PART 1: Sega Neptune Mod (Project 8)

[SwankeyMonkey]

My mod abilities only go as far as making arcade cabinets, but if I had your awesome abilities I'd follow this excellent mod of yours by next fusing the 32X with the SEGA CDX into one compact package, maybe that same model 2.

So Thomas, please show us what a 32X-CD Genesis console should (have) look like.

I said please...

[leadbullet1990]

Where were you when sega was manufacturing hardware? Your built in 32x/Neptune mod looks a lot better than the abysmal thing sitting in a cartridge port. I like the way you built it in, because im looking to build a genesis/32x/sega cd Tablet.

[thomas3120]

@leadbullet1990 Hehe, thanks leadbullet :) It's always easier to look back and change things though.

That's awesome man, looking foward to seeing it :D  ..post a vid when you're done.

[gameretrohard]

Simply beautiful! But better'd genesis model 1 modified with the Sega CD and insurance would have the 3 in 1 single console, you really have time to do this! Greetings!

[jorgito21st]

Thank is an awesome job I'm a huge sega fan what would be your labor charge to get this mod done?

[RiDstarX]

Wow this inspired me to start collecting Genesis and 32x games.. Only problem I would need this mod! And there's no way I could do this myself =. ( great mod Thomas !!

[TheMeleeMaster21]

This is the coolest genesis mod i've ever seen. o.O

[thomas3120]

@TheMeleeMaster21 aww...thanks a lot! :)

[jcrowley1985]

Almost makes you wonder why Sega's huge team of developers couldn't do this from the start. Instead, we got a huge mess of wires and a cumbersome tumor on top of our genesises.

Can't blame them, they had less then a year to fully design it before its release date.

[thomas3120]

@jcrowley1985 That's one thing I liked about Sega...they weren't scared to release add-ons like the Sega CD, 32X and the Nomad is still one of my favorite handhelds :) But yeah, it would've been better if they released maybe an all in one system (Genesis, 32X & SegaCD)

[affansonicfan]

I'll pay you $100 to mod my sega genesis and 32x into that thing!

[retrogamer343]

Yea I did that as well. I'm doing a couple more and I'm trying to figure out a way to shorten the wires. I will post another video when I'm done.

[retrogamer343]

Well I don't have that game to test with. I do believe it worked with NHL 94. I only tested the games that I own so I can't say for sure how many games don't work. I tested 50+ games and the only ones that did not play were nba jam and TE.

[retrogamer343]

I kept the 32X flat so I had clearance to keep the dust covers. No heat problems letting it run for a couple of hours. And no I did not change the voltage regulator. No need to with the model 2. I'm doing another neptune with a model one and I will have to change the voltage regulator.

[retrogamer343]

That is a nice job. I've done this mod twice. I used 4" wires and had no problem running 99% of games including street fighter though. I also just used the original power supply. The original has no problems running both systems.

[thomas3120]

@retrogamer343 Ahh good to know :) Did you lay the 32X boards out flat or folded up? Did you have any heat issues?

Using the one power adapter did you change the voltage regulator?

I'm heading over to your channel to check out your Neptune :)

[youtubasoarus]

That is unreal Thomas! Amazing work. 

[retroswede]

Great job on the Neptune, it looks awesome!

[measuringstick]

it actually looks like an official sega console. good job

[BeantownBoy89]

damn bro thats nasty make a bunch and sell that shit lol im not handy enough to do something like that but id definitely buy one great job man

[tommyboy4550]

This is amazing!! All your mods are the best ^_^

[thomas3120]

@tommyboy4550 Thanks Tom! :)

[sinistermoon]

That's bad ass!  Great job, man!

[thomas3120]

@sinistermoon Thanks Mike!  appreciate it :)

[Bylga]

Wow thats amazing O.o

[thomas3120]

@Bylga Thanks Bylga!

[OldSchoolNYCGamer]

Best Thomas3120 retro mod to date!

[thomas3120]

@OldSchoolNYCGamer Thanks Sid! :) hope all is good with you man!

[KieranD212]

whats you got in mind next a sega cd 32x all in one?

[thomas3120]

@KieranD212 hehe :) was (possibly) thinking of an all in one inside a Saturn case...don't know lol we'll see how it goes

[KieranD212]

no pass through cable!

has to be the best mod ive seen you ever do, the way the 2 shells match is amazing,

ive seen another neptune before but it wasnt nearly as nice

i couldnt do that it would take me a long time to learn about the electronics

[thomas3120]

@KieranD212 Hey thanks Kieran! the only thing about the electronics is just fitting it all in a tight space...other than that it's not too bad.

