New blog post! Trying to nail down what exactly is the difference between the Japanese and export versions of the Genesis / Mega Drive's TMSS licensing lockout. nicole.express/2026/the-tru...
The Truth about Sega's TradeMark Security System (TMSS)
I’m bringing out the truth about TMSS! Admit it! Sega never made a game console that can’t play that region’s release of Phantasy Star II, and it’s time to s...
nicole.express
June 7, 2026 at 1:05 PM
New blog post! Trying to nail down what exactly is the difference between the Japanese and export versions of the Genesis / Mega Drive's TMSS licensing lockout. nicole.express/2026/the-tru...
New mods released to the console modding community for free. Here is my logic based Sega Mega Drive / Sega Genesis TMSS Disable mod. Two PCBs available. A basic PCB requiring a full wire install & QSB PCB requiring a two wire install. github.com/consolesunle... #segamegadrive #segagenesis #tmss
April 3, 2025 at 11:03 AM
New mods released to the console modding community for free. Here is my logic based Sega Mega Drive / Sega Genesis TMSS Disable mod. Two PCBs available. A basic PCB requiring a full wire install & QSB PCB requiring a two wire install. github.com/consolesunle... #segamegadrive #segagenesis #tmss
The Truth about Sega's TradeMark Security System (TMSS)
#sega #ema #gamedevelopment #ys #gamedev #indiedev
#sega #ema #gamedevelopment #ys #gamedev #indiedev
The Truth about Sega's TradeMark Security System (TMSS)
I’m bringing out the truth about TMSS! Admit it! Sega never made a game console that can’t play that region’s release of Phantasy Star II, and it’s time to s...
nicole.express
June 8, 2026 at 11:01 AM
Back to testing and nothing is getting hot, draw is fantastic so onto testing games....and oh, oh dear.
Guess that SRAM is unhappy maybe?
SMS games not booting, MD games show TMSS but nothing else, 32X no boot.
Swap SRAM first to see if behaviour change as that is something I did bad.
Guess that SRAM is unhappy maybe?
SMS games not booting, MD games show TMSS but nothing else, 32X no boot.
Swap SRAM first to see if behaviour change as that is something I did bad.
January 13, 2025 at 12:36 AM
Back to testing and nothing is getting hot, draw is fantastic so onto testing games....and oh, oh dear.
Guess that SRAM is unhappy maybe?
SMS games not booting, MD games show TMSS but nothing else, 32X no boot.
Swap SRAM first to see if behaviour change as that is something I did bad.
Guess that SRAM is unhappy maybe?
SMS games not booting, MD games show TMSS but nothing else, 32X no boot.
Swap SRAM first to see if behaviour change as that is something I did bad.
Test run of the songs I’ve done so far with a music player. This is on a VA2 model 1. Song 5 is causing distortion from being too loud as a whole. PSG in general is loud on every song.
I also have a VA6 (TMSS) model 1. Might see if it sounds any different.
I also have a VA6 (TMSS) model 1. Might see if it sounds any different.
September 1, 2025 at 3:07 AM
Test run of the songs I’ve done so far with a music player. This is on a VA2 model 1. Song 5 is causing distortion from being too loud as a whole. PSG in general is loud on every song.
I also have a VA6 (TMSS) model 1. Might see if it sounds any different.
I also have a VA6 (TMSS) model 1. Might see if it sounds any different.
NEW MOD: Coded by Wurthless-Elektroniks, designed by Consoles Unleashed. A collaboration no one asked for & no one wanted, brings you a device no one needs. The SEGA Mega Drive TMSS Disable. Catchiest name ever. PCB's up on github.com/consolesunle... #ConsoleMods #ConsolesUnleashed #ConsoleModding
March 28, 2025 at 11:04 PM
NEW MOD: Coded by Wurthless-Elektroniks, designed by Consoles Unleashed. A collaboration no one asked for & no one wanted, brings you a device no one needs. The SEGA Mega Drive TMSS Disable. Catchiest name ever. PCB's up on github.com/consolesunle... #ConsoleMods #ConsolesUnleashed #ConsoleModding
Raspberry Pi Pico Sega mod update: with one more wire, it can now skip TMSS too. As well as true region changing, 50/60 hz with dual frequency oscillator, overclocking and in-game reset button combo. All off of a plain Pico that can be had for less than a few bucks.
March 4, 2025 at 10:16 PM
Raspberry Pi Pico Sega mod update: with one more wire, it can now skip TMSS too. As well as true region changing, 50/60 hz with dual frequency oscillator, overclocking and in-game reset button combo. All off of a plain Pico that can be had for less than a few bucks.
Often wondered how the TMSS is implemented (or sometimes not) on the various generations of Genesis/Megadrive. Mine’s an early PAL one, so has no lockout as far as I can tell.
