Retro game stuff talk

[FlyingTomahawk]

Few days ago I did something that was long overdue and I should have done a decade ago.
Retro console cleaning!

Even though my consoles where inside cardboard boxes it is amazing how dirty they can get.
After I was done I did a systems check. Hooked it up to my TV via composite (RCA) and it did run but the image quality is so bad that I could not hold out longer than 10 min.

I kept digging through my old stuff which was packed in different bags and found this Mega Drive, looks like original Sega (MK-1637-09), Scart cable with a stereo sound mod and Mega Drive 2 to Mega Drive 1 adapter attached to it. Hurray! A rare gem right there I thought.

I can't recall where I got it from but I was excited to have found one next to some Dreamcast S-Video and Scart cable as well.
The problem now, how the hell do I hook this up here in Japan. I know in Europe all old TVs had RGB or Scart plugs but here they don't or at least that's what I thought, more in a minute.

So I ordered this RGB21-HDMI converter on Amazon for 3800 Yen.

...which I received today and hooked up the Mega Drive via that Scart cable and...nothing. No input signal detected. So I was like WTF!? Is the cable bad or is that converter box not working. So I dig out my Dreamcast and connect that one with the same result. I was buffed and thought that the converter box must be faulty.
But before I claim anything to the seller or Amazon I did some research and it turns out that in Japan they did have TVs with Scart plugs but just very few of them. They where called J21 or RGB21 plugs. Looking at my converter box it says RGB21. Duh! And to make things worse they are also differently wired on the inside that is why it doesn't work. Great!
I opened up the Mega Drive Scart cable but it has a tiny PCB inside it and I don't want to mess things up there so I closed it up again. Now I ordered a EuroScart -> JP21 adapter at Retro Gaming Cables which I hope will solve all my problems.
All in all a real pain in the rear to get things working again.

[obsidianspider]

@FlyingTomahawk Oh you guys and your fancy SCART cables. I know that Mega Drives have a larger cartridge than US Genesis systems. Will a Mega Drive play a US game without any mods?

[FlyingTomahawk]

@obsidianspider

Send me a Genesis game and we shall see.
As far i can recall the Nomad, a US only product, can play Japanese MD games.
I think as long the game fits through the opening/slot it should work.
It does look different if you want to play Japanese Games in let's say PAL Mega Drives (Europe).
They run on 50Hz therefore you need to do the 50/60Hz mod and file out the corners of the input slot. That is what we used to do back in the days. With a Genesis you most likely only need to file out the corners and you should be able to play JPN games. But not 100% sure though.

[ruckage]

@obsidianspider
The cartridges won't physically fit but I do remember there were adapters available and if you were really brave you could physically cut part of the cartridge shell to make them fit (I did that on a few Japanese import games when I was a teenager as they were sold really cheaply at a video rental store called choices.)
I think some games have actual region locking though so It's probably hit and miss.

[obsidianspider]

@ruckage said in Retro game stuff talk:

if you were really brave you could physically cut part of the cartridge shell to make them fit (I did that on a few Japanese import games when I was a teenager as they were sold really cheaply at a video rental store called choices.)

I saw that done on an episode of Game Sack, which is what had me thinking that the Japanese Mega Drives had a bigger cartridge slot, which in theory would allow play of the smaller/differently shaped US cartridges

[celly]

Even though I’m a huge Tetris nerd, I still dig on other puzzle games. Dr. Mario is no exception. Its one of those classic titles that anyone can pick up and enjoy. Also a dew days ago, Nintendo released that later this year we would see a mobile release for both Android and iOS. Anyway, today I managed to swoop up on the GBA Dr. Mario, NIB, for really cheap. I had to open it and play it, sorry collectors. The rest of the handheld family joined in and celebrated its home coming.

[obsidianspider]

@celly

[obsidianspider]

Puyo Puyo Tsuu seems to be everywhere, but today I upgraded to a nice boxed copy of ぷよぷよ (Puyo Puyo). I had a loose copy that will be going to a friend who loves puzzle games. Now to keep my eye out for a complete copy of Puyo Puyo Sun for Game Boy Color.

@FlyingTomahawk if you ever see box protectors for Japanese Game Boy, Game Boy Color, WonderSwan or WonderSwan Color games, please let us know. I have only seen one shop that has them, and it's in The Netherlands, and they want 70 Euro to ship to the US, even for a small order.

