Pal Master System convertor on Japanese Megadrive?

[losersclub]

I'm already thinking no, but can anyone confirm if a Pal Master System convertor & carts will work on a Japanese Megadrive?

Thanks!

[moonwhistle]

I have run a pal MS converter on a PAL MD set to 60hz and it worked perfectly. I can't think of any reason why it wouldn't also work on a Jap MD.

[losersclub]

Was the region switch on the MD set to PAL though? Mind you Master System games don't have any region coding anyway do they, or am i wrong there?

[moonwhistle]

The megadrive I was using only had a 60hz switch, no region switch, so it would have been in English mode. I'm pretty sure MS games are region free and you can even play Japanese Mark 3 games in a PAL MS converter. I don't think the MD HZ or region setting will matter at all for using a MS converter.

[Yakumo]

Yep, Master System games are region free. It should work unless the converter has some kind of protection.

[Papercut]

This combo has worked for me with a UK MD converted to JPN - which should then be identical.

The region and 50/60Hz switches apply to Master System games too, which is cool for multi region ROMs.

[Team Andromeda]

Mind works Fine on either a UK or JP Mega Drive

[losersclub]

Well i got chance to try the convertor today and it works ok on my Japanese console, the only problem is it's outputting in 50hz when the convertor is plugged in rather than it's native 60hz! Has got me baffled

[CMcK]

Weird. I have a multiple region MD and the power base converter runs at 50Hz in PAL mode or 60Hz in Japanese or American mode.
Which games have you tried so far?

[Team Andromeda]

Weird. I have a multiple region MD and the power base converter runs at 50Hz in PAL mode or 60Hz in Japanese or American mode.
Which games have you tried so far?

Same here and I even get the Mark III logo too's

[Papercut]

Some in-game graphics change in some games - Rambo I think for one. Some PAL games will run with the FM chip on a JPN mark III as well, if you have that setup.

[losersclub]

I've tried Wonderboy III & Fantasy Zone, they are the only games i have and both play bordered 50hz

Wonderboy III's title screen has changed to reflect that i'm using it on a Jpn system but it's still 50hz unfortunately

[Papercut]

Weird - I thought they both ran 60Hz for me.

[redstar_dan]

Could somebody post information and imagery on the converter in question for me. Is there more than one converter? Cheers

[shiffy]

The adapter that's being talked about here is the "Power Base Converter". The Mk I adapter is suited for use on the MD MkI. You can use cartridges & as well as the handful of PC Engine style cards that were released. The Mark II Power Base Converter is best suited for a MD Mk II. The card slot was eliminated for the MkII adapter. If memory serves me right, the MkII Power Base Adapter did come with a spacer so that it could also be used on a MkI MD. Although it does work, the MkI adapter looks very unsightly on a MD MkII. The adapter itself contains almost no circuitry and is essentially just a pass-through adapter as the Megadrive was designed to be compatible with the Master System. (There is a little bit of circuitry for the pause button.

I would like 100% confirmation on what I have written below as there is a small element of doubt in my mind......

It was mentioned earlier in the thread that the Power Base Adapter & Megadrive together could play the FM sound enabled Master System games (Wonderboy In Monster Land, R-Type & Phantasy Star spring instantly to mind as FM sound enabled games). All the research I have done has lead me to believe that this is not possible ... not without soldering a Yamaha YM2413 sound chip into the Megadrive. You would either need a "Sega Mark III" with FM module, or a Japanese Master System equipped with the Yamaha FM sound chip. No Master System model released outside of Japan had this sound chip. You would also need an adapter to plug in the UK games into the Japanese Master System as the Japanese carts (Sega Mark III) are a different shape to their UK Master System equivalents. This adapter would plug into the expansion bay in the bottom of the Jap Master System which then allow the UK carts to be plugged in. I have got one of these adapters. but sadly, I've never found a Japanese Master System at the "right price". I'll add a picture of this adapter later.

I remember reading at the start of the year that some company was about to release a cartridge or adapter that plugged into the UK Master System that included (or emulated ... can't remember) the Yamaha FM2413 sound chip. But I can't find that info now.

Power Base converter pics & info

http://segaretro.org/Power_Base_Converter?rdfrom=http%3A%2F%2Finfo.sonicretro.org%2Findex.php%3Ftitle%3DPower_Base_Converter%26redirect%3Dno

My Megadrive setup is PAL Megadrive MK1 (switched for 50/60hz), Power Base Adapter MK I, PAL Mega CD Mk II & USA 32X. All of my Master System games play in 60hz absolutely fine.

Hope this is of use.