Introduce Yourself!

[Drakon]

Well, I plan to add a SEGA CD when I have more money. I also purchased myself a Neo Geo X for Christmas. :P There were fond memories of playing the Sega Saturn at my local Best Buy, but my family had little money to afford one, so I settled for my Genesis and SNES.

Oh poor you having to settle for better systems with bettery libraries.

[robotscandance]

SO this is a tad late, because I just noticed the thread now, but Hello all!

My first system was the NES in 1988 and, while it was all well and good, when I got a sega genesis with Sonic 2 for christmas in 1992, I fell in love!

I've always been in to gaming, always trading up for the next "latest and greatest" system, but the Genesis has remained my favorite. I decided I had to have one again back in 2011 and found a model 1 HDG on ebay for $10.50 with like 12 games, so I bought it.

in the last few months, I've also acquired a Saturn, Dreamcast, 32X, Master System, NES, SNES, PS1, PS2, Gamecube, N64, Game Gear, Game Boy Pocket, Game Boy Advance SP and several games for each. I have them all (except the PS2) hooked up and play them regularly, mostly the Genesis and Doom on 32X (I know it gets a lot of hate, but I feel it plays very well for what it is).

I love coming on this site to read reviews and just browse the forums.

[ifkz]

<Edited after I thought for a bit>

1st post here at sega-16! I'm a long time viewer since when the site was created and have always enjoyed Melf's interviews with the management and developers of Genesis games, hardware, and any other projects. Really interesting stuff!

What has finally motivated me to join was two fold:

(1) I finally got around to adding a Genesis model 3 (VA2) to my collection. This was the last variation of the Genesis hardware I needed to get them all. I quickly learned of the wonderful hardware hacking ability the VA1 motherboard version has available to it and I am looking forward to trying to restore 32X functionality to make a sort of mini-Neptune out of it. I think I've purchased a VA1 unit...I'll know in a week or two when it comes in from auction. There are some great tech tips for restoring this functionality here!

(2) I feel like collectors on other sites don't match up with my sensibilities anymore. I'm a purist: I like the original hardware, boxes, manuals, and especially complete games. If I can't get it complete (when available), I'll do loose and follow it up with a reproduced cover if I can find it on thecoverproject or similar. So, I don't support flash-carts or CD-Rs unless they are for a prototype or incredibly hard to find import I would never get to play otherwise. You know, if it was released at retail, I'm all over getting a proper copy. If it was a prototype, I'm all over reproducing a cartridge or getting a flash cart.

Mostly, I like stock consoles; whatever they came with is okay by me. I don't like anything that changes the original appearance of the console, like extra video options. But, that's just me, and I certainly do enjoy fixing electronics...I can understand the thought at least.

I have a large collection of consoles, mostly dedicated to my fondness for Sega products. I have a complete SMS USA region collection, about 80 UK imports, a complete 32X USA collection, and a large collection of Genesis and Sega CD games dedicated to the best of their libraries. My Saturn collection is small on purpose, and I have most of the good games on the Dreamcast.

I've turned into a hardware guy, I think. I also keep 20 of my own arcade games operation with help from that community. I do most of the work myself. I have created a dedicated cab for Sega's System 16b system and an old fixed up JAMMA cab for the handful of compatible boards they made (like Spiderman and the System 18 games).

I also enjoy the Sega CDX way too much, having saved and made two units complete and operation again while supplies of NOS lasers are around.

My rescued Altered Beast, formerly a completely gutted Stargate:


Turbo Outrun, was a non-worker when I got it. Now, after some cosmetic work:


My generic JAMMA, formerly Aladdin's Castle cab. Has been through many lives, now fixed up as a SFII: Champion Ed.

[Drakon]

1st post here at sega-16! I'm a long time viewer since when the site was created and have always enjoyed Melf's interviews with the management and developers of Genesis games, hardware, and any other projects. Really interesting stuff!

What has finally motivated me to join was two fold:

(1) I finally got around to adding a Genesis model 3 (VA2) to my collection. This was the last variation of the Genesis hardware I needed to get them all. I quickly learned of the wonderful hardware hacking ability the VA1 motherboard version has available to it and I am looking forward to trying to restore 32X functionality to make a sort of mini-Neptune out of it. I think I've purchased a VA1 unit...I'll know in a week or two when it comes in from auction. There are some great tech tips for restoring this functionality here!

