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Ace_1

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Posts posted by Ace_1

  2. Posted

    You a shoot-em-up fan? Get R-Type(US version, the Japanese one is split in 2 HuCards). One of the best shoot-em-ups on the system. If you can get your TurboExpress to play imports, get Gradius, Salamander and After Burner II. Those 3 are the absolute best shoot-em-ups on the TurboGrafx IMO.

  3. Posted

    Here's what I know so far as to both the Gen-X and RetroDuo:

     

    Gen-X:

     

    -Main guts are a TecToy ASIC(yes, there's Brazilian Genesis hardware in there)

    -Fully compatible with Virtua Racing

    -Fully compatible with the Power Base Converter, although the controller's D-pad will not respond, only buttons B and C(wonder if modifying the plug on a Master System controller and fitting it in the Gen-X will work)

    -MAY have compatibility with 32X should you find all the necessary signals that are on the Genesis 2/3's 9-pin Mini DIN

    -No Sega CD support(lacks the expansion slot)

    -Region switchable(Genesis only, you can play Japanese MegaDrive games right out of the box)

    -Buttons are reversed for NES games(A maps to A on the Gen-X controller, B maps to B, you get the idea)

     

    RetroDuo:

     

    -Better NES compatibility than any other clone.

    -Works with some games that are incompatible with the FC Twin(although you CAN make the FC Twin compatible with SA-1 Super NES games should you have a crappy Super NES cartridge and take out its lockout chip)

    -NES displays in black & white in S-Video unless you have composite hooked up at the same time

    -Super NES has better image quality in S-Video

    -Certain units have some major sound issues on the NES side(I personally tried a black/red model with some games and its sound was horrible on both Super Mario Bros. 3 and Top Gun-White/blue model seems to be better)

  4. Posted

    Well, then, I'm taking this issue elsewhere if I can't get any help. I NEED to have at least 1 region-modded Model 2 Genesis, and I have issues with both that I have. The one that's pictured, I have no idea how to mod it, the second one I mentioned has the Red signal that stays when it's freshly soldered, but goes away as soon as the system's left running for a little bit. Know any forums that can do good for Genesis mods and repairs?

  5. Posted

    I'm guessing nobody knows anything about this board revision. So, I guess I'll post the problem I have with my region-modded Model 2 that went bad. Well, it was really my fault, as I attempted to add VGA to the Genesis, but when I desoldered everything, as the video output was completely screwed up(I might have done it wrong), I lost the Red signal from the CXA1645 on the board. I keep trying to resolder the joint between the trace on the board and the CXA1645, but no matter what I do, IT NEVER WORKS PROPERLY! Get this, when the solder joint's fresh, the image is perfect, but as soon as I leave the Genesis running for a little while or leave it sitting there doing nothing, bye bye Red, the image gets a green or blue tint. UGH!!!! It's been about 1 month and I STILL can't get this damn thing to display the image properly! This is pin 2 of the CXA1645, by the way, that's been causing me all this trouble(and anger), Red signal input.

  7. Posted · Edited by Ace_1

    My region-modded Model 2 Genesis just bit the dust, so now, I have another one with a very unusual board layout. It looks like this: img0188yd3.th.jpg

    What really leaves me scratching my head, though, is this thing: img0189lm9.th.jpg

    What's it supposed to be? Does that do something to the region code of the system? I don't know how to modify this version of the Genesis 2, since the Sega chip next to the Yamaha YM2612(coded 315-5786) has pin 107 going somewhere under the YM2612. I'm really at a loss, so help is greatly appreciated.

     

    Ah, yes, forgot to mention, if you can't see it in the first image, this is board revision PC BD MD2 VA2 USA. Also, ignore the 2 resistors wrapped in electric tape and the silver square on the side of the casing, that's an S-Video mod I did.

  8. Posted

    I fixed it! But, damn, the wires on the cable are really badly soldered. The yellow wire, for some reason, broke off. The wire was moving through the hole it was passed through with the solder still on the exposed wire in a glop. Come to think of it, this could have been the problem with the FC Twin controller I had to replace with Yobo's Nintendo-style Super NES controllers. This is what the FC Twin controllers actually are, the Yobo Super NES controllers that are sold in Nintendo Super NES controller boxes with slightly altered boards and differently-molded cases that match the color of the FC Twin its sold with. I'll put up pictures of the controllers when I have more time to show you what I mean.

