A few Game Gear questions

[Diosoth]

I'm not sure it's worth stressing over the TV Tuner and the Majesco GG compatibility, since the TV Tuner will be a paperweight when the digital broadcast change happens in a couple months.

[Moirai]

Does anybody have a definite answer as to which GGs have the BIOS screen and which don't? also, can the manufacture date of a GG be determined by it's serial number?

My serial number is 031042477. I heard GGs with a serial number that starts with 0 are supposed to be some of the earlier ones, however, mine has a BIOS screen! so whats the deal? do the serial numbers really have nothing to do when the GG was manufactured?

also, what causes "screen ripple"?

[chessage]

Does anybody have a definite answer as to which GGs have the BIOS screen and which don't?

On single ASIC units, locate 'J1' and make sure it's bridged together. This will disable the bios. Two ASIC units have no bios.

also, can the manufacture date of a GG be determined by it's serial number?

My serial number is 031042477. I heard GGs with a serial number that starts with 0 are supposed to be some of the earlier ones, however, mine has a BIOS screen! so whats the deal? do the serial numbers really have nothing to do when the GG was manufactured?

The first thing denoted is the place of manufacture. Yours should be Taiwan. Second is the year. Yours should be 1993. Bios equipped units were first introduced in 1992.

also, what causes "screen ripple"?

The '1' button is too close to the screen and vibrates it when pressed.

[Guntz]

Two of my Game Gears are from 1993, and I have another from 1994. How rare is the '91 revision?

[chessage]

About as uncommon as a North American model 1 Master System.