Strange Sega Genesis (Model 1) issues

[Le_Mons]

Hey everyone -

Picked up a Model 1 Genny (High Def Graphics version) as well as a Power Base Converter. After plugging it in and cleaning it up, I'm having strange behavior with it:

My Genesis Virtua Racing cart runs and works flawlessly
My Castlevania: Bloodlines cart boots up to the "Produced By..." screen, but then doesn't start the game past that (just a black screen).

The Power Base Converter powers up (only have one SMS game to test with) but doesn't boot past anything else.

All connectors have been cleaned... and I've tried fiddling with the non-working carts a lot. Both Castlevania: Bloodlines and the Power Base Converter are in great shape.

I'll pick up some other genny carts to test.. but does anyone have any idea why Virtua Racing works flawlessly and the others don't? (Don't have any other Gennys to test the Power Base Converter or Castlevania, either).

Cheers,
Robert

[flojocabron]

Virtua racing works with both model 1 and 2 genesis. It doesn't work with the little Genesis 3.

Most games that go into the genesis will have the start up screen, but if it then goes black just reinsert the game and try again. Genesi (?) are picky like that.

yours might just be a picky console. Maybe whoever had it before was a cart yanker that didn't take care of his genesis very well.

the same may be with the converter. Almost all SMS games don't have a basic start up screen. It goes straight to the game.

[Le_Mons]

Virtua racing works with both model 1 and 2 genesis. It doesn't work with the little Genesis 3.

Most games that go into the genesis will have the start up screen, but if it then goes black just reinsert the game and try again. Genesi (?) are picky like that.

yours might just be a picky console. Maybe whoever had it before was a cart yanker that didn't take care of his genesis very well.

the same may be with the converter. Almost all SMS games don't have a basic start up screen. It goes straight to the game.

Hmm - yeah... the Genny looks in good shape but as with all my acquisitions I gave it a good clean-up before using it. I've fiddled with the Bloodlines cart so much, it definitely seems like it should have booted by now. I've had plenty of Genesis's but have never had this problem before (especially with a Model 1).

[arnold_the_bartender]

Only unlicensed games won't boot up unless you have a pre-TMSS model 1 Genesis. You have a Genesis with TMSS (aka the startup screen). If the TMSS screen is showing up with Bloodlines and isn't going past it, it's not automatically the console. The screen showing up means it 'detects' the licensed cart.

If the pins are already cleaned in the console, you might want to go to the extreme (I do this for dirty carts) and get a gamebit, open up the cart and use an eraser (I use white Staedtler erasers from Office Max. Using a pink one might do but I can't guarantee it) to clean the contacts on the cart. It really works on shining them up again. Then again, I tried this for a copy of Cyborg Justice and I think it's just dead. It's clean and it won't work. Yours is still getting the TMSS screen to show up, so it most likely isn't a dead cart.

[Ziggy]

Sounds like it has to be cleaned better.

[Le_Mons]

Only unlicensed games won't boot up unless you have a pre-TMSS model 1 Genesis. You have a Genesis with TMSS (aka the startup screen). If the TMSS screen is showing up with Bloodlines and isn't going past it, it's not automatically the console. The screen showing up means it 'detects' the licensed cart.

If the pins are already cleaned in the console, you might want to go to the extreme (I do this for dirty carts) and get a gamebit, open up the cart and use an eraser (I use white Staedtler erasers from Office Max. Using a pink one might do but I can't guarantee it) to clean the contacts on the cart. It really works on shining them up again. Then again, I tried this for a copy of Cyborg Justice and I think it's just dead. It's clean and it won't work. Yours is still getting the TMSS screen to show up, so it most likely isn't a dead cart.

My new Gamebits are on their way, so eraser cleaning will have to wait a little bit. Did my usual cleaning on it though and the contacts look shiny. Really strange. Guess I'll just pick up another console for testing tomorrow, or at least a few more games to see if the behavior continues. I just find it bizarre that Virtua Racing boots every time - and works even when I'm jiggling the cart back and forth while running (it doesn't exhibit errors like a top loading NES would, for example).

Cheers,
Robert

[Hobie-wan]

I'm also thinking the slot in the Gen needs more cleaning.