Link-Cable for Zero Tolerance (Sega Genesis)

[Simon]

Hi,

 

I just read about the link-cable for the game "Zero Tolerance (Genesis)" and wanted to know if somebody here owns such a cable and could post a picture of it. In addition I'd like to know if there was a packaging for the cable.

 

The cable connects two Sega Genesis by linking the joystick-ports 2 together. How was the cable wired?

 

Thanks!

 

Simon

[Cybergoth]

Hi there!

 

The cable connects two Sega Genesis by linking the joystick-ports 2 together.

 

Sounds cool. So people wouldn't even need to build their own cable for Erics Skeleton sequel project!

 

Greetings,

Manuel

[Simon]

Sounds cool. So people wouldn't even need to build their own cable for Erics Skeleton sequel project!

 

Well, I didn't know that Eric was working on such thing. The cable for the Genesis was sold some years ago directly through the publisher of the game (Technopop/Accolade).

 

At first I'd like to get the original cable for "Zero Tolerance" for my collection of Genesis/MegaDrive games.

 

According to that I was thinking about connecting two Atari VCS together with that cable and create a game of "Battleships" for them. I think that it would really be fun, to play a round of "Battleships" against each other...

 

Simon

[BoOchan!]

I would have thought It could use the Defunct AV port on the Original Genesis (5 Pin DIN)

[Witchfynde]

Sounds cool. So people wouldn't even need to build their own cable for Erics Skeleton sequel project!

 

Well, I didn't know that Eric was working on such thing. The cable for the Genesis was sold some years ago directly through the publisher of the game (Technopop/Accolade).

 

What, it wasn't free? I thought you just had to send in the card that came with the game, and they'd send it to you.

 

And no, I don't have one either, or else I'd put up a photo of it; I sent off for one, but this was several years after the game came out, so I guess they weren't making it any more by then...bummer.

[EricBall]

Sounds cool. So people wouldn't even need to build their own cable for Erics Skeleton sequel project!

 

Well, I didn't know that Eric was working on such thing.

 

What Manuel is referring to is an idea I put forth on the Stellalist: would it be possible to connect two 2600s together via the joystick port and create a head-to-head "networked" version of Skeleton. IIRC, we concluded that although it is probably technically possible, there are no plans to do so because:

1. Lack of emulator support would make it difficult to program & debug.

2. I would need 2 TVs, 2 VCSs and 2 Superchargers

3. No market because few people would have the required environment

 

My current plan for head-to-head Skeleton is a top/bottom split screen. And one of these days, I'll find the time & drive to sit down and program it.

[Cybergoth]

Hi there!

 

Ah, ok. Seems like I mixed things up in my memory. I thought when you said you're thinking about doing a two player skeleton, it was supossed to be with such link cables. It'd be a blast of support to such a project, if a bunch of these cables would be discovered somewhere...

 

Greetings,

Manuel

[Markimus of K.]

Hey, I've got one of these cables. I sent away for it not long after I bought Zero Tolerance (great game by the way!). I just dug it up, I had forgoten about it for the last ten years untill I saw this topic.

 

It is just a simple 9-pin to 9-pin cable, like an extension cable but with the same ends. I also found the "Documentation" that came with it. It reads (Black type on a half-sheet of blue paper):

 

Dear Zero Tolerance Gamer,

 

Here it is, your own two-player Zero Tolerance cable. Now you'll be able to compete against a friend or join forces to defeat those violent terrorists. In addition to this cable, you'll need 2 control pads and 2 Zero Tolerance game cartridges. Please refer to page 11 of your Zero Tolerance manual for directions on how to connect these 2 side-by-side game systems. Good luck and remember, you don't play this game, you survive it...

 

Then there is another paragraph trying to sell Ballz...

 

I never played this thing multi-player but should probably try it (need to get another copy of the cart, but hey that's cheap.) This was the 3rd cart I got for my Genesis and it really blew my mind at the time, there was really nothing else like it and my sense of accomplishment when I finished was great! I spent many a late hour sweating while playing ZT, I rarely hear about it but I believe it was quite a ground breaker for the Genny.

