Retro game stuff talk

[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.

[ruckage]

@FlyingTomahawk

No problem at all to make the labels for you. And don't worry about paying me, it's a gift.

I found the same cover/cart scan as you and it will be perfect for recreating the label. I think I have the width worked out from the scan which is 80.5mm (assuming it's a 300dpi scan). Figuring out the height though is trickier as it curves over as you said. I couldn't find any info regarding the label size for Japanese carts online so I might just get a cheap cart from ebay so I can make sure it's accurate.

For the rear label it may look better if I recreate it from scratch as scanned text often looks blurry when printed (I recreated the hucard backs for my hucard labels for the same reason.) If you can get me the Japanese text from that label typed up that would help as it takes me ages as I don't know the language. I will do a test print of the scanned label first though as it may look okay.

[FlyingTomahawk]

@ruckage

Thank you very much @ruckage. You're awesome.
Please do not buy a cartridge only to get the dimensions. I took a thin rope and took measurements.

Cartridge front label

width: 82.5mm 80.5mm
height: 77.0mm (curvy part is included)

Cartridge rear label (black/white)

width: 82.5mm 80.5mm
height: 25mm

I will write the text from the rear label for you and send it via e-mail. You also will need the Eliminate Down (エリミネートダウン) text that sits just around the curved part.
Also as you can see the fake cartridge label space is a bit wider than stock Sega cartridges. The 80.5mm width would be correct for original Sega but for this Repro the size is 82.5mm

Again, thank you.

[ruckage]

@FlyingTomahawk

Thanks for the measurements. Is the space definitely wider on the repro cart? I only ask because it looks like there is usually a slight gap around the edge of the label on genuine carts.

Also I notice on you repro cart the top of the label (the bit that wraps over the top) is cut square. Is this how the labels looks on genuine carts or should they have rounded corners?

I've cleaned up and vectorised the text of the rear label and I think it will look good so no need to send me the text for that now.

[FlyingTomahawk]

@ruckage

You're right.
The current label on the Repro is wider than the original Sega ones but as you said the original Sega label has a tiny space around it so I'd say 80.5mm is correct.
Also the original Sega labels have rounded corners but the Repro doesn't. I would like to have it with rounded corners same as the original Sega has.
So please just do your magic it will be alright. Just make it same as the original Sega labels.

[FlyingTomahawk]

Just a small update on the MD Scart cable situation. Got my adapter Scart->RGB21 delivered this week and here is what it looks like now. (Video sound is a bit loud so adjust your volume please.)

The image quality is not perfect yet. Some flickering stripes (visible in SEGA intro in video above) and jail bars are visible depending on the game. I did order a so called Packapunch RGB Scart cable from Retro Gaming Cables in the UK and if all goes well it should clear up most of the image.
There is a humming sound that bothers me a bit, listen at 9s in video above, but you can only hear it in quiet game scenes. The BGM usually covers it up well but I know it is there and it bugs me. Maybe a new PSU is necessary to clear that humming sound? I read that people say the interference comes from the PSU.

Also got these two delivered this week.

[space cadet]

I just picked up a xbox game, beyond good and evil. Instructions included and the disc is in great shape. Excited to play and will try to post a picture of the game and my system case modded

[A Former User]

Guys! I got a new Raspberry Pi! I can finally boot up RetroPie again! I think an old version is on here, and it's been a while since I've messed around, so I'll see what i've got.
Also, can anyone recommend me some good flash carts for the SNES? The ones that are popular are pretty expensive, and i'm not too sure if I can spare that much money.

[ClassicGMR]

@itskryode I use Everdrives for my loader carts. Totally worth the money.

[FlyingTomahawk]

@ruckage

Hi ruckage

Don't mean to pressure you or anything like it. Just wanted to check in and see how the label situation looks like.

[ruckage]

@FlyingTomahawk
Hi, sorry for the delay. I lost track of time as I've had a busy few weeks. I have cleaned up all the artwork and recreated the label so I'm just waiting for some varnish now to laminate it. I'd usually use packing tape but megadrive labels are a little too big for that, I tried laminate film but it resulted in too much silvering imo so my final test was a spray varnish and that worked pretty well but I only had a little left in the can so I've ordered some more which should be here in the next couple of days.

If you have access to a printer I have a label outline template that I'd like to send you later to print and cut-out just to double check the size of the labels and that the position of the game title is correct.

[FlyingTomahawk]

@ruckage said in Retro game stuff talk:

@FlyingTomahawk
Hi, sorry for the delay. I lost track of time as I've had a busy few weeks. I have cleaned up all the artwork and recreated the label so I'm just waiting for some varnish now to laminate it. I'd usually use packing tape but megadrive labels are a little too big for that, I tried laminate film but it resulted in too much silvering imo so my final test was a spray varnish and that worked pretty well but I only had a little left in the can so I've ordered some more which should be here in the next couple of days.

If you have access to a printer I have a label outline template that I'd like to send you later to print and cut-out just to double check the size of the labels and that the position of the game title is correct.

Thanks @ruckage
Man you sure go out of your way to get things done properly. Thank you.
My offer to cover the cost still stands.

Yeah, I got a printer. Just send me the file and I print it out and check. You still got my e-mail address right?