[coachmillsblog]

well done!

[thomas3120]

@coachmillsblog Thanks coach :)

[16bitghost]

I actually made a space on my shelf to accommodate a makeshift 32X.

I've seen 2 other builds of this, but yours looks AWESOME. I love the crescent accent. did you run in to any overheating problems?

[thomas3120]

@16bitghost Thanks Sophic :) it was getting a bit hot inside...I went ahead and added a small fan from an old laptop blowing some air over the main Sega 315 IC and the folded 32X boards.

[nathanallan1]

That is excellent work. Love how you moved components and split the power supply. Also the plastic work is just amazing.

[thomas3120]

@nathanallan1 Thanks Nathan :)

[brettscotland]

Fantastic mod mate well done

[thomas3120]

@brettscotland Thanks Brett!

[alexgameroom]

My jaw did drop slightly when I saw this! I hate to think of how long it must of taken you to do that mod, and get it to that standard, but that's a very impressive bit of engineering.

[thomas3120]

@alexgameroom Thanks Alex :) well it's been going on since last February lol...but I guess what took the most was wiring the connectors, moving a bunch of components around and fitting/cutting the plastic 32X top on.

[thomas3120]

@TehUberCyberBeast Thanks a lot! appreciate it :)

[thomas3120]

@MegaTim200 From the online guide I followed (in the description) he mentions SF2, some bootleg games, and a couple of 32X games. I guess SF2 is a good way to see if your wires from the 32X to Genesis slot are too long. From what he wrote, he got them all working with about a 1" length. Mine currently are about 1-3/4"

Good luck on yours :) ...post a video if you can, would like to see it.

[CRTdrone]

Nice work.

[thomas3120]

@CRTdrone Thanks :)

[jboypacman]

A amazing piece of work Thomas as always. : )

[thomas3120]

@jboypacman Thanks Jboy! :)

[jtatherton81]

impressive sir 

[thomas3120]

@jtatherton81 Thanks J!

[segadatabase]

Very nice mod!

[thomas3120]

@segadatabase Thanks :)

[elcheapouno]

wow man, very impressive!! now you have to make me one! =D

[thomas3120]

@elcheapouno Hey Corey, good to hear from you! & thanks :)

[cgratton]

Wow! That looks good.

[thomas3120]

@cgratton Thanks very much!

[duhmez]

Awesome mod.I must however suggest something to think about for all mods with respect to adding led lighting. I would recomend always including a switch to be able to turn it off. I notice this because in my case I usea a projector in the dark for all my gaming and tv/movies, and it's awesome, but light is the enemy doing this. LED lights brighten the room and make projector systems look much much worse as they brighten the room and flood it out. And also cause the light might annoy u sometime

[thomas3120]

@duhmez Great idea :) ...would be easy to add a switch on that red power wire.

Was looking into dimming the LED's ...but appears to be more involved..

[ChugAColdBeer]

sooooooooooooo want one! Epic Neptune!

[thomas3120]

@ChugAColdBeer Thanks man! :)

[BigDaddyDarth]

Cant wait to see Part 2!

That kicks so much ass......Looks like the Batmobile...lol

[thomas3120]

@BigDaddyDarth Thanks Danny!  good to hear from you :) Hehe...something about that model 2...lol ;)

[cobradvs]

I mean I've seen some crazy awesome shit in my day, but this is beyond bad ass! Awesome job!

[thomas3120]

@cobradvs Thanks Tyler!  I appreciate it :)

[airthrow]

I can do the hacking but there is NO WAY I can get the shell as neat looking as yours, would you take an order for one?

[thomas3120]

@airthrow It's really just a matter of taking off little by little and checking the fit...finding the low spots...taking a little off them, etc...

atm, no...I'm looking into (attempting) another mod..which will take up most of my free time :/

[airthrow]

I started one 2 years ago, STILL have been too lazy to finish mine, good for you! LOL

[thomas3120]

@airthrow Thanks Julian! :) Yeah, I started this one in Feb. 2011 hehe

[shaurz]

Just amazing, best Sega Neptune mod I've seen.

[thomas3120]

@shaurz Thanks Luke :) ..surely there are some better ones around?

[wintersrain86]

It's perfect bro. Love it.

[thomas3120]

@wintersrain86 Thanks man :)

[MasterKOfficial]

absolutely epic!

[thomas3120]

@MasterKOfficial Thanks Kevin!

[Utoobyourself]

FLAWLESS!!!.. Excellent mods DUDE!

