From: hobond@bach.udel.edu (hobond@brahms.udel.edu)
Newsgroups: rec.games.video
Subject: VGR FAQ (game copier faq) monthly post
Date: 7 Oct 92 16:59:13 GMT
Organization: University of Delaware

The following is a list of video game recorders 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:
==============
New Mega Disk can read other formatted game files.
SuperMarioCart and Pilotwing cannot be backed-up because of special
chip/programming routine in the game cart.
Hey, instead of calling these game copiers, let's call it VGR, as in
Video Game Recorder.

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 2" 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 less expensive.  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 (Interceptor) 
For: 	Can directly be used on Sega Mega Drive or Sega Genesis.  
With a special interface, it can be used with SFC/SNES.  Also, a new
Mega Disk designed specifically for SNES/SFC is out.
Description:	A 3.5" HD drive sits on top of the Sega Mega 
Drive or Genesis.  The MD version has 8 Megabits of memory (can
be upgraded to 16 M), the SFC version comes with 16M.  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 
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.  The new Mega Disk for SFC/SNES can format it's own 
disk and can read MGDII and Super Magic formatted disks.
Pro & Con:  The good thing about Mega Disk is simplicity of operation,
it works perfectly on the MD/Genesis (except copying old EA games),
no external power supply needed.  The old version needs specially
formatted disks, but by using CopyIIpc, you can make your own disks.
The new Mega Disk can format it's own disks. I would recommend 
Mega Disk over Super Magicom or drive because there is no need for
external power supply, easy to use and the company is much more
friendlier when you got problems.
Company:	Taiwan Sang Ting Co. Ltd.
Products:	Mega Disk for Genesis/MD.
		Mega Disk for SFC/SNES.
		Save cartridge 
		Super Famicom interface 
		8M to 16M upgrade 

Name:	Super Magic Drive, Super Magicom, Super Com Pro (HK)
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.  The 
company also makes other versions for NEC PC-Engine.
Description:   SMD 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.  The new Super Magic Drive according to 
Lawrence Kwan, does not need specially formatted disks.  Also, the 
new version of Super Magicom will format it's own disk.  Furthermore,
there is a new version of Super Magicom out in Hong Kong only (this 
info is from lawrence.kwan@canrem.com) which is called Super Com 
Pro #.  This Super Com is a little bit smaller than SMC and it does not
require specially formatted disks, you can use DOS formatted 720K,
1.44M and 1.6M disks (like the MGH).  
Pro & Con:  You have the option to buy an interface for SMD that will 
work for the SNES.  Disk drive and the main unit is separated from each
other, and the disk drive needs an external power supply.  Bulky if you
use the interface.  It has a computer port so you can use a parallel cable
to connect it to an IBM computer to modify data. Old 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).  My friend who has
the 16M SMD with the SMC interface reported that it won't save
SFII on disk, maybe a new ROM is needed.  Over all, a pretty good 
game copier.
Company:	Front Fareast industrial corp.
Products:	Super Magic Drive 
		Super Magicom 
		Super Com Pro (available in HK only, I think it's just a name
		change)
		Super Magic Drive to Super Famicom interface 
		8M to 16M upgrade (upgradable to 32M) 

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).  What I
mean by expensive is the game board itself, the price of Super Gun 
itself is pretty reasonable.  It's all up to you and how rich or additive 
you are.  Someone advertised that you can get a Super Gun with SFII
for less than a thousand dollars, but why bother?  SFII on the SNES
is the same thing and it's cheaper, but if you are getting a SFII-CE, then
that's a whole different story (IMHO).
Company:	Games Group Corp
Products:	Super Gun 
		Street Fighter II CE board 

