Mega Drive game related article w/ Sega Firecore

[NintendoKing]

what the heck is a Sega "Firecore"?

It is the 4th official Sega Genesis to be released in the U.S.

Its a licensed Sega Genesis system that plays all region games, has 20 built-in games.
And will soon be having new games released to be played on it, new Genesis games. The new games wont play on regular Genesis' because the Firecore has a special chip that the regular Genesis do not have.

I honestly, put away my Genesis 2 once I got Firecore because Firecore is more reliable and the ability to play NTSC-J and PAL imports makes it better.

Also it shows a clearer image on screen then other Genesis have before it.

My Sega Nomad is lucky that its portable, otherwise it would also be boxed up. Lol.

[NintendoKing]

http://www.gamesindustry.biz/articles/innex-sega-deal-us-distribution-agreement-signed-for-assortment-of-handheld-and-plug-into-the-telly-games

Official Sega Firecore, not a clone as many sites would want you to believe.

http://games.ign.com/articles/102/1027105p1.html

[KEVMAN569]

^^^
I need to get one of those!

EDIT:  There seems to be multiple versions all with a cartridge slot and 20 built in games. 

FireCore:
http://www.amazon.com/Genesis-Firecore-Classic-Not-Machine-Specific/dp/B002SRQ3QI/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&s=videogames&qid=1262725274&sr=8-1

GenCore:
http://www.amazon.com/Officially-Licensed-Genesis-Cartridge-Playstation-3/dp/B002SLZSC4/ref=sr_1_3?ie=UTF8&s=videogames&qid=1262725274&sr=8-3

GenMobile:
http://www.amazon.com/Officially-Licensed-Portable-Cartridge-Playstation-3/dp/B002SLZRWA/ref=pd_cp_vg_1

Obviously the GenMobile has portability to set it apart from the other two, but what is the difference between the GenCore and FireCore?

[NintendoKing]

^^^
I need to get one of those!

EDIT:  There seems to be multiple versions all with a cartridge slot and 20 built in games. 

FireCore:
http://www.amazon.com/Genesis-Firecore-Classic-Not-Machine-Specific/dp/B002SRQ3QI/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&s=videogames&qid=1262725274&sr=8-1

GenCore:
http://www.amazon.com/Officially-Licensed-Genesis-Cartridge-Playstation-3/dp/B002SLZSC4/ref=sr_1_3?ie=UTF8&s=videogames&qid=1262725274&sr=8-3

GenMobile:
http://www.amazon.com/Officially-Licensed-Portable-Cartridge-Playstation-3/dp/B002SLZRWA/ref=pd_cp_vg_1

Obviously the GenMobile has portability to set it apart from the other two, but what is the difference between the GenCore and FireCore?

GenCore is shaped like a Sonic the Hedgehog head and has blue controllers, thats all the difference. Its designed to be more kid friendly looking, Firecore is designed to look more classic era Genesis.

[KEVMAN569]

^^^
I need to get one of those!

EDIT:  There seems to be multiple versions all with a cartridge slot and 20 built in games. 

FireCore:
http://www.amazon.com/Genesis-Firecore-Classic-Not-Machine-Specific/dp/B002SRQ3QI/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&s=videogames&qid=1262725274&sr=8-1

GenCore:
http://www.amazon.com/Officially-Licensed-Genesis-Cartridge-Playstation-3/dp/B002SLZSC4/ref=sr_1_3?ie=UTF8&s=videogames&qid=1262725274&sr=8-3

GenMobile:
http://www.amazon.com/Officially-Licensed-Portable-Cartridge-Playstation-3/dp/B002SLZRWA/ref=pd_cp_vg_1

Obviously the GenMobile has portability to set it apart from the other two, but what is the difference between the GenCore and FireCore?

GenCore is shaped like a Sonic the Hedgehog head and has blue controllers, thats all the difference. Its designed to be more kid friendly looking, Firecore is designed to look more classic era Genesis.

That makes sense.  Seems that the Firecore is cheaper anyway.  Does it come with two six-button controllers too?

[NintendoKing]

^^^
I need to get one of those!

EDIT:  There seems to be multiple versions all with a cartridge slot and 20 built in games. 

FireCore:
http://www.amazon.com/Genesis-Firecore-Classic-Not-Machine-Specific/dp/B002SRQ3QI/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&s=videogames&qid=1262725274&sr=8-1

GenCore:
http://www.amazon.com/Officially-Licensed-Genesis-Cartridge-Playstation-3/dp/B002SLZSC4/ref=sr_1_3?ie=UTF8&s=videogames&qid=1262725274&sr=8-3

GenMobile:
http://www.amazon.com/Officially-Licensed-Portable-Cartridge-Playstation-3/dp/B002SLZRWA/ref=pd_cp_vg_1

Obviously the GenMobile has portability to set it apart from the other two, but what is the difference between the GenCore and FireCore?

GenCore is shaped like a Sonic the Hedgehog head and has blue controllers, thats all the difference. Its designed to be more kid friendly looking, Firecore is designed to look more classic era Genesis.

That makes sense.  Seems that the Firecore is cheaper anyway.  Does it come with two six-button controllers too?

