Sega Megadrive for Christmas!

[Guest2]

For Christmas this year my girlfriend thoughtfully got me an AT Games Sega Mega Drive Classic Game Retro Console 81 Built-In Games. The white box wired controller edition

I had a Megadrive as a kid and friends did too so a few years ago I purchased one (also a SNES) so was immediately shocked by how poor the AT games console was in contrast to the real thing.
The selection of games was ok, around 20 good classics but the video quality was average and best and sound quality was shocking. Even worse, was the EU plug adapter that was loose and kept cutting the power out. One of the controllers also had a broken D-pad to start with. The console (if you can call it that) was very light and seems more like a £20 at best device.

It was returned after a couple of days.

With the money refunded I purchased the following for not much more. A true blast from the past
I'm now able to replay some of the cartridges in my parents loft from years gone by. No longer needing to worry about games freezing, needing to blow on them to get them working or degrading their quality.

The headphone port still provides that lovely analogue stereo sound. I connected Sennheiser earphone and powered the console off, which almost burst my eardrums. So 90s!!

Games are still as hard as I remember as a child. Currently playing Gods


All analogue, MD to Scart on 52" plasma. Picture quality looks good to me and zero lag from what I can tell





More MD gaming pics

Spoiler

 

[Guest2]

Ohhh my days, I remember playing on my old man's Sega Mega drive... Mortal combat and Sonic were my favourites, I've been looking at getting an older console to relive my youth again

Do it! I love Mortal Kombat. I'm awaiting two competition pro 6 button pads before I properly play them again though. 'Activator' is just terrible

I am considering another SCART cable (Sega Mega Drive 1 / Genesis 1 RGB SCART PACKAPUNCH PRO CABLE WITH STEREO SOUND) which has the stereo sound adapter. At £36 though, it's as expensive as the console, cartridges and pads! The Everdrive x7 was the most expensive at £135

 

[Guest2]

It is the best console IMO and I regret having to sell my collection!

If you have an RGB scart cable thats actually a pretty good display.

I sold mine in the past only because it was faff having to store and swap games cartridges. That was maybe 7 years ago though and the Mega Everdrive didnt exist then. At my parents there's a load of games in box in the loft/garage and could never be bothered bringing them to where live / have lived as have been in small apartments for years.

@Minibiker they're about £40-60 on a famous auction website with a few games and controllers. Try and get Megadrive 1 (not 2) if you do. Crash Bandicoot was on the Playstation 1 from memory but Megadrive has Taz-Mania which is great fun - https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Taz-Mania_(video_game)
Road Rash was Megadrive

@LewisRaz Yes, it's RGB SCART that's being used. Tempting to buy one with 3.5mm to front of MD for stereo sound. Looks to be £14.50 for a good quality one or £36 for the best from retrogamingcables. Not sure I can justify a £36 (delivered) SCART cable when the console was £38!!

 

[Guest2]

@Guest2 Keep an eye on eBay as people tend to sell second hand packapunch cables. Although they are definitely worth the full price, typically great when paired up with a decent upscaler like the OSSC or Framemeister. Plugged straight into the TV, I am not sure if it is worth it. The cable is supposed to be really good at removing 'jailbars' which MD1 is notorious for producing.

If you only intend on playing MD for your retro gaming fix and do want the best picture on a HD/UHD TV. A recommendation would be to get a Rad2x, they are sold by same guys doing the packapunch cables but it'll set you back more. The Rad2x upscales the picture and converts the analog signal to digital whilst producing little latency (1 frame I believe). It'll definitely improve the image compared to plugging straight into the TV.

Stretched picture

Even used they go for quite a lot. Bit the bullet and ordered one for £36
I know RE picture stretching but can’t stand the black bars