Difference between revisions of "Mega Drive unlicensed multi-carts"

From Sega Retro

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Revision as of 15:24, 28 November 2021

"Super 5 in 1", a typical unlicensed Mega Drive multi-cart.

A common practice amongst video game bootleggers is to combine two or more games into one - in the Sega Mega Drive's case, resulting in unlicensed multi-carts. Such an idea is particularly prominent in Asia and South America - often moreso than the act of releasing bootlegs of individual games.

The process is achieved by using high capacity ROM cartridges - with early games such as Tetris shipping on 256kB ROMs, multiple copies can be placed within a 2MB or 4MB ROM with room to spare. Sometimes a simple menu would be programmed to select between the titles, or a soft reset of the console is required to switch games.

Unlike the Nintendo Famicom, in which multi-cart sizes ballooned during the 1990s and 2000s (to the point where manufacturers would (often erroneously) claim a multi-cart contained hundreds of games), it is more common to see Mega Drive multi-carts contain between two and eight games - typically when a cartridge claims to have more than ten, it is a strong indication that games will be repeated, sometimes with very minor changes. Newer Mega Drive games are rarely seen in multi-carts, not only because of their size, but due to tighter security from developers.

Sega have released multiple officially licensed compilations, which save for an expected layer of polish, offer much the same thing.

Documentation

Thousands of Mega Drive mulit-carts exist, with new ones continuing to be created today. While Sega Retro is attempting to document as many of these cartridges as possible, the volume of releases and the desire for their creators to hide their identities makes this an extremely difficult, if not impossible task.

Our documentation of unlicensed multi-carts is at a very preliminary stage, and as such we are only able to reliably group multi-carts based on appearance (with the view that a similar aesthetic likely means they are related in some way). Most multi-carts lack any sort of obvious pattern, making it dificult to cleanly represent them on this wiki. For an unorganised collection of other known multi-carts, see the multi-cart project page.

Documented

Some multi-carts have been documented in more depth, usually because the ROM has been dumped or the cartridge is unique among its peers:

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Known series

In more recent years, bootleggers have chosen to label their produce more intelligently, and so newer multi-carts are generally easier to group together:

Due to the sheer volume of releases, special consideration has been made for some countries:

Special consideration has also been made for more "modern" multi-carts:

While most multi-carts do not follow an obvious pattern, some do, allowing for us to group releases together:

"N-in-1", "S" series

Box scans Content scans Name Code Distributor Date & price Comments
2in1 MD Box FatalFuryTinyToon.jpg
2in1 MD Cart FatalFuryTinyToon.jpg
Cart
S707
S401
Poland PL: 1100000zł1100000 (≥ 199x)
[1]
4in1 MD Cart S403.jpg
Cart
S403
4in1 MD Cart.jpg
Cart
S701
4in1 MD Cart Top S702.jpg
4in1 MD Cart Back S702.jpg4in1 MD Cart S702.jpg
Cart
S702
S705 MD Box.jpg
S705 MD Cart.jpg
Cart
S705
8in1 MD Box.jpg
8in1 MD Cart.jpg
Cart
S706
8in1 MD Cart S709.jpg
Cart
S709
10in1 MD Box.jpg
S1001 MD Cart.jpg
Cart
S1001
12In1 MD Cart Pirate.jpg
Cart
S714

"Super XXX in One", standard cartridge design

Box scans Content scans Name Code Distributor Date & price Comments
SuperTwoinOne MD cover MUSHAWB3.jpg
SuperTwoinOne MD cartback MUSHAWB3.jpgSuperTwoinOne MD cart MUSHAWB3.jpg
Cart
SuperTwoinOne MD cover ShadowDancerCoI.jpg
SuperTwoinOne MD cart ShadowDancerCoI.jpg
Cart
SuperTwoinOne MD Box TatsujinForgottenWorlds.jpg
SuperTwoinOne MD Cart TatsujinForgottenWorlds.jpg
Cart
SuperTwoinOne MD Box.jpg
SuperTwoinOne MD Cart.jpg
Cart
SuperTwoinOne MD Cart Alt.jpg
Cart
SuperTwoinOne MD Box AirWolfVerytex.jpg
SuperTwoinOne MD Cart AirWolfVerytex.jpg
Cart
SuperTwoinOne MD Cart KabukiRunark.jpg
Cart
SuperTwoinOne MD Box SpiderManFantasia.jpg
SuperTwoinOne MD Cart SpiderManFantasia.jpg
Cart
SuperThreeInOne MD Cart.jpg
Cart
SuperFourinOne MD Box.jpg
SuperFourinOne MD Cart.jpg
Cart
SuperFourinOne MD Box SDGAFSAB.jpg
SuperFourinOne MD Cart SDGAFSAB.jpg
Cart
SuperFourinOne MD Box QTTR3AK.jpg
SuperFourinOne MD Cart QTTR3AK.jpg
Cart
SuperSixinOne MD Box Alt.jpg
SuperSixinOne MD Cart Alt.jpg
Cart
SuperSixinOne MD Cart.jpg
Cart
SuperEightinOne MD Cart.jpg
Cart
Super3in1 MD Box MahjongColumnsBlockout.jpg
Super3in1 MD Cart MahjongColumnsBlockout.jpg
Cart
4in1 MD Cart SSASSBK.jpg
Cart
4in1 MD cover SSASSBK 2.jpg

