mega drive region lock

[juji82]

hello there , i have a question for MD users. I have a JPN mega drive 2 and I am willing to buy a NTSC-USA game. Will I need an adapter for it?

[kamiboy]

The cart wont fit. In that sense, yes.

[ApolloBoy]

The cart wont fit. In that sense, yes.

Uh the Japanese MD 2 doesn't have a cartridge lock so American/PAL carts will fit perfectly fine. Region locked games still won't work unless you mod your console or use a converter though.

[kamiboy]

Didn't know that they changed the cart slot shape for the MD2. Good to know.

[ApolloBoy]

Didn't know that they changed the cart slot shape for the MD2. Good to know.

The Japanese MD 2 has a squared off cart slot just like the original Japanese MD.

[kamiboy]

I see. So the cart lockout was made only to prevent Japanese games be put into overseas systems.

Never actually owned a JP model, so I only assumed that it was shaped to only fit JP carts.

[Ed Oscuro]

On US systems, Japanese cartridges don't really fit. You can kind of slam your copy of Contra the Hard Corps in your Nomad, but getting it out again will be a challenge. And yes, there's still a chip lockout.

I thought the other problem was possible timing issues - I've read some guides for selectable or forced 50/60Hz mods for Mega Drives. It seems to me you'd have to do this if your system would try to output a 60Hz game in 50Hz.

[juji82]

i want to buy copy of comix zone, from usa, cause here it's really too expensive. anybody has experience?

[plasticxo]

For maximum compatibility, the Megadrive can be modded with a 50/60Hz switch and a Eng/Jap switch. With 2 separate switches or a 3 way switch. This is (slightly) more complicated on a MD2 than on a MD.

The different combinations are :
- 50/Eng = EUROPE
- 60/Eng = USA
- 60/Jap = JAPAN

So you will need to have your Megadrive modded with at least the language switch.

Some games' version completely change with the switch : ex : Street of Rage / Bare Knuckle.
Some games are region locked and need to be switched while the console running, with mixed results.
I don't own Comix Zone, so I can't tell.

Never tried a Game Genie on a Japanese MD, but here is a link.

[Kyle]

I own a Japanese Mega Drive and use it as my primary console. I don't own Comix Zone though. If it is on the Game Genie bypass list you will either need to use a code or mod your system with a US/Japan switch.