From: hobond@brahms.udel.edu (hobond@brahms.udel.edu)
Subject: Video Game Copier FAQ
Organization: University of Delaware
Date: Fri, 24 Jul 1992 18:24:56 GMT

The following is a list of video game copiers and their capabilities.  
They are compiled for your information.  I also put in some info 
that I think might be of interests to you.

New info in this FAQ:
==============
The NEO GEO interface is out for the MGDII...very expensive.
New 32M DRAM pack for the MGDII.

What is a video game copier or the so-called "Game Doctor"?
=======================================================
	Video game copier is a device that can read the ROM on the 
video game cartridges and transfer them onto regular floppy disks.  
After you have the game's ROM data on the floppy, you can play 
that particular game from the floppy without the original  
cartridge.  Most of the available devices now has at least 8 
MEGABits of memory build in; thus, allow you to load the 
game data from the floppy to the build-in memory and play 
games.  The game data will remain in the game copier's memory
until you turn off the game copier.  Hitting the reset button on the
game console will reset your game and you don't have to reload.
	"Game Doctor" is the name given to the first generation of 
such device. (I first saw one about five years ago in Hong Kong)
Originally, it was made for the Nintendo Famicom which has the
largest market share.  But now, as the popularity of video game
machines shift from the old Nintendo 8 bit to SNES, SEGA and
NEC, the newest generation of the "Game Doctor" allows you to
buy different interfaces for different game consoles. IMO,
the "Multi Game Doctor II" can let you buy different interfaces
for all the game consoles in the market, but it's more expensive.
The other game copiers are specifically designed for one or two
game systems only, but are easier to use.  Since there are more
companies making these devices now, I think the prices are 
dropping due to competition.  One thing that will happen 
eventually is that the Japanese company will do the best they can 
to crackdown these video game copier makers (I read somewhere 
that Japanese companies went to the Korean mafia in order to 
shut down similar illegal operations in Korea), and it will 
be harder to get these devices when they do.  One more thing, 
these game copiers are not perfect in copying all the games in
the market.  If there are special save or graphical feature in the 
game, they might not be able to copy these games (like some of 
the earlier EA games for the Genesis).

The following is a list of all the video game copier currently available
that I know.  I got the information from game magazines published in 
Taiwan and Hong Kong, and from a dealer in Taiwan..  I have tried to 
translate them as accurate as I can, but I take no responsibilities for
mistakes.  But, I welcome anyone sees any mistakes and points them
out for me so   I can make corrections.  Also, If you have any info or
questions, please let me know, I will update this FAQ periodically.
This is for your info only.

============================================
Name:	Mega Disk
For: 	Can directly be used on Sega Mega Drive or Sega Genesis.  
With a special interface, it can be used with SFC/SNES.
Description:	A 3.5" HD drive sits on top of the Sega Mega 
Drive or Genesis.  It has 8 Megabits of memory, or it can be 
upgraded to 16 Megabits of memory.  There is a slot on the top 
right corner for plugging in a cartridge (A save cartridge can be 
plugged in here to save game in progress).  The company is 
working on a software upgrade that allows game in progress
to be saved on disks other than the save cart.  It takes less than 
40 seconds to load an 8 M game.  No LCD needed, but it needs a 
special formatted 3.5" disk to back up games.  However, people from
the Usenet has found that CopyIIpc can copy these special formatted 
disks provided you have an IBM available.  The Super Famicom 
interface is a rectangular box sitting between the Mega Disk and 
the Super Famicom, it also has a slot on the interface to plug in a 
cartridge.
Pro & Con:  The good thing about Mega Disk is simplicity of operation,
it works perfectly on the MD/Genesis (except copying some EA games),
no external power supply needed.  The only bad thing about it is it's
Super Famicom interface does not seem to work for the SNES (Can 
anyone confirm this? Maybe I just have a bad interface)  It needs
specially formatted disks, but by using CopyIIpc, you can make you 
own disks.  Basically now, I would recommend Mega Disk only if you
have the Genesis and don't plan to buy a SNES.
Company:	Taiwan Sang Ting Co. Ltd.
		Phone:	(02) 511-9139
		FAX:	(02) 511-6276	(Please add 
Taiwan's international country code)
Products:	Mega Disk
		Save cartridge 
		Super Famicom interface 
		8M to 16M upgrade 

