The following is a list of "Game Doctors" and its capabilities I
compiled for your information. And what is "Game Doctor", and it's
origin.
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"Game Doctor" is the name giving to devices that can read the ROM
on the video game cartridges and store it on floppy disk, which later can
be play back on the video game consoles without the original cartridge.
The first "Game Doctor" got its start on the Nintendo Famicom
(Japan's NES). As most of you know, Famicom has a 2.8" disk drive
available for it, and to save the material cost, many software maker
publish games on the 2.8" floppy. (I think Nintendo choose to use a
nonstardard disk size to control software piracy, as there won't be much
blank 2.8" floppy disks around to copy the games on.) Anyway, sooner or
later, someone has written a disk copying program(don't think it's ever
legal in Japan). And somehow as the years go by, there's plenty of blank
2.8" disks around. I guess that's why there's never a disk drive for the
U.S. Nintendo, and now, most of the new games in Japan were out in cartridge
only. To counter this, somebody made some new hardware that connects to the
Famicom and the disk drive that backs up the games on to the floppy.
Thus, creating the first "Game Doctor".
Applying the same concept to other video game consoles, many
companies in Hong Kong and Taiwan made such devices for Famicom, and then
for PC-Engine, Genesis, etc. These were the first generation "Game Doctors",
which only works with one type of machine, and generally uses the old 2.8"
Nintendo disk drive. (Don't think there's ever any "Game Doctor" made
by a Japanese company, as the software companies, Nintendo, and Sega would
suit the pants off that company. And Hong Kong had historically ignored the
copyright laws of other countries. They even have Nintendo Famicom clones.
Don't know about Taiwan. )
As there are many limitations to the first generation of "Game Doctors",
like, limited storage of 2.8" floppy disks, only one megabit per disk,
too expansive for multisystem owners, having to buy a "Game Doctor" for each
of his video game system, etc., comes the second generation of "Game Doctors".
Almost every second generation of "Game Doctors" have a 3.5" drive,
and many of them can be use with serval different types of game systems at
the same time.
And right now, the third generation of "Game Doctors" have already
been out. The latest "Game Doctor" uses the more expansive static RAM,
to prevent hung up in the middle of the game. (as DRAM has to refresh
itself every cycle, and ROM do not, these could cause problems with the
video game consoles. Static RAM acts much more like ROM than DRAM.)
Also, the new ones can be use with any video game systems that's ever out
and will be out in the future, including portables, like Game Boy, and
Game Gear. As all they have to do is to make a new interface. And the
size of the third generation "Game Doctors" is about a bit larger than a
VHS video cassette, and can be use on battery power.
I would not discuss how the first and second generation "Game Doctor"
works, instead, I'll talk more about the third generation, which I think
should be the most interesting to you.
Currently there are two "Game Doctors" that are of the third generation.
They are 'Multi Game Doctor 2' and 'Super Twin Star', both made in Hong Kong.
The main unit contains a 3.5" HD disk drive, a LCD display, and a
microprocessor for controlling, with a slot on the side. They are about
the size of a VHS video cassette, can be use on battery power or AC.
To play a game from the disk, you first insert a special RAM cart into
the slot on the main unit. Then you load the game data onto the cart.
After that, you take out the cart, and plug it into an interfacing cartridge
for your type of video game console. Then turn on the game console and play!
Isn't that simple? As to how do you get the games on disk, first you
get the game cartridge you want to play. Then, plug it into a special
interface for that type of game system, and plug the whole thing into the
slot on the main unit, and select the function BACKUP on the main unit.
And it will back up the cartridge on to disk.
And as these two "Game Doctor" uses the standard IBM disk format,
you can pop the disk into your PC and modify the game, using PC Tools or
other disk editing program. Like making the game to give you unlimited
1-ups or invincible, etc. The possibility are endless. And as to which
bytes to change, they're frequently published in Hong Kong video game
magazines.
The following is a list of all the "Game Doctors" currently
available.
Mega Disk Type: can only be use on Sega Mega Drive
Company: Taiwan Sang Ting Co. Ltd.
11/F., RM. 1101C, Ho King Comm. Centre,
2 Fa Yuen St.,
KLN., Hong Kong
Tel: 7704068
Fax: 7807653
(Please add Hong Kong international
area code)
Description: a boxy shaped thing that sits on top of the
Sega Mega Drive, much like a Genesis Master
system converter. has a built in 3.5"HD drive.
Has 8Megabit memory, (cannot play 12M games
like Star Control). has a slot on top for
plugging in cartridges, so you don't have to
remove 'Mega Disk' everytime you want to
play a cartridge game. since it does not have
a battery backup, you have to reload the game
each time you turn off the system. but takes
only 34 seconds to load an 8 M game.
While playing games from disk, you can plug
in a save cart with battery into 'Mega Disk'
to save your progress anytime, even if the
game is an action game. each save cart can
only save one game at a time. it can
also back up cartridges onto disks.