[ruckage]

@obsidianspider
I found this seller on Ebay UK if it helps (£13.45 delivery for 10 cases to the US). https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/10-x-Game-Box-Protectors-GameBoy-Color-Japanese-Japan-LARGE-0-4mm-Plastic-Case-/322377035030?hash=item4b0f2b2d16&shqty=1&isGTR=1#shId

[ruckage]

@obsidianspider
They have Wonderswan as well :https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/10-x-WonderSwan-Color-Game-BOX-PROTECTORS-Strong-0-4mm-PLASTIC-DISPLAY-CASE-/323381722380?hash=item4b4b0d7d0c

[obsidianspider]

@ruckage Ooh, great find! Way better than €70!

[FlyingTomahawk]

Finally received Eliminate Down for Mega Drive. (Repro version, of course.)

First impression just after unpacking it....cheap quality!
Let's start from the outside and work our way in.

1.) Case shell

The case shell is so cheap I mean cheaper than cheap. As far I know there are replacements out there for the US versions which would have been far better in quality. The shell has a few holes here and there which left an imprint in the outer cover sleeve.
It has a glossy surface wheres the original Sega case shells have this mat-ish, rougher finish.

Also when you put the game on a flat surface you can actually see how bad the case is.

2.) Outer jacket

The outer jacket print is surprisingly very well made. Printing is sharp and color tone is on par with the real thing.
Putting it inside a genuine Sega case shell you can't tell the difference between Repro and real anymore.

I must admit it does look damn good inside the shelf with the other games.

3.) The inside (manual and cartridge)

At first glimpse everything looks fine. Nicely packed but...

The manual paper quality is not even close to the original and the print is kinda blurry and not sharp. Good visible on the MD logo top right.

The cartridge is not looking any better. Here a comparison. (top Repro, bottom original Sega)

The cartridge label is misplaced and not positioned correctly due to wrong cutting out of the label I guess.
Here too the printing is slightly blurred especially the rear part with the Japanese small letters.

The best thing is that the game actually runs and is playable on the original Mega Drive console.
All in all maybe not perfect or not as good as I wished it to be but for $15 you cannot expect much. I have seen people sell those repros here in Japan and call them "foreign versions" and they go easy for 5000-9800 Yen which is in my opinion way too much for such low quality.
I will order Gleylancer next from a different seller and see how the quality compares to this one, but I don't put my hopes too high.

[edmaul69]

@obsidianspider $80 for a double aa battery pack? I have one of those lying around and no nomad.

[obsidianspider]

@edmaul69 I didn't say I would pay $80 for a battery pack, but yeah, they're really desirable. I'm waiting for Helder to put this LiPo battery pack for Nomad on sale.

[edmaul69]

@obsidianspider oh no i wouldnt even sell it for that much if i do. I was just shocked at the price.

[FlyingTomahawk]

@ruckage

You have created custom labels for cartridges in the past right? What glue did you use to stick the label on the cartridge?

[ruckage]

@FlyingTomahawk said in Retro game stuff talk:

@ruckage

You have created custom labels for cartridges in the past right? What glue did you use to stick the label on the cartridge?

Sorry for the late reply, I didn't see your post. I either use self adhesive paper or more more often I use double sided adhesive sheets applied to plain paper. Then I use my cutting machine to cut them out so they look as perfect as possible.
I'm happy to make you some labels and post them to you if you'd like - is it for your Eliminate Down repo?

edit: I also apply a laminate film to protect them

[FlyingTomahawk]

@ruckage

Yeah, it's for Eliminate Down. I thought I'll try to peal off the label, cut it to its correct size and reapply it.
Not sure if I even gonna be able to peal it off without damaging it though.

[ruckage]

@FlyingTomahawk
I've found a good quality scan of the box art that I can use to re-create the cart label and I'd be more than happy to make it for if you'd like. I just need some accurate measurements or a template but I'm sure that wont be too difficult to find.

[FlyingTomahawk]

@ruckage

Thank you, very kind offer. I might have to take you up on it.
Let me try to peel off the current label and see how that goes. It makes measuring the label space easier once it is off. I also might need to replace the rear cartridge label (black/white) which is the same as in Bad Omen or Battle Mania or Chernov.

I also found a high quality cartridge scan but the mega drive one is a bit tricky since it is rounded on top and goes over to the rear. Make sense? And the scans are not scans of the label only but like real pictures of the cartridge so not perfect.

Here some links to those labels

Rear labels

Front view of cartridge label

Top view of the label

Did you find this cover scan?

Let me know if you can print/create something like that and I'll cover all costs from material, work to shipping.