 

I remember being on "station level 159" and "sub basement 120" or whatever thinking "do I really have to clear another 159 levels???" Thank god that was not the case!

 

Anyways, if anyone wants pics of these, just tell me how to post them here, but I think they have to be linked to a website? Otherwise let me know, I'll borrow my brothers camera and email them to whomever wants them.

 

As Always,

Markimus of ZT.

[Simon]

Hey, I've got one of these cables. I sent away for it not long after I bought Zero Tolerance (great game by the way!). I just dug it up, I had forgoten about it for the last ten years untill I saw this topic.

 

Cool! I wanna have, wanna have...

 

...although it is probably technically possible, there are no plans to do so because:  

1. Lack of emulator support would make it difficult to program & debug.  

2. I would need 2 TVs, 2 VCSs and 2 Superchargers  

3. No market because few people would have the required environment

 

Well, I think that my plans to create a two-player Battleships would work quite well. As the game is roundbased, you could emulate the inputs from the second console with a joystick or keyboard-controller when the game requests input. The link wouldn't have to exchange much data, just positions of the grid and the result of the fire, that sould be emulatable with a joystick. :-)

 

I'm not thinking about a market as I'm satisfied if the game works for me. I think that if there is a game that supports a link between two 2600, all the real fans would be interested. Creating the link-cable should be a minor problem as you just have to gender-change one side of a joypad-extension cable.

 

I'm still seraching for a plan showing the wiring of the "Zero Tolerance" cable. I'd expect that at least two pins are cross-wired...

 

Greetings,

 

Simon

[Cybergoth]

Hi Simon!

 

I'm still seraching for a plan showing the wiring of the "Zero Tolerance" cable. I'd expect that at least two pins are cross-wired...

 

Hm... if the Genesis ports are completely bi-directional like the VCS ones, this would be no must, or?

 

The cool thing about the VCS ports is that in theory you could feed it parallel with one complete byte a time. My dream is to feed a parallelized MIDI signal into there...

(I think standart serial MIDI is ~ 30KHz, which'll most likely kill the 6502, but parallelizing it first should do the trick by slowing the signal down 8-10 times)

 

Greetings,

Manuel

[Witchfynde]

 

Did you download the binary of the unreleased "Zero Tolerance 2"? You should check out that file...

 

How much of that game was completed?

[Mad Scientist]

I have been thinking about building a cable for the past few years. I just acquired a second ZT cart last Fall, so I guess it remains a good "rainy day" project.

 

I brief summary of the crossover can be found at http://davewebster.tripod.com/unreality/ztcable.htm

 

I could have sworn that I saw a more detailed set of instructions elsewhere, but I cannot find its address in my bookmarks.

 

Re: ZT2-= this is the file with the odd color palettes, right? The colors were the most obvious bug remining in the code... lots of red, IIRC...

 

-Eric

[BIG EARL]

Well, I dug out my ZT and found the cable inside. I can't find any documentation that may have came with mine. I am sure it didn't come in any special packaging.

 

Is this cable considered rare?

 

I have taken some pictures

 

 

The cable is 5 feet long and doesn't have any markings on it

I don't remember if I ever played ZT using the cable.

 

I thought this game was great, it was the closest thing to "Doom" that I had ever seen on the Genesis.

[Markimus of K.]

lets see if this works...

[im_reg]

They used to sell non-original cables here:

http://www.tototek.com/store/index.php?main_page=product_info&products_id=84

 

Unfortunately now out of stock. I'm also after an original cable so I can experience ZT in two player link up!

[onmode-ky]

Wow, at 8 years and 5+ months, this is the new winner for oldest thread revival I've ever seen at AtariAge.

 

Er, sorry for going off topic.

 

onmode-ky

[Austin]

I think there have actually been even older threads bumped recently.

[the-topdog]

Nerco-Bump!

[Lord Thag]

Here's a vid that Hancock, Corey and I did of the cable in action, following the 2010 PRGE show. It will show you how it's hooked up on an actual Sega:

 

 

Excellent game by the way, I would recommend Zero Tolerance to anyone. It's a blast in multiplayer.