Group 4

2 in 1
Box scans Content scans Name Code Distributor Date & price Comments
Poland PL: 720000zł720000 (≥ 199x)
[2]
Poland PL: 650000zł650000 (≥ 199x)
[3]
2in1 MD Box SRBAB.jpg
2in1 MD Cart SRBAB.jpg
Cart
2in1 MD Box RISMGP Alt.jpg
2in1 MD Cart RISMGP Alt.jpg
Cart
2in1 MD cover ShadowDancerMagicalHat.jpg
2in1 MD cart ShadowDancerMagicalHat.jpg
Cart
2in1 MD cover CoISpiderMan.jpg
2in1 MD cart CoISpiderMan.jpg
Cart
2in1 MD cover MysticDefenderColumns.jpg
2in1 MD cart MysticDefenderColumns.jpg
Cart
2in1 MD Box DaimakimuraSVB.jpg
2in1 MD Box TCFGHidingBall.jpg
2in1 MD cover FireMustangAeroBlaster.jpg
2in1 MD cart FireMustangAeroBlaster.jpg
Cart
2in1 MD Cart AlesteDangerousSeed.jpg
Cart
2in1 MD Cart CoIQuackshot.jpg
Cart
3 in 1
3in1 MD Box THCSVB.jpg
Box scans Content scans Name Code Distributor Date & price Comments
3in1 MD Box WC92MsPacManSS.jpg
3in1 MD Cart WC92MsPacManSS.jpg
Cart
633
3in1 MD Cart THCSVB.jpg
Cart
4 in 1
Box scans Content scans Name Code Distributor Date & price Comments
4in1 MD Box BKFMSSAB 2.jpg
4in1 MD cart BKFMSSAB 2.jpg
Cart
4in1 MD cart BKFMSSAB 3.jpg
Cart
4in1 MD Box BareKnuckleGoldenAxeIIStreetSmartAlienStorm.jpg
4in1 MD Cart BareKnuckleGoldenAxeIIStreetSmartAlienStorm.jpg
Cart
1625
4in1 MD Cart 1625 Alt.jpg
Cart
1625
4in1 MD Box SonicTokiCoIQuackShot.jpg
4in1 MD Cart SonicTokiCoIQuackShot.jpg
Cart
1626
4in1 MD Box DickTracyVerytexYochiSuperAirWolf.jpg
4in1 MD Cart DickTracyVerytexYochiSuperAirWolf.jpg
Cart
4in1 MD Box MoonwalkerTF3BatmanSSS.jpg
4in1 MD Cart MoonwalkerTF3BatmanSSS.jpg
Cart
4in1 MD Box RISRBSMGPAB.jpg
4in1 MD Cart RISRBSMGPAB.jpg
Cart
4in1 MD Cart RISRBSMGPAB Alt.jpg
Cart
4in1 MD box MMSMJMMoW.jpg
4in1 MD Cart MMSMJMMoW.jpg
Cart
4in1 MD Box CoIQSTMTT.jpg
4in1 MD Cart CoIQSTMTT.jpg
Cart
4in1 MD Cart GRABSEM.jpg
Cart
4in1 MD Cart GRABSEM Alt 2.jpg
Cart
4in1 MD Box GRABSEM Alt.jpg
4in1 MD Cart GRABSEM Alt.jpg
Cart
4in1 MD Box SonicASSSWW.jpg
4in1 MD Cart SonicASSSWW.jpg
Cart
4in1 MD Cart SonicASSSWW Alt.jpg
Cart
4in1 MD Box FBCPCBSM.jpg
4in1 MD Cart FBCPCBSM.jpg
Cart
4in1 MD Cart FBCPCBSM Alt.jpg
Cart
4in1 MD Box AB2ADGAAB.jpg
4in1 MD Box MFDCRQ.jpg
4in1 MD Cart QSRMFDC.jpg
Cart
4in1 MD Cart MMDDSDMTK.jpg
Cart
4in1 MD Cart FMDAGAGA2.jpg
Cart
5 in 1
Box scans Content scans Name Code Distributor Date & price Comments
5in1 MD Box TFWKoPMPH.jpg
5in1 MD Cart TFWKoPMPH.jpg
Cart
5in1 MD Box TFWKoPMPH 2.jpg
5in1 MD Cartback TFWKoPMPH 2.jpg5in1 MD Cart TFWKoPMPH 2.jpg
Cart
8 in 1
Box scans Content scans Name Code Distributor Date & price Comments
8in1 MD Box TCKoPR3AKSVBSTT.jpg
8in1 MD Cart TCKoPR3AKSVBSTT.jpg
Cart