Name:	Super Magic Drive, Super Magicom
For:		Super Magic Drive is for Sega Mega Drive or 
Genesis only, and Super Magicom is for SFC/SNES.  Each 
version can only be used with the designated system unless you 
buy an interface.  The company also makes other versions for 
Nintendo Famicom and NEC PC-Engine.
Description:	It works much the same way as the 'Mega Disk', 
it also sits on top of the Mega Drive, but has a built in 256K (SRAM) 
save cart, and can have unlimited saves by writing it to disk. It 
can have a maximum of 16 Megabits of memory.  The main unit is 
separated from the disk drive, connected by a cable.  The games 
are written in DOS format, so games can be stored into your IBM 
hard drive.  If you know how to crack a program, you can 
construct your own game like making a super invincible character 
or unlimited lives, etc.  Sometimes, the game magazines in Taiwan 
or Hong Kong publish how or where to change the game code. However,
the Super Magic Drive's disks need to be specially formatted, the new
version of Super Magicom will format it's own disk.  The unit has a
battery that needs to be changed every 6 months or so.  There are
people in the net who burns their own EPROM for the SMC to let it
read IBM formatted disk (no need for special formatted disks).  If
you know more about this, please let me know, so I can put the
info in this FAQ.
Pro & Con:  You have the option to buy an interface that will work for
either the SNES or the Genesis.  Disk drive and the main unit is
separated from each other, and the HD disk drive needs an external
power supply.  Bulky if you use the interface.  It has a computer 
port so you can connect it to an IBM computer to modify data. Super
Magic Drive needs special disks for back-up.  To make your own
special formatted disk, you need an IBM copy program that will copy
up to track 81 on a HD disk (VGAcopy will do it).  A pretty good game
copier.
Company:	Front Fareast industrial corp.
		Tel:  (02) 509-8861
		(please add Taiwan's International area code)	
Products:	Super Magic Drive 
		Super Magicom 
		Super Magic Drive to Super Famicom interface 
		Super Magicom to Sega MD/Genesis interface
		8M to 16M upgrade 

Name:	Super Gun
Use:		Special game console for playing Arcade games.
Description:	A box that has a slot for plugging in the video 
arcade game board.  It can use different arcade style joysticks 
that either has six buttons or has a special panel for playing 
Mahjong type games.  It's basically a home system which plays an 
arcade board.  Games costs as much as the arcade game, but you 
get the real thing.
Pro & Con:  So you can play arcade games (the real thing), but it's 
very expensive (of course, you can argue that it's cheaper than 
buying the stand up Arcade and I would agree with you).  It's all 
up to you and how rich or additive you are.
Company:	Games Group Corp
		(02) 594-9277
Products:	Super Gun 
		Street Fighter II CE board 

Name: 	Super Twin Star 
Use:		portable, multi system, can be used with any 
system, including Gameboy and Game Gear.
Description:	The main unit is about the size of a Game Gear. It 
has a built in 3.5" HD disk drive, a two line LCD system functions 
display, and a slot on the side for accepting its own type of 
battery backed-up save cartridge. It came out before MGD II and 
it's pretty popular in Hong Kong.  The procedure for play a game is 
similar to MGDII.  The RAM cart size is about 5 AA batteries put 
together It has interfaces for PC-Engine, Super Famicom, Mega 
Drive, Game Boy, and Game Gear.
Pro & Con:  It's getting old and out of dated compares to other game
copiers.  If you want future support, don't even think about buying
this. (IMHO)
Company:	FM Trading Company			
		Tel:  3878985	
		Fax:  7259680	(please add Hong Kong area 
code first)
Products:	Super Twin Star	
		8M RAM cart
		Interfaces for every game consoles mentioned above.

