Picked up JVC X'EYE from Goodwill today!!!

[Purple Tophat]

So I was at a Goodwill today with my wife and I was casually perusing the electronics section as I always do. I've gotten some neat stuff in the past for a really good deal. Cheap racing wheels and pedals, like-new N64 controllers, and other such items are somewhat rare, but can be found. Well today I look up at a shelf and had to do a triple take. There was a JVC X'EYE staring me in the face. The price? $4.99!!!

I had never seen one of these before in person. Had only heard about them. Sure enough, it was the genuine article. It didn't come with any cables at all though. I'm out of town and have no access to my stash of cables, cords, and power supplies. It says on the back that it uses a 9.5V center-positive power supply. Just watched a youtube video that said the original power supply was 1.5AMP. Is there any reason I can't use any 9.5V center-positive 1.5 AMP power supply? Or do I need to try to track down an original power supply?

If anybody knows, please let me know! I'd like to get this baby set up as soon as I get back home from this trip!

[yotsuya]

What is it?

[Malenko]

its a sega genesis+sega CD in 1

[ChadTower]

Rare one, too.  That's an epic find right there.

[Slippyblade]

I liked the CD-X myself, but still an awesome score!  Keep us in the loop once you get it working.

[JDFan]

Did you look in the AC adapters bin at the goodwill ?? --- many times they pull them and sell separately for a couple bucks -- but yeah it originally came with a JVC AA-S95J (according to this site - http://www.gametrog.com/GAMETROG/How_which_do_i_need_SEGA_AC_Power_Supply_Information_Specs_Model_mk-3025_mk-1602_mk-2103_mk-1479_mk-4122_aa-s95j.html ) which is 120V 25W input and 9.5V 1.5A output so any 9.5 volt adapter rated 1.5Amp or higher will work.

[pbj]

It will work with a 32X, too

[Purple Tophat]

Thanks for the replies! Yeah, what a find indeed! I will go back to the Goodwill tomorrow and make sure the adapter isn't there in a different bin. Either way, good to know I can use a different power supply if need be, so thank you JDFan. The 3DO/Sega CD era was such a fun time in gaming history for me. I'm completely geeking out over finding this!! The damn thing was $500 new! This one will have a permanent home in the collection next to the 3DO FZ1. Now I need to score some more Sega CD titles!

[Purple Tophat]

I'll take more pics when I get it home and get it set up.

[ark_ader]

Awesome find!   

[pbj]

Here's one of the most unnecessarily thorough tutorials ever written:

http://www.whipassgaming.com/genesisreviews/32X_xeye.html

I don't think I have ever seen an X'Eye besides the one in the glass case at the high end Toys R Us 20 years ago.

[yotsuya]

This is the first I've even heard of it.

Having said that, great score!

[Purple Tophat]

Just got back from Goodwill again. I scoured the whole isle. No power supply. I will order one today so it's waiting for me when I get back home!

Just found this info on a forum:

"What makes this system so amazing you ask?

First: of all it is the equivalent to a SEGA CDX (SEGA Genesis and SEGA CD in one).

Second: they are full stereo out of the box, with no modification or wire adapter coming from the headphone jack to get true stereo sound!

Third: and I just discovered this, it plays JP Megadrive games with no modification or converter needed.

It also has a Microphone in jack for use with the CD+G player to make it a fully functional Karaoke machine. (I don't care about this but worth mentioning)"

So now...are there any Japanese Megadrive games that weren't available in the US that are must haves???

[pbj]

When you get it working - Does it boot up with that stupid licensed by Sega enterprises nag screen?

[Purple Tophat]

I will let you know about the nag screen when I get it going!

This should do the trick, I think:

http://www.ebay.com/itm/201208735734?_trksid=p2059210.m2749.l2649&ssPageName=STRK%3AMEBIDX%3AIT

Might have to change the end plug. Not sure how to make sure I don't cross the wires up though. I would imagine reversing polarity would be bad...

[pbj]

Reversing polarity won't hurt a thing.

 

[Purple Tophat]

 

[ChadTower]

Total protonic reversal.

