Megadrive / Genesis 32X Internal Link Mod Possible?

It's been a while since I came on here, so lone, the entire site has changed it's look.
Not that I'm complaining, I am more interested in the information than the aesthetics.
That isn't to say it looks bad in any way.

Anyway...

I have a question in regards to the Megadrive (Genesis for our American cousins).
Specifically the cartridge connector.

I have a 'naked' copy of Sonic the Hedgehog.
I don't know why it's not in a case, I choose not to question such things.
Nor do I wonder where the case has gone to.
I obviously had my reasons at the time.
It's not important, as I have another copy of the game.

But, as it's usually located near my tools, I do use it for testing my consoles when I'm working on them.
Due to it being on hand, and a known working game in my collection.

Something has always struck me as a little odd about the board design though.
Especially in the surprisingly large number of unused connectors.
On the back of the cart (solder-side) every one of the 32 pins are connected to tracks leading up the board.
But on the front (chip-side) there are 21 connection pads that don't have tracks leading up the board, and another which does have a track leading to the common ground, but is disconnected by a hole through the board (I assume an intended manufactured hole).
So, that's 22 of the total 32 pins on the cartridge front that are connected to nothing.

Without dismantling all of my games I can't confirm weather these pads are used for other games.
But, I assume there are at least some common unused pads across all cartridges.
If I'm wrong, and different games use different pins for various functions, then this musing dies here.
But, if I am right, and there are redundant connectors that do nothing at all, I had an idea regarding the 32X and the so called 'Patch Cable'.

I'm assuming that the Patch Cable is simply a means to feed the Megadrive's native video to the 32X, and then the 32X overlays extra visuals on top, resulting in a combined picture.
(I'm basing this theory on something I saw on one of AVGN's videos.)
So, I assume it's a maximum of 9 wires in that cable (including the ground shielding).

Now, unless the 32X uses these 22 unused pins on the cartridge connector, I was wondering if it would be possible to reconfigure 9 of them to act as a kind of internal Patch Cable.
Or, 11 pins if one were to include a piggyback of the power supply also.

Again, if the 32X, or any other games use the pins Sonic the Hedgehog does not, then my idea is worthless.
But, I joust thought it would be an interesting and convenient mod.
Although the 32X itself would still need to be connected to the TV to see the 32X's enhancements.

Not owning a 32X myself (even though Americans can pick them pu for pennies, in the UK they're quite rare and expensive) I can't confirm any of my theories.
But, perhaps someone out there with the time and expendable hardware could experiment ant maybe get my idea into a working state.

I've already researched an idea i had of powering a Mega-CD (Sega CD in the US regions) by wiring the Megadrive's power supply to an unused pad on the Expantion port.
But, until I get a Mega-CD (again, extremely expensive for native PAL owners) I have no need for such a mod.
Also, I'd be a little worried about overloading the Megadrive's power addapter.
But, in all honesty, there rent any Sega-CD games I want to play. My 'want' of the add-on is purely driven by curiosity of not ever owning or even playing one.

Just a little food for thought.
I don't have the money to throw at such an experiment right now.
And, just like the Mega-CD, there aren't enough 'good' 32X games to make it a priority either.


Sisee, out.

 

What are you talking about? There are plenty of good games for the Sega CD/Mega CD. Sonic CD is one of the best ones. You also got Final Fight, Mortal Kombat, and Ecco the Dolphin. 32X has a few good games. Virtua Racing Deluxe, Mortal Kombat 2, Knuckle's Chaotix, and Darkside (extremely rare) come to mind.

As for your theory, there are games that use most, if not all, of the pins. It's a great theory but it would cause some games to stop working or get damaged.

As for getting a 32X or Mega CD, import an American Genesis 32X and a Sega CD (model 2s are cheaper). You can then region mod them and your MD so you can play any game out there.

 

Sonic the Hedgehog definitely will use a few less PCB signals than other games. It is only 4 megabits in size, leaving a number of address lines unused. However you are definitely mistaken if you think there are 22 unused pins on the cartridge connector. I can't verify this is 100% accurate but here is a pinout. http://gamesx.com/wiki/doku.php?id=schematics:megadrivecart

People have done mods to put a 32X inside of the Genesis/Megadrive console so that you can play 32X software without the 32X unit being visible at all. No patch cord required either ofcourse.

 

My apologies for bumping an older post.
I just wanted to thank the responders for their input.

My theory has been confirmed as incorrect, and my idea is now void.
That's not a bad thing though.
At least I now know.

Anyway, thank you for the contributions.

 

As shown previously all pins play a role with the sega mega drive. Some may be for expansion carts or game genies instead of standard game carts. People have put a 32x inside the mega drive case (with a lot of modding). This is on my to do list. Even then the 2 need to be connected internally via a connector cable similar to the external one. Maybe u could run one up thought the cart port into the 32x if you are not confident to do a completely internal mod.

 

I've wanted to shoehorn a 32x into X'Eye but X'Eye and Wondermega is an odd one.

 

That would be amazing! Is there enough space inside?