Sega Gear: Tototek Mega Cart

[Melf]

With all the accessories and peripherals available for the Genesis, you'd think you'd seen it all. Not true, my friend! The good people at Tototek have recently released the latest generation of their famous carts, and the new Mega Cart goes far beyond just playing flashed ROMs. Everything from saving CD game saves to playing imports can all be done with one handy cartridge. Contributer Zebbe has written an excellent review of this new accessory, so read our latest Sega Gear article (http://www.sega-16.com/2007/03/sega-gear-tototek-mega-cart/) and see why you need this.

[Joe Redifer]

Nice article, however: The Sega CD 1 can handle CD-Rs just fine. I've never had a CD-R that couldn't be read by my system. I have a launch unit.

I'm still thinking about getting one of these, but I heard they only made like 14 of them or some ridiculously small amount.

[Blades]

Great Article!

Nice in-depth review with good detail and great english, Both Thumbs-up!

I may just buy a Mega Cart, although I'm still wondering why I can't just use a software Sega CD region converter for that function.

Just a thought,
Blades

[108 Stars]

Good article, Zebbe!
too bad it doesn´t support MD-savegames...that makes it pretty much useless for me since about all the games I would wanna put on the cart would require S-RAM.

[Zebbe]

Thanks a lot for the feedback, guys!

Joe Redifer: The website says these things: "Some early systems might not read correctly the disc which is officially not supported for front-loading systems." and "Warning, CD-R are officially not supported for front-loading systems." therefor I wrote that about CD-Rs and model I.
I haven't tested it on a model I myself. Maybe the text just should be changed to "the Utility Disc won't work on Sega/Mega CD I".

[Joe Redifer]

The Utility Disc is a CDR? Maybe I won't buy the product then since it sounds kind of shady. But even if it is a CDR, it'd work. I have a stack of about 60-70 CDRs that all work on my Sega CD. Maybe Tototek has a bad "front loader" at their office (or garage)?

[Zebbe]

It isn't a CDR, but it doesn't work anyway, it seems. I'd better leave this to Fonzie to talk about.

[Elusive]

The Utility Disc is a CDR? Maybe I won't buy the product then since it sounds kind of shady.

Uh, unless you know where to get a couple of hundred MegaCD-Rs, what else can they use?

also


Yeah, the Japs got the prettiest one and the Euros the ugliest one, as expected.

Goofy Sonic image or abstract shapes. Matter of opinion I suppose :|

Love the PLOP! art, though.

[Fonzie]

Thx for this review and for support.


The Utility Disc is a CDR?
The utility disc is a CDR with printer surface... There is no more way to press discs compatible with all segacd models nowadays... Anyway, the utility disc isn't required to make megacart working and is included for free with megacart.

Some front loading models have bad quality lens system... Those lens cannot read properly scratched discs or non-standard cd's/CDR... Those models can even lockup with disc inside (you cannot open the tray anymore) so you may understand the disclaimer ;). We had difficulties on the two japanese model1 units we had, maybe usa & europe units don't have this problem, sorry.


Love the PLOP! art, though.
Haha, thx :D I wish i could do more plop ;)

[InternalPrimate]

Out of all the talk there's been here about the Mega Cart, I never really understood what the hell it did :)

Great feature. Everything that I wanted to know was there, in-depth. Thanks a lot Zebbe!

[David J.]

Does any one have the Japanese Model 2 Mega CD Bios for download?

[retrosega]

I have a mega-cd 1 pal model from Australia, and no problems reading cdr at all.

Good review!

The megacart rocks!

[Joe Redifer]

OK thanks for clearing that up, Fonzie. It is just some models then, not mine. A bit off topic but there is a fan-made TurboGrafx-CD/PC Engine CD game coming out soon that will be on a pressed CD.

Also, I hear Tototek either has or is making a Master System Converter for the MD/Genesis with the FM sound chips built in? Start a thread on that when information is available, Fonzie. That I'd be REALLY interested in.

[David J.]

That's some other company called NEO Flash or something.

[Joe Redifer]

Hmmm... my sources have once again deceived me!

[Elusive]

Master System Converter 3? FM sound? Make it 32X compatible and oh god i can hear my bank balance gurgling down the drain :(

edit: oh god Fonzie I love you

[Fonzie]

Well, FM for sms will be for megacart v2 then ;)
Megacart main feature is the multibios.
The rom playback wasn't very developped to reduce production cost.

