10 Amazing Sega Nomad Facts

[@robintst]

One of the funnier thing to me about the Nomad is you can't beat the X-Men game on it without the level select cheat. The end of one level has a gimmicky moment where you have to soft reset the console to continue but the Nomad has no reset button so it's impossible to get beyond that part legitimately.

[@maxrichards5925]

I think I saw a mod that adds it back in, but I forget what it was called

[@ArmandoDoval]

The power adapter made the Nomad really handy when I was visiting relatives. I could play as much as I liked without eating up batteries or hogging grandma's TV, and I could still play two-player Streets of Rage with my cousin thanks to the controller port.

[@rabidduck1089]

I have a pair of Nomads. The one I travel with has all the mods available that I've installed myself. I replaced the caps, SMS mod, Sega CD audio mod, RGB triple bypass mod, modern LCDDRV screen and glass screen lens. Easily the handheld i use the most.

[@SECONDQUEST]

Got any advice? I have a Nomad with a broken screen.

[@Mad_Possum]

why not just emulate?

[@rabidduck1089]

@@SECONDQUEST Replace it with a LCDDRV kit. They're pretty common on places like Etsy, but you need soldering skills to do so. While you're in there the caps need to be replaced as they tend to leak. They're can-style though and the board is heat sensitive. It's best to preheat the board first.

[@rabidduck1089]

@@Mad_Possum Because it's not quite the same thing. Using real hardware is arguably the more unique experience. Sure you can emu almost anything these days, and there's so many options to enhance the image/sound most of the time, it can give a superior experience in that way. The experience of playing it though the way it was when the hardware was in its prime though, again, is a unique experience that younger gamers may not fully grasp. I guess in a way, it's one of those 'had to be there' life experiences. Using real hardware though, is the closest way to experience that for the younger gamers, and a big ole slice of nostalgia for us 1st and early 2nd gen gamers.

[@maxrichards5925]

@@Mad_Possumbesides sound emulation, it’s a real genesis that can handle everything you throw at it which can be very convenient. Stuff like the Atgames portable console is why I like having original hardware as well

[@voteDC]

I find it interesting that the Nomad can play Mega-CD games through the use of certain flashcarts like the MegaSD. You don't get sound, without a mod to the Nomad, but it opens up the library of the system to even more games.

[@arostwocents]

It reveals how little the Mega CD was actually offering. I guess fmv games didn't work either?

[@rabidduck1089]

With modification, it does just fine. The mod consists of two wires, two caps and two resistors. One side of the wires are soldered to the cart port pins and the other are soldered to the audio amp output pins.

[@orderofmagnitude-TPATP]

Yea don't get the mega cd confused with a turbo grafxcd- aka only thing it offered was just vast amounts of storage space. That megasd cart must have some sort of emulation or fpga type interface on it. otherwise if it was just storage technically any everdrive could run any mega cd game. The mega cd did all the computing for things like its advanced sprite scaling (Although they call them stamps for some reason) and then the megadrive acts almost like digital pass through in terms of its tantamount to the megadrive takin a screenshot of the action and just displaying it on the screen and updating as fast as it could (usually 20fps or so.) Wheras when it comes too the 32x the megadrive does like the background layer and works with it. Sadly the only thing programmers mainly did with the mega cd was just make naff fmv games (bar people like core design who made amazing scaling type games of the time) ​@@arostwocents

[@martinh4982]

Always wanted a Nomad, so I was very happy when Anbernic released their Arc handheld. I consider it to be the Nomad I never had 😊

[@rubbersoul420]

Man this guys videos need more views, especially his arcade series.

[@Super_Bros.]

I’ve had a Nomad for decades, it’s awesome. Though mine hasn’t worked in about 7 years now which is sad.

[@rabidduck1089]

If it turns on at least, more than likely it just needs a cap swap and maybe a new screen.

[@Super_Bros.]

@@rabidduck1089 It doesn’t even turn on.

[@gregdunlap7538]

@@Super_Bros. Might just be the power jack; it's common for the solder connecting it to the board to break. Just reflow it, and/or reinforce it with a wire,

[@neophytealpha]

Oddly enough the technology has improved enough that if they brought the Nomad back out with a built in 32X and the ability to run Sega CD over USB they could probably do well with it.

[@BasementBrothers]

In my experience, Japanese carts work fine on the Nomad without an adapter. It's just a little awkward getting the game to fit, but they did make it wide enough, so it fits and it does work.

[@slamjackson2137]

Happy to have my nomad. Got it for $80 about 6 or 7 years ago. The screen was on its way out and so was the DC jack. The power input seemed like a basic fix, but for whatever reason it wasn’t. We wound up installing a new 9v jack (poles reversed) and simply ran the leads to the (+) and (-) of the battery terminal. It runs off a One Spot adapter with its polarity reversed. Next I was able to get the screen replaced by a mail-in service for about $50. It was a cheap option and the screen is far too bright, so a simple fix was to put on a cheap screen tint, worked like a charm. Feels good to keep an old dog running.

[@jastiksk8crw]

Haha at 11:28 that’s my nomad (I’m not on Reddit very often) but don’t worry about the credit or anything, I just thought it was cool seeing it in the video. Cheers

[@TheLairdsLair]

Awesome!

