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 show exactly what that means and why. Let’s dig into the technical nitty-gritty of one of the biggest flops in console licensing history. Spoilers: It’s a little more complicated than you think, at least in Japan. Trademarks and Security and Bears, oh my This is my Model 1 Sega Genesis, VA3 motherboard. As a result, it has no security of any sort. When you plug in a cartridge, the Motorola 68000 starts executing code from the cartridge, and the VDP will output a video signal based off of the commands sent by the 68000. Even the export Sega Master System had a BIOS to check the cartridge had a valid header; this doesn’t even have that. In this regard, it is very similar to the Atari 2600, the Nintendo Famicom, top-loading NESes without the lockout chip, or Sega’s own SG-1000. It would be the last Sega console to be this free. The…