The leaning tower of Sega

by Kyle Orland { Jan 23rd 2007 at 12:25PM }

Thanks to Joystiq reader CrankSling for sending in this bit of retro goodness -- a Sega Genesis converted into a precarious teetering tower of plastic and silicon by a series of ill-advised add-ons. We can't imagine what would possess someone to actually construct this mostrosity except a deep desire to make a Genesis look like a vacuum cleaner. Anyone out there have a more ridiculously decked out system? Send in a picture and achieve internet immortality (for, like, 15 seconds).

Tags: 32X, Game Genie, GameGenie, Genesis, leaning, Sega, Sega CD, SegaCd, teetering, tower

Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)

stick_man @ Jan 23rd 2007 12:38PM

and they said excesive addons weren't comercialy viable.

Field Anony-mouse @ Jan 23rd 2007 12:39PM

Cheater. The system should at least function properly.

Dan @ Jan 23rd 2007 12:43PM

what would happen if he turned it on? lol also, isnt he using to Sonic and Knuckles cartrigdes?

TheSporkWithin @ Jan 23rd 2007 12:44PM

I think using Sonic & Knuckles twice counts as cheating.

Also: I have always wanted to do this exact same thing, just for the sheer absurdity of it.

Seifer @ Jan 23rd 2007 12:46PM

What's that red thing on top of the 32X?

Narse @ Jan 23rd 2007 12:50PM

Ok I see a
Sega Cd
Second Gen Genesis
a 32 x
(something I don't know)
A genesis Game cleaning and system cleaning thing
a Game Genie
2 copies of Sonic and Knuckles
and a copy of Sonic 3

wigglesxjr @ Jan 23rd 2007 12:52PM

I believe the befuddling red thing by which everyone is, uh, befuddled, is a sega master system adapter for the genesis...it allows one to play master system games on the genesis.

/iamold.

Bill Nye @ Jan 23rd 2007 12:52PM

I'm assuming the red thing on top of the 32x is the bottom of the POWER BASE CONVERTER (to let you play master system games on your genesis). I never had one so I'm not sure.

ConstyXIV @ Jan 23rd 2007 12:53PM

@5:
The Sega Master System backwards compatibility module
Regarding the tower:
HOLY BELGIUM!*

*: h2g2 radio reference

Nate @ Jan 23rd 2007 12:53PM

#5
It's the converter that allowed you to play Master System games, whatever that thing was called. I keep thinking Master Gear Converter, but that was the one that let you play Master System games on the Game Gear.

Karttikeya @ Jan 23rd 2007 12:54PM

The "red thing" is the Sega Genesis Power Base Converter, it allowed you to play Sega Master Games on your Genesis.

Gerwurztraminer @ Jan 23rd 2007 12:55PM

Ok, you lost me with the 2 copies of Sonic & Knuckles. Is that even playable?

sheppy @ Jan 23rd 2007 12:55PM

Sega CD
Genesis Gen 2
32X
Master System Port
Genesis Cleaning Kit
Game Genie
Sonic Knuckles
Sonic Knuckles
Sonic 3

It should be noted the Master System port argues heavily with the 32X. Likewise, the Genesis Cleaning Kit would not allow the cartridges to be read. Also, a tad dusty, isn't this?

Matt @ Jan 23rd 2007 12:58PM

This is entirely incomplete without a Sega Channel adapter.

Miniboss @ Jan 23rd 2007 1:00PM

That is the greatest picture ever.

DG @ Jan 23rd 2007 1:03PM

It would have been funnier with the original, slot-loading Sega CD.

Alecks @ Jan 23rd 2007 1:07PM

Sigh, Good memories. I had exactly the same get up, Till My Grandma shipped it to my other half of the family in Cuba :pwned: That was a dis burn, that scarred me for the rest of my life.

Squarg @ Jan 23rd 2007 1:10PM

Hahahaha! I thought that title was some sort of business analysis regarding Sega's current state. Excellent tower, though. Can't say I ever owned any of the Genesis (known as Megadrive here) addons, and am too young to remember playing anything but Sonic on the thing.

x876543 @ Jan 23rd 2007 1:11PM

I think the PS3 beats that. Maybe the original Xbox too.

87th @ Jan 23rd 2007 1:11PM

Should have used a copy of Virtua Racing instead of Sonic 3. That cart's almost as tall as the tower by itself.

Allister Howe @ Jan 23rd 2007 1:12PM

Very nice. Even today, I couldn't achieve this greatness. My stack would include the Sega CD, 32x, two Game Genies, two Sonic and Knuckles and either Sonic 2 or 3. However my Genesis is a model 1, not a model 2 like in that pic.

Still, Sega got a bit overboard. I guess they got a bit zealous as they were the first company that really started to rival Nintendo in the video game market, and tried to entice gamers by a bajillion add-ons.

The Sega CD was awesome though, it had some real classics and I never felt ripped off by it (I mean, Lunar, Snatcher, Sonic CD...)

AlmightyPants @ Jan 23rd 2007 1:20PM

I've done Sonic 3 + Sonic & Knuckles + Game Genie in a first generation Genesis before while my Power Base Converter sat by idly. It was crazy unstable though. And if so much as a strong breeze came along the system would hang. It was a lot of fun though.

