New vs Old?

[Guntz]

"Core" probably means it's bare bones. Where as say the "Premium" system package includes 2 controllers and a game, obviously.

[Obviously]

"Core" probably means it's bare bones. Where as say the "Premium" system package includes 2 controllers and a game, obviously.

You're probably right, my Genesis 2 came with Sonic and Knuckles and they put the S&K sticker over the "Core System" thing on the box.

[tenchibr]

I like the box more than the Genesis 3 itself heh.

[ItellYaHuat]

Model 1 boxes are the best.

[kool kitty89]

I think the theory about them noticing the problems with the early model 2s but not knowing how to fix it seems to be among the more plausible scenarios. It does require them to test the naked hardware parts under laboratory conditions only though, and never with the final product.

Yeah, but from what I understand, it's mainly a problem with low quality audio amps, not a fundamental engineering issue. (unless the same/similar lower-quality circuitry worked fine with a discrete YM2612) And why did the VA2.x version screw up the PSG if it was an attempt to go back to the "old" layout? (I highly doubt the embedded PSG functionally changed from the VDP in the VA6.8 MD1 to later models... then again I think it was still NMOS at that point, and the new ASIC -with the YM2612 and I/O logic added- was CMOS, prsulably 100% CMOS, but it's not impossible that some of the VDP related stuff was left NMOS and merged into a single chip along with CMOS logic -that would explain why VDPs in model 2s and the VA7 model 1 still tend to get hot compared to the old NMOS model 1 versions)


Another weird thing is that it's inconsistent among the VA0-1.8 models, and I may have been incorrect about it being "random" as such: it seems like the VA0 may have better sound than the VA1/1.8, and much better than the VA7 model 1 (which seems quite possibly the worst Sega produced system sound-wise -unmodded).

I finally tested my friend's VA0 with AV cables rather than RF, and it was indeed less filtered sounding with more audible distortion/strain (though greater general clarity) than through RF, but not anywhere near as bad as some recordings I've heard of 1.x models or the VA7. Interestingly, it also seems to have LESS filtering than model 1s, let alone the VA7/model 2s with excessive lowpass filtering to hide the noise/distortion. (and if I use the balance on my TV or stereo system to filter out some of the treble, it hides most of the distortion at the expense of muffling -unlike models with distortion/hiss so bad that it bleeds through the filtering; It's a trade-off though, many probably prefer filtering, but I'd personally temper it and maybe filter only slightly more than good model 1s -or as much as the most heavily filtered good model 1s, since it varies-)

Even without added filtering, it's fairly tolerable and not terribly grating, and some music/sounds have no issues at all. (naturally it's the higher frequency/pitch stuff -especially if loud as well, like ring commecting- that's more problematic for distortion, but the hiss is constant, like the heaphone jack on the model 1, and PCM is usually slightly more distorted -but in all cases, still much better sounding than GENS )
I'd take it over GENS or the screwy PSG of the VA2.x personally -and obviously the more distorted model 2s and VA7. (of course, I don't have to make that compromise as I've got several model 1s that work fine)

If I get a chance to record it before I give it back, I will. (I'm not sure the line in jack on my laptop is stereo -and it might not be well shielded, so I might see if I can use another PC at home) That and I need to borrow (or buy) TFIV/Lightening Force if we're keeping to that standard.




But anyway, assuming the VA0 experience I've had (and SegaMan89 mentioned) is consistent across the board for VA0s, it's rather odd that they'd screw it up so badly with the VA1/1.8 (especially after apparently reducing the problem substantially when going from VA7 to VA0).
If the VA0 had been the worst of the model 2 problems, that wouldn't be so bad at all. (maybe the best stop-gap solution would be stronger low-pass filtering -morel like model 1s, or slightly stronger- up until VA3 quality sound circuitry was implemented -skip the VA2 altogether and avoid the 1.x problems)

[EddieJ1984]

I think another reason they went to the red stripe theme was because by 1992, clearly a good number of games weren't using the black grid (including sega's own streets of rage 2)




So, they made the red stripe for the genesis and the other stripes so all the games that came out from 93 and on had it.
Except for Electronic Arts, they never used the black grid or the red stripe, always wondered why.

[snotmaw]

^^yeah that's one reason I prefer the red stripes, because the black grid games were far from looking uniform and many games neglected to use it at all. When stacked side by side the red boxes look much nicer

[ItellYaHuat]

Except for Electronic Arts, they never used the black grid or the red stripe, always wondered why.

I hate EA for their plain white boxes and having their own custom cartridge size. Loses the versatility of swapping game cases.

[108 Stars]

Well, it was much more consistent in Europe. Games like SoR 2 used the grid, and there are generally very few games that did not here.

They should have sticked with it; changing the design midway through the system's lifespan was an akward decision imo... and it looks terrible in the collection.

[Obviously]

I think another reason they went to the red stripe theme was because by 1992, clearly a good number of games weren't using the black grid (including sega's own streets of rage 2)




So, they made the red stripe for the genesis and the other stripes so all the games that came out from 93 and on had it.
Except for Electronic Arts, they never used the black grid or the red stripe, always wondered why.

The unique carts and boxes from EA are because the original EA games were unlicensed. Sega created the TMSS to block unlicensed games and a court battle ensued. For whatever reason EA opted to keep producing their own cartridges under license by Sega after they came to an agreement. I've heard rumors it was because that way they didn't have to make different shaped cartridges for different regions but I don't know how true that is. In any case the unlicensed origin is why EA and Accolade games are different.

Well, it was much more consistent in Europe. Games like SoR 2 used the grid, and there are generally very few games that did not here.

They should have sticked with it; changing the design midway through the system's lifespan was an akward decision imo... and it looks terrible in the collection.

Yeah I know a lot of people keep the grid and stripes separate in their collections because of the looks.

[snotmaw]

yeah EA carts and cases are just hideous, I've heard those stories too but who knows if it's true

and 108 stars, if you don't like the red stripped games in your collection you should make your own cover art for them in black grid style. or you could get them from thecoverproject.net, because they have done that with many red stripped games already. I made custom covers for all the grid style games in my collection because I prefer the red stripe.

[108 Stars]

Yeah, I must really do that sometime.
Black old-style, red Genesis-style, blue MD-style + some japanese and EA games, it looks really terrible right now.

One way is to sort the games by box-style, but I like to sort by series and genre.

Actually I don't own Castlevania because of the box-design.
I'd have to pick between the EU-version with the best cover art imo and black grid, but censored in-game or the US-version, with red stripes, cardboard or clamshell (though most cardboards are lost anyway), uncut but with character art in the intro westernized.

The best way really seems to be do-it-yourself. Screw you, Sega!

[kool kitty89]

I hate EA for their plain white boxes and having their own custom cartridge size. Loses the versatility of swapping game cases.

Aren't they the same size/shape as Acclaim and Accolade games too?

And what plain white boxes? (did EA switch to white carboard boxes late-gen? -I've only seen the nice clam shell ones, usually the extra wide cases -the original Road Rash was a different size though iirc)

[ThunderForce]

The stripe era stuff was meh.

[ItellYaHuat]

Aren't they the same size/shape as Acclaim and Accolade games too?

And what plain white boxes? (did EA switch to white carboard boxes late-gen? -I've only seen the nice clam shell ones, usually the extra wide cases -the original Road Rash was a different size though iirc)

I mean white as in the cover design, not the actual clamshell itself. It was bland.