(2) I feel like collectors on other sites don't match up with my sensibilities anymore. I'm a completeist. I like the original boxes, manuals, and especially games. If I can't get it complete, I'll do loose and follow it up with a reproduced cover if I can find it on thecoverproject or similar. Mostly, I like stock consoles, I don't like drilling holes in my machines for extra video options a new bios, or things like that. (of course I think the Gen 3 units are more about unlocking functionality more than anything). So, I don't support flash-carts. I only support CD-Rs to save an existing, badly damaged game or to play a cool prototype or two. If you treat your CDs nicely, there is no need for 'backups.' I'm also of the opinion that 'backups' will destroy lasers (and hence, 20-30 year old machines) fairly quickly.

I have a large collection of consoles, mostly dedicated to my fondness for Sega products. I have a complete SMS USA region collection, about 80 UK imports, a complete 32X USA collection, and a large collection of Genesis and Sega CD games dedicated to the best of their libraries. My Saturn collection is small on purpose, and I have most of the good games on the Dreamcast.

I've turned into a hardware guy, I think. I also keep 20 of my own arcade games operation with help from that community. I do most of the work myself. I have created a dedicated cab for Sega's System 16b system and an old fixed up JAMMA cab for the handful of compatible boards they made (like Spiderman and the System 18 games).

I also enjoy the Sega CDX way too much, having saved and made two units complete and operation again while supplies of NOS lasers are around.

"I like stock consoles, I don't like drilling holes in my machines for extra video options a new bios, or things like that."

"I quickly learned of the wonderful hardware hacking ability the VA1 motherboard version has available to it and I am looking forward to trying to restore 32X functionality to make a sort of mini-Neptune out of it."

Uhm, what?

Regarding collecting, I come to this forum because I feel this's more of a place where people actually appreciate the hardware and software of the genesis and don't just collect it. Of course if you do both then that's great.

Does a cdr kill your cd laser? I bought taiyo yuden cdrs and my 20+ year old lasers still run like champs (cheap cdrs don't run so great on old stuff). I just asked around pc engine forums and sega cd forums and the general response I'd get is "my laser is super old and all I play are cdrs and it runs fine".

Using a flash cart is a great thing. A lot of my original carts the pins don't contact so well with the console but my flash cart works every time. I think flash technology, fpga, and anything that gets around old hardware limits (see the nes rpga ppu mod that gives you rgb / hdmi from a stock composite ppu) is a great thing. At first I was a little skeptical about how well flash carts perform, and with some things (like enhanced audio reproduction) they don't replace the real thing. Still these devices are just a new way to appreciate the hardware and the games. Let's face it, even rom cartridges eventually break.

Anyway I'd love to see pictures of your cabs. It's always fun reviving a classic machine like the cdx too.

[angrysteve]

Hey all im new here my name is steve and im from canada. i have recently started a sega genesis collection and love all things sega

[turboswimbz]

Hello all, I just started a SEGA collection, up till a few months ago I had never played a Sega system. But I always remember seeing them, and wanting to try one out. So when I ran across a Genesis and some games for 15 bucks I picked it up. I was enjoying my small collection, when another deal came my way: an x-eye with some cd games. So I've come here to learn a little more about the systems and the wonderful world of Sega and what's available ect.
As for my retro gaming background: I've been a huge TurboGrafx-16/PC engine fan, and have a pretty decent collection of that stuff. I also have a SNES and other nintendo stuff, but for now I'm interested in building up and learning about the NEC and Sega stuff.

So here is what I have starting out:
Genny model 2
Jvc x-eye
1 controller for each
GAMES:
Ranger-x
Burning force
Aladdin
Mickey Mania
Pitfall
Primal rage
Shadow Dancer
Bart Simson vs Space Mutanats
Sonic Spinball
Sonic 2
Popful Mail
Rise of Dragon
Dragon's Lair
Dungeon Explorer
Sonic CD
Star Wars Rebel Assault

[Drakon]

My generic JAMMA, formerly Aladdin's Castle cab. Has been through many lives, now fixed up as a SFII: Champion Ed.

Obviously rubbing the magic lamp makes sf2 champion edition cabs pop out.

Here's my cab:



Rescued from ebay mostly.

What was wrong with your turbo outrun? Dead psu?

[Moirai]

arcade boards in plastic containers? that's awesome.

[ifkz]

What was wrong with your turbo outrun? Dead psu?

Lots was wrong
The main thing holding the game up when I got it home turned out to be loose EPROMS and oxidized connections. Almost my easiest fix, just reseating chips and cables got it going. The game was up, but had no sound (which was very odd with this boardstack). I found out someone during it's ownership had removed the sound amp entirely. Since this is a rare cabaret version of the cab (smaller than normal uprights), I had to McGyver a solution using a normal Outrun sound amp and some wiring schematics. It's a bit soft, but present. Also got a better condition steering wheel, gave the monitor a new flyback & capkit, painted it, found some control panel screws, made some custom art, etc. I also found out it can take an Outrun PCB, so that's what is in the picture, a manual harness switchover is pretty easy and I get two great games in my cab.

