Amazon Expeditions - Star Wars Arcade for the 32X

Hell yeah.

Widely regarded as the only game worth owning on the 32X, Star Wars Arcade is a home port of - what else? - 1993's Japan-only Star Wars Arcade.  The game was nearly a dead-on copy of Atari's 1983 Star Wars arcade game.

This box has seen better days.

The game is complete - box, cartridge and manual, but the box looks like it's been through TSA security.  It's beat up, crushed, and violated - but it's complete.  The game cost only $6 shipped at Amazon through a private seller, so I won't complain about the state.  A complete Star Wars for $6 is fine by me.

Much better.

The cartridge, on the other hand, is in great shape - it seems to have spend most of its life inside the box.  Clean, unscuffed, and the label is perfect.  All in all, a solid investment.

Adventures in Game Shops - Virtua Racing Deluxe for the 32X

Today's newest acquisition - Virtua Racing Deluxe for my newest obsession, the 32X.  Purchased at a local used game store/pawn shop for $3.  You'll likely hear more about this game in the upcoming video review series... coming soonish.

Some small victories.

The 32X CD version of Night Trap.

Despite the destruction of my Model 2 CD, I'm still mostly in business.  I'm able to use all three systems, and if you're a Model 2 Genesis user without a 32X patch cable, you'll want to pay attention.

The current setup: workable, but not recommended.

Above, we have a Model 2 Genesis and 32X plugged into a Model 1 Sega CD.  Not only is this setup ugly and lopsided, it's also unstable.  As you can see, there is no spacer between the 32X and Genesis, and the Genesis does not connect evenly to the Sega CD.  In other words, this will work, but if your kid, cat or dog decides to run across the floor, or hell, if the wind blows through the window too close to it, your game will freeze.

The power company loves me.

Even when set up correctly, it's a power hog.  3 separate AC adapters, one for each component - could this not have been just a little more efficient?

The adapter pictured at left is the replacement I ordered for the 32X.  I was promised an "authentic, original" Sega-branded adapter, and what I got was this generic garbage that doesn't even work with the 32X.  Works with the Genesis, so I just had to swap them out. Maddening, but I'll live.

In addition, my composite AV cable arrived, so no more RF ugliness.

The most important component, however, is the patch cable.  This was a proprietary cable that connected the 32X to the Genesis, and is absolutely required.  They go for $15-$30 on eBay and just about everywhere else on the internet.  The one pictured above works beautifully, and can be had for less than $10.  It can be ordered from here.

Note: I am not a shill for StockCable.com.  I get nothing from posting this here other than the satisfaction that you didn't get ripped off buying a 32X cable on eBay.  Enjoy!

A Journey Through Project Mars: Sega's 32X

It occurs to me that many of you may not know exactly what the 32X is.  Let's get that cleared up, shall we?  I'll let Sega's advertising team tell you about it.

Wait, what?  Let's try that again:

...what the fuck was that?  Sign of the times, or ad executives on cocaine?  I'll let you decide.

What the above videos were trying to say is that the 32X was a 32-bit expansion for the 16-bit Sega Genesis.  In January of 1994, the aging Sega Genesis and SegaCD needed a boost.  Nintendo's Super Nintendo was stomping them, and it was time to begin work on a 32-bit console to crush the competition.

This new 32-bit console was targeted for the holiday season in 1994, less than 11 months development time.

Codenamed "Jupiter", it was to be a cartridge-based replacement for the Genesis.  In development, it was decided that CD technology was cheaper, so the project was modified, and Project "Saturn" was born.

The decision was then made to extend the existing Genesis console with a higher color depth and a 32-bit processor.  This new console was to be codenamed Project "Mars" and was released in November of 1994 as the 32X.

Holy crap, Sega.

The 32X was an absolute failure, despite Sega's best attempts to push it as the next big thing.  There were several reasons - the price was far too high for an add-on ($170), some launch titles were rushed so badly they were either awful or not much of an improvement over the Genesis - but Sega's largest detractor was Sega themselves.

The Sega Saturn was slated for release in September of 1995, positioned as Sega's "true" 32-bit console.  Why buy an expansion for your Genesis when the real next big thing is just around the corner?  The final nail in the coffin was the Saturn's surprise release in May of 1995, rendering the 32X obsolete in just 6 months.

The 32X is considered one of a string of bad decisions leading up to Sega's demise in the console market.

Sega Genesis Model 1 w/ SegaCD Model 1 and 32X

This was, without a doubt, a "right place at the right time" deal.  Goodwill had, hidden amongst their gigantic junk drawer of an electronics section, a Model 1 Sega Genesis - the early model with "High Definition Graphics" printed on the face, a Model 1 SegaCD, and the 32X attachment.  The three were, amazingly, priced as a set.

Yes, I did a double-take, too.  I took the set home for $12.99.

Upon powering it up recently with my Model 2 Genesis to test it, I found this in the drive tray.

So, a complete Genesis hardware set, with the Sega Classics 4-in-1 disc, for $12.99?  Hell yeah.

One caveat (of course there's a caveat) is that no controllers or cables were included.  This isn't a big deal, in the case of the Genesis and Sega CD - between them I'm missing two AC adapters, an audio patch cable, and a video cable.  This is a big deal in the case of the 32X, which is missing another AC adapter, a video cable, and, worst of all, a proprietary A/V patch cable that runs from the Genesis to the 32X.  In addition, a conversion cable is needed to use it with the Model 1, as the Model 1 had a completely different proprietary video connection.  These two cables are worth more than the 32X itself.

Even so, this promises to be worth the trouble when it's complete.  I'll keep you posted.