     

    So those official looking Super NES controller boxes I saw at that game store are in fact just Yobo SNES controllers packed in a box that appears to be an official Nintendo SNES controller then?

     

    Right on the money. Those controllers have the same crappy response like the FC Twin controllers. In fact, that's what FC Twin controllers are, like I said before. Come to think of it, have you seen any AVA brand Super NES controllers? I was looking to get myself one of those as they seem very similar to the RetroDuo's controllers, which rock, even though the D-pad and buttons are very stiff. Actually, this make me want to repaint the AVA controllers like the RetroDuo White/Blue model. Maybe I should do the same to the FC Twin itself and drill the hole for the S-Video jack I added.

  12. Posted

    I fixed it! But, damn, the wires on the cable are really badly soldered. The yellow wire, for some reason, broke off. The wire was moving through the hole it was passed through with the solder still on the exposed wire in a glop. Come to think of it, this could have been the problem with the FC Twin controller I had to replace with Yobo's Nintendo-style Super NES controllers. This is what the FC Twin controllers actually are, the Yobo Super NES controllers that are sold in Nintendo Super NES controller boxes with slightly altered boards and differently-molded cases that match the color of the FC Twin its sold with. I'll put up pictures of the controllers when I have more time to show you what I mean.

  13. Posted

    Well, heres hoping that the controller issue is just with the controllers themselves and not a problem with the unit.

     

    I'm pretty sure it's a controller problem, as all the other Super NES controllers I have work fine on my FC Twin.

     

    I will lose the turbo capability when playing in NES mode

     

    Not if you have a Super Advantage you won't. Or if you have an NES Advantage or NES Max or any other NES controller with or without Turbo, you can wire up a converter cable using NES and Super NES extension cables.

     

     

    the dark grey color scheme wouldn't match the console colors.

     

    Wouldn't be too much of an issue on the White/Purple FC Twin as much on the Charcoal Black/Silver system, as the White/Purple one is what resembles the most like an original Super NES Mini. If you have many spares, you can probably repaint the controllers to match the unit.

  14. Posted · Edited by Ace_1

    I don't have a clue, I don't see anything corroded or cut. I'm guessing the gloptop in the controller might have gone nuts.

    As a side note, here's a little tip to make your D-pad respond better. What I did was to add about 1-2 layers of electric tape to make the plastic that touches the board in the controller on the D-pad thicker. Works perfectly now, no response problems. I was able to fix the controller, but the lazy way, which was to take the Super NES controller Yobo makes that's sold in a Nintendo-style box and transfer its board to the FC Twin controller casing, which I prefer to the Super NES-style molding Yobo used for their standard Super NES controllers. Just so you get an idea what they are, they're exactly the same like the FC Twin's controllers with missing parts on the board, a Super NES gray casing made to resemble the controllers the Super NES Mini came with, which are like the typical Super NES controllers except that the face of the controller has the Nintendo logo molded into the plastic instead of having Super Nintendo Entertainment System painted on the controller near the wire.

     

    Oh, yeah, almost forgot, I have yet to see if it just goes nuts when plugged in to the FC Twin or if it also does it on my Super Famicom, Super NES and Super NES Mini.

  16. Posted

    I already have a real SNES (well SNES 2 actually) but I am thinking of getting into the NES and it seems like a such a pain to get a console since they are so unreliable. Does anyone know if the GEN X console which plays NES/Genesis carts is similar to the Retroduo (at least the NES side of things)? I say this because they came out at the same time and since I don't own a NES or Genesis it seems like a better bet for me.

     

    The Gen-X, AFAIK, has the old-revision NOAC that is incompatible with Castlevania III, alters colors and distorts sound. For a NES, it's not your best option, but for a Genesis, it's an entirely different story. Sure, the audio has some issues(mostly volume-related, some sound channels are too silent or too loud), but the compatibility is on par with original Sega hardware(even works with Virtua Racing, which the Genesis 3 can't even load), save for the Sega CD(non-existent expansion port) and Sega 32X(nowhere to plug in the crossover cable). Actually, come to think of it, it IS and original Genesis in there, with a chip labeled TecToy, who manufactures the Brazilian Genesis. I freaked when I saw that. The post was over at BenHeck's forums, but has been lost, so I'll link you to its Hyperkin version, the SG/FC Dual Action(more inaccurate than either the Gen-X or GN Twin, though, but identical to the Gen-X hardware-wise): http://forums.benheck.com/viewtopic.php?t=23432. Or, there's also the GN Twin by Yobo, which is a similar system, but seems to have more accurate Genesis audio. It also doesn't look like a Genesis 3(it's an entirely new case design that I find looks pretty bizzare, but nice) and still has a TecToy chip doing the work on the Genesis side. You can also play MegaDrive games from Japan on all the Genesis/NES 2-in-1s as they all come with an integrated region switch. Take a look here for more info on the GN Twin: http://forums.benheck.com/viewtopic.php?t=23166

