co.uk
They document almost every PAL version console for Sega.
http://www.mmmonkey.co.uk/console/index.htm
There you go, just select your model mega drive and be off on your merriment.

...

oh and another great source for this stuff. GOOGLE!!!!!

Post by **Thermoptic** » Thu Jun 14, 2007 9:23 am

Thanks for the links lordofduct!

Its a model 1 megadrive. My old model 1 was modded and worked great playing imports, but i broke. Just got another model 1 that i need to mod.

But all these guides i find describes how to install 50/60Hz and Jap/Eng "Switches"
My old modded model 1 did not have a switch so it seemes just like extra work installing that. i just want to make it play imports.

http://gamesx.com/ only have guides for Genesis 2/3/Nomad under the "Playing Imports" sections. And it seems that Eidolon and mmmonkey only have guides to installing switches. but maybe i have missed something, gonna search some more.

thanks!

Post by **lordofduct** » Thu Jun 14, 2007 9:28 am

you want it to Auto Detect...

Well, not sure where you got your console at that auto detected the region, but that is not a common thing. Personally I never heard of a mod for the Genesis/MD that did that (accept for dev systems). And I've been modding consoles for a VERY long time (going on 10 years now).

Even more elusive is the fact that hangin' out over at segaxtreme.net for the last decade also has never brought me to learn about said mod... and they are some of the best guys to go to for Sega related help.

Post by **Thermoptic** » Thu Jun 14, 2007 10:15 am

Hmm ok thats strange. Im going to ask the guy who modded my first Model 1 about the autodetect mod, if i found out how it works i post it in this thread.

I think my first model 1 had that red color on top of the console and blue reset button, which means that it was a Japanese model if im correct? http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Image:Mega_Drive_ja.jpg dont know if that makes any difference with the autodetect mod. But im sure that he did not add any switch when he modded it, not any that was visible in that case. anyway, I will post here again when i find out more.

Post by **Thermoptic** » Fri Jun 15, 2007 6:00 pm

I dont know much about these stuff but i think that all he did to my first model 1 genesis was to remove some stuff in the machine under the cartridge slot to get those round cornered japanese cartridges to fit?

Today i tested a japanese game on my genesis (Shinobi 3 with japanese text on the cover and cartridge, so i guess it was japanse) , and it worked great. Is the genesis region free when you buy it or what? can i import japanese and ntsc games and play them on my pal genesis without modding it?
that would explain why i played Japanese and European games on my first genesis without that switch mod?

Post by **Thermoptic** » Tue Jun 19, 2007 1:18 pm

Ok so this i what i got.. the guy who modded my first genesis only removed those edges so japanese cartridges could fit and also he fixed something under the powerswitch. thats it! no special pal/ntsc switch! but how could i play imported games without the swich? well i got some information that explained that from the beginning there was NO regionprotection on the sega gensis, but later on, around 1992 the added region protection on some game titles.
So this explains why you can play imported games on a genesis without installing a "switch". I dont know how many games that have this protection and how it works. hope this helps

Post by **Pullmyfinger** » Tue Jun 19, 2007 1:46 pm

There are many region-free carts for the Genesis, maybe you were lucky enough to only play those

Post by **Thermoptic** » Tue Jun 19, 2007 4:46 pm

Yeah actually when I went over to the guy who modded my genesis and asked about the regionfree mod he gave me this Megakey cartridge for $5
nice little cartridge that have 4 switches on the back, just look at the list on the front of the cartridge to see what region game you want to play and change the switches. I have not tested it yet but i guess i should work.