Name:	Multi Game Doctor II
Use:		Can be used on every system that is available as 
long as you buy the correct interface.
Description:	Two piece type.  The main unit is connected to 
your game system and a cable connected to a disk drive.  There is 
a special cable with software that you can buy that allows you to 
use the disk drive on you IBM.  The main unit has a LCD display.  
The save cart uses a lithium battery and it will last 2-6 months 
depended on the size of the RAM.  Also, it advertises that MGDII 
uses SONY's 1M SRAM, so it's more reliable.  It has interfaces for 
Super Famicom, Sega Mega Drive/Genesis, Game Gear, NEO GEO, PC-
Engine, NEC Super Grafx, and Game Boy.  Also, it might be coming 
out with an interface for Lynx (a rumor so far).  The new NEO GEO
interface will use two 32 DRAM pack (I heard it's the size of a
credit card) to load games.  I also assume that you can use an IBM
hard drive the save these huge NEO GEO games, otherwise,you might
need 7 to 8 HD disk to save one game (BTW, this is very expensive,
all I can say is you can spend the cost of an IBM computer for this
interface).
Pro & Con:  The most flexible game copier in the market.  It has 
the most incredible support from the manufacturer to produce
interfaces for every game systems that is and will be available.
More procedure involved to play a game, but it works perfectly
without a single problem.  More expensive if you only want to use
it for one game system.  However, the more game system you have,
the better the price.  It has the programs and interfaces for linking
into an IBM computer.  It even has a computer board that you can
put into the computer slot that will do the same thing as MGD II.
A very nice and versatile game copier for the dedicated video game
player.
Company:	Makko Toys Co., Ltd.
		Tel:  (02) 716-8177/ (02) 713-5652
Products:	Multi Game Doctor II		
		1M RAM cart (For Game Boy)
		2M RAM cart (For Game Gear)
		4M RAM cart (Sega or NEC)
		8M RAM cart (Recommended for SFC, Sega, & NEC)
		16M RAM cart (Recommended for SFC)
		32M RAM cart (Recommended for NEO GEO)
		Interfaces for PC-Engine and Super-Grafx
		Interface for Game Boy and Game Gear
		Interface for MD/Genesis and SFC/SNES
		Interface for NEO GEO
		Future release:  (in two months or so)
			Interface for LYNX
		Doctor Battery (Lithium battery for RAM cart)
		Doctor Link (to connect interfaces to MGD II)
		Golden Finger II (Like a game genie)
		MGD II PCLink (replace MGDII, but needs a IBM 
		computer)

NEW		NEW		NEW		NEW		NEW
Name:	Multi Game Hunter
Use:		MD/Genesis AND SNES/Super Famicom
Description:	Finally, a game copier that can be used on both
the Genesis/MD and SNES/SFC.  It has a detachable HD disk drive
on the right of the main unit and has slots on the left for the 
MD and SFC cartridge.  MGH boots from ROM like the Super Magic
Com/Drive, and it has a graphical menu displayed on TV.  Its disk
format is IBM compatible: 720K, 1.4M and 1.6M.  It has a built in
memory of 16 M.  You can get a memory upgrade up to 32M.
A 256K Save Ram is build in.  One of the special surprise of MGH is 
that it can read all MGDII, Super Magic, and Mega Disk formatted disks.
This gives MGH a big advantage to new buyers, since they can use 
competitor's disks.  It could be linked up to an IBM computer for game
modifications, but the cable for doing this is not out yet.
Pro & Con:  MGH needs a SFC/SNES convertor in order to play American
games, it needs an external power supply of 10V, 1A.  Just one MGH,
(no need for a big interface) you can play games on SNES or Genesis, 
it's simple to use and it allows users to copy SAVED game from cart
to it's memory or to disk.  Without the need of specially formatted
disk, 
it's one of the best game copiers around.  Also, IMO, the MGH is better
constructed than SMC/SMD.  MGH is in limited supply right now, the
company don't plan to export them to Europe or North America
until mid next year (1993).
Company:  The maker of MGH.is Venus Computer Co. Ltd.  But it's
being distributed/co-developed with Makko Toys Co. the MGDII
maker.
Product:  Multi-Game Hunter