New blog post! Trying to nail down what exactly is the difference between the Japanese and export versions of the Genesis / Mega Drive's TMSS licensing lockout. nicole.express/2026/the-tru...
The Truth about Sega's TradeMark Security System (TMSS)
I’m bringing out the truth about TMSS! Admit it! Sega never made a game console that can’t play that region’s release of Phantasy Star II, and it’s time to s...
nicole.express
June 7, 2026 at 4:00 PM
Often wondered how the TMSS is implemented (or sometimes not) on the various generations of Genesis/Megadrive. Mine’s an early PAL one, so has no lockout as far as I can tell.
The final wiring for the Pi Pico based Genesis multi mod. I also have the code working, and here is what you get:
🇯🇵🇺🇸🇬🇧Region switch via controller or reset button
🔁DFO for proper 50/60Hz
🎮In game reset controller combo
⏩Overclocking switchable via controller
🚫TMSS skip/removal
More info soon!
🇯🇵🇺🇸🇬🇧Region switch via controller or reset button
🔁DFO for proper 50/60Hz
🎮In game reset controller combo
⏩Overclocking switchable via controller
🚫TMSS skip/removal
More info soon!
March 7, 2025 at 3:29 AM
The final wiring for the Pi Pico based Genesis multi mod. I also have the code working, and here is what you get:
🇯🇵🇺🇸🇬🇧Region switch via controller or reset button
🔁DFO for proper 50/60Hz
🎮In game reset controller combo
⏩Overclocking switchable via controller
🚫TMSS skip/removal
More info soon!
🇯🇵🇺🇸🇬🇧Region switch via controller or reset button
🔁DFO for proper 50/60Hz
🎮In game reset controller combo
⏩Overclocking switchable via controller
🚫TMSS skip/removal
More info soon!
So to sum up:
Switchless region change through reset button
PAL/NTSC switching with dual frequency oscillator
In game reset from controller
Overclocking switchable from controller
TMSS delete (fully, you will never see it again now)
Master System pausing from controller
The most complete MD mod? 🤔
Switchless region change through reset button
PAL/NTSC switching with dual frequency oscillator
In game reset from controller
Overclocking switchable from controller
TMSS delete (fully, you will never see it again now)
Master System pausing from controller
The most complete MD mod? 🤔
If you've been interested in the mod I've been working on, here it is. It's not completely finished yet, but you should be able to install it and update the firmware later. All the features are working, I just need to add LED indication to it and I'm waiting on LEDs
github.com/DUSTINODELLO...
github.com/DUSTINODELLO...
GitHub - DUSTINODELLOFFICIAL/openheart: Cheap and simple multi-mod for the Sega Genesis/Mega Drive
Cheap and simple multi-mod for the Sega Genesis/Mega Drive - DUSTINODELLOFFICIAL/openheart
github.com
June 28, 2025 at 5:51 PM
So to sum up:
Switchless region change through reset button
PAL/NTSC switching with dual frequency oscillator
In game reset from controller
Overclocking switchable from controller
TMSS delete (fully, you will never see it again now)
Master System pausing from controller
The most complete MD mod? 🤔
Switchless region change through reset button
PAL/NTSC switching with dual frequency oscillator
In game reset from controller
Overclocking switchable from controller
TMSS delete (fully, you will never see it again now)
Master System pausing from controller
The most complete MD mod? 🤔
I might even be able to fit a TMSS bypass in this thing with one extra wire
Okay, we have NTSC and PAL master clock switching, CPU overclocking, 50/60hz switching, and Japan/export switch working. Now to implement controller hotkeys & in game reset
Step one of raspberry pi pico based Sega Genesis DFO/region/overclock modchip: Can the Pico provide the clock? Turns out it can!
March 3, 2025 at 9:54 PM
I might even be able to fit a TMSS bypass in this thing with one extra wire
I'd never gotten to play around with an overclock on the Genesis, so here are some observations
Many games work fine but with no real benefits
Other games glitch or crash
Some games (Road Rash) work and benefit IMMENSELY
Random chance a game will boot to a pink screen
The TMSS screen is faster
Many games work fine but with no real benefits
Other games glitch or crash
Some games (Road Rash) work and benefit IMMENSELY
Random chance a game will boot to a pink screen
The TMSS screen is faster
12.5 mhz seems to work better than 10. I can think of some possible reasons for this but it's still interesting. I think at this speed the RAM is too slow.
