139 replies to this topic

[momerath]

I was actually looking at one of those online just this morning, and it seems like it's pretty much $300 to get one. I'd love to have a robust way to keep all my legacy systems hooked into my modern HDTV, but I just don't know where to begin honestly.

 

Maybe I should just get a newer receiver for my sound setup that has video switching or something... that way I don't have to keep plugging and unplugging sets of composite cables to use my older systems.

[Sean697]

If you want to go down that dark path, here is the site to check out. http://retrogaming.hazard-city.de/. The main problem with HDTV and 240p video sources is that they look like crap or don't work at all. This site explains everything.

[Satoshi_Matrix]

For those who are interested, here's a video showcasing the various mods on my model 1 Genesis.

 

Here's the basic rundown:

 

-RGB SCART ready

-Standard RCA composite video jack

-Stereo audio jacks

-S-Video

-Component video output via new video amplifier

-NTSC-U, NTSC-J and PAL region switch

-10Mhz Overclock Switch

-Two color Red/Green power LED to indicate when the Overclock is on/off

-Expanded cartridge bay size to accomidate Japanese MegaDrive games

[Sean697]

That is pure awesome. I think you have every mod you can put into a model 1 that I know of.

[PlayerOneStewy]

What does the overclock do? Just reduce slowdown on some games?

[Compeau]

For those who are interested, here's a video showcasing the various mods on my model 1 Genesis.

 

Here's the basic rundown:

 

-RGB SCART ready

-Standard RCA composite video jack

-Stereo audio jacks

-S-Video

-Component video output via new video amplifier

-NTSC-U, NTSC-J and PAL region switch

-10Mhz Overclock Switch

-Two color Red/Green power LED to indicate when the Overclock is on/off

-Expanded cartridge bay size to accomidate Japanese MegaDrive games

 

Oh yeah?  Well my Genesis has a broken volume knob!

[Sean697]

What does the overclock do? Just reduce slowdown on some games?

Yes. There are a lot of YouTube videos on it. A good example is the split screen multiplayer in Sonic 2 runs with no slowdown with an OC. A lot of shooters like the Thunderforce games run at full speed in intense sections instead of slowing down. But basically yes. The Genesis processor was overly sturdy and could handle higher frequency s stably up to about 10 MHZ. Some versions can handle up to 12 MHZ OC. I think one guy did up to 16 as an experiment but was buggy. Also a few games depending on how they are programmed can have sound difficulties on an excessive OC. That is why 10 MHZ is generally seen as the upper limit while removing slowdown from 95 percent of games. There are a few games that are so bad like the Double Dragon 2 port that a 12 MHZ OC is needed to totally eliminate slowdown and run at full speed.

[Satoshi_Matrix]

Another example is Megaman the Wily Wars. The Sega Channel version/Japanese Rockman MegaWorld have slowdown to the point where the NES originals run better! At 10mhz, slowdown issues completely vanish.

[PlayerOneStewy]

Episode 008 is finally live! 

[momerath]

Another great episode Stewy! All that work on Phantasy Star III paid off. It was good to see the full breadth of the game's story [even though I know it was a huge pain to work your way through it.]

[Sean697]

So did you ever soldier through to the end and face Dark Force? Great episode BTW. Only sad to have to wait for the next one now. Especially if it has Ghostbusters.

[Satoshi_Matrix]

Sweet work Greg! I'm glad to see you like Whip Rush - that's a favorite of mine as well. I still think Thunder Force II is better though. 

 

Now that PSIII is out of the way, will the next episode be quicker? I don't mean to sound impatient, I'm just wondering. RPGs can be a major pain to get through, especially if they're fairly mediocure.

[Wenny]

Episode 008 is finally live! 

Finally got a chance to watch this episode. Another good one! 

 

Occasionally the sound mixing wasn't ideal as your voice-over was roughly the same volume as the game being shown.

[PlayerOneStewy]

Yeah I changed a setting somewhere along the way and had to do a lot of fiddling with the sound on the second half of the video. Will fix that for 009.

[PlayerOneStewy]

Question: Should I include Game Gear games in these videos? 

[Sean697]

Question: Should I include Game Gear games in these videos? 

Personally? No. That is the short answer. Yes there seems to be a lack of coverage of this kind for Game Gear games. But I don't think there are people clamoring for it. And I think it would dilute the the main Generation 16 videos to include that content. I don't know how much of the audience would overlap or would have strong feelings about the game gear other than they are both by Sega. So if you mean include them in Generation 16? I would say no. As far as being separate? Maybe. But I think it would appeal to less people than the Mega Drive / Genesis. Also personally I don't really like that the ChronSega series mixes Master System with the Genesis. But at least it kind of makes sense in that they follow successive console systems by Sega. Oh and also I would like to see Generation 16 completed in my lifetime as it is. Unless you plan on uploading to a computer when the singulariy happens and extending you consciousness for all eternity, I don't see how you could complete both series. As it is there are roughly 1169 combined Mega Drive/Genesis, Sega Cd, and 32 X games. That's roughly 234 episodes at 5 games apiece. At the pace you releasing of roughly 1 episode every 2-3 months, that comes out anywhere from 38 years (every 2 months) to 58 years (every 3 months) till you finish. Even at once a month releases your looking at 20 years. I'm not trying to play the pessimist or rain on anyone's parade. I love what you do. But I don't really want to see Game Gear that much at the sacrifice of covering less Mega Drive games. ( Althoguh I think covering every game gear game considering their length and number of games would be quite doable)

[Compeau]

Question: Should I include Game Gear games in these videos? 

 

No.  You need to stay ahead of Chronsega!  Once (if) you finish Genesis, you can always go back and do other systems.

[Satoshi_Matrix]

Question: Should I include Game Gear games in these videos? 

YES! I'd love to see you cover GameGear - just not as part of your Generation 16 series.

 

If you were to perhaps do a Generation 8 series where you look at the interesting history of the SG-1000, Mark III, Master System and then GameGear, I think that would be a good home for it. But as part of Genetation 16, GameGear just doesn't fit.

 

There are a lot of excellent GameGear and Master System games that should definetely get the limelight so I implore you to do something with the GameGear and Master System.

[PlayerOneStewy]

Yeah I think I asked this question during a moment of weakness. I won't be including Game Gear in Generation 16. If and when I ever finish this series (I really need to win a lottery so I can do this as a full-time job) I'll either move on to Saturn or do GG as a side project. 

[Satoshi_Matrix]

Stewy, what do you think about the Master System? It's true you need to really search and know the ins and outs of the hardware to know it's true potential, but the Ym2413 audio bonus to games like Phantasy Star, Kensaiden, Wonderboy III, Rygar and many others makes it a really cool system to own and collect for. It's not on the same level of the NES, but I think that's because the SMS was never given it's fair shake. There's a lot of potential locked in that thing.