MD Games incompatabile with 32X?

[The Jackal]

About two days ago I fancied playing Shadow of the Beast 1, so I took it out of the case and plugged it into my 32x. Nothing worked. So I took it out and cleaned it. Still it didn't work. So I plugged it into my Game Genie and put it back in.

This time it got as far as the Electronic Arts logo, and then went black. i wait for a while and knew there was something wrong.

So I took the 32X off my modded MD model 2 and popped Shadow 1 into it - surprise, surprise!! It worked! The game booted with no problems.

I plugged the 32X back in and again, it didn't work.

So I plugged SOTB into my modded Model 1 - again it worked perfectly.

But connecting the 32X to the Model 1 and inserting Shadow I again made the game hang.

So, my question is this: Are there some Genesis games that don't work with the 32X?

[MN12BIRD]

I know Virtua Racing for MD doesn't work thru the 32x. Others might as well but I dunno.

[Scooter]

I had this problem with a few 32X games recently. What ended up fixing the problem was cleaning the 32X itself where it goes into the Gen/MD cart slot AND cleaning the internal slots/pins as well. Inside the unit one board connects to the other via a socket similar to a cart slot and once I cleaned that things worked fine.

The only game of which I'm aware does not work with the 32X is Virtua Racing.

[Zebbe]

First and second run of Beggar Prince doesn't work with the 32X either. Or at least not the save function.

[j_factor]

I too have had problems with Shadow of the Beast and 32x. It boots for me and I can start playing it, but it always freezes after a bit.

I also have problems with Fatal Rewind. It will "gradually freeze" -- during play it will start skipping frames, and slow down until it stops.

Those two are the only games I've ever had a problem with (aside from Virtua Racing and Beggar Prince). They're both Psygnosis games on EA cartridges released in 1991. I think this may be an actual incompatibility that's unheard-of/undocumented.

[Scooter]

Hmmm. I've never had any problems aside from Virtua Racing though I don't have any of the above mentioned games.

[Joe Redifer]

I'm wondering if it is just a simple case of one pin not being passed through from cart slot to cart slot. That would explain the Power Base Converter not working, either.

[TmEE]

I'll get a 32X soon, I'll try to find out why PBC doesn't work thorugh 32X.

[KnightWarrior]

I thought it was because of the Z80

[Joe Redifer]

Maybe the Power Base Converter would work if the Z80 were removed? :)

[TmEE]

That's very likely too ;)

[KnightWarrior]

Post the Mod if you get it to work with the PBC...