Difference between revisions of "Cartridge"

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A '''cartridge''' is a plastic case which stores a game's [[ROM]] data, and in some cases also contains additional hardware such as the [[CR2032]] [[SRAM]]. Some examples of cartridge-based systems include the [[Sega Genesis|Genesis]], [[Sega Master System]] and [[NES]].
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A '''cartridge''' is a plastic case which houses the [[ROM]] chip that stores a game's data, and in some cases also contains additional hardware such as the [[CR2032]] [[SRAM]]. Some examples of cartridge-based systems include the [[Sega Mega Drive|Sega Mega Drive / Genesis]], [[Sega Master System]] and [[Sega Game Gear]].
  
==Genesis Cart Features==
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For details of cartridges on Sega consoles, see:
*The [[Sonic & Knuckles]] cartridge has another cartridge slot on top of it, similar to [[Game Genie]] and [[Pro Action Replay]] carts. This is known as [[Lock-On Technology]].
 
*The term "J-cart" refers to the special carts released by Codemasters that had two extra joystick ports built into the cartridge. This permitted four-way gameplay without a multitap adapter. Only six J-carts were released: Pete Sampras Tennis, Pete Sampras Tennis 96, Micro Machines 2, Micro Machines 96, Micro Machines Military Edition, and Super Skidmarks. All were later re-released as standard cartridges.
 
*Virtua Racing contains a custom-designed DSP chip (known officially as SVP - Sega Virtua Processor), allowing for enhanced graphics and sound capabilities. This chip essentially serves as an extra processor, allowing the game to produce polygons that would be impossible to create using a standard Genesis. This extra power cost extra, though, with the game costing around $100 in total. Interestingly, this game was the first to showcase the power of the 'SVP' chip - plans were underway to produce more games using this chip, using a 'Modular Converter' cartridge to cut production costs. This 'Modular Converter' cartridge would contain the SVP chip, with the enhanced game designed to use the SVP chip plugging into the top of the unit. However, due to the costs of production against the Genesis' age and falling popularity, the project was dropped. Virtua Racing also has a cartridge roughly one-and-a-half times the size of a usual Genesis cartridge due to the added chip, and is incompatabile with the [[32X]] addon.
 
  
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*[[SG-1000#Memory|SG-1000: Memory]]
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**[[Sega Card]]
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*[[Sega Master System#Memory|Sega Master System: Memory]]
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**[[Sega Card]]
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*[[Sega Mega Drive cartridges]]
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**[[Sega 32X#Memory|Sega 32X: Memory]]
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*[[Sega Saturn#Memory|Sega Saturn: Memory]]
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**[[Saturn ROM Cartridge]]
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**[[Extended RAM Cartridge]]
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**[[Saturn Backup Memory]]
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==References==
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<references/>
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{{MegaDrive}}
  
 
[[Category:Hardware]]
 
[[Category:Hardware]]

Revision as of 01:28, 16 May 2018

A cartridge is a plastic case which houses the ROM chip that stores a game's data, and in some cases also contains additional hardware such as the CR2032 SRAM. Some examples of cartridge-based systems include the Sega Mega Drive / Genesis, Sega Master System and Sega Game Gear.

For details of cartridges on Sega consoles, see:

References


Sega Mega Drive
Topics Technical specifications (Hardware comparison) | History | List of games | Magazine articles | Promotional material | Merchandise | Cartridges | TradeMark Security System
Hardware Japan | North America | Western Europe | Eastern Europe | South America | Asia | South Korea | Australasia | Africa
EZ Games | LaserActive | Mega Jet | Mega PC | Mega Play | Mega-Tech System | Nomad | Teradrive | Mega Drive Mini | Mega Drive Mini 2
New Mega Drive | Tianli VCD/DVD Players | "Consoles on a chip" | Licensed clones (Magic 2 | Mega Game II | Power Pegasus | Super Bitman)
Unlicensed clones
Add-ons Game Box | Power Base Converter | Mega-CD | 32X (Mega-CD 32X) | Mega Modem | Demo System DS-16
Cases Sega Genesis Nomad Carrying Case | System Carry Case
Controllers Control Pad | Six Button Control Pad | 6 Button Arcade Pad | Arcade Power Stick 6B | Konami Justifier | MK-1470
Action Chair | Activator | Arcade Power Stick | Keyboard | MegaFire | Mouse | Mega Stick | Menacer | Remote Arcade System | Ten Key Pad | Third Party Controllers
Accessories 4 Way Play | Cleaning System | Control Pad Extension Cord | Genesis Speakers | Headset | HeartBeat Catalyst | Microphone | Region converter cartridges | Mega Terminal | Nomad PowerBack | RF Unit (Mega Drive 2) | SCART Cable (Mega Drive 2) | Stereo Audio Video Cable | Team Player | Video Monitor Cable | Third Party Accessories
Network services Sega Channel | Sega Game Toshokan | Mega Anser | Mega Net | TeleBradesco Residência | XB∀ND
Development tools ERX 308P | ERX 318P | Sprobe | SNASM68K | SNASM2 (Mega Drive) | SNASM2 (32X) | PSY-Q Development System (Mega Drive) | PSY-Q Development System (32X) | 32X CartDev | Sega Mars Development Aid System | Sega 32X Development Target
Unreleased Edge 16 | Floppy Disk Drive | Mega Play 1010 | Sega VR | Teleplay System | Video Jukebox