  17. Posted

    10. Castlevania II-I'm always confused when I play this game, but I still like it.

     

    9. Top Gun-may be boring, but I like flight sims.

     

    8. Castlevania

     

    7. Contra-damn tough, but I just can't put down shoot-em-ups.

     

    6. Jackal-loved this game since the first day I got it.

     

    5. Top Gun The Second Mission-hard as hell, but a game I just can't stop playing.

     

    4. Castlevania III-who can go wrong with this one? My favorite platformer for the NES, but I need to get my hands on the Japanese version with its VRC6 sound chip.

     

    3. Gradius-it just doesn't feel as polished as the other 2 Gradius games on the NES, but excellent, nonetheless.

     

    2. Salamander/Life Force-this was the very first Gradius games I've played and is one of my all-time favorite Gradius games.

     

    1. Gradius II-sure sucks this game didn't come to America. All because of that stupid VRC4 mapper chip. This is by far the best Gradius game(and shoot-em-up in general) on the NES.

  18. Posted

    Well, I've never heard of the Super NES portion crapping out after 2 weeks, but I did hear the NES side would do that frequently, especially on the pre-jewel models. I've had my FC Twin for about 4 months and haven't had a single problem with it, except that Castlevania III doesn't work(hardware-related), Rad Racer II is playable but with badly corrupt graphics(again, hardware-related) and I can't make a converter cable that can allow a Zapper to be used on it.

    Now, I'd like to point something out about your FC Twin's power supply. Yours is DC 10V 850mA? Then why is mine rated DC 10V 600mA? Just to tell you, my model is a jeweled Charcoal Black unit.

    As a side note, if you're feeling adventurous, you can add S-Video or RGB to this thing the same way you'd add it to a Genesis 3(75ohm resistors and 220uF capacitors). S-Video and RGB will only work with Super NES games. Unlike its competitor, the RetroDuo, the FC Twin will not display any video whatsoever if you play a NES game in S-Video. You must use composite. Strangely, I don't notice that big of a difference between the quality of the composite video and S-Video outputs on my FC Twin, but the edges of the graphics don't have as much smearing on them and colors don't seem to smudge.

  19. Posted · Edited by Ace_1

    I don't know if anyone's done it. There's pinout detail of NES Zapper on the internet but there's no pinout detail for the NES clones or NES/SNES twin clones.

     

    It is possible NES Zapper can be hacked, but then again, the required pins on the FC Twin may not be present and NES Zapper games are not compatible.

     

    I know this is a VERY old thread, but I just discovered that you CAN use original NES accessories on the FC Twin. So far, I only got my NES brick, dogbone and NES Advantage controllers working, but can't get the damn Zapper to work just yet. Just felt I'd get your hopes up, as this will also be useful for owners of the RetroDuo.

     

    By the way, anyone got the pinouts of the Super Scope or any Super NES specialty controllers? I think those could come in handy to properly wire the converter cable to get the Zapper working.

  21. Posted

    I don't know why, but every time I plug in a set of Paddle controllers in my Flashback 2 to play Super Breakout, one paddle works fine, but the other one's spinner doesn't respond, just the button. The problem does NOT come from the controllers, as I have tested the set on my Vader 2600 and they work fine. Why is it doing this? Is the controller port loose of the board or something?

     

    Are they Sears paddles?

     

    Nope. Both my sets of Paddle controllers are Atari ones.

  23. Posted

    Aren't there enough PC Engine shooters on there already? Just sayin' ...

    There is a good amount of Shooters already, but they were released in North American orginally.

     

    The problem is Ace_1 wants Japan only Pc Engine shooters to be released in North America.

     

    He wants games like Coryoon, Detana!! TwinBee and Final Soldier to hit the vc in North America for an example.

     

    Absolutely not. It's anything Gradius/Salamander released on the PC Engine.

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