Sega CD region questions, backup cartridges, etc.

[greg]

OK, so this is probably a dumb question. I own a Genesis 2 and CD player, and a Genesis 3 to play J-games on. I have a couple of US Sega CD games, but I have a handful of Mega CD games. I'm thinking about just going ahead and getting a Japanese system. What I have been doing is the process for burning copies of the J-games to play on a North American Genesis console, but this can be an annoying process. On top of that, backup cartridges are expensive, but here in Japan they can be found for only 1,000 yen each.

So, questions.


Can I just get a Japanese Megadrive to use with my Sega CD unit? Will this be a work-around the region coding? Or will I have to buy a Japanese Mega CD unit as well? It would be more convenient to swap out the Genesis or Megadrive modules than to have two different CD units. Do the CD units carry the region lockout information, or is that only on the console itself?

Thanks in advance. I've noticed that changing the regions of the CD games isn't always 100% accurate, since my NA Genesis ignores the voice sampling in the copy of Denin Aleste I created because the domestic Robo Aleste didn't use voices. Time Gal works fine, but I think I should just go ahead and get a Japanese Megadrive for these games.

[theclaw]

There isn't a simple explanation. Basically... By default, CD units look for a same-region console. They give an error message when attached to the incorrect one.

However this specific check is so flimsy it's laughable. Because CD bios files can be loaded from cartridge. Weird as it sounds! You could use a flash cart to load a temporary region hacked bios. It'd make the CD unit boot on any console region, and not check region code of game discs.

Of course only the CD unit's own region would change. Not your console's. I don't know if CD games check the base console for 50/60hz or English/Japanese. I'm also not sure about backup ram simultaneous with CD bios loading.

Another interesting thing is the western 32X will fit Japanese consoles (like Sonic & Knuckles), and the slot opening on most is just enough to tight fit common size Japanese games.

So usually western 32X owners need no mods to use a backup ram cart from Japan, or Japan games not region locked.
While Japanese Megadrive owners may use the US 32X (not PAL) to play US/PAL games that aren't region locked against Japan mode, without having to pull out the console's cart-lock arm.

BTW you have a source of affordable backup ram carts? I might be interested to hear more.

[greg]

Yes, I saw several memory cartridges for 1,000 yen at Kanteidan in Shizuoka City. I'm pretty sure I cannot plug one into my American Genesis 2 and have it work. Only the Genesis 3 can run imports without hardware modification, right?

So if I were to use one of those bios flash carts, I couldn't use one of these memory cartridges in tandem, could I? Do they have a cartridge slot on top of them?

[theclaw]

Genesis has always ran PAL imports that accept 60hz.

Genesis 3 merely has a wider slot. no region setting difference.

While you're correct the japan memory cartridge won't plug into Genesis 2 alone. Any japanese or american 32X will fix that problem, by giving it enough room.

I don't think bios flash carts have a cartridge slot. Though I rarely pay attention to Sega CD. You're probably better asking CD related questions to someone more experienced.

[greg]

I found one of those boot cartridges on YAJ that enables Mega CD games of any region to be played on Megadrives of any region. However, for the price they're asking, I may as well just buy a Japanese system.

[theclaw]

I found one of those boot cartridges on YAJ that enables Mega CD games of any region to be played on Megadrives of any region. However, for the price they're asking, I may as well just buy a Japanese system.

Japanese system alone will not help you. The US Sega CD drive doesn't start up when connected to one, unless you can bypass its region check.

[Breetai]

Greg, MOST Genesis/Japanese MD games can run on either console. The only ones that are region locked are the ones that came out sometime around mid-1993 and up through mid-1994. After that period, most are region free again.

JP Street Fighter II' SCE is region-free.
US Street Fighter II SCE is region-locked. So the region lock came in between those two releases.

US Sonic 3 is region-locked.
US S&K is region-free. So the region lock, at least with some game companies (Sega, definitely) stopped between those releases.

Physically, although the games don't fit in either system, you can physically mod the consoles so the carts fit. I used a simple exacto knife to open my 32X cart slot a bit larger to accept JP MD games. Using a Game Genie or another pass-through device will also work.

For region-locked games, there are actually Game Genie codes that make them region free!

For 32X, some games are region free, some are not.

As for using a JP Mega CD unit on a Genesis or vice-versa... I though you could. I do know that the CD consoles are region-locked in the system BIOS chip. You could either install a custom flashed BIOS chip or find one of the not-so-cheap special carts that makes MOST CD play on any region console (with a few exceptions).

I gave my last Mega Drive to one of my friends locally. I can ask him later if it works on a Sega CD.

[Curlypaul]

Of course only the CD unit's own region would change. Not your console's. I don't know if CD games check the base console for 50/60hz or English/Japanese.

Yep thats what they check, if I leave my switch on 60hz and boot up the CD unit it complains that the region isn't right.

Actually I've been meaning to check if I need to wait until the game has loaded to flip it to 60hz, or if it will let me do it on bios screen and still load a game. I'll get back with more info

[theclaw]

As for using a JP Mega CD unit on a Genesis or vice-versa... I though you could. I do know that the CD consoles are region-locked in the system BIOS chip. You could either install a custom flashed BIOS chip or find one of the not-so-cheap special carts that makes MOST CD play on any region console (with a few exceptions).

I gave my last Mega Drive to one of my friends locally. I can ask him later if it works on a Sega CD.

Nope. I tried JP Megadrive model 1 and US Sega CD model 2. The combo by default gets a lockout screen. Yet using Everdrive let me play US Sonic CD despite that.

It's a double layer of security. You must bypass the CD unit's startup check to attach one with another region console. Then bypass the CD unit's disc check to make CD games of other regions work.

Loading a BIOS file from cartridge matching the console, gets past the first part. Loading a region hacked BIOS file gets around both parts.

What I don't know... Is whether CD games themselves can detect console region. I've still got research to do!

[Breetai]

What I don't know... Is whether CD games themselves can detect console region. I've still got research to do!

Well, I do know that Mega CD can't do not load up on a Sega CD and vice versa. If that's what you mean, then there is your answer.