Name:	Multi Game Doctor 2
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 includes a disk drive 
and is connected to your game system by a cable or stand-along. There
is a special cable with software that you can buy that allows you to 
use the MGD2 unit on you IBM.  The main unit has a LCD display.  
The SRAM cart uses a lithium battery and it will last 2-6 months 
depended on the size of the RAM.  Also, it advertises that MGD2 
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 to save these huge NEO GEO games; otherwise, you might
need 7 to 8 HD disk to save one game (BTW, this is pretty expensive,
all I can say is you can spend the cost of an IBM computer for the
whole setup).  I just confirmed recently that the DRAM 16M pack 
does work for the SNES.  On the SFC interface for MGD2, there is a
power cord that connects to the SFC.  Since the power supply connector
is different between SFC and SNES, this power cord doesn't work for
SNES; however, using the SNES power supply, this Rampack works.
So now with this Rampack, users can save two 8M games or one 16M
game on the single rampck.
P.S.  There are now two different memory cart for MGD2: SRAM
and DRAM.  Here is how they were used.
SRAM (1M, 2M, 4M and 8M) pack:  copy games from disk to SRAM
pack.  SRAM pack will hold games until the battery dies.  Very
portable with different game console interfaces.  Interfaces available
for SNES/SFC, MD/Genesis, PC-Engine, Game Boy and Game Gear.
DRAM (8M, 16M & 32M) pack:  plug into DRAM interface, it hold
the game until you turn off the game console with the interface
plug in.  There are interfaces for SFC, MD/Genesis, PC-Engine & NEO GEO.
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 2.
A very nice and versatile game copier for the dedicated video game
player.
Company:	Makko Toys Co., Ltd.
Products:	Multi Game Doctor 2		
		1M, 2M, 4M & 8M SRAM pack
		8M, 16M & 32M DRAM pack
		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:  
			Interface for LYNX
		Doctor Battery (Lithium battery for SRAM pack)
		Doctor Link (connect interfaces to MGD2) for SRAM
		Doctor Link II (connect interfaces to MGD2) for DRAM
		Golden Finger II (Like a game genie)
		PC Link (connect IBM computer to MGD2) for SRAM
		PC Link II (connect IBM computer to MGD2) for DRAM

Name:	Multi Game Hunter
Use:		MD/Genesis AND SNES/Super Famicom
Description:	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 24M.
A 256K Save RAM is build in.  One of the special surprise of MGH is 
that it can read all MGDII and Super Magic 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 7.8V-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 special formatted disks
it's one of the best game copiers around.  Also, IMO, the MGH is better
constructed than SMC.  The new NEO GEO interface that they
are working on will use the Genesis cart slot.  There will be two lines
coming out from the interface, one goes to a DRAM of at least 45M and
the other line will connect to the NEO GEO itself.  Price unknown for this
interface.  When using the MGH on the Genesis, there are more options
to choose from, but many of the options (like toolbox) are not available 
yet.   However, it still does all the things you basically need. 
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

=========================
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 many video
game stores in Taiwan and Hong Kong.  Except now Taiwan is enforcing
the 301 Copyright law, many video game stores stopped selling these
copiers, you might have to look pretty hard to find what you want.  
Also, SMC/SMD is under investigation in UK, it's harder to export
them now.

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 back, Game Doctor is 
very popular.  Now with all the new devices out, Super 
Magicom/Super MagicDrive are popular, following by Mega 
Disk due to its simplest operation.  Of course, MGD2 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).  Starting
this month, September, Nintendo is helping the UK coustoms cracking
down SMC/SMD imports into the United Kingdom, if all the operation
is successful (meaning Nintendo gets to go to court with sellers), they
might expand it to Canada and U.S.  

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, MGD2 all have the option to do 
so.  MGH is equipped with 16M.  BTW, just to remind the readers
that copying copyrighted work is illegal anywhere in this world. 

How much do these copiers cost?
	If you want prices, please email me. If the price you find 
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?
	There might be 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 
After receiving your payment, it will take less than 1 week to mail 
stuff to you depends on availability.  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  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
wong@lisa.cs.widener.edu

Newsgroups: rec.games.video
From: jarnis@mits.mdata.fi (Jarno Kokko)
Subject: Re: Super Mario Kart + MGH/SMC
Date: Thu, 1 Oct 1992 09:55:58 GMT

In article <BvFA5z.Ao9@acsu.buffalo.edu> v089l3s3@ubvmsd.cc.buffalo.edu (Jeremy B Horwitz) writes:
>Well, does anyone know what the deal is with Super Mario Kart
>and the SMC / MGH systems? It seems like it has some odd
>performance chips coupled with either new security or just
>the performance chip mod'd to code...
>
>-> Jer

This is a first really protected cart. There is the DSP chip, like
in Pilotwings, but that could be worked around by plugging a pilotwings
cart on the top of the Magicom/MGH. There is also another protection:
ROM is differently configured than in ANY other SNES game - usually
the game ROM is in blocks (32K empty, 32K rom) but this is in 64K rom,
64K rom, 64K rom etc.etc... and no known copier can copy this kind
of game. There is also a little code protection - It just verifies
that you have 4K of battery backed ram(as in the orig.cart) and not
32K as in all copier systems. This can be hacked away.

Conclusion:You can't copy Mario Kart on current copiers. It might
be possible if copier manufacturers make an update to their systems
to allow you to copy this game, but I doubt that this happens until
there is multiple carts with similar 'copy protection'

   ____________
 _| .signature |______________________________________________________
|                                                                     |
|  -------- Jarno Kokko --------  |  Borg: Prepare to be assimilated  |
|   --- jarnis@mits.mdata.fi --   |        by the Borg.               |
|    ---- Vantaa, Finland ----    |  Worf: Prepare to eat phasers.    |
|_____________________________________________________________________|

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