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Bruce Tomlin

Member Since 20 Feb 2004
OFFLINE Last Active Jan 17 2012 6:09 PM

Posts I've Made

In Topic: Mega Drive>Genesis

Sat Dec 24, 2011 9:07 PM

View Postnathanallan, on Wed Dec 21, 2011 10:30 PM, said:

I think most of the MD games will play on a Genny, with the cart port mod; afaik there was no region locking, as S. American MD games will also play with no problem on the Genesis. There are S. American titles that were never released anywhere else, great to have Mercado Libre out there, and many of them are super cheap to buy, shipping is the issue.
Region locking was only done by cartridge shape.

Individual games could check the region, but it only had US/JP and 50/60 region options. Some Japanese games would change menus between Japanese and English based on the input, and US Gauntlet IV would refuse to run on a Japanese unit.

The Sega CD is another matter. Not only does its ROM check the console region, but the region locking on discs was done with special code that was actually a different size for each region.

In Topic: XBOX, softmod using mod chipped xbox?

Sat Dec 24, 2011 8:50 PM

It ought to be possible, but the main problem is that an unmodded xbox will not accept a hard drive unless it is locked specifically to the encryption key stored in the EEPROM. You at the very least have to find a way to read the EEPROM data off of the unmodded box.

Or if you don't mind taking things apart, a good chip mod should be movable between units. Most of them may only have one wire other than the header, probably to the power/reset button. Move the chip over, get an EEPROM dump (for just in case), format the drive, lock the drive, then remove the chip.

Of course newer board revisions will require a header rebuild to support the mod chip.

EDIT: Hmmmm... and once you've installed the new hard drive, you will still need at least a softmod to be able to install stuff on it.

In Topic: Opinion of Sega Nomad

Sat Dec 10, 2011 7:15 PM

I've only used two units, but they have both been unreliable, as in the game will suddenly freeze. I suspect a loose power jack. Vertical is not a good position for it. They should have used a right-angle plug.

The thing EATS batteries. Also, FYI, you can't use NiMH batteries with it, because 6 of them don't have the voltage you need, so they will only last half an hour. The official rechargeable battery pack uses NiMH batteries, but it uses 7 of them.

If you find one that seems to have a broken screen, it is probably just the plastic screen cover. There were apparently a lot of NOS replacements out there or someone had them made; I bought a ten pack from some guy on ebay a few years back because I found one with it broken.

In Topic: Anyone here ever (try to) replace a Master System Battery?

Sat Dec 10, 2011 7:08 PM

Do NOT just try to solder tabs onto a naked battery! Not only does the battery chemistry not like to be that hot for very long, but the metal surface doesn't like alloying with solder. Welding != soldering. The tabs should be spot-welded to the battery.

I heard the other day about 1) freeze the battery first (to minimize the effects of heat on the battery) and 2) file down the battery surface and tin it with a blob of solder first, but really, you can get CR-2032 batteries with pre-welded tabs. (FYI, if you can get a BR-2032, that might be better for long term constant use, as compared to say, a remote key fob.)

In Topic: BYTE Magazine

Sat Dec 3, 2011 6:57 PM

View PostDiggerbonk, on Fri Dec 2, 2011 11:54 AM, said:

He's been traveling abroad and busy with some other things, I'm sure he'll be back around soonish.

I think most of us have been concerned that he just fell off the face of the planet, or was kidnapped by Iranians to make a nuclear bomb or something like that.

Since you're in the same city, I think we can assume that you have some personal contact with him.

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