Ebolaboi @ Jan 23rd 2007 1:22PM

Pshhhhhhhh!!!
It's not even the original huge Genesis.

ThorzHamer @ Jan 23rd 2007 1:22PM

Allister Howe.... I totally agree. I had the original Slot Loading Sega CD also and I LOVED it... one great game you forgot to mention though was Silpeed.... very very fun game to play at the time! and I would have to say that Sonic CD is by far the best Sonic game that was ever produced.

Ajguy @ Jan 23rd 2007 1:25PM

He forgot an Xband. Remember that thing?

BillyPW @ Jan 23rd 2007 1:29PM

Thanks for a very good laugh. Finally a picture of why so many distrusted Sega (add-on upgrade hell) afer the Genesis.

Kevout @ Jan 23rd 2007 1:36PM

I did this first :)))))

saboola @ Jan 23rd 2007 1:37PM

Too bad he didnt have the sega channel adapter. Anyone remember that? Ahead of its time I guess, but was awesome.

Mal F4cti0n @ Jan 23rd 2007 1:38PM

I can't believe no one has noticed this.

He has a Genesis cleaner plugged into the Master System Power Base Converter slot. I guess that is why he is behind it holding it up.

Oh yeah, what the hell does he have in his pockets? Are boys stuffing their cargo pant pockets with tissues these days?

segapswii60 @ Jan 23rd 2007 2:44PM

Sonic CD is awesome

Currently owner of
Microsoft: Xbox, Xbox 360.
Nintendo: Super NES, N64, Gamecube/Gameboy Player, Wii, DS and Micro.
Sega: Genesis CD 32X (model 2), Saturn, Dreamcast and Nomad.
Sony: PlayStation, PlayStation 2, PlayStation 3 and PlayStation Portable.

Previously owned
Atari 2600
NEC TurboGrafx-16
Nintendo Virtual Boy

The ZeroCorpse @ Jan 23rd 2007 3:16PM

I was in the test market for Sega Channel, and yes, the adapter was a beast of a thing. Still, it was pretty cool. I was downloading games to play at home on my console before Xbox Live Arcade was a glimmer in anyone's eye. It was a nifty device, but wasn't well implemented and the cable companies weren't the best people to trust with ANY new technology.

What I'm not getting about the picture is how the guy got the cleaning kit to slot into the Master System slot on the Power Base Converter. Genesis carts and Master system carts were completely different shapes.

For that matter, how did he get the Power Base Converter into the 32X?!?!

HappyJack @ Jan 23rd 2007 3:17PM

Dear god! Blast processing x1000!

This is either awesomely stupid or stupidly awesome.

Meowfaceman @ Jan 23rd 2007 4:16PM

To the guy who asked about the two Sonic & Knuckles: it will actually work. I've done it before, and it just acts like a normal Sonic & Knuckles cartridge.

32_Footsteps @ Jan 23rd 2007 4:20PM

Nice to know of some other old-school gamers that know the love of the Power Base Converter. I might just go home tonight and play Psycho Fox on it.

007craft @ Jan 23rd 2007 4:38PM

does that set up he built actually work tho?

I dont think you can stack 2 sonic and knuckels on top of each other, can you?

FSK405K @ Jan 23rd 2007 4:43PM

Ajguy (#25), I'm also disappointed he didn't have an X-Band on there. The first console networking device. I remember playing Mortal Kombat II against random people all the time on that thing. 'Course I used the SNES version.

Julian Emmett Turner @ Jan 23rd 2007 4:49PM

I did this for kicks back in '93... Only I used the extra-tall Virtual Racing as my cartridge. ;)

I slapped one of my 32x-equipped Genesis units into my Sega CD model 2 (doesn't work) and threw my Sega Power Base Converter (plays SEGA Master System games like the Master Module). I don't think it works like that though. :( Anyway, I didn't have the official cleaning cartridge but I did have three Sonic and Knuckles lock-on cartridges stacked with a much taller cartridge plugged into the tom (as mentioned; Virtua Racing). Also, instead of a Game Genie, I used an X-Band Video Game Modem which is a little taller.

This is scary because I've snapped the cards in three SNES Killer Instinct cartridges thanks to the damn X-Band when the cartridge gets bent (say, from a fall off the entertainment shelf).

Julian Emmett Turner @ Jan 23rd 2007 4:51PM

Oops. I mean I did it back in '03, not "'93"... Damn "0" and "9" next to eachother on the keyboard and in sequential decades! *grumble grumble*

Richard @ Jan 23rd 2007 4:52PM

http://img329.imageshack.us/my.php?image=img0226b6ru.jpg

Shibathedog @ Jan 23rd 2007 7:19PM

me and my friend used to do that just for fun lol. But see this wont work, I don't think it will boot with two copies of sonic and knuckles, and plus the cartridge cleaner i don't think you can boot through either, i never owned the cartridge cleaner or two copies of sonic and knuckles so I'm not entirely sure, but other than that it should probably work. (although i have suspicions of the adapter for master system games screwing it up too)