Upcoming “FM Power Base Converter” To Bring Back Originally Featured FM Sound Capabilities To Sega Master System Games Via Genesis Consoles
While Nintendo dominated the 8-bit market in the US with the original NES console, another excellent console from Sega, the Master System, did what it could to make a mark in the video game “revival” of the mid 1980s. When Sega released the updated 16-bit Genesis, they also released the infamous Power Base Converter, in a way of helping with backwards compatibility. But what some retro gamers may not be aware of, is that we were actually pretty cheated with the sound! An upcoming Genesis device called the “FM Power Base Converter” by db Electronics hopes to finally give fans of Sega’s 8-bit offering a new experience in sound, all these years later.
In Japan, an FM Sound Unit was released to enhance the sound capabilities of Sega’s Mark III console, which added a Yamaha YM2413 chip to the system. Later down the road, the redesigned Sega Master System would include this chip built-in, and many games supported the additional sound capabilities. However in North America, this chip did not make the final product. However, many of the games that were released with the FM sound in mind, got ported to the US market, with the capabilities still intact. Meaning, that with an appropriate hardware alteration or device, the full FM sound could be produced. Years after the final Sega Master System cartridge left the factories, a new device would bring back this ability, thanks to an updated “Power Base Converter”, with the YM2413 built-in.
Currently tested with the Sega Genesis (and Mega Drive) models 1 and 2, db Electronics is working on bringing us the mod-less “FM Power Base Converter”. This upcoming device is actually an upgrade to the original Master System to Genesis Converter that they had previously made. This new version includes a BIOS that is similar to Sega’s original unit, which improves compatibility with certain games. The FM based audio is generated directly on the converter by using the YM2413 chip discretely, and is routed to the Genesis’s audio input pins which are found on the cartridge port. If the game you play does not support FM audio, the module will just play the game traditionally, so you don’t have to keep removing the device.
So, which games were made with this amazing sound built-in, that we have been missing out on in the states all these years? Take a look at this impressive list:
- After Burner
- Alex Kidd – BMX Trial
- Alex Kidd – The Lost Stars
- Alien Syndrome
- Altered Beast
- Aztec Adventure
- Blade Eagle 3D
- Bomber Raid
- California Games
- Captain Silver
- Casino Games
- Cloud Master
- Cyborg Hunter
- Double Dragon
- Fantasy Zone II
- Fantasy Zone – The Maze
- Galaxy Force
- Global Defense
- Golvellius
- Great Golf
- Kenseiden
- Lord of the Sword
- Miracle Warriors
- Mnica – No Castelo do Dragao
- OutRun
- Parlour Games
- Phantasy Star (Japanese version only)
- Poseidon Wars 3D
- Power Strike
- Rampage
- Rastan
- Rescue Mission
- R-Type
- Scramble Spirits
- Shinobi
- Space Harrier 3D
- Spell Caster
- Thunder Blade
- Tri Formation
- Time Soldiers
- Ultima IV
- Vigilante
- WonderBoy in Monster Land
- WonderBoy III
- Zaxxon 3D
Currently, this is a work in progress by db Electronics, and they are still testing the device out with various games. In fact, it is so early in the test phase that currently, only 3 games have been verified as working as of right now. Because of this, there is currently no release date available, nor any pricing information. But what’s really great is that the people behind this project have already uploaded some video showing the item in action, along with some very impressive audio comparisons.
Source: db Electronics via RetroCollect