"Two in One"

Box scans Content scans Name Code Distributor Date & price Comments
TwoinOne MD Box DSSD.jpg
TwoinOne MD Cart DSSD.jpg
Cart
A-071
TwoinOne MD Cart CoIAB.jpg
Cart
TwoInOne MD Box EMGA.jpg
TwoInOne MD Cart EMGA.jpg
Cart
TwoInOne MD Cart HURoS.jpg
Cart
TwoInOne MD cover NorthernKenTFIII.jpg
TwoInOne MD cart NorthernKenTFIII.jpg
Cart
TwoInOne MD Cart RamboIIITetris.jpg
Cart

White background, red text

2in1 MD cover MoonwalkerWardner.jpg
Box scans Content scans Name Code Distributor Date & price Comments
2in1 MD Box HeavyUnitGynoug.jpg
2in1 MD Cart HeavyUnitGynoug.jpg
Cart
K-0816 2005
2in1 MD Box back DDukeAeroB.jpg2in1 MD Box spine DDukeAeroB.jpg2in1 MD Box front DDukeAeroB.jpg
2in1 MD cart back DDukeAeroB.jpg2in1 MD cart DDukeAeroB.jpg
Cart
K-0816 2006
2in1 MD Box KagekiSoccer.jpg
2in1 MD cart up KagekiSoccer.jpg
2in1 MD cart back KagekiSoccer.jpg2in1 MD cart KagekiSoccer.jpg
Cart
K-0816 2010
2in1 MD cart back MoonwalkerWardner.jpg2in1 MD cart MoonwalkerWardner.jpg
Cart
2in1 MD Cart BareKnuckleStreetSmart.jpg
Cart
2in1 MD Cart FireMustangBonanzaBros.jpg
Cart
2in1 MD Cart TwinHawkFireShark.jpg
Cart
2in1 MD Box MagicalHatWB3.jpg
2in1 MD Cart MagicalHatWB3.jpg
Cart
4in1 MD Box WB3MHHYG.jpg
4in1 MD Cart WB3MHHYG.jpg
Cart
4in1 MD Box TetrisKlaxMegapanelZoom.jpg
4in1 MD Cart TetrisKlaxMegapanelZoom.jpg
Cart
4in1 MD Cart TetrisKlaxMegapanelZoom Alt.jpg
Cart
4in1 MD Cart StreetSmartFantasiaSoRMysticalFighter.jpg
Cart
8-in-1 MD Box.jpg
8-in-1 MD Cart Back.jpg8-in-1 MD Cart.jpg
Cart

1992 Super X in 1

Box scans Content scans Name Code Distributor Date & price Comments
2in1 MD Cart AlienStormForgottenWorlds.jpg
Cart
2in1 MD Cart GoldenAxeSoR.jpg
Cart
2in1 MD Cart ShadowDancerSonic.jpg
Cart
2in1 MD box FightingMastersDoubleDragonII.jpg
2in1 MD cart FightingMastersDoubleDragonII.jpg
Cart
2in1 MD cover SuperHangOnStreetSmart.jpg
2in1 MD cart SuperHangOnStreetSmart.jpg
Cart
2in1 MD Cart DickTracyCoI.jpg
Cart
4in1 MD Cart RunarkSoRMFQS.jpg
Cart
4in1 MD Cart SonicSDRITB.jpg
Cart
4in1 MD Cart RunarkAlienStormGoldenAxeBareKnuckle.jpg
Cart
4in1 MD Box MFFMSomethingQS.jpg
4in1 MD Cart MFFMSomethingQS.jpg
Cart
4in1 MD Cart BKGAFWAS.jpg
Cart
4in1 MD Cart BKGAFWAS Alt.jpg
Cart
1992Super4in1 MD Box.jpg
1992Super4in1 MD Box BKGA2FMQS.JPG
1992Super4in1 MD BKGA2FMQS.JPG
Cart

Sega Master System compilations

Backwards compatibility with the Sega Master System allows for collections of Master System games to be included on a Mega Drive cartridge. These products are rare amongst multi-carts, as the Master System never achieved the same worldwide foothold as the Mega Drive, and newer Mega Drive systems cannot run these games.


Box scans Content scans Name Code Distributor Date & price Comments
MD8in1 MD Cart.jpg
Cart
3in1 MD Box Sonic2CoITaJ.jpg
3in1 MD Cart Sonic2CoITaJ.jpg
Cart
A near-identical version was also released on a Master System cartridge.

References