Picked up a Sega Master System, for Atari reasons...

[Pioneer4x4]

I just got a SMS from eBay. It came with

console

gun

2 controllers

3-D "SegaScope" goggles with card slot adapter

6 games (3 were 3-D)

power and RF adapter.

 

I hooked it all up and it works fine. The games are all kinda lame, but I mainly bought it for the 3-D! I REALLY wanted to see how well it worked and was implemented. I was very pleased, flicker is fine, ghosting is the real problem, but only on Zaxxon 3-D when in the outer space part with the black background. Even the starfield is 3D.

I am now looking forward to using the SMS controllers on a 2600, maybe even trying some of the 2 button hacks.

THEN I want to see if I can make the goggles work off of a controller port. I cannot find any info on the schematic yet, but maybe I'll look more later.

[Lord Helmet]

I have a set of SMS pads. They work fine on a 2600...however, I find that the square d-pad makes them inaccurate. I'm constantly going diagonal when I want to go strait. I've found that a genesis pad or modded NES pad is better.

[+save2600]

I have a set of SMS pads. They work fine on a 2600...however, I find that the square d-pad makes them inaccurate. I'm constantly going diagonal when I want to go strait. I've found that a genesis pad or modded NES pad is better.

Precisely. SMS pads suck. Best classic pad I've ever used are the 6-button Genesis controllers. Unlike the orignal 3-button, they got this one right thanks to a smaller directional pad that was raised a bit. Got to be the most accurate pad ever made.

[Rex Dart]

Awww... I've always loved the three-button, but mainly for nostalgia value I guess. Sometimes you just need a good third-party three-button, though. I found one with neon 90's buttons and d-pad and it's awesome (and rad). But yeah, I've tried a few SMS pads and I just can't make myself use them. They aren't appropriate for any type of game.

[Pioneer4x4]

Oh , well, sounds like I might have issues.

[zylon]

The SMS pads marked "made in China" on bottom are the worst. The pastic knob on bottom of the D-pad wears down causing unwanted diagonals. The Chinese ones were made of softer plastic and so suffer worse than the others. For Atari use, I'd recommend the Sega Control Stick with the square knob on top removed.

[+Gemintronic]

I always wanted the 3D glasses. Heard they were for tiny peoples heads though.

 

Maybe you should start a new collectors quest. Find every Atari related game for SMS and acquire it!

 

Start with:

Montezuma's Revenge

Pitfall II

[zylon]

I always wanted the 3D glasses. Heard they were for tiny peoples heads though.

 

Maybe you should start a new collectors quest. Find every Atari related game for SMS and acquire it!

 

Start with:

Montezuma's Revenge

Pitfall II

Also: Arcade Smash Hits(centipede, missile command, breakout), Ms Pacman, Choplifter, Gauntlet

[MagitekAngel]

Don't care much for the SMS controller, personally. It's squishy and cheap-feeling in my hands. An NES controller would be better - though my favorite, most comfortable 2 button rectangle pad would be the TG16 one. As it stands, I use the Genesis controller for both Atari and SMS games.

[jferio]

I've actually considered, despite all the Genesis hardware I have, making an SMS controller out of one of the 'extra' Space Invaders tv games I have. I've already done one for the 7800, how hard can it be? </topgear>

[ApolloBoy]

Pitfall II

Pitfall II was only released on the SG-1000 and will not work on an American/European SMS.

 

Anyway Pioneer, if you get the chance to, I'd suggest getting an FM expansion board for your SMS. It drastically improves the music/sound for many SMS games and it's extremely easy to install. Just plug it into the SMS's expansion port, solder the wire to a few points on the motherboard and it's done! I got one for my American SMS and it's awesome.

[Koopa64]

That guide and those links are kind of confusing. I don't even know what the difference between the GenderAdapter is and that single port FM board. Think you could better describe it ApolloBoy? It's just I now have an SMS (US, no built in game, v1.3 BIOS), it just occurred to me that I could get an FM board for it.

 

EDIT: Oh yeah, I don't get why everyone hates the SMS controllers so much. They work just fine for me. In fact, I really like them. Kinda wish I had some more of them.

 

Oh yeah, the two I have say "Made in Taiwan". Are these the cheap ones or the better quality SMS pads?

Edited October 31, 2010 by Koopa64

[ApolloBoy]

That guide and those links are kind of confusing. I don't even know what the difference between the GenderAdapter is and that single port FM board. Think you could better describe it ApolloBoy? It's just I now have an SMS (US, no built in game, v1.3 BIOS), it just occurred to me that I could get an FM board for it.

The Gender Adapter was meant for playing American/European SMS games on a Japanese SMS so that you can take advantage of the extra features the Japanese system has (those being built-in rapid fire, FM chip and a 3-D glasses jack). The FM board is designed for non-Japanese systems (there's a solder-in version for the SMS II as well) and adds FM sound for those systems.

[Koopa64]

EDIT: Reverted this post back.

 

So where can you buy a non-solder FM board?

Edited October 31, 2010 by Koopa64

[ApolloBoy]

So where can you buy non-solder FM board?

