Is It True?

[Metal_Sonic]

I can use a 32X as a passthrough for PAL and NTSC-J games?

I dont wanna neuter my Genesis :(

[Joe Redifer]

Yeah kind of I think... at least on some models. A Game Genie is a much better passthough, though.

[Zebbe]

No, the Game Genie blocks the save function of games that have it.

[Joe Redifer]

I've only encountered that in a few games (all domestic). Works great in Monster World 4 and Mega Man Wiley Wars. I wish the notion of "OMG teh game GEnie block ALL saves!" would go away.

[Zebbe]

I didn't know that. Thanks for clearing it out for me.

[Phantar]

Well, it certainly managed to erase all my Landstalker-saves...

[Grounder]

I'm not sure.

[Genesis Knight]

It axed my Sonic 3 saves once.

[Metal_Sonic]

The Game Genie? The F****** GAME GENIE!? THIS TOPIC IS ABOUT USING THE 32X AS A PASSTHROUGH FOR PAL AND NTSC-J GAMES!!!!!!!!! GRRRRRR ARGH *foams at mouth*

[Melf]

I've only encountered that in a few games (all domestic). Works great in Monster World 4 and Mega Man Wiley Wars. I wish the notion of "OMG teh game GEnie block ALL saves!" would go away.

True, but in my case it blocked all the ones that mattered. I wanted to blow through Shining in the Darkness again, and the instant level up and mucho money codes were useless because I would have had to beat the whole game in one sitting. Emulation makes this a dead issue though.

[j_factor]

It axed my Sonic 3 saves once.

There's something peculiar about the way Sonic 3 does saves. It seems like a passing breeze will kill the save files.

[Joe Redifer]

Monster World IV doesn't matter???!!!!!

[Grounder]

The Game Genie? The F****** GAME GENIE!? THIS TOPIC IS ABOUT USING THE 32X AS A PASSTHROUGH FOR PAL AND NTSC-J GAMES!!!!!!!!! GRRRRRR ARGH *foams at mouth*
Calm down. I've never read anything saying that you can play imports.

[David J.]

http://sega-16.com/forum/showthread.php?t=2124

Happy now?

Some 32x's have a slightly smaller cart slot... so it may work, it may not. But it works for me and the two imports I have.

[Metal_Sonic]

Thanks

Man, talk about derailed topics, its rampant round these here parts.

[17daysolderthannes]

There's something peculiar about the way Sonic 3 does saves. It seems like a passing breeze will kill the save files.

really? when I bought my used copy it was chock full of saves and after erasing them and making my own I've had no erasures. I think people in drier climates just accidentally shock the cartridge with static, but living in Louisiana its like swimming above ground so I don't have that problem with static shock, though it does suck to walk 20 feet to my mailbox and back and break a sweat (and I am not fat AT ALL) which really isn't a sweat at all, its just the humidity's way of telling you it hates you..

[j_factor]

really? when I bought my used copy it was chock full of saves and after erasing them and making my own I've had no erasures.

I bought the game new at the time and the saves were gone after a couple years. I have also heard of other people having problems with Sonic 3's saves, way way more than any other game. It's a common problem.

[VinnyT]

Thanks

Man, talk about derailed topics, its rampant round these here parts.
Read some old threads, pretty much anything over 10 posts in the last 3 years. You'll quickly learn.

[TmEE]

Sonic 3 has a bit different kind of memory for saves in it. FRAM, no need for battery, but it seems its not too "stable" to say so.

[matteus]

So my sonic 3 hasn't stopped saving because the battery has gone then? It's just plan buggered?

[TmEE]

I have no idea... dirty cart, everything related to save access depends on 3 signals

[Grounder]

So it's a yes?

[The Sports Guy]

Could be a dead battery, maybe its just getting old. Could be dirty, could be a number of things.

[TmEE]

Sonic 3 has no battery in it

[matteus]

so if i try and clean the inners of the cart would that help? or should i be cleaning the contacts on the cart itself?

[TmEE]

pencil eraser and alcohol both do wonders

[Grounder]

I never had any problems with my Sonic The Hedgehog 3 saves.

[Dirt Ball Gamer]

Is sonic 3 the only megadrive game that uses the FRAM save or are there others? Thats very interesting, I thought you could only save with a battery.

[seganutt]

can any one tell me if i can play ntsc 32x games. with my pal 32x and mutli region asia megadrive-mega cd and what about 32x cd games ? . i can play genesis games no probs this way and jap megadrive and pal

[evildragon]

you know, i've said this multiple times.. i hate saying it because i get it alot on other forums, but try searching..

[TmEE]

Is sonic 3 the only megadrive game that uses the FRAM save or are there others? Thats very interesting, I thought you could only save with a battery.

Only FRAM game I know is Sonic3, other games that don't use battery use EEPROMs (like Rockman Mega World, Starflight, some Micromachines game....).
My game in progress uses EEPROM too.

[gamegenie]

If this is true, you guys need to make more mention of this, and that's that the 32X takes away the region lock-out and can play imports.

[TmEE]

nope, it does not take region locks away, but you can fit most japanese carts to 32X cartslot without any cutting (to play Panorama Cotton you have to make cuts).

[kool kitty89]

And it's already mentioned in the game save-type list tech thread, but FRAM was also used in the Japanese MD release of Virtua Racing. (western release lacking the save feature)

I do wonder why they used such a new and exotic technology like that, either it cost them a lot, or they got some special deal. (large scale market testing perhaps?)

[TmEE]

I don't know... I would believe the testing thing + a deal out of it...

[A Black Falcon]

Only FRAM game I know is Sonic3, other games that don't use battery use EEPROMs (like Rockman Mega World, Starflight, some Micromachines game....).
My game in progress uses EEPROM too.

I know this is older, but I hadn't noticed it... Starflight, EEPROM? Really? I've never heard that one... the game wasn't on the list of EEPROM games that I used to make the list in my Save Types thread, and the box says "battery backup" which of course may just mean "it has saving", but could mean what it says...

Anyway, any proof that Starflight is EEPROM and not battery?


Oh, also, the other known FRAM game is Knuckles Chaotix for the 32X.

[metalandy380]

Yeah i think so, I discovered that recently...
Im in the UK so i wanted to play Vectorman2 (only released in the US) on my PAL Megadrive, bought a converter cart on ebay to try and tackle the region codes
i have my megadrive/megacd/32x set up as one so popped it in the top and works a treat...
my next task it to figure out if i can use the converter cart to play NTSC 32x games, but from what i've read it wont work... American 32x games come alot cheaper than UK ones so that sucks a bit...

[metalandy380]

not sure if that made complete sense.... but the 32x acted as a region pass-through i guess
i haven't even got the converter cart yet