[@jastiksk8crw]

@@TheLairdsLair the game is Pete Sampras tennis. I was just messing around with some of my collection, playing having fun. If you ever see anything else on there, feel free. Though don’t take them all literally lol. I may post again because of this. Have a good weekend fellow human

[@ZEKESPILLEDINKMUSIC]

I recently found out about the Mega Jet as I was compiling a Sega console and handheld chronology as part of a blog series that I have been working on about video game audio. I'll give Sega credit for trying unusual approaches to gaming. I just wish that the company had been more consistent with their output instead of giving consumers too many choices with the Sega CD/Mega CD, 32X, Saturn, Game Gear, and the Nomad all on the market roughly at or around the same time.

[@JenslilCorner]

They should have added svp chip to the nomad and developed some exclusive games for it.

[@TheLordofPain]

At the time, having SoR2 on handheld was a dream come true

[@dwightdixon8508]

I bought one of my Nomads way back when originally released. Recently I had one of my Nomads modded with a TFT LCD screen and CD playback ability making playback of games a new experience especially when using my Mega Everdrive pro.

[@mattschehr163]

Sega Technical institute is basically Sonic Team USA

[@greatsource5405]

My design would be like this: 1) the 32X which as we all know plugged into the Genesis would be the same except the 32X cartridges themselves would be a lot smaller like a Game Gear sized. However, it would also have a slot for normal sized Genesis cartridges. 2) the 32X would have a Genesis game copying function. You could buy "blank" 32X cartridges that could copy Genesis games onto them (plug a Genesis cart + blank 32X cart into the 32X at the same time, then press a button and it copies the game. 3) the Nomad would be able to play both 32X and Genesis games. It would be a lot smaller because it only uses the small 32X cartridges and copied Genesis games on the blank cartridges. 4) the screen would be larger, and the batteries would last for minimum of 24 hours of constant play time.

[@nickwerner7983]

I now have 17 Activision games. Patch scores on every single one of those. 16 remaining. I feel my journey may be over sooner than I started it more than 3 Years Ago.

[@ZonicMirage]

I nearly blew up a Nomad trying to play it in the UK. Had a pin adapter, but not the voltage step-down. While the DC input is temperamental, it still works. The third party AC adapter I had thankfully took the brunt of the surge (RIP).

[@krono5el]

played a bunch of The Ooze on Sega Channel and it had a fun gimmick.

[@joesshows6793]

I never thought of using the 32x on the nomad! Wild

[@askeworbit]

I remember Electronics Boutique clearance pricing new Nomads for 40 dollars in 1997. Virtua Racing worked but wow did that cart stick out.

[@ZonicMirage]

Speaking of sticking out, S3&K makes the Nomad into an absolute beast. S&K's cover hatch has to be taken off, otherwise it can smack Sonic 3 and seize up.

[@diebesgrab]

I came across a Nomad in a used game store back around 2012-ish and picked it up for $50, though no battery pack was included. Doesn’t get much use since I modded my PSP a few years back, though.

[@pixelpoppyproductions]

You can adapt it to use a modern lithium ion camcorder battery (of the same voltage obviously). I get about 8 hours out of a pretty small battery that is also fairly old.

[@terran0797]

Great video. Can’t wait for the action max and neo geo cd

[@arostwocents]

Wow it works with the 32x! 😮 The Nomad 32x was the first ever 3D handheld. A decade before the PSP & DS! 😮 Even many years before 3D gaming on Symbian phones 😮😮😮 Great video, thats Doctor Laird 💊🏥

[@TheLairdsLair]

What do you mean by 3D handheld? If you mean because it could do scaling and polygons the Lynx beat it on both respects.

[@rabidduck1089]

It is indeed 32X compatible, but you can't use it as is. There's a mod out there that moves the 9 pin mini din to the bottom of the chassis so the 32X isn't blocking it.

[@greenkoopa]

​@@TheLairdsLair 32x >>>

[@mikel6989]

love my nomad. and i've used it as a genesis many times and sabotaged my buddies controller 🤣🤣 good times

[@jasonking3182]

Man I had no idea how expensive the Sega channel was back in the day! That’s $32 a month adjusted for inflation, way more than the highest Xbox game pass tier!

[@caeserromero3013]

In-car gaming...sounds like a winner 😂😂 Ok, he may have died in a car wreck, but he got a really high score on Out Run 🤣🤣

[@TheLairdsLair]

You're doing it wrong, that was meant for passengers! 😂😂 😂😂

[@billcook4768]

Look at the prices of those Genesis carts - $60 and $70. In 1995 dollars.

[@LostSox]

I had one a long time ago. Can’t remember how I acquired one or how it went away from me. But I know that I bought it specifically to play Ghouls ‘n Ghosts.

