Having alternatives to aging disc drives for retro consoles is a huge win. While they are an incredibly "premium" product it's an essential development for preserving games on actual hardware beyond the wear and tear of optical media.
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Sega CD Optical Drive Emulator Announced | Play Ripped ISOs on Original Genesis/Mega Drive Hardware, €232.00, Launches in August
- Thread starter Dancrane212
- Start date
Having alternatives to aging disc drives for retro consoles is a huge win. While they are an incredibly "premium" product it's an essential development for preserving games on actual hardware beyond the wear and tear of optical media.
The first question that popped into my mind.
Mega Sg peeps will be stoked if it does. Maybe not about the price though...
EDIT: I need to learn to read, apparently it's fully compatible!
Holy shit at that price.
But I want one for some weird reason. Mainly because my Sega CD drive died. It would also help preserve against disc rot.
But I want one for some weird reason. Mainly because my Sega CD drive died. It would also help preserve against disc rot.
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Right there in the OP: "Fully compatible with Analogue Mega Sg!"
Yep, stated in the details!
Yeah, I want this.
Say, did Compile's Japan-exclusive Mega CD Shadowrun game ever get an English patch? Would love to play fan translations on this thing.
Not yet, but Iwakura Productions is the translator name. We'll see if its ever finished. Apparently its a bit of an adventure game?
Woah I did not see this coming. This is a much more complicated engineering feat than the Super SD System 3.
So before I plunk down bank for this...
Would this be technically achievable on the Mega Sg given the current hardware? Or is this only achievable because it's a standalone FPGA in a cart? Because if the same ISO capabilities could be unlocked with firmware, I'd rather save $250...
Two more questions...
1. Does this require a separate power source?
2. Any chance a US distributor gets a hold of these so I don't have to order from Europe?
And one more
3. So this basically replaces a Mega Everdrive, right? In addition to it being able to play Sega CD ISOs?
Would this be technically achievable on the Mega Sg given the current hardware? Or is this only achievable because it's a standalone FPGA in a cart? Because if the same ISO capabilities could be unlocked with firmware, I'd rather save $250...
Two more questions...
1. Does this require a separate power source?
2. Any chance a US distributor gets a hold of these so I don't have to order from Europe?
And one more
3. So this basically replaces a Mega Everdrive, right? In addition to it being able to play Sega CD ISOs?
That price is outrageous. I could just get a Genesis with all the attachments for less than that.
No. The Mega Sg won't have Sega CD support. No it doesn't need a separate power source, and StoneAgeGamer said he will be selling them, just no real time frame of when.
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Will buy this when I get a good job. It justifies the price for the games and console attachment today with insane prices. In it for Snatcher, Lunar and Shining Force games.
As I grew up as a Nintendo fanboy, these releases and preservation makes me excited. Got an original Genesis with good sound and picture output.
As I grew up as a Nintendo fanboy, these releases and preservation makes me excited. Got an original Genesis with good sound and picture output.
But then you'd have to deal with aging hardware, replacement parts and service costs. Good luck keeping a Sega CD functional for very long, Model 1 or Model 2. When you are dealing with lasers and spinning drives, they have finite lives.
This may cost you the same, but would last much longer. As long as the power consumption from the cart isn't something that would put undue stress on real Genesis/MD hardware.
EDIT:
Looking good!
Uh no I can't find any Sega CD Units anywhere currently for less than $200. Considering that this is reasonably priced
It means that it can emulate the 32x ROMS, but requieres an actual 32x to run the games.
No this is not feasible on the Mega Sg itself because there simply isn't enough room on the FPGA for both Genesis and Sega CD
good Lord
yes
the shmups (Robo Aleste, Silpheed) and RPGs (Lunar 1 & 2, Vay, Shining Force CD) alone are enough to justify playing a Sega CD, not to mention all the other cool stuff like SoulStar, Snatcher, Sonic CD, Popful Mail, the best versions of Earthworm Jim, NHL '94 and Final Fight, the list goes on
[edit] I'm not done; Keio Flying Squadron, Batman Returns, Heart of the Alien (with the original as well as the sequel exclusively!), AH-3 Thunderstrike, the only version of Wing Commander with voice acting and the original graphics...
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The Game Gear colour palette is significantly larger than the Mega Drive's.
Yeah, the Sega CD has an additional 68000 CPU at 12MHz, an ASIC core that handles Super scaler-like sprite scaling, and two flat 3D (mode 7) playingfields. Plus the system has an 8-channel PCM audio chip. Those extra components plus the Genesis hardware is a bit much for the Mega Sg FPGA.
YES!!!
My SEGA CD stopped working almost a year ago, this is the perfect solution. My PS1 with PS-IO and now this... Cant wait!
My SEGA CD stopped working almost a year ago, this is the perfect solution. My PS1 with PS-IO and now this... Cant wait!
Seems like you still need the 32X hardware.
Right. You'll have to insert the MegaSD into the 32x hardware.
also.
Quick video of Sonic CD playing on an Analogue Mega SG.
Kinda interested in this. I have a Sega CD but it's often very finicky when reading disks. I've found that ripping my games with a modern computer optical drive usually succeeds without errors whereas the slightest scratch will render SegaCD and Dreamcast games unplayable in the actual consoles. Maybe mine are just particularly bad though. I don't have this problem with the Saturn. Not nearly as bad, anyway.
That would have to sell it at a ridiculous price if it was a stand alone system. All Sega CD games require the Genesis/ Mega Drive hardware as well. The price would make it more expensive than the Mega SG. I think this works best as an add-on for the moment.
Well we are looking into 550USD right now for the MegaSD + MegaSG.
There are six games, and they said in the video that the MegaSD can be plugged into the expansion slot, with an adapter they might make, to support those games.
Yeah, but it says nothing about supporting Mega-CD 32X. I got other things that support Mega-CD multibios and 32X roms, but not Mega-CD 32X games.