Is it possible to change the built-in game on Sega Master Systems?

johhnnyD14

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I've seen a few discussion threads about this topic but I have never gotten a definite answer, nor am I willing to risk doing it myself.

Has anyone even attempted this before?
 

cdamm

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is it even worth the time to do so?
 

Westcb

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Great example on how not to use the tech support forums... Asking about something that you admit you will not do.
 

Xian Xi

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BustedStr8 may know. I remember him doing Fix-it-Felix built in games on Genny systems.
 

Apocalypse

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I've seen a few discussion threads about this topic but I have never gotten a definite answer, nor am I willing to risk doing it myself.

Has anyone even attempted this before?
Yes you can. It's quite easy if the game is less than 32kb as you don't need a mapper.
I've made a BIOS with Great Tennis that can also play Japanese card games (they don't contain the "Sega" text at a specific address so they don't pass the OG BIOS check on US/EUR consoles).
For Mark III cartridge games you need an adapter as pinout is different. Easiest option is to use the expansion port on Master Systems 1 as it matches the pinout of Mark III cartridges (no need to swap lines, etc.).

Link to the thread (in French sorry):
http://www.sega-board.fr/viewtopic.php?t=4042&postdays=0&postorder=asc&start=30
 

chinitosoccer

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The Master System Super Compact made by Tectoy came with either Sonic or Alex Kidd In Miracle World as built-in games, I have seen people mod their MSSC to change between those 2, I don't know if is possible to put other game appart from those.
 

bustedstr8

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BustedStr8 may know. I remember him doing Fix-it-Felix built in games on Genny systems.

Link? That sounds pretty interesting



Heh...that damn thing. I only did it because I ran out of nice clamshell cases.
I didn't do a write up on it, it was just a sale thread.

I think you could change the game if you inserted the game code at the right address after the bios code and burned a new eprom.

Like Apocalypse said it would have to be a small game since the direct addressing of the SMS is only 32KB. A larger game could be done but it would get messy fast as you would need another eprom, a Sega mapper (from an Afterburner pcb) and also some additional logic to handle /CE of those chips.
 

johhnnyD14

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Feb 3, 2015
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Heh...that damn thing. I only did it because I ran out of nice clamshell cases.
I didn't do a write up on it, it was just a sale thread.

I think you could change the game if you inserted the game code at the right address after the bios code and burned a new eprom.

Like Apocalypse said it would have to be a small game since the direct addressing of the SMS is only 32KB. A larger game could be done but it would get messy fast as you would need another eprom, a Sega mapper (from an Afterburner pcb) and also some additional logic to handle /CE of those chips.

What games are less than 32KB?
 
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