[@kevinstrade2752]

Have mine still somewhere. I found it intriguing back in the day. Be able to play some of my Sega games on the go! Yes, the battery life was atrocious! 2 hours or more was it! The problem to be honest was that I had already played or beat most of the games....the 32 bit generation was already here and I was looking forward to the future. The jump from 16bit to 32 bit was way larger from 8 to 16 in my opinion. 16 bit by 95' was looking pretty dated. Sega Genisis still had some great games that seemed beyond 16bit but the 32 bit era was leaps and bounds superior. Had the monad came out a year or 2 earlier, maybe it would have sold better, especially it playing direct games. I think only the Turbo Express had that feature. Well GG with SMS converter I guess but you get what I mean. Sega simply had too much on its plate 94-95'. Supporting too many systems to the point of self competition. Not good. Hey, thanks for the trip down memory lane and giving this obscure but well intended system some attention it deserved.

[@grinbrothers]

The not Game-Gear successor that was a result of Sega of America not wanting to let the Mega Drive go but was based on a Japanese plane-service that was oddly popular in Japan... yeah, some clear explaining with 10 straightforward facts might be needed for the Nomad. 0:49 - Well, it was a successor to the Game Gear so I see it followed in it's footsteps more than it should have. Still wish it came out over here in the UK. From what I recall, the Game Gear had more colours it could display than even the Mega Drive. Was the Nomad also superior in colour to it's origin or was it so heavily based on the Mega Drive that it had a smaller colour palette than the Game Gear? 2:46 - That's the most insane part to me. Japan had LCD screen TVs in all their planes all the way back in the early-to-mid 90's. 4:41 - I love this original design. Sure, it doesn't fit in as well with the whole Mega Drive scheme but it stands out. Keeping the Game Gear style d-pad seemed like it would sense given it would be succeeding it. 7:23 - That's strange; I heard that the Game Gear did better in both Europe and Japan (percentage wise) compared to America. I suppose you mean handhelds like the Game Boy and Lynx, and the sheer amount that could sell within the larger US than percentage based. 9:44 - An because they region locked the thing, they couldn't release the Nomad in other territories to get through the inventory. Amazing how that bit them in the butt. 11:12 - Absolutely ridiculous and awesome at the same time. Look; the 32x can do something cool. It just takes the assistance of the Nomad. 15:00 - They could have just packaged the Nomad with an older game. Demonstrating "you can play the only year old Sonic 3 on a portable device" would be good as a marketing pitch. Vectorman came out within the same month; a slight delay and it could have been a cool new face to promote the Nomad with, demonstrating a rival to Donkey Kong Country that could be played on a portable device. 15:28 - Couldn't the Watara Supervision do the same thing? 17:24 - I wonder if it would have helped both companies if that support went further? Perhaps Neo Geo Pocket could have been the Neo Geo Gear; or at least had an adaptor allowing you to play Game Gear games on it.

[@staggerlee1869]

I still have and use my Nomad.

[@jordanhoughton1948]

They should have packed it with Sonic Classics or the Sega 6-pack cartridge

[@TheLairdsLair]

I'm inclined to agree

[@blastproces]

I’d like to see how megadoom runs on a sega nomad with the everdrive pro Fpga

[@DavidDatura]

I had no idea this console existed. With the exception of the awful battery life (and I thought my GameGear was bad in that department) it’s a nifty device. That if it had been available in my part of the world, I think I would have purchased despite that. As 3 hours with alkaline’s seems reasonable when out in the field so to speak. As I was more of a casual gamer. And when I got home, there was always the mains and TV adapters for the longer play games 🤷‍♂️

[@sonataonmymind]

Tec Toy launched the Nomad here in Brazil but I don't know how many units were sold or how long it was on sale.

[@Sonikkua]

I've been meaning to ask forever--what does the voice clip at the beginning of your videos say? I'm old with bad hearing and it sounds like 'Welcome Fun Lover' but I'm not sure.

[@TheLairdsLair]

Welcome STUN Runner - taken from the Atari Lynx port of the famous arcade game.

[@Sonikkua]

@@TheLairdsLair THANK YOU. This had been driving me mad

[@mr.vidjagamez9896]

I always thought it was such a shame that the Nomad wasnt made the 16bit successor to the GameGear, in how it re-utilized the Master System specs. We could have continued getting great 16bit games along-side the Saturn and Dreamcast and only would have been dethroned in power by the GBA.

[@rabidduck1089]

@@mr.vidjagamez9896 Essentially the Nomad was the GG successor, it just never really took off. Interesting thing is, it will indeed run Master System/GG games with a one wire mod. You just have to have an Everdrive cart to do it.

[@zedorda1337]

How is the Nomad supposed to replace the Game Gear when it can not play any of it library of games?

[@TheLairdsLair]

The same way the SNES replaced the NES and the Saturn replaced the Mega Drive?

[@tigheklory]

I just want to say that you have a bunch of things that are inaccurate in this video.

[@TheLairdsLair]

You can "just say" if you want but it's absolutely pointless and utterly meaningless if you don't point out what is "inaccurate" and cite your sources to prove me otherwise. I look forward to your corrections.

[@LostSox]

>>makes a claim >>provides no evidence Sounds like a failed content creator salty they can’t make videos. Edit: I looked at your channel after the fact and, lo and behold! I genuinely didn't know you were a content creator. You're like a Temu ReviewTechUSA: InspectElectCA.