Megacart, the ultimate utility cartridge for you segacd/megacd

Hi there

I just wanted to tell u about a new product (soon available) for your megacd/segacd.

This cartridge features:
-Multibios mod
-Pro CDX
-Flash cartridge (up to 24Meg)
-Backup RAM (2000blocks)
-And more

The cartridge comes boxed, with an utility disc (for our dear segacd/megacd) that contains :
-Firmware updates
-Genesis/32x roms

Of course, for some law reasons, you must own the original games in order to flash them to the cartridge (so you can make your own compilations to use it on your nomad during travels).

The cartridge is also compatible with Tototek computer adaptater (that uses the printer port)

I'm actualy working on SMS implementation (so you can play SMS games on all genesis exept genesis3)... Stay tunned (if someone have some ints about the sms playback please contact me, i'm quite lost on mode4 compatibility mode)

The utility disc can hold up to 256roms so, if you wanted some to be included (i already asked on some other boards).
Pulstar, Vectorman2, Bcracer32x blackthorne and Darxide were also mentionned.
I wonder if i could add some 32x/gen unreleased games... if someone have some ideas?

If u have any question, don't hesitate

PS: for Your segacd/megacd, if an admin can correct the mistake, LOL thx

Thank you

Fonzie

 

Are you sticking PD games on that cart or real games? Sounds that way from the post. It's going to bew dodgy if they are not PD. Still, I like the idea of the cartridge.

Yakumo

 

Well, it depends... Since there is a disclaimer that force the user to own the games before flashing plus the disc is included "for free", I don't know if its "dodgy"...
One other solution, might be to release the tool to burn discs and include a disc with PD's only.

Thx for your input Yakumo.

 

If the cart has like 95% compatibility then it could be the solution Mega cd users have been waiting for.

 

"If the cart has like 95% compatibility then it could be the solution Mega cd users have been waiting for."

100% compatibility if your genesis has a region/frequency switch ...
Without the Freq switch, FMV games may lag and protected games may hang (few games)... This maximum compatibility is due to an heavy hardware addon included in the cartridge

"Picture m8, pictures and tech info please."
The tech infos... Well, just ask what you want to know...
Flashing speeds from segacd is 64KB/sec (+-35seconds for a 16MB game), you don't have to remove the cart to flash it, segacd's functions are available even when 32x is attached...
Héhé I had the prototype some days ago, i shipped it to a friend to confirm it works on multimega

Here are some preview pics (made with photoshop)... the box needs some more work on front, 50's powa! ;P

 

That's pretty cool. Hopefully we'll see more of these new hardware releases in the future. Like a VMU battery pack.

 

So may i ask when this will be avalible and its cost?

 

Not only would this be considered "dodgy" but it would be likely to get you sued in short order and have officers sniffing at your door and confiscating product. Such "disclaimers" mean nothing when you are distributing copyrighted ROM code on the disc for profit.

-hl718

 

Umm, on some points you are true... But be sure that the disc is included for free (and available for download), its exactly like roms we can see in various emulation paper-magazines.

Nevermind, there is no profit on disc and it will be probably shipped with pdroms, right.

"So may i ask when this will be avalible and its cost?"
Available probably during september. Cost isn't set for now, between 45 and 70usd shipping included, very cheap assuming how the development/hardware cost.
For now, a run of 50units is planned.

Thx all for interest, still waiting for questions

 

I interest

 

1) No one is going to believe that the disc is "free" if it includes copyrights ROMs. It's an incentive to buy.

2) Even if you gave away the disc at no cost it would still be copyright infringement and open you up to a host of lawsuits as you have no right to distrubute those ROMs.

Basically, if you want to be safe make sure that you have permission to use the ROMs or that they are 100% public domain.

Of course, if you are making a product like this, it wouldn't hurt to contact companies and see about licensing old ROMs on a per unit or flat fee basis. Capcom's done it before, no reason other companies wouldn't consider it. No, chances are good that you won't get Sega to give permission for Sonic, but hell there were A LOT of Genesis games out there and some of those companies would be pretty likely to say "you want to give us money to use our old software? SOLD!"

-hl718

 

Just wanted to clarify a few legal issues that you will face with this product (which looks good by the way).

Regardless of whether or not you include the disk/ROM's for free, you cannot include a single copyrighted ROM image on the disk without the express written permission of the copyright owner. This is also true if you offer the ROM's for free download. The stipulation/disclaimer that users may only use the ROM's for which they own the actual game does not give you permission to redistribute copyrighted material, even if you personally own physical copies of those games.

People are constantly selling ROMsets for various systems through newsgroups, websites and magazines. Some of these people actually have permission to do so (e.g. StarROMs before it closed), but the vast majority of these sellers are breaking the law. Often, they are overlooked by larger corporations simply because there are too many infringers. Other times, they are ignored because the infringing material does not have enough commercial value to warrant the time, effort and cost of litigation. However, some companies treat their properties like gold (e.g. Namco) and will go after anyone who infringes on their copyrights.

With the upcoming virtual console function on the Wii, plus the already existing XBLA, companies are starting to look at their back-catalogs for easily ported material that they can make a quick and easy profit on. It is known that some game companies monitor/watch the discussions on this forum, so it is likely that your utility cart could cause you a LOT of legal problems if you release it with copyrighted ROM's.

 

From the legal point of view that excuse is useless. The judge wont exonarate you from copyright infrigment just becos a lot of dudes are doing the same in the net.

Hell, for the judge is like a rapist comes and says "kids get raped all the time, big deal!"

Your idea is great, but your legal base is weak, that's what I'm saying...

 

the cdx feature doest it work only with the Mega CD (1) or also with the Mega CD 2?

 

well, i just said i was still hesitating to include some roms...
Finaly the disc will become empty with only one firmware update and two pdroms i'll chose myself, so every ppl will be happy!

"the cdx feature doest it work only with the Mega CD (1) or also with the Mega CD 2?"
Hi, when i was saying CDX feature, it doesn't mean it works like cdx or even look like cdx, fortunately (the procdx is extremely primitive in comparaison)...

The megacart has its own hardware and own software and own concept making it 100% compatible with Multimega, megacd1 megacd2, wondermega(not checked for wondermega but should be ok)...
If I counted the time it took to design the thing , it would cost 300usd per cartridge, really. Its more a mix between passion and technology.

 

So you can use this without a megacd? Just by flashing from a PC? What exactly is needed? Just a parallel cable? Which pins are used?

smf

 

The megacart can be hooked to tototek's flasher (which is connected to the computer using a standard printer cable)... The tototek flasher is sold separately (at a price set by tototek, cheap i guess).

 

Well, that should be fine, but make sure that the license for those ROM's do not exclude commercial uses (most public domain games like that are free for non-commercial uses only).

 

any version for pc engine duo r {turbo duo} ?