Prices: 'Mega Disk' costs HK$ 1650
save cart HK$200
Super Magic Drive
Type: Super Magic Drive is for Sega Mega Drive only,
but the company makes two versions of it for
Nintendo Famicom, and NEC PC-Engine. And is
about to come out with one that works with
Super Famicom. Each version can only be use
with the system it designed for.
Company: don't know, the name is in Chinese
Tel: 3870223
Fax: 3867980
(please dial the Hong Kong International
area code first)
Description: the Sega version works much the same way as
the 'Mega Disk', also sits on top of the
Mega Drive, but it has built in save cart,
and can have unlimited saves by writing it
to disk. also can have a max of 16 Megabit
memory.
the Nintendo Famicom version has 6M of
Memory, while the NEC PC-Engine version,
comes in either 4 or 8 Megabit of memory,
all three uses the same type of 3.5" HD
disk drive. the main unit is separated
from the disk drive, connected by a cable.
Prices: Sega Mega Drive version: 8M HK$1100
16M HK$1600
Famicom version: 6M HK$695
PC-Engine version: 4M HK$1050
8M HK$1300
3.5" HD Sony disk drive: HK$550
Turbo GD 6+ Type: for Nintendo Famicom only
Description: plugs into cartridge slot of Famicom and
sits on top of it. has 6M memory, needs
to buy another device for it in order to
save game. two piece type, main unit on top
of Famicom with a cable connected to a
3.5" disk drive.
Company: don't know
(the name is in Chinese only)
Tel: 7282879
Fax: 7283012
(add Hong Kong international area code
when dialing)
Princes: Don't know
Super Twin Star HM-Drive
Type: portable, multi system, can be use with any
system, including Gameboy and Game Gear
Description: a portable unit about the size of a VHS
cassette, has built in 3.5" HD disk drive,
a two line LCD display for system function,
and a slot on the side for accepting its
own type of battery backed RAM cartridge,
to play a game from disk, you first plug
the RAM cart into its slot, then load the
game data from disk and write it to the
RAM cart, then, take out the cart and plug
it into a interface cartridge for your
game system, and plug the whole thing into
your video game system and play.
to copy a game from cartridge, plug the
game cartridge into a special interface and
then plug it into Super Twin Star, and
select the backup command.
the RAM cart size is about 5 AA batteries
put together.
right now, it only have interfaces for using
on PC-Engine, Super Famicom, Mega Drive,
Game Boy, and Game Gear.
Company: FM Trading Company
Tel: 3878985
Fax: 7259680
(dial Hong Kong area code first)
Prices: main unit with 4M RAM cart: HK$2400
8M RAM cart: HK$3200
(includes one interface with main unit)
All interfaces are HK$80 each, except
Super Famicom, which is HK$400
Note: Instruction manual is in English
Multi Game Doctor
Type: Multi system
Description: two piece type, one is main unit, connected
to the disk drive via a cable, or you can
buy a special cable with software and use
your IBM's disk drive.
comes in 4M or 8M memory.
the RAM is built into the main unit,
connecting via cable and an interface
cartridge, the flat cable is easy to break.
Right now only have interface for Mega Drive,
PC-Engine, and Super Famicom.
Company: Makko Toy Co., Ltd.
Tel: 7283703
Prices: 4M Multi Game Doctor: HK$1250
8M Multi Game Doctor: HK$2150
3.5" disk drive: HK$850
PC-Engine & Mega Drive
interface: HK$80 each
Mega Drive interface with
built in save cart: HK$180
Super Famicom interface
with built in save cart: HK$650
Multi Game Doctor 2
Type: portable, multi system
Description: Just like Super Twin Star, except it has
a much smaller LCD display, and its RAM
cart uses tiny lithium battery, and about
the size of a Game Boy cartridge.
can have a max of 32M memory, but right now
only offers a max of 8M RAM cart.
(Super twin star uses a regular AA or AAA
battery for its RAM cart, but the lithium
battery in Multi Game Doctor 2 RAM carts
lasts only a month)
right now, have interface for Mega Drive,
Super Famicom, PC-Engine, NEC Super Grafx,
Game Boy, and Game Gear.
Prices: Multi Game Doctor 2: HK$1100
1M RAM cart: HK$395
2M RAM cart: HK$695
4M RAM cart: HK$1125
8M RAM cart: HK$1990
Game Boy interface with
save game feature: HK$185
Game Gear interface: HK$170
PC-Engine interface: HK$150
Super-Grafx interface: HK$150
Mega Drive interface
with save game feature: HK$215
Super Famicom interface
with save game feature: HK$590
Cartridge backup to disk
interface: HK$200 for
each system
lithium battery for RAM cart: HK$15
Where to get the "Game Doctor"?
--------------------------------
Of course if you can go to Hong Kong, you can get it there. But, if
you are like most people, which you won't be in Hong Kong in the near future,
and don't have any friends there, you could try to find some specialty
Hong Kong importing company and ask them to get one for you, which they
many times charges no less than 50% of the price of the system.
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