[Purple Tophat]

Don't cross the streams. It would be bad.

[SavannahLion]

Holy....

Yeah, that's one hell of a find. I've never seen any of the high end Genie variations in person, though I've read about them and seen pictures in mags like EGM at the time.

So.... where do you live again? 

[Ginsu Victim]

I have one as well. I got it back in 2001 when I worked at a pawn shop and we wouldn't take it, but I offered the guy five bucks for it.

The CD side doesn't work, but it still plays Genesis games.

[thomas_surles]

How would you like to double or even triple your money?

[yotsuya]

How would you like to double or even triple your money?

Big spender.

[thomas_surles]

How would you like to double or even triple your money?

Big spender.

I'm poor... Quadruple?

[Purple Tophat]

Yeah! Got it home and all hooked up and everything works perfectly! The first thing that I noticed is that the audio is definitely noticeably better than a standard genesis/sega cd setup. Tested the CD side out with NBA Jam and Lethal Enforcers, then threw Sewer Shark in and remembered why nobody ever throws Sewer Shark in! Popped in Aladdin for the Genesis and could really tell the difference in audio quality. This thing is super cool. Definitely a keeper! Looks great next to the 3DO!

[pbj]

[yotsuya]

thomas_surles has $20 cash-in-hand for you now. 

[Slippyblade]

Awesome.  Glad it wasn't a paperweight!

[Malenko]

so I am alone in liking Sewer Shark?    Awesome to see you got it working. A little birdy told me there are no security checks on sega CDs so you could theoretically burn a game on a CD and it'll work.

[pbj]

so I am alone in liking Sewer Shark?    Awesome to see you got it working. A little birdy told me there are no security checks on sega CDs so you could theoretically burn a game on a CD and it'll work.

That's correct, no security on Sega CDs.  Nobody had a burner back then, and by the time they did the games were worthless - I owned one back when it was a viable peripheral and was routinely paying $2-10 for brand new games.  Certainly worth a look at burning them for some of the oddities like Snatcher, though.

I was just mostly confused by Sewer Shark and then a friend showed me how you could beat it in 15 minutes.  I'd really like to see how that thing worked on the Nemo.

[SavannahLion]

Wasn't Sewer Shark already five years old before it was released on the SCD?

[Purple Tophat]

so I am alone in liking Sewer Shark?    Awesome to see you got it working. A little birdy told me there are no security checks on sega CDs so you could theoretically burn a game on a CD and it'll work.

I just never got it with the Sewer Shark game play, but the cut scenes are worth their weight in doughnuts at least. I do typically love the FMV stuff of that era. There's just never been anything like it. I could waste a whole night on Night Trap any time! Gotta go 3DO on that one though!

Thanks for the heads up about burning! I figured as much because I have a bunch of burned 3DO games. I need to check out some of the harder to find stuff for sure. Never played Snatcher and always wanted to try Heart of the Alien because Out of This World is the ---steaming pile of meadow muffin---!

[Slippyblade]

Wasn't Sewer Shark already five years old before it was released on the SCD?

Sewer Shark was a launch title on the SCD, I thought...

[pbj]

Wasn't Sewer Shark already five years old before it was released on the SCD?

Sewer Shark was a launch title on the SCD, I thought...

Nope, it and Night Trap were originally made for some weird VHS player / game system.  The only footage out there shows a bunch of bored executives for 2 minutes and then 3 seconds of game play. 

[Malenko]

but Sewer Shark was a pack in with the model 2 sega cd (maybe the first tray loading one as well, but I remember my lid load sega CD coming with sewer shark)

[pbj]

but Sewer Shark was a pack in with the model 2 sega cd (maybe the first tray loading one as well, but I remember my lid load sega CD coming with sewer shark)

Pack in with the model 2.  Front loader came with nothing except a few karaoke discs and $300 worth of regret.

[Purple Tophat]

Pack in with the model 2.  Front loader came with nothing except a few karaoke discs and $300 worth of regret.

 

[thomas_surles]

thomas_surles has $20 cash-in-hand for you now. 

I will go $25 and a half a jar of mayonnaise