Yes; its does. Firecore is totally awesome. Before I heard of its release I was nearly at the point of not playing Genesis again, so for me Firecore has served its purpose.

[KEVMAN569]

I know what you mean.  I haven't been able to get back into my Genesis in a loooong time, probably due to my lack of quality titles.  The firecore has a lot of good ones from what I see (even Alien Storm so now I dont have to pay an arm and a leg for it) so I'll probably one up.

[NintendoKing]

I know what you mean.  I haven't been able to get back into my Genesis in a loooong time, probably due to my lack of quality titles.  The firecore has a lot of good ones from what I see (even Alien Storm so now I dont have to pay an arm and a leg for it) so I'll probably one up.

I know, right? Genesis only ever had 30 good games and it really wasn't worth the price to buy them in my eyes so $25 for about 12 games I really enjoy seemed quite worth it.

Then the thought of playing imports really brought me in.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Variations_of_the_Sega_Mega_Drive#Sega_Firecore_.28North_America.29

[FamicomFreak]

Neat stuff congrats man! Success indeed!

[satoshi_matrix]

wow. This is interesting. I have several questions.

1. Is this an actual licensed product (ie not a third party clone like those SNES/Genesis clone systems on the market)?

2. Any pics of the insides? This thing looks impossibly tiny to not just be the Genesis version of a Famiclone based on NOAC.

3. Sure it supports wireless third party controllers that will cost way too much and comes with two clone controllers, but can the FireCore use real Genesis controllers?

4. You mentioned it has an NTSC/PAL switch. What about NTSC-J games? Will this play those okay? What about 50hz PAL Genesis games playing on a 60hz NTSC tv? Any word on those?

5. As I recall, Genesis games are smaller than Megadrive games. Will Megadrive carts even fit in this thing?

6. Does Gamegenie for Genesis work?

7. How much does it cost?

8. How heavy is it/hows the build quality?

Thanks in advance.

[NintendoKing]

wow. This is interesting. I have several questions.

1. Is this an actual licensed product (ie not a third party clone like those SNES/Genesis clone systems on the market)? 
Licensed, not a clone like those horrible Yobo's.

2. Any pics of the insides? This thing looks impossibly tiny to not just be the Genesis version of a Famiclone based on NOAC.
I have taken mine apart but unfortunately i cannot get it apart again because i was to rough and stripped the top of one of the screws. But it has i think 6 chips and a nice looking board with capacitors.

3. Sure it supports wireless third party controllers that will cost way too much and comes with two clone controllers, but can the FireCore use real Genesis controllers?
Yes, I use original Genesis controllers on it as they work better then the Firecore controllers but I have heard that the new Firecore games only respond to a special chip in the Firecore controllers. (So I will hold onto them, in the box) Also they aren't clone controllers since the Firecore is officially licensed, they are like official reproductions but they are not the best as the d+pad is clumsy.

4. You mentioned it has an NTSC/PAL switch. What about NTSC-J games? Will this play those okay? What about 50hz PAL Genesis games playing on a 60hz NTSC tv? Any word on those? Yes, the system has a cyclone chip, so it takes about 1.5 seconds for the game screen to appear; because it is reads the region of the game. Also yes, the NTSC/PAL switch only switches the hz so the game plays properly; the television still looks alright. I was curious of this myself, so I hit PAL while playing NTSC Quackshot, it slowed a bit.

5. As I recall, Genesis games are smaller than Megadrive games. Will Megadrive carts even fit in this thing? The port is rounded and larger, to fit Mega Drive games, all set there my friend.

6. Does Gamegenie for Genesis work?
Game Genie requires more power to run, then the Firecore can supply. So, I am sorry but no. Cheating isnt fair anyways.

7. How much does it cost? I got mine for $25, but it was a special Christmas Internet sale. They usually run $45-60; especially now that they just went into back order because people are buying them up.

8. How heavy is it/hows the build quality?
Very light, just like the Sega Genesis 3. But the build quality is very sound, it is made very well; of course it is a official Sega Genesis... 4!

Thanks in advance.

[Hamburglar]

Does the Firecore play NTSC-J games that check the region of the console? Like Pulseman? I know earlier games like Ghostbusters don't check, and will play in either a US or JP console.

[NintendoKing]

Does the Firecore play NTSC-J games that check the region of the console? Like Pulseman? I know earlier games like Ghostbusters don't check, and will play in either a US or JP console.

Yes; it will play them, Firecore has a cyclone chip with all region codes.

[Hamburglar]

That sounds like the Ciclone chip by Retrozone for the NES. So the same people made it?

http://www.retrousb.com/product_info.php?cPath=24&products_id=37&osCsid=18eb83c623db2902329e113d2ba5ee10



Do you have a link to where it says it has this chip? I am interested in buying one if it does play all games.

[NintendoKing]

That sounds like the Ciclone chip by Retrozone for the NES. So the same people made it?

http://www.retrousb.com/product_info.php?cPath=24&products_id=37&osCsid=18eb83c623db2902329e113d2ba5ee10



Do you have a link to where it says it has this chip? I am interested in buying one if it does play all games.

I dont remember where I read it but it does play all regions.