Shouldl the 32X exist?

[Greg2600]

Just imagine what amazing music could be made if you utilized the Sega CD, the Genesis, and the 32X's sound chips all at the same time! I'm sure it would be incredibly difficult to program though. If it was pulled off correctly I'm sure it be like chip tune heaven though.

They did, called the Saturn.

[dbtmellis]

The 32X would have been better as a stand alone console. Concepts and Ideas from the 32X and the Saturn should have been merged together.

The "new" console could have been used hybrid Cartridge/CD media, and it could be backwards compatible with the Genesis and Sega CD.

[Drakon]

I like the 32x just because it's unique. If the 32x had been stand alone it wouldn't be as cool to me. It's the only cartridge based full system upgrade addon I know of and that's why I love the thing. Having the backward compatibility in the saturn would have ruled, I also don't get why sega dropped the genesis / master system controller port the saturn pad seems to have the same amount of buttons as the 6-button genesis controller.

[dbtmellis]

I like the 32x just because it's unique. If the 32x had been stand alone it wouldn't be as cool to me. It's the only cartridge based full system upgrade addon I know of and that's why I love the thing. Having the backward compatibility in the saturn would have ruled, I also don't get why sega dropped the genesis / master system controller port the saturn pad seems to have the same amount of buttons as the 6-button genesis controller.

The Saturn had two extra button on the top (sometimes called shoulder buttons) just like the Super Nintendo controllers (even before the Xbox and Playstation series)

[Drakon]

ahh, that explains it

[sheath]

Actually, Atari winning a lawsuit over the controller port design for the Master System and Genesis explains it.

[Drakon]

Actually, Atari winning a lawsuit over the controller port design for the Master System and Genesis explains it.

That makes even more sense.

[sheath]

I haven't fact checked this at all, but I understood that the proceeds from that lawsuit helped Atari launch the Jaguar. and Jag CD.

[Chilly Willy]

I haven't fact checked this at all, but I understood that the proceeds from that lawsuit helped Atari launch the Jaguar. and Jag CD.

Which is funny because the Jaguar doesn't use the "standard" Atari joypad connector. They designed a new connector that's completely incompatible that I believe they also patented.

[Greg2600]

The lawsuit involved "horizontal scrolling" developed in 1978 A2600 Football I think, and arcade patents in the early 80's. Nintendo was sued also. Some sites listed the awards between 50 and 70 million, but they didn't come until after the Jaguar launched. Atari also had to pay/settle back with Nintendo for the Tengen lawsuits.

The DB-9 controller port I don't know if that is patented.

[ps3repair1980]

i vote yes

[akm]

Wow, for multiple reasons.. First, I can finally post! And second, I'm surprised at the greater amount of "No" votes than "Yes". I agree it's a shame that the 32X didn't live up to its full potential, but I feel it wasn't a bad add-on at all, for the time. It had some sweet capabilities, and as we have seen recently, it probably wasn't tapped to its fullest potential. Still, it's solid for what it is. The SEGA games on it are awesome, and it has some quality 3rd party efforts too. Considering how long it was out, who developed for it and what is currently available--yes, the 32X should exist.

[Saturn Fan]

No way! The 32x's very existence just shows what a blundering mindset Sega was in back then.

The Sega CD was a much more respectable experiment and leap forward in gaming tech than the 32x! CD-Rom games have tremendous benefits over that of cartridges, and while the idea was just too ahead of its time, it has a respectable place in history. A much better library of games too.

The 32x however, was just an all-around terrible idea.

Furthermore, i've read reports that both branches of Sega thought the 32x was a good idea, Including those that were developing the Saturn! What were they thinking?!

I remember hearing about this back in the day and knew it was a bad idea at the time.

[SlowPaul]

First post here everyone, so hello!

Christmas 1994 was the best Christmas of my youth. I got my 32X, and Doom. After seeing a preview of the game in either GamePro or EGM I knew that I'd absolutely HAVE to have it. Knowing the game was spawned from a PC game, I explained to my parents that the 32X was a bargain compared to buying a computer. My family did not have a computer, but being 1994, that wasn't too uncommon. I loved my Genesis just as much as any other 13 year old in 1994 did, and the idea of the 32X made me nearly foam at the mouth with excitement. You can say I fell for the marketing. I had visions of an exact arcade port of Super Street Fighter II Turbo, and a new Sonic that would be beyond amazing. After seeing the decline of the system and the Genesis itself, I jumped over the the Nintendo side where the SNES games were starting to fall in price.

Without going into my entire video-gaming history, I found myself wanting to play my old Genesis and 32X games a few months back. Unfortunately over the years of moving and shuffling systems I seemingly misplaced my systems and games. Last Friday I bought a decent condition Genesis, 32X and a few games. After reading numerous threads on here, properly cleaned the systems and games. I've been anxiously awaiting my copy of Kolibri to arrive from an eBay auction I won, as I found that game to be quite awesome.

I see why people have nothing but bad things to say about the 32X. It's weak, it was a bad idea, I get it. But to the the naive 13 inside my 31 year old body, that silly system will always have a special place in my heart. I'm very excited to be spending a few hours a week on my classic Sega systems. So I say, YES the 32X should exist. I wish it would have stayed around longer and more games would have come out. I'll be having a good time searching to rebuild what small collection of games I had, and maybe a few I didn't.

[evildragon]

I will only use my 32X, if someone finds a way to make the SMS work through it.


Which will never happen.