You can send him an email (which is eviltim at optusnet.com.au) asking to buy one. It's $70 Australian dollars shipped, which is a fairly good deal.

[zylon]

The made in Taiwan parts are kind of middle grade or a close second. The best were the made in Japan ones. The made in China versions had a molded rectangle on bottom were the "made in ..." used to be with a sticker(sometimes missing) that said made in china.

I use Taiwan versions most of the time myself.

[Koopa64]

Nevermind, found the selling thread on SMSPower.

 

http://www.smspower.org/forums/viewtopic.php?t=10841

 

$60 is pretty expensive, though I suppose you get what you pay for. Considering I don't fancy the SMS PSG very much, I might tempted to deck my SMS out with a nice FM board. That post is pretty old now, is that guy still selling FM boards?

 

Just saw your new post, did he up the price from $60?

 

Also, how much trouble is it to plug in the FM board? Do you have to cut the SMS casing up just to use it?

Edited October 31, 2010 by Koopa64

[Koopa64]

The made in Taiwan parts are kind of middle grade or a close second. The best were the made in Japan ones. The made in China versions had a molded rectangle on bottom were the "made in ..." used to be with a sticker(sometimes missing) that said made in china.

I use Taiwan versions most of the time myself.

 

Well they are VERY good controllers in my opinion and I can't understand how anyone could bash them.

 

Also, concerning console revision rarities, how significant are SMS1 consoles with no built in game?

[ApolloBoy]

$60 is pretty expensive, though I suppose you get what you pay for. Considering I don't fancy the SMS PSG very much, I might tempted to deck my SMS out with a nice FM board. That post is pretty old now, is that guy still selling FM boards?

 

Just saw your new post, did he up the price from $60?

 

Also, how much trouble is it to plug in the FM board? Do you have to cut the SMS casing up just to use it?

Yeah he's still selling them, I bought mine only a few months ago. He charges AU$60 for Australian customers and AU$70 for everyone else. Installing it is fairly easy, and the only parts you'll need to remove are the expansion port punchout and a capacitor on the motherboard. The board needs to be plugged into the port from the inside and then you need to solder the cable to where you removed the capacitor as per the instructions. You can drill a hole for the FM enable/disable switch, but you can also tuck the switch inside the system, which is what I did since I didn't have any jumpers handy.

[Koopa64]

I'm really torn over that FM expansion board. On one hand, I can't justify the $70 pricetag because it's a whole $70... But on the other hand, I can perfectly justify the high price because of the cost to manufacture such a piece of hardware, also the night and day difference between PSG and FM Synth. Maybe it's because I'm too cheap?

 

Seriously, I am just in shock and awe of the FM Synthesis on the Master System. No matter what game I watch on YouTube or play in emulation with FM, it just sounds GOOD. Whereas with the PSG, it just sounds WRONG, in several different ways. Even if it's a game I don't care for, like Aztec Adventure. The FM synth actually makes that game more enjoyable.

 

To me, the difference between PSG and FM Synth is like going from Genesis chiptunes to Sega CD digital audio. The gap is THAT huge IMO. Even that alone justifies the $70 price tag... Unfortunately I can't bring myself to pay that much for it. It's like if I hear the FM synth, I immediately say "I'm so buying one!". But when I see the price, even when I've seen it before, I say "I just can't pay that much". It's a horrible dilemma...

Edited November 1, 2010 by Koopa64

[ApolloBoy]

I'm really torn over that FM expansion board. On one hand, I can't justify the $70 pricetag because it's a whole $70... But on the other hand, I can perfectly justify the high price because of the cost to manufacture such a piece of hardware, also the night and day difference between PSG and FM Synth. Maybe it's because I'm too cheap?

And don't forget that the price also covers shipping in addition to the board.

[Pioneer4x4]

Unless I get into the Sega, I probably won't spend any money on it. I really wanted it to se what the controllers were like and to get the 3-D hardware and see the 3-D games. I plan on seeing if I can get them working on my Vectrex, and maybe make a static display on the atari using them.

[psquare75]

The made in Taiwan parts are kind of middle grade or a close second. The best were the made in Japan ones. The made in China versions had a molded rectangle on bottom were the "made in ..." used to be with a sticker(sometimes missing) that said made in china.

I use Taiwan versions most of the time myself.

 

Well they are VERY good controllers in my opinion and I can't understand how anyone could bash them.

 

Also, concerning console revision rarities, how significant are SMS1 consoles with no built in game?

 

Awful controllers (at least mine). Action Fighter is almost unplayable, and to play Outrun I find myself holding "down" even as I turn, to keep the car in high gear.

[Dreammary]

I use SMS controllers for 2600 and I find them to be quite comfortable... I guess it's just a matter of opinion and hand shape?

[Amstari]

I am now looking forward to using the SMS controllers on a 2600, maybe even trying some of the 2 button hacks.

 

The SMS controllers didn't work for the two button hacks when I tried it. It think you need Genesis/Megadrive controllers.

 

Although let me know if you are successful with a SMS controller, maybe mine was broken.

 

One game you must get for the SMS is "Psycho Fox", it's one of my favourite games on any system.