I'm not myself very motivated into playing roms (exept homebrew stuff) using flash card (i had one full SRAM/64M flash card some years before).
Playing commercial stuff is funny during the few first hours but it is so easy/cheap to buy the original games nowadays, you know, not same feeling than having original box & cartridge :)


A bit off topic but there is a fan-made TurboGrafx-CD/PC Engine CD game coming out soon that will be on a pressed CD.
Nice to hear that :) You may know that pressed disc is usualy 500 units minimum :)

[RedComet]

Nice article. Any plans for a similar feature on the other Tototek products? I wouldn't mind seeing something for their Mega Drive flash cart.

[108 Stars]

I'm not myself very motivated into playing roms (exept homebrew stuff) using flash card (i had one full SRAM/64M flash card some years before).
Playing commercial stuff is funny during the few first hours but it is so easy/cheap to buy the original games nowadays, you know, not same feeling than having original box & cartridge :)

Of course it´s not the same feeling. But it´s the only way to have fun with games like Langrisser 2 or King Colossus on the real hardware if your not speaking japanese.

[Zebbe]

Thanks again for the great feedback everyone! I'm very glad people like it!

David J.: I think you can download it zipped with some other stuff on the product website of the Mega Cart.


Nice article. Any plans for a similar feature on the other Tototek products? I wouldn't mind seeing something for their Mega Drive flash cart.

Yes, I will buy the MD-PRO 64M Plus Flash card next and do a similar feature to it too. I will also do an interview with Fonzie. It seems that will be our saviour in the need of playing fan-translated Jap RPGs on our Sega systems!

Melf: Looks like it's editing time again. Please change the text so it fits with what Fonzie said about CD-Rs and Model I Sega/Mega CDs.

[RedComet]

Yes, I will buy the MD-PRO 64M Plus Flash card next and do a similar feature to it too. I will also do an interview with Fonzie. It seems that will be our saviour in the need of playing fan-translated Jap RPGs on our Sega systems!


Cool. I'm looking forward to it. :)

[redrum666]

the Japs got the prettiest one and the Euros the ugliest one, as expected.

i would like that word edit out that is not cool that is offensive word

[David J.]

Oh god, not that whole thing again. I hope you realize this isn't 1840 where something like this is racist anymore, and plenty of people use it as an abbrivation (did I spell that right?!) for Japan. Usually that gets no where and people get their panties in a knot for nothing.

[108 Stars]

Yes, I will buy the MD-PRO 64M Plus Flash card next and do a similar feature to it too. I will also do an interview with Fonzie. It seems that will be our saviour in the need of playing fan-translated Jap RPGs on our Sega systems!

I have no clue of those flash-card things...can I save with the MD-PRO 64M Plus Flash Card? What about smaller versions of the card? What do I have to pay with everything I need?
The Tototek-website is a mess. They say you can order without the neccessary cables now...but I would need those cables too; unfortunately I can´t find the carts with cables!

Edit: I´ve checked their forums, and the whole thing seems pretty tricky. Lots of problems there. Some newer PCs can´t even detect the cart...
I find it too risky since I can´t try the device out first, so I´ll have to pass.
Unfortunately nothing was heard of the NEO-Flash cart after the thread first introducing it.

[redrum666]

Oh god, not that whole thing again. I hope you realize this isn't 1840 where something like this is racist anymore, and plenty of people use it as an abbrivation (did I spell that right?!) for Japan. Usually that gets no where and people get their panties in a knot for nothing.

no people use JP or JPN as a abbreviation for Japan

by the way racist is racist no matter what year it is

[Zebbe]

i would like that word edit out that is not cool that is offensive word

I didn't know it is regarded as an offensive word, I just thought it was short for "Japanese" or "Japan". Guess it's best to edit again, I don't want to offend anyone.

108 Stars: Hopefully I'll be able to answer all of your questions with my review of it. I'm waiting for some replies to my questions at the forum myself...

[Melf]

no people use JP or JPN as a abbreviation for Japan

That refers to the country itself and not the people there.

I don't consider it to be racist. It's more like calling Americans "Yankees," Russians "Ruskies," or UKers "Brits."

It's only a small edit though, so I'll change it.

[0x15e]

I don't consider it to be racist. It's more like calling Americans "Yankees," Russians "Ruskies," or UKers "Brits."You sure about that? I mean, I'm from the south and I'd at least look at you funny if you called me a Yankee. ;)

Also, I've never heard "Ruskies" used in a way that wasn't derogatory and, well, I just use "British." I mean, who says "Brits?"

