Virgin Games "test" NTSC SMS II unit ?

[chaoticjelly]

Hey guys

I have acquired what I believe *may* be a Master System II used by Virgin Games for testing their games on, perhaps to check NTSC compatibility on SMS II for potential releases over in the states..

It has a large sticker on the front with the Virgin Games logo and marked "NTSC" in black marker.

When I got it there were no screws holding it together just a couple of pieces of scotch tape.

The surround of the cartridge slot has been cut to allow some socketed chip to protrude upwards.. I got excited thinking this was an eprom or prom, but its a socketed ST Electronics Z80A CPU. It seems to be double socketed which is weird.

Also what strikes me, theres part of the case at the back cut away in the shape of where a cable could of been. I havent tested the system yet but this was sold as faulty, and im not sure whether an NTSC SMS II would display a picture on a UK television anyway.. ?

Anyway I thought it was interesting, does anyone know anything else about this.. why does it have a socketed Z80A CPU?

Heres some pics;

[rupert]

that looks interesting. can you take another pic showing the modified cart slot?

the only info I can provide is that SMS's as far as I know are region free. (my US sms1 works fine anyway)

[chaoticjelly]

It's not the best pic but looking inside the cart slot, the cut away bit is at the back, and thats where the chip is socketed, so the sockets have raised it and so they cut that so they could put the lid back on I suppose..

[rupert]

i see, understand what you mean now. Perhaps Bock or Maxim would know better why they would need an interchangable CPU?

Have you tried it yet?

[chaoticjelly]

Hmm just checked it, no picture.. no nothing, then I realised that the voltage regulator wasnt screwed down onto its heatsink.. D'oh! I guess the regulator is probably fried anyway if someone tried it before me.. but these are very cheap to buy and easy to replace anyway..

Looks like its gonna need some repair work.. which I did expect when I bought it to be fair..

[Stan]

This is something I've always assumed would pop up eventually, it would make sense there are some test units out there, but it seems based on this example that they'll merely be altered and won't be special units. Still wonder about test cartridges though, there has to be something...

[chaoticjelly]

I thought that the Z80A CPU should of been "Zilog" and not "ST Electronics".. this is unusual for sure.. well, when im able I'll try and fix it up and see what happens..

[rupert]

would be cool if it has some kind of Virgin test bios instead of a bulit in game, then it would be very special

[Bock]

It's a hand butchered SMS. Cart slot to plug EPROM boards not fitting. Socketed Z80 to replace the CPU by a CPU emulator for debugging. Please post the pictures on SMS Power (or i'll do it).

[chaoticjelly]

rupert said:

would be cool if it has some kind of Virgin test bios instead of a bulit in game, then it would be very special

Hmm its a Sega bios, I checked the MPR- code and I think its the bios with Alex Kidd in Miracle World built in.. so looks like its a stock bios..

Feel free to post up the pics Bock, if you need any more just let me know. I'll probably put a voltage regulator from a working SMSII inside it for the moment..