http://homepages.ihug.co.nz/~pinwhiz/index.htm

Probably most interested in this: Sega Protos


J-Cart Proto

Holy shit I want that sportronic phaser

what are the 2 VGA-like things strapped to the top of the cart?

Don't you recognise a 9-pin joypad port when you see one?



Codemasters figured out a way to let Mega Drive owners to have 4 player gaming without a multitap. The above is the production model.

oh right, i figured as much, and that makes more sense. that's actually quite cool, were there many games that used that?

Pete Sampras Tennis
Pete Sampras Tennis 96
Micro Machines 2
Micro Machines 96
Micro Machines Miliatary
Super Skidmarks

That's it I think.

Yeah, it was a Codemasters-only cart. Those are the only games I can think of that used it (in fact, you came up with a couple I didn't - I didn't know there were 2 Pete Sampras games and I'd forgotten Super Skidmarks used it).

If I remember rightly, the 4-controller ability introduced by Codemasters fell flat on it's face due to the fact that even slightly pulling on the joypad wire or touching the cart would freeze the console until you reset.

<img src="http://blog.wired.com/tableofmalcontents/images/skidmark.jpg">

I never had major problems, although yes it did happen once or twice in the excitement of an 8 player race.