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Hi at all,

anyone know if is compatible (or part compatible),
the My Card software, for the Mark III, on western SMS?

i search on the net but, very confused information only,

Thanks at all,

Toshio

No, because western SMS requires a header, checksum and export region indicator in the ROM header. I don’t think any Japan only cards had that.

Thanks so much Maxim.

Toshio

One could design a monstruous adapter, sticking out of the card reader to simulate a valid header then swap to the card itself...

That or a "tower of power"©: Mark III to MS adpter => Card Catcher.

[EDIT]
Does anyone have the part number of the card slot?

Sega's part number is 209-5020, it doesn't seem to be a standard part.

Apocalypse wrote

One could design a monstruous adapter, sticking out of the card reader to simulate a valid header then swap to the card itself...

That or a "tower of power"©: Mark III to MS adpter => Card Catcher

Exhist a picture of this adapter?

Thanks,

Toshio

Apocalypse wrote

One could design a monstruous adapter, sticking out of the card reader to simulate a valid header then swap to the card itself...

That or a "tower of power"©: Mark III to MS adpter => Card Catcher.

Sounds like what was done on the NES and SNES to bypass the NTSC/PAL lockout (and Ni****do wised up to on the N64 with a system of about six different CICs for each video mode to infuriate pirates and import gamers)?

Maxim wrote

Sega's part number is 209-5020, it doesn't seem to be a standard part.

Then that's the main hurdle.

Toshio wrote

Exhist a picture of this adapter?

It doesn't exist but would be easy to do. But unfortunately, as stated by Maxim above, the card slot isn't a standard part.

KingMike wrote

Sounds like what was done on the NES and SNES to bypass the NTSC/PAL lockout (and Ni****do wised up to on the N64 with a system of about six different CICs for each video mode to infuriate pirates and import gamers)?

And at the same time on the N64 you could still use the same trick used on the SNES with two slot adapters and one copy of each different CIC in your cartridges for full compatibility (but IIRC with 2 different CICs you cover 80% of the games).
That said, on the MS it's a bit different, it's only a software check, hardware stays fully compatible. A simple way to bypass "protection" is to disable the BIOS (but some games rely on it for initialisation) or swap it for a Japanese one (no protection).

Actually the best approach would be a Card Catcher for western Master System consoles. This way it would also allow to play any MyCard on the MS2.

Still, we would need to source card slots...

Here's a mock-up:

Capture.JPG (67.94 KB)

Thanks Apocalypse.

I'm surprised the card catcher,
read the mark iii my card too.

Toshio

The only thing really stopping it working on a western master system is the bios. Possible options to make it work are..

- Change bios
- Use a MkIII adapter with built in booting ability + card catcher
- Use a sms1 along with a boot loader cartdrige

https://www.smspower.org/Homebrew/SMSBootLoader-SMS

Apocalypse wrote

Still, we would need to source card slots...

I built my own a while back with some off the shelf parts and a couple of circuit boards. They worked well but not sure how theyd hold out with heavy usage. Have a read through this thread about half way down if your interested..

https://www.smspower.org/forums/17555-MyCardAndGameGearSlotAlternatives

Hey wasup,

This is good for a single prototype but even for a small batch of a couple dozens of units it quickly gets time consuming and cumbersome.

Toshio, since you already have a Card Catcher you could use it with the SG-1000/SC-3000/Mark III to SMS adapter you're getting from me.

Apocalypse wrote

Hey wasup,

Toshio, since you already have a Card Catcher you could use it with the SG-1000/SC-3000/Mark III to SMS adapter you're getting from me.

In few words i create a mini tower? :-O :-D

Thanks,

Toshio

Author	Message
Toshio Joined: 29 Dec 2021 Posts: 41 Location: Italy	Sega My Card (Mark III) on Western SMS Posted: Sun Mar 27, 2022 11:24 am
Toshio Joined: 29 Dec 2021 Posts: 41 Location: Italy	Hi at all, anyone know if is compatible (or part compatible), the My Card software, for the Mark III, on western SMS? i search on the net but, very confused information only, Thanks at all, Toshio

Maxim Site Admin Joined: 19 Oct 1999 Posts: 14734 Location: London	Posted: Sun Mar 27, 2022 11:42 am
	No, because western SMS requires a header, checksum and export region indicator in the ROM header. I don’t think any Japan only cards had that.

Toshio Joined: 29 Dec 2021 Posts: 41 Location: Italy	Posted: Sun Mar 27, 2022 4:39 pm
Toshio Joined: 29 Dec 2021 Posts: 41 Location: Italy	Thanks so much Maxim. Toshio

Apocalypse Joined: 26 Feb 2021 Posts: 159	Posted: Sun Mar 27, 2022 7:32 pm
Apocalypse Joined: 26 Feb 2021 Posts: 159	One could design a monstruous adapter, sticking out of the card reader to simulate a valid header then swap to the card itself... That or a "tower of power"©: Mark III to MS adpter => Card Catcher. [EDIT] Does anyone have the part number of the card slot?