10mhz is too big an ask for this one unfortunately but 8.95 might work. I don't know the quality of the PWM signal, I'm working blind
March 2, 2025 at 5:36 AM
I'd never gotten to play around with an overclock on the Genesis, so here are some observations
Many games work fine but with no real benefits
Other games glitch or crash
Some games (Road Rash) work and benefit IMMENSELY
Random chance a game will boot to a pink screen
The TMSS screen is faster
Many games work fine but with no real benefits
Other games glitch or crash
Some games (Road Rash) work and benefit IMMENSELY
Random chance a game will boot to a pink screen
The TMSS screen is faster
Space Cats Saga is my favorite DooM mod I have played in years cuz it has an OVER-UNDER BREAKACTION SHOTGUN
also it might be one of the most ridiculously powerful shotguns I have seen in a DooM mod(not counting meme DooM weapon mods that Russian or TMSS)
fuck it feels so good to use!
also it might be one of the most ridiculously powerful shotguns I have seen in a DooM mod(not counting meme DooM weapon mods that Russian or TMSS)
fuck it feels so good to use!
March 26, 2025 at 11:50 PM
Space Cats Saga is my favorite DooM mod I have played in years cuz it has an OVER-UNDER BREAKACTION SHOTGUN
also it might be one of the most ridiculously powerful shotguns I have seen in a DooM mod(not counting meme DooM weapon mods that Russian or TMSS)
fuck it feels so good to use!
also it might be one of the most ridiculously powerful shotguns I have seen in a DooM mod(not counting meme DooM weapon mods that Russian or TMSS)
fuck it feels so good to use!
Yeah it's even the pre-TMSS version so gotta be like year one Genesis.
October 3, 2025 at 10:31 PM
Yeah it's even the pre-TMSS version so gotta be like year one Genesis.
needs cleaning but so far works good, didn't even have to clean the cartridge port like with the other one
it's also a non TMSS console
it's also a non TMSS console
January 27, 2025 at 7:25 PM
needs cleaning but so far works good, didn't even have to clean the cartridge port like with the other one
it's also a non TMSS console
it's also a non TMSS console
Sega was also sued by Accolade for TMSS. Accolade was later acquired by Infogrames who is now known as Atari. :)
May 17, 2026 at 10:49 PM
Sega was also sued by Accolade for TMSS. Accolade was later acquired by Infogrames who is now known as Atari. :)
Hopefully soon you can dig out the non-TMSS Genesis to play the worst 16-bit games there ever were soon.
August 24, 2025 at 7:59 PM
Hopefully soon you can dig out the non-TMSS Genesis to play the worst 16-bit games there ever were soon.
Sega Genesis 1 on the bench today for case cleaning and general inspection. (I'd already removed the LED and LED bezel before thinking to take the "before" picture)
October 21, 2023 at 2:43 PM
Sega Genesis 1 on the bench today for case cleaning and general inspection. (I'd already removed the LED and LED bezel before thinking to take the "before" picture)
This joke was funnier in my head
March 29, 2024 at 5:19 PM
This joke was funnier in my head
Tying VA22 to /CART has to be one of the most disproportionate ratios between effort and result (all you have to do is tie together two lines and your cartridge now can address 8MB without any mappers)
You lose Mega CD access but if you didn't need that it doesn't really harm? (and works with TMSS)
You lose Mega CD access but if you didn't need that it doesn't really harm? (and works with TMSS)
November 2, 2025 at 2:40 AM
Tying VA22 to /CART has to be one of the most disproportionate ratios between effort and result (all you have to do is tie together two lines and your cartridge now can address 8MB without any mappers)
You lose Mega CD access but if you didn't need that it doesn't really harm? (and works with TMSS)
You lose Mega CD access but if you didn't need that it doesn't really harm? (and works with TMSS)
Although TMSS actually was intended as a region lock at first (as the earliest Japanese Mega Drive games don't have TMSS support), TMSS support was added to Japanese Mega Drive games in 1989.
July 27, 2025 at 1:13 PM
Although TMSS actually was intended as a region lock at first (as the earliest Japanese Mega Drive games don't have TMSS support), TMSS support was added to Japanese Mega Drive games in 1989.
And then there is the addictiveness of nicotine, regardless of whether it is vaped or smoked.
So, quit smoking by vaping?
bsky.app/profile/tmss...
So, quit smoking by vaping?
bsky.app/profile/tmss...
"Additionally, we found no statistically significant differences in prevalence of dependence between non-smoker current vapers and non-vaper current smokers in either fixed or random effect model;".. "indicating that e-cigarettes are as addictive as cigarettes"...
Kundu et al., 2025
Kundu et al., 2025
April 19, 2026 at 12:54 AM
And then there is the addictiveness of nicotine, regardless of whether it is vaped or smoked.
So, quit smoking by vaping?
bsky.app/profile/tmss...
So, quit smoking by vaping?
bsky.app/profile/tmss...