Sega guys - 32x question!

neo_mao

neo_mao

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I feel like I asked this question before but can’t find anything...

But anyway, can a US 32X and 32X games be used with a Japanese Megadrive?

Or do I need to buy a Japanese 32X and games?

I suspect that it is all region locked, but figured i’d ask.
 
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Camel Slug
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As far as I’m aware the system only checks for 50/60Hz, so an NTSC-U 32X should work in an NTSC-J console with most games.
 
titchgamer

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Yeah you can use a 60hz 32x with a 60hz MD but you may not be able to play all the games depending on the protection of each game.
 
Azathoth

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titchgamer said:
Yeah you can use a 60hz 32x with a 60hz MD but you may not be able to play all the games depending on the protection of each game.
Click to expand...

This. There's probably only 3-4 US 32x games that won't boot with a JP MD, and most are all launch titles. The majority of NTSC releases are region free or dual language, with the region of your base Gen/MD determining the language.
 
fake

fake

Ned's Ninja Academy Dropout
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Is this also the case with Sega CD?
 
fake

fake

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titchgamer said:
Sega CD’s are region locked also.

No copy protection on them though so very easy to burn backups.
Click to expand...

But do they only check refresh rate? ie can you use a US Sega CD on a JP Mega Drive?
 
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Camel Slug
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Nope, there’s different BIOS for the three regions on the CD unit and it requires a matching region Megadrive.
 
titchgamer

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fakeXsound said:
But do they only check refresh rate? ie can you use a US Sega CD on a JP Mega Drive?
Click to expand...

Hmm that I am not sure on.

I think you can though? Hopefully someone else will know :p

As far as I am aware the only differences on the CD’s are the bios.
 
fake

fake

Ned's Ninja Academy Dropout
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Ah, OK, thanks gaiz. Makes sense. I remember having to swap out the BIOS for CD games when playing on an emulator.
 
madmanjock

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I can answer the frequency question - yes they do check.

I have a region modded Multimega. If I leave it on 50hz I can't boot JPN CD or USA CD. But, after the initial boot I can flip it back to 50hz if I really want to no bother.
 
famicommander

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The US 32X is great for playing JP Mega Drive carts on a US Genesis because it allows you to insert the carts without physically modifying the carts and/or the slot.
 
neo_mao

neo_mao

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Thanks guys. The 2 games i wanted to play were the Star Wars one and Virtua Racing which I believe we’re both early games...so they could potentially be handful of the games that wouldn’t work...

Still worth a shot though because the prices on Japanese 32x units are crazy. Worst case scenario I could just buy a cheap US Genesis...though I do hate unnecessary clutter.
 
fake

fake

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Famicommander said:
The US 32X is great for playing JP Mega Drive carts on a US Genesis because it allows you to insert the carts without physically modifying the carts and/or the slot.
Click to expand...

The only cart that's worked with for me is Arrow Flash.
 
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