How's Your Sega MegaDrive/Genesis Gaming Going On?

[stickem]

Speaking of new games coming out, I'm still waiting on xeno crisis. Anyone else?

[Nemoide]

I just got myself a Japanese Mega Drive, which I'm excited about. So far my only game is "Hono no Tokyuji: Dodge Danpei" which is a dodgeball game with some very fun anime aesthetics. Since I'm going to Japan in March, I wanted to be able to load up on games and now have to worry about transporting the console itself overseas.

I had been slacking with my Genesis gaming until pretty recently. About six or seven years ago, I cobbled together a component video setup for my Genesis (SCART to Component video, but with Sega CD for audio) but it was so unwieldy that I didn't like hooking it up in my apartment and I don't have space to leave it hooked up all the time. Another complication was my tendency to have the 32X hooked into it, but it's a little unreliable and so it took some finagling in order to get working. Just another thing that diminishes my motivation to play it.
So I recently got some component cables from HD Retrovision and it makes it SO MUCH EASIER to set up that I've been playing a lot more. Really a great console that I love deeply. And the fact that my new cables can be used with the Sega Master System and Saturn with adapters are a tremendous bonus.

[pierrot]

"Hono no Tokyuji: Dodge Danpei"

I've always kind of wondered about this game. Is it anything like the Kunio-kun dodge ball games? Is it any good?

Curious why you decided to get a JP Mega Drive before going to Japan, though. I'll also be interested to see what you pick up. Be prepared for some eye-popping prices on Mega Drive games, if you're planning on doing any shopping in Akihabara. You'll want to look for Mandarake, Surugaya, and Hard-Off stores, in general. I really liked Trader, though. If you go to Super Potato at all, make sure it's the one in Ikebukuro (if it's even still there). The one in Akihabara is a waste of time. Of course, I'm just assuming that you're going to Tokyo. Recycle shops also sometimes (rarely) had interesting stuff in them, if you stumble across any.

[Nemoide]

I haven't played that much of the game and embarassingly have not yet won a match but it's fun! I've never played another dodgeball game, so I can't compare it to Kunio-kun, but I'd recommend giving it a chance. Sports games in general aren't my forte, but this one really seems like a gem.

I wanted to get the Mega Drive before my trip for two reasons: 1) I was already using a proxy service for something else (a laserdisc set I had my eye on for a while) and 2) I'm PRETTY SURE I'm going to completely fill up my suitcase with junk I'll be buying while I'm over there (I have a lengthy list). This way I'll have peace of mind that I will have a working Mega Drive waiting for me at home and I can just concentrate on game-hunting! UNFORTUNATELY the MD seems to be having some trouble outputting RGB (the picture starts fine and then disappears after a few seconds) and so my component cables aren't working with it. It's probably just a matter of reflowing solder on the motherboard, but until I work up the nerve to try it I'll be satisfied with composite video.

I appreciate the tips! I've already been advised to go to Hard Off and to pretend that Super Potato is a museum with nothing for sale.

[Reprise]

Has anyone ever had a cartridge just not work no matter what you do? I tried cleaning the contacts with a cotton bud and alcohol, but no luck

It's a second hand boxed copy of Gain Ground I picked up. My Mega Drive is clean and I rarely have issues playing any game. I'm annoyed, because in nearly 30 years of gaming I don't think I've ever come across a cartridge that won't work. Guess I'll ask for my money back and will pick up another copy some time.

[Gunstar Green]

I've had two dead Genesis cartridges out of hundreds. Jewel Master and Forgotten Worlds. The only one that I know is notorious for breaking is Grind Stormer because it's on defective Tengen cartridges.

[Reprise]

I've had two dead Genesis cartridges out of hundreds. Jewel Master and Forgotten Worlds. The only one that I know is notorious for breaking is Grind Stormer because it's on defective Tengen cartridges.

Yeah, guess it's just bad luck. I wonder what causes them to fail or how people break them.

[Nemoide]

My only bad luck with a cartridge was Street Fighter II: Special Champion Edition
I remember it displayed an error message, which I thought was strange because it meant SOMETHING was almost working, but I never managed to get the game running. (I think I ended up throwing out the cart which felt like a waste but I don't think there was anything else that could be done.)

[Sarge]

Aw, really? We've both got bad luck with Gain Ground, then, because I have a busted copy as well. I also have a few other dead carts: some tennis game I picked up, and the game earlier in this thread, Super Monaco GP.

[Reprise]

That sucks. I got impatient and just picked up a lone cart off Ebay. Hopefully when this one arrives, it works and I can just slap it in the box and chuck the dead one. It seems like an amazing game that I missed out on over the years. I only discovered it the other week.

There was a Sega Ages release in Japan on the Switch in December. Hopefully it gets a Western release!