Everdrive MD / Everdrive SMS Questions

[Tempest]

Anyone here have an Everdrive MD or Everdrive SMS? I have a few questions about it:

 

1. How many games (on average) can they store?

2. How is the compatibility?

3. Can the Everdrive SMS be used with the Powerbase converter?

4. Is there any reason to get the SMS version if the MD can do SMS games?

5. How is the software to load the games? The ToTek stuff was horrible!

 

Bonus question:

 

Anyone use the SNES Everdrive? How is it?

 

Tempest

[Rex Dart]

Anyone here have an Everdrive MD or Everdrive SMS? I have a few questions about it:

 

1. How many games (on average) can they store?

2. How is the compatibility?

3. Can the Everdrive SMS be used with the Powerbase converter?

4. Is there any reason to get the SMS version if the MD can do SMS games?

5. How is the software to load the games? The ToTek stuff was horrible!

 

Bonus question:

 

Anyone use the SNES Everdrive? How is it?

 

Tempest

1. Storage is up to you; you provide the SD or MMC card. I've found that 2GB is more than enough.

2. Compatibility is excellent; a handful of sports titles have issues, but are easily fixed, and fixed roms exist. Hacks/translations run perfectly for me.

3. I believe so, but I own neither.

4. I guess if you want to play SG-1000 roms, you'd need an actual master system - those roms don't give video but do otherwise run & output sound. Otherwise, SMS roms work great on the MD cart.

5. Software again is up to you; it's drag-and-drop to your SD card. I guess if you're running windows 95 or Mac OSX it could suck.

[Emehr]

5. Software again is up to you; it's drag-and-drop to your SD card. I guess if you're running windows 95 or Mac OSX it could suck.

How could it suck in Mac OS X?

[Rex Dart]

All those stupid garbage files that OSX loves to create, .ds_store and whatnot. Whenever I download anything that was created on a Mac, I have to erase half the files.

[Tempest]

Excellent. Thank you for the info. I think I will look into the SMS version just because I think those SG-1000 games are the bees knees (so to speak).

 

Where is the best place to pick one of these up. I think Stone Age Gamer was selling them at one point but I'm not sure if he still is. I'd like to go with someone in the US if possible.

[Rex Dart]

Not sure where the best place is, but I got mine from StoneAge. It shipped well before I was expecting them to have 'em in stock.

[SlowCoder]

I have the EverDrive MD for the Genesis. I like it pretty well.

 

Are the SG-1000 game ROMs compatible with the SMS? From what I read, the SG1000 was a lead-up to the SMS. Would SG1000 ROMs work on the Genesis?

[Wntermute]

All those stupid garbage files that OSX loves to create, .ds_store and whatnot. Whenever I download anything that was created on a Mac, I have to erase half the files.

 

Only one is made per folder. Unless you're storing a TON of metadata or making a ton of folders, there's very little overhead to using a Mac.

[Rex Dart]

Would SG1000 ROMs work on the Genesis?

 

With an SMS Everdrive in a power base convertor? Possibly. With an MD Everdrive? See post #2.

 

 

All those stupid garbage files that OSX loves to create, .ds_store and whatnot. Whenever I download anything that was created on a Mac, I have to erase half the files.

Only one is made per folder. Unless you're storing a TON of metadata or making a ton of folders, there's very little overhead to using a Mac.

 

In theory, that might be true. Then there's the extra folder, with an extra .file.

You'll likely be using several folders with an Everdrive MD, too.

[SlowCoder]

With an SMS Everdrive in a power base convertor? Possibly. With an MD Everdrive? See post #2.

Hmmm. I believe I have these ROMs already downloaded (never played them). Out of sheer curiosity, shall have to see what I can make happen ...

[Atariboy]

The PowerBase Converter is just a pass through device so the pins of a SMS cart align correctly with the cartridge port of the Genesis. It doesn't have any SMS hardware inside of it and since the Genesis doesn't have SG-1000 compatibility, it won't be able to play them.

 

The Z80 processor for the Genesis didn't include the special video mode the SG-1000 used and which the SMS retained for backwards compatibility. So every SG-1000 game and a handful of SMS games that used that mode can't be played on the Genesis.

 

You'll need an actual Sega Master System and the SMS version of the Everdrive if you want to play SG-1000 games.

Edited September 28, 2011 by Atariboy

[Tempest]

The Z80 processor for the Genesis didn't include the special video mode the SG-1000 used and which the SMS retained for backwards compatibility. So every SG-1000 game and a handful of SMS games that used that mode can't be played on the Genesis.