Name:	Wonder Mega
Use:		Mega Drive only
Description:	This is not a video game copier, but it's a real 
thing that was jointly made by Sega and Victor company in Japan.  
From what I have read, if I got the money, I will definitely buy 
one.  The reason is that it is a combination of Sega Mega Drive and 
Mega CD.  It incorporated features like 1 Bit DAC, karaoke (it's 
fun if you have a bunch friends who wants to be a rock star or just 
like to sing.  Even if they have a horrible voice, there is a feature 
in Wonder Mega that compensates the off-beat voice), CD MIDI (I 
don't know what is the difference between CD MIDI and regular 
MIDI, but I am sure they will come out with a program that will 
run your MIDI synthesizer or teach you music), EX-BASS and S 
output for superior quality.  The differences between the Sega and 
Victor Wonder Mega is that Victor's cost more but come with a 
demo CD and the WonderDog game, and the Sega WM will be sold at
game stores and Victor WM will be sold at Video/Audio entertainment
stores.
Company:	Sega and Victor
Product: 	Sega Wonder Mega
		Victor Wonder Mega
=========================
Frequent asked questions:
=========================
Where are these game copiers made?
	All of these devices are made from either Hong Kong or 
Taiwan.  And most likely, they are the only place that you can get 
these devices.  If you have friends going to Asia, maybe you can
ask them to got one for you.  These copiers are sold at all the video
game stores in Taiwan and Hong Kong.  If you need info on video 
game stores in HK or Taiwan, just let me know, I might have some
address and phone number that you can call (I don't work
for them, I got these info from magazines).

Which copier is more popular?
	This question is very important.  If these copiers are 
popular, buyers are more likely to get support from the 
manufacturers in the future.  A few years ago, Game Doctor is 
very popular.  Now with all the new devices out, Super 
Magicom/Super MagicDrive are very popular, following by Mega 
Disk due to its simplest operation.  Of course, MGDII is still 
popular because it can be used with all the game systems that is
and will be available.  As long you are playing the MGDII with more
than one game system, the high price is off set by how many
game systems that you own.  Finally, with the introduction of MGH,
it is taking a large share of the market away from the other copiers
(especially the market of Super Magicom/Super Magic Drive).
It will be interesting to see who wins out in the end, or will it be
like Nintendo, NEC or Sega, each has its own supporters?

Can these game copiers copy 16 M games or CD games?
	Well, these game copiers CANNOT copy CD games due to the 
large amount of audio/video info on them.  However, 16 meg 
games like SF II for SNES can be copied as long as you have the 
memory upgrade on the copier you own.  Currently, Mega Disk, 
Super Magicom/Super MagicDrive, MGDII all have the option to do 
so.  MGH is equipped with 16M.

How much do these copiers cost?
	If you want prices, please email me.  Depends on where you
are and what you want to know, I will give you a list of either
what these game copiers cost in Taiwan and Hong Kong or the price on
what you would expect to pay for them in the U.S.  If any prices
are higher than the prices I found, you are being rip-off.  And of
course you will find a cheaper price if you look very hard
or get a friend to buy them for you directly from Taiwan or Hong
Kong.  Remember, it would cost you about US$1000 to fly round trip
to these two countries.

Where can I buy these copiers?
	I am sure there are game stores that sell these devices in 
New York or LA, but in the Usenet world there are some people 
who are willing to help people get stuff from Hong Kong or Taiwan.
I know a dealer who can get stuff for people directly from Taiwan 
during the summer.  After receiving your payment, it will take less 
than 2 weeks to mail stuff to you.  If you want more information, 
please email me.

SFC is Super Famicom, the Japanese SNES.
MD is Mega Drive, the Japanese Genesis.
=======================END OF FILE=====================
	
	Well, that's all I have for now.  I know these devices might not

be legal in the United States, but I think people has the right to 
know about them.  I still buy cartridge game that I think the 
game play, game quality and the over-all package are excellent,
for example, the Japanese version of Sonic.  I rent games to see if the
games are worth my money (Fantasia is so bad, I am still angry), and 
some of them I just want to keep forever.  I won't trust the unreliable
media of floppy disks.  I think the above information is all you 
need to know about these devices, but if I miss anything that you 
want to know, email me.  I will get back to you ASAP.

hobond@brahms.udel.edu
(302) 652-4105

-- 
=Ho-Bond Wong 'hobond@brahms.udel.edu' /   /___     /    ___   = 
=My name is Bond.......Ho-Bond        /| /  | /  --/--/-___/__ = 
=From the 1st State....Delaware      / |  / | \    \ /     \   = 
=       "Not DelaWhere?"               |   \|      / \    \|   =