Anyway, "Japs" still carries a strong negative connotation from being used so much in American propaganda during WW2. While it may not be so relevant now, I can definitely see it being offensive to the Japanese.

Back on topic: I have a Megacart and it's been fantastic. The ability to flash roms onto the cart straight off a burned CD is great and it's convenient to be able to play imports without having to rip / patch / reburn them first. Also, it's really nice to have the peace of mind that my "everything unlocked" Sonic CD save and 10+ Jaguar XJ220 custom tracks won't just disappear one day when my RAM cart battery dies.

I got the set with cables and the adapter but haven't had any need to use them since the utility disc functionality is so good (and MUCH more convenient than walking back to the computer to flash using the adapter, IMO).

[Fonzie]

Megacart says JPN/USA/EUR ;P
0x15e> Nice to hear you use a lot the utility disc, I was a bit affraid nobody use it. Like me, you seems to dislike the computer flashing ;)
If you are motivated, maybe you could send me a list of games that aren't compatible with megacart... I don't think they are many (if good choosen), but if you found some, just PM me. I would be glad to host an .iso with "confirmed working" games on my website... Don't hesitate to do it :)

About the Backup/Restore thing...
If you have precious saves, a little "receive backups" in the megacart adaptator driver to triple archive your saves wouldn't be bad, lets say every six months ;)
No that I don't trust on megacart, I just have some doubts on the megacd hardware itself sometimes (if it shut down during a backup... héhé, not good).

See you and thx for your feedback.

[segagamer]

Fonzie, I just ordered the MegaCart for playing JPN MegaCD games on my USA SegaCD1 with USA Genesis1. I look forward to receiving the order and playing all my JPN CD games on my system.

[segagamer]

I just realized from reading the below instructions that I don't have the ability to insert the CD before turning on the power since I have SegaCD model 1 (front loading). Can I just boot up my system with the MegaCart and then load the CD via the on-screen console?

Simply insert your Mega Cart into the Mega Drive/Genesis cartridge slot, along with your import disc into the disc tray of the Sega/Mega CD. Before turning on the power, you must hold a button to load the bios of the region of the game you are about to play. Hold button A to play a Japanese Mega CD game, button B for a U.S. Sega CD game and button C for a European Mega CD game. Turn on the unit and wait until you see the loading screen.

[highlandcattle]

The word japs in not racist. It just reminds them of the horrible war crimes that they themselves did. And that is why they don't like it at all.

[Zebbe]

I just realized from reading the below instructions that I don't have the ability to insert the CD before turning on the power since I have SegaCD model 1 (front loading). Can I just boot up my system with the MegaCart and then load the CD via the on-screen console?

He, I only thought of how my Mega CD (II) works when using the Mega Cart, but when putting in the CD doesn't matter. When you hold A, B or C, the BIOS of the specific region load, so just put in the CD afterwards that and it will all work OK.

[0x15e]

The word japs in not racist. It just reminds them of the horrible war crimes that they themselves did. And that is why they don't like it at all.
WHY did you dig up a 3+ month old, off-topic racial argument? Most places would call that trolling.

[segagamer]

Even with the proper region of Bios loaded into my Sega CD console, I am still unable to play JPN Thunderhawk. It seems the game can recognize the region of the Genesis/MD console and would display an error message about how the game can only be played on JPN or PAL territory systems.

[Fonzie]

Even with the proper region of Bios loaded into my Sega CD console, I am still unable to play JPN Thunderhawk. It seems the game can recognize the region of the Genesis/MD console and would display an error message about how the game can only be played on JPN or PAL territory systems.
Sure, its the only game so far that require your megadrive to be switched (nobody else reported un-working games, thx) :)
Enjoy!

[XMARLTONX]

Is it compatiable with mac?

[Fonzie]

No, there is no "official" driver support for mac... sorry.

However, apparently UCON64 have a built for mac ... and Ucon64 can write to MDPRO32 / 64 flash cart (which is same protocol as megacart).
But this is very risky and hazardous to use (as megacart is only 24MEG + 8MEG system files and MDPRO is 32 or 64MEG, overwrite of system files is possible)... It would be great if someone with a mac + megacart could confirm :)

Also, it require both parallel and USB cable to be plugged... Does macs still have printer cable? ^^

Thx for your interest.

[Ghaleon]

The links in the OP are dead.

Not anymore, thank you, unnamed benevolent spirit!