Your arcade setup is a lot like I had as a test bench before I built a huge terrible looking countertop out of scrap parts. You are well on your way to starting arcade ownership

[Drakon]

arcade boards in plastic containers? that's awesome.

From walmart, they're stackable, have easy to remove lids to get at the board, and they're pretty standard pcb size. What's a console other than a pcb in a plastic container with a slot for the rom chips / cd drive?

Lots was wrong
The main thing holding the game up when I got it home turned out to be loose EPROMS and oxidized connections. Almost my easiest fix, just reseating chips and cables got it going. The game was up, but had no sound (which was very odd with this boardstack). I found out someone during it's ownership had removed the sound amp entirely. Since this is a rare cabaret version of the cab (smaller than normal uprights), I had to McGyver a solution using a normal Outrun sound amp and some wiring schematics. It's a bit soft, but present. Also got a better condition steering wheel, gave the monitor a new flyback & capkit, painted it, found some control panel screws, made some custom art, etc. I also found out it can take an Outrun PCB, so that's what is in the picture, a manual harness switchover is pretty easy and I get two great games in my cab.

Your arcade setup is a lot like I had as a test bench before I built a huge terrible looking countertop out of scrap parts. You are well on your way to starting arcade ownership

Yikes. Believe me I have no plans on owning a cab I know plenty of guys who collect and restore them, I value my space. I have a lot of consoles hooked into the same tv and sound system and that's how I plan to keep it, even my computer is hooked into it. I even built padhack adapters for my straight wired arcade sticks to use them on all of my consoles. It just seems pointless to me to have each system with an individual screen / controller / sound system. Especailly when I can have everything wired into the same gear and I can change the system with the push of an av selector button.

[ifkz]

Yikes. Believe me I have no plans on owning a cab I know plenty of guys who collect and restore them, I value my space. I have a lot of consoles hooked into the same tv and sound system and that's how I plan to keep it, even my computer is hooked into it. I even built padhack adapters for my straight wired arcade sticks to use them on all of my consoles. It just seems pointless to me to have each system with an individual screen / controller / sound system. Especailly when I can have everything wired into the same gear and I can change the system with the push of an av selector button.

Yes, you start to get into trouble when you play games at friends and local retro arcades that use things other than a standard res monitor, 8 way sticks, and a few buttons. Like vector displays. Or mirrored games that have a holographic floating look to them. Or color vector games. Stay away while you can! And don't let friends introduce you to these pre-crash games either! Stick to Bad Dudes....save Ronnie...ahh!!!

(Tongue firmly in cheek)

[Drakon]

Yes, you start to get into trouble when you play games at friends and local retro arcades that use things other than a standard res monitor, 8 way sticks, and a few buttons. Like vector displays. Or mirrored games that have a holographic floating look to them. Or color vector games. Stay away while you can! And don't let friends introduce you to these pre-crash games either! Stick to Bad Dudes....save Ronnie...ahh!!!

(Tongue firmly in cheek)

Honestly I stay away from most arcade collecting just because the pcbs I want are either impossible to find or are so expensive it's probably not worth it. I bought a few easy to find pcbs for good prices and then that was good enough for me.

[Sonic Dude]

Hello everyone.

I have been a retro gamer as well as collector for old school gaming systems for 2 years now and am loving it, collecting as well as getting some of my old games from my child hood is really fun and nostalgic, even getting the some old school games that I have never played before,those games pretty much new to me lol. and no I am not playing it on an emulator lol. I was looking to join some retro gaming forums but none of them really interested me on till I saw sega-16, I thought it was mostly sega related stuff but then I realized it was much more then that thank goodness.

here is my collection so far.



Am getting my Non-TMSS HD Version next week so hopefully this will be my place holder for now.


Got this for a steal

[Drakon]

Hello everyone.

I have been a retro gamer as well as collector for old school gaming systems for 2 years now and am loving it, collecting as well as getting some of my old games from my child hood is really fun and nostalgic, even getting the some old school games that I have never played before,those games pretty much new to me lol. and no I am not playing it on an emulator lol. I was looking to join some retro gaming forums but none of them really interested me on till I saw sega-16, I thought it was mostly sega related stuff but then I realized it was much more then that thank goodness.

Yeah this forum rocks. Nice avatar and welcome to the forum. What're some of your favourite retro games?

[Sonic Dude]

Yeah this forum rocks. Nice avatar and welcome to the forum. What're some of your favourite retro games?

Nes: Mario bros
Genesis: Sonic 3
Saturn : Xmen vs street fighter: Japanese version
Playstation: Megaman legends