Maxim Site Admin Joined: 19 Oct 1999 Posts: 14734 Location: London	Posted: Sun Mar 27, 2022 7:45 pm
	Sega's part number is 209-5020, it doesn't seem to be a standard part.

Toshio Joined: 29 Dec 2021 Posts: 41 Location: Italy	Posted: Mon Mar 28, 2022 12:18 am
Toshio Joined: 29 Dec 2021 Posts: 41 Location: Italy	Apocalypse wrote One could design a monstruous adapter, sticking out of the card reader to simulate a valid header then swap to the card itself... That or a "tower of power"©: Mark III to MS adpter => Card Catcher Exhist a picture of this adapter? Thanks, Toshio

KingMike Joined: 14 Oct 2008 Posts: 510	Posted: Mon Mar 28, 2022 3:17 am
KingMike Joined: 14 Oct 2008 Posts: 510	Apocalypse wrote One could design a monstruous adapter, sticking out of the card reader to simulate a valid header then swap to the card itself... That or a "tower of power"©: Mark III to MS adpter => Card Catcher. Sounds like what was done on the NES and SNES to bypass the NTSC/PAL lockout (and Ni****do wised up to on the N64 with a system of about six different CICs for each video mode to infuriate pirates and import gamers)?

Apocalypse Joined: 26 Feb 2021 Posts: 159	Posted: Mon Mar 28, 2022 6:18 am
Apocalypse Joined: 26 Feb 2021 Posts: 159	Maxim wrote Sega's part number is 209-5020, it doesn't seem to be a standard part. Then that's the main hurdle. Toshio wrote Exhist a picture of this adapter? It doesn't exist but would be easy to do. But unfortunately, as stated by Maxim above, the card slot isn't a standard part. KingMike wrote Sounds like what was done on the NES and SNES to bypass the NTSC/PAL lockout (and Ni****do wised up to on the N64 with a system of about six different CICs for each video mode to infuriate pirates and import gamers)? And at the same time on the N64 you could still use the same trick used on the SNES with two slot adapters and one copy of each different CIC in your cartridges for full compatibility (but IIRC with 2 different CICs you cover 80% of the games). That said, on the MS it's a bit different, it's only a software check, hardware stays fully compatible. A simple way to bypass "protection" is to disable the BIOS (but some games rely on it for initialisation) or swap it for a Japanese one (no protection).

Apocalypse Joined: 26 Feb 2021 Posts: 159	Posted: Mon Mar 28, 2022 9:04 am
Apocalypse Joined: 26 Feb 2021 Posts: 159	Actually the best approach would be a Card Catcher for western Master System consoles. This way it would also allow to play any MyCard on the MS2. Still, we would need to source card slots... Here's a mock-up: Capture.JPG (67.94 KB)

Toshio Joined: 29 Dec 2021 Posts: 41 Location: Italy	Posted: Mon Mar 28, 2022 7:03 pm
Toshio Joined: 29 Dec 2021 Posts: 41 Location: Italy	Thanks Apocalypse. I'm surprised the card catcher, read the mark iii my card too. Toshio

wasup Joined: 05 Nov 2014 Posts: 435 Location: Auckland - NZ	Posted: Wed Mar 30, 2022 4:19 am
	The only thing really stopping it working on a western master system is the bios. Possible options to make it work are.. - Change bios - Use a MkIII adapter with built in booting ability + card catcher - Use a sms1 along with a boot loader cartdrige https://www.smspower.org/Homebrew/SMSBootLoader-SMS

wasup Joined: 05 Nov 2014 Posts: 435 Location: Auckland - NZ	Posted: Wed Mar 30, 2022 5:30 am
	Apocalypse wrote Still, we would need to source card slots... I built my own a while back with some off the shelf parts and a couple of circuit boards. They worked well but not sure how theyd hold out with heavy usage. Have a read through this thread about half way down if your interested.. https://www.smspower.org/forums/17555-MyCardAndGameGearSlotAlternatives

Apocalypse Joined: 26 Feb 2021 Posts: 159	Posted: Wed Mar 30, 2022 6:53 pm
Apocalypse Joined: 26 Feb 2021 Posts: 159	Hey wasup, This is good for a single prototype but even for a small batch of a couple dozens of units it quickly gets time consuming and cumbersome. Toshio, since you already have a Card Catcher you could use it with the SG-1000/SC-3000/Mark III to SMS adapter you're getting from me.

Toshio Joined: 29 Dec 2021 Posts: 41 Location: Italy	Posted: Thu Mar 31, 2022 12:43 am
Toshio Joined: 29 Dec 2021 Posts: 41 Location: Italy	Apocalypse wrote Hey wasup, Toshio, since you already have a Card Catcher you could use it with the SG-1000/SC-3000/Mark III to SMS adapter you're getting from me. In few words i create a mini tower? :-O :-D Thanks, Toshio

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