Genesis 3 and the Z80

[evildragon]

I am curious, who claimed the Genesis 3 doesn't have a Z80? This is floating around the internet, and honestly, is driving me crazy.

It DOES have a Z80. You hear sound, right? Well, anyone in their right mind would know that the Z80 acted as a sound processor. If the Genesis 3 has no Z80, then where does this get processed?

[Elusive]

I am curious, who claimed the Genesis 3 doesn't have a Z80?

If you're the anal-retentive, technically it doesn't - the Z80s functions are replicated in a new all-in-one chip. You don't have a seperate Z80 unit, just all its functions in a different chip.

If the Genesis 3 has no Z80, then where does this get processed?

The Blast Processor, duh. The Internet told me so!

[evildragon]

if that was the case, then the genesis 2 doesn't have a Z80 either, but no one is claiming that, now are they?

[Zebbe]

Genesis II has a Z80.

[evildragon]

Genesis II has a Z80.

not in it's own chip...

since this is the same as the Genesis III, then it should be stated that the Genesis III has a Z80 also...

[108 Stars]

Here´s what I read on reference.com:

Contrary to popular belief, Model MK-1631 (Mega Drive/Genesis 2) does have a Z80 CPU. Depending on the board revision, the system has either a Zilog Z84C00 or a Custom Sega 315-5676 or similar. Because the Z80 is used for sound production by many games it is a necessary component. The idea that the redesigned machine has no Z80 came from reports of incompatibility between those models and the Power Base Converter, which provides Sega Master System compatibility, but the true prohibiting factor is the shape of the device. The redesigned cartridge port is too far forward on the system to connect a Power Base Converter without first removing its plastic housing.

[evildragon]

Another proof the Genesis 3 has a Z80, play F22 Interceptor.. It works, don't it? surely it has too, because that games uses the Z80 and 68K to BOTH play the game...

my Genesis 2 has it then in the 315 chip, which surely sounds the same as the Genesis 3...

[Ash]

Sounds like someone needs to get a Genesis 3, tear it apart and document every chip in the thing.

[evildragon]

it should just be obvious, it has to have a Z80.. it may not be the standard chip your used to, but there is a Z80 (clone) in it, and that includes multichip designs..

only reason there are compatibilities on the Genesis 3, is, from what I was told, it is missing some bus logic..

[Joe Redifer]

The Genesis 3 can lick my sweaty balls, Z-80 or not.

[CRV]

I should note that there are sound engines that use the 68000 for a "sound processor" instead of the Z80.

http://gdri.smspower.org/wiki/index....nd_Engine_List

[RedAngel]

But even those 68k drivers use the z80 as sample player so a Genesis without any z80 (original, compatible, multichip...) would not play anything or not play samples. I think "Presented by Data East" in Mega Turrican is the only sample play by the 68k.

It is curious that most games that use Gems doesn´t sound very well, it seems that the driver from Sega of America was a bit limited compared with the one from Sega of Japan and others third parties ones.

[Joe Redifer]

Are only those ones that specifically list "68k" the only ones that use the 68000 to produce sound? I wonder how accurate the list is, because I saw the following:

Granada --- Cube/Iwadare

Sounds more like Wolfteam custom 1 to me.... especially since Iwadare had nothing to do with the game, but instead Motoi Sakuraba. Also shouldn't Dr. Robotnik's Mean Bean machine be "Compile Custom"? The Japanese version of the same exact game sure is.


Also, don't you need the Z80 to engage the PSGs?

[CRV]

Are only those ones that specifically list "68k" the only ones that use the 68000 to produce sound? I wonder how accurate the list is, because I saw the following:

Sounds more like Wolfteam custom 1 to me.... especially since Iwadare had nothing to do with the game, but instead Motoi Sakuraba. Also shouldn't Dr. Robotnik's Mean Bean machine be "Compile Custom"? The Japanese version of the same exact game sure is.

I'd say the list is pretty accurate. Dimitri/DJ Squarewave from Project 2612 put it together. He didn't just go by what a game sounds like. He also looked in a debugger or memory editor or something and looked at how they operated and interacted with the Z80, etc.

I listened to Granada and then Final Zone (which uses WT custom 1) and they don't really sound alike to me.

Iwadare wasn't involved with Granada, you say? Even this site says he was involved with the Genny version:
http://www.sega-16.com/Sega%20Stars-...%20Iwadare.php

Dr. Robotnik: Looking at the credits on Moby Games, one of the "Music & SFX" people is from Cube. It's certainly possible for two games like Puyo Puyo/Dr. Robotnik to use different sound engines. Magical Hat no Buttobi Turbo! Daibouken and Decap Attack do.

[Joe Redifer]

Granada sounds very Motoi-ish to me. Iwadare is much more subtle. Maybe he just designed the clapping sound effects used in the music. He loves the clap.