Yeah I think the one SMS game that doesn't work is F-16 Fighting Falcon. Are there others?

[StoneAgeGamer]

We still sell Master EverDrive, just don't have any in stock at the moment.

 

 

[Tempest]

Do you normally get Everdrive stock in? Or is it a 'whenever they send us some' kind of thing?

[StoneAgeGamer]

Depends...with more popular EverDrives like MD, SNES, and N64 he sends me some as he makes them, but with less popular like SMS and GG I order. However since SMS and GG aren't close to as popular as others these are not top priority for KRIKzz so he doesn't have them in stock as often.

 

The current issue with EverDrives is that I think KRIKzz spread himself a little too thin and has too many board resellers, but can't supply any of them fast enough. I know he is working on getting more people to work for him to make more, but currently supply is not meeting demand. So in most cases I put them up for back order as they are shipped form Ukraine and they normally sell out before they even arrive at my facility.

 

I also don't carry just the boards as much as I do my own Deluxe. I will soon be correcting this and will try to carry more boards as well for those people who aren't interested in Deluxe.

 

I normally post news on when these items on up for back order or in stock on my Facebook and Twitter. Both can be found on right column of site.

 

Here is Gamester81 review of Master EverDrive:

[+thegoldenband]

If memory serves, I think SG-1000 games will technically "play" on the Genesis, or at least they'll boot and you'll hear sound, but there won't be any video -- just a black screen. Same thing with SMS games that use the TMS9918 display mode, like F-16 Fighting Falcon and a bunch of Korean unlicensed games.

Edited September 30, 2011 by thegoldenband

[Atariboy]

The Z80 processor for the Genesis didn't include the special video mode the SG-1000 used and which the SMS retained for backwards compatibility. So every SG-1000 game and a handful of SMS games that used that mode can't be played on the Genesis.

Yeah I think the one SMS game that doesn't work is F-16 Fighting Falcon. Are there others?

 

I believe that's it.

 

The bigger issue with the Power Base Converter are the games that don't work correctly with a Genesis controller. They require that a SMS pad be plugged in.

 

Alien Syndrome

Bomber Raid

Great Volleyball

Montezuma's Revenge

Shanghai

Where in the World is Carmen San Diego?

Wonderboy in Monsterland

Tennis Ace

[Chilly Willy]

If memory serves, I think SG-1000 games will technically "play" on the Genesis, or at least they'll boot and you'll hear sound, but there won't be any video -- just a black screen. Same thing with SMS games that use the TMS9918 display mode, like F-16 Fighting Falcon and a bunch of Korean unlicensed games.

 

Yes, it's the VDP that is the issue, not the Z80. SG-1000 games play on the Genesis, but the Genesis VDP lacks the TMS9918 modes the SG-1000 uses, so you get a black screen. You can hear the game running just fine, but you get no video at all.

[Armonigann]

Hey, StoneAge thanks for that pic, that looks awesome!!

[Atariboy]

Yes, it's the VDP that is the issue, not the Z80.

 

Sorry about that.

 

I tried to confirm my recollections of the reason behind it, but didn't have much luck with a search engine so I just went with what I could recall.

[Chilly Willy]

Yes, it's the VDP that is the issue, not the Z80.

 

Sorry about that.

 

I tried to confirm my recollections of the reason behind it, but didn't have much luck with a search engine so I just went with what I could recall.

 

No problem. I only know because I actually tried it on my MD with the NeoFlash Myth and looked into the result.

[goldenegg]

All those stupid garbage files that OSX loves to create, .ds_store and whatnot. Whenever I download anything that was created on a Mac, I have to erase half the files.

 

There's a command line utility called 'dot_clean' which will remove all those unwanted files.

[Chris Leach]

We still sell Master EverDrive, just don't have any in stock at the moment.

 

 

 

bummer..you should make some..I for one would buy one....no need to keep shelling out measly cash for the actual games when there is an everdrive out there...>!

 

please do pm me if you make more

[Tempest]

I'm thinking about selling off my Genesis and SMS collections to buy some Everdrives (MD, SMS, and SNES). Assuming the compatibility is near or at 100%, I don't see a reason to own the physical cartridges anymore.

[Rex Dart]

^ That's what I've come close to doing. The only cart I use in my genesis other than my Everdrive now are ones that save to the cart, like Beyond Oasis and Phantasy Star. For some reason, I like having the saves on the carts.