Sega Master System Games on NOMAD?! #SHORTS

In this #YouTube #Short we show you how you can play Sega Master System games on a Sega Nomad Portable Genesis for under $25!

One of the brilliant things Sega did, that Nintendo frankly didn't, was the way they engineered backward compatibility into the Sega Genesis and Mega Drive to be able to play Master System games. They did this through a converter called the Power Base Converter, the unit itself plugged into the cartridge port on the 16-bit systems and essentially added 8-bit functionality. This immediately added the Master System library to the 16-bit consoles, extending its life and the games playable on the Genesis at the same time, giving gamers the ability to play classics they may have missed out on. Nowadays, the Power Base Converter is rather expensive, over $100 loose and $200 plus complete in box. On a recent visit to eBay, I found the Master Drive adapter, available for about $25 and decided to give it a shot

The overall design is very simple, it almost just looks like a Genesis game PCB with a Master System receptacle on the top of it. The face of the unit features a pause button, the Master Drive logo, and Sonic the Hedgehog. There's nothing really on the back, and this all has a handmade sort of feel to it. The solder joints all looked good, and the connector felt decent as well. Hand testing the cartridge fitment in the top of the Master Drive, I have to admit the pins do feel a bit tight, but they are not a death grip. Curious to see how it performed, I connected it to my Nomad and decided to play.

Why it RoX:
- Under $30 shipped
- Simple in its design
- Integrated pause start button
- Works with all the games that I tested it with

What could be improved:
- Master System Port pins are a bit tight
- No external shell means fitting into your system can be a bit of a challenge
- Reds came through a bit hot on Double dragon
- Shipping from Europe took about 6 weeks
- Not compatible with Master System card games
- Cannot pass through a 32X

Should you buy one?
While this is a good, value option for the Power Base Converter, it is not perfect. The lack of an external shell can make it difficult to insert into your system correctly. I found myself fumbling more than a few times to get the pins aligned. It is not compatible with the card games for the Master System, which may be a major downfall for some people. But for the money, this thing just works. It played all of my Master System games and it played them well. The reds were a little bit hot on Double Dragon, but that's a minor price to pay in my view for the convenience that this lends. Will I be removing my Master System from the top of my bench? Not sure yet, but at least now I have that as an option.

#Sega #PowerBaseAdapter #MasterDrive #MasterSystem #VideoGames

The footage used in this review are used under the Fair Use laws, referenced below:

https://www.law.cornell.edu/uscode/text/17/107