[thomas3120]

@Utoobyourself Thanks & thanks for the comment :)

[oldatarigamer]

Awesome!!!!

[thomas3120]

@oldatarigamer Thanks Atarigamer :)

[28steryan]

You've succeeded in making that ugly ass 32X look pretty damn hot.

[thomas3120]

@28steryan lol! thanks Stephen :) In a way it reminded me of one of those headcrabs from half-life attached to the model 2 hehe

[hessrf1981]

Great Job as always.

[thomas3120]

@hessrf1981 Thanks :)

[SnapCraft316]

So this is like a Level 12 difficulty, eh? I'm jealous.

[thomas3120]

@SnapCraft316 Hey Snap, hmm, not too hard. Just everything is really tight inside...more of a pain lol

[markvergeer]

This is a most excellent high-tech mod that makes the heart of this old Sega fan beat a tad faster than it did before. Amazing work Thomas, you're very VERY crafty!

[thomas3120]

@markvergeer Many thanks Mark! :D

[1UPGameOver]

But now it only plays 32X games right?

The 32X mobo sits on top of the genesis model 2 one.

I now it sounds like impossible to do, since the 32X cartslot connects to the genesis one, but if you put in another genesis mobo with another cart slot, that I would love to see,,,

your NEPTUNE would have the choice of playing genesis and 32X games via a swich GENESIS/32X

[thomas3120]

@1UPGameOver Hi Pedro, It plays both Genesis & 32X games :)

I believe the Genesis games passthrough most of the 32X's hardware and goes directly to the Genesis

[1UPGameOver]

@thomas3120

Yeah, I know that now, after I commented I went looking for other NEPTUNE vids and realised it plays both... ;)

[Padoca85]

Looks amazing, really sleek design, Extremely professional. Probably gave you a lot of trouble putting together and redesign each time. I would say i just needs a Neptune logo in the front for the final touch. :). Your best work so far. Congratulations!

[thomas3120]

@Padoca85 Thanks Ricardo! :)

[TheBladeJunker]

I like all your projects but that is the most beautiful thing I have ever seen, long live SEGA.

[thomas3120]

@TheBladeJunker aww thanks man!  I appreciate it :)

[TheDamoMonster]

Just incredible Thomas.. I can't believe how well that has turned out mate :) Absolutely awesome man, well done !!!

[thomas3120]

@TheDamoMonster Thanks Damo! this one is probably the most pita mod to date lol :)

[kylelillie]

thats some sweet modding.

[thomas3120]

@kylelillie Thanks Kyle! and thanks again for letting me use your video :)

[hetrogamr84]

How many games do you test this mod with? Does this work with the CD attachment? Is Neptune a name Sega used?

[thomas3120]

@hetrogamr84 Hi, I currently have about 5 32X games and a bunch of Genesis games. atm, one Genesis game, Street Fighter II freezes up. The wires I have connecting the 32X to Genesis are 1-3/4" long. If I can get them to 1" it should work fine.

It works fine with the Sega/Mega CD.

Sega was going to release a Genesis-32X console (all components on a single mainboard I'm guessing) and call it 'Neptune' ...was never released though

[P5ychoFox]

That's a beautiful piece of work. I love the Neptune blue crescent. Fantastic stuff.

[thomas3120]

@P5ychoFox Thanks :)  really wanted to do the 'neptune' letters & backlit but really need a cnc machine to carve out perfect letters...wouldn't be the same doing it by hand lol

[ArcadeMameMachine]

SEGA eat your heart out, that's what they should have made, awesome mod alot of work but it looks great, looking forward to what's up next.

[thomas3120]

@ArcadeMameMachine Yeah, would've been great if they released it. & thanks :)

[CampbellFitness]

nice mod

[thomas3120]

@CampbellFitness Thanks :)

[atarileaf]

Looks like something you could buy in the store. Very professional Thomas. Looks fantastic. Eagerly awaiting Part deux :D

[thomas3120]

@atarileaf Thanks Jeremy! hopefully this weekend I'll have part 2 up :D

[Sean3614]

Wow, you finally finished the mod and it looks great as all ways :).

also can, you come out of hiding now :)

cheers,

Sean

[thomas3120]

@Sean3614 Hey thanks Sean! how's everything?

Hiding? lol ;)

[wesley12106]

ACDC \m/

[thomas3120]

@wesley12106 AC/DC=awesome :)

[retrogamerSam]

That looks awesome!

[thomas3120]

@retrogamerSam Thanks Sam! I appreciate it :D

[retrogamerSam]

@thomas3120 Got any use for a non-working Sega CD or Dreamcast? lol