Sega Channel BIOS (US)
Sega Channel BIOS (US)
|
| Sega Channel |
|---|
Developers: Sega,
 This game has a prototype article |
This game has hidden developer credits.
This game has hidden development-related text.
This game has unused text. | This game is defunct. Do note the game no longer works at all without modifications. This is most likely due to the game's servers being shut down. As a result, further official developments with the game are unlikely to happen. |
The Sega Channel was Sega's early attempt at a broadband media delivery service. It provided a continuously looping one-way stream of data on a hidden channel which the Sega Channel tuner would "catch" and then download to its internal memory for usage. New streams were provided monthly to the user at a cost of roughly $15 per month (about $25 when adjusted for inflation).
Although it caught on almost exclusively in the United States, it was instrumental in later broadband Internet deployment by encouraging participating cable operators to upgrade and maintain their systems for cleaner digital delivery.
This article covers both the Scientific Atlanta and General Instrument versions of the Sega Channel.
Contents
1 Hidden Text
1.1 Build Texts
1.2 Compiler Message
1.3 Credits
1.4 Placeholder Text
1.5 Error Text
2 Remote Diagnostic Tools
2.1 Scientific Atlanta version
2.1.1 Developer Diagnostics
2.2 General Instrument version
Hidden Text
Build Texts
A compilation date can be seen at 0x200 in both versions.
| Scientific Atlanta | General Instrument |
|---|---|
Apr 27 1995 AT 16:27:07 V0.25 | Sep 12 1995 AT 15:01:51 V0.17 |
Compiler Message
Present at 0x12B99 in the Scientific Atlanta version and at 0x11D91 in the General Instrument version is a compiler error that somehow made it into the ROM.
Math library must precede standard C library on linker command line
to access printf() that supports floating point
Credits
Starting at offset 0xCDDE (Scientific Atlanta) or 0xB707 (General Instrument) is a large chunk of credits, followed by an odd comment about fast-food catering, a fan club address (with the developers replacing vital information with X's), and a copyright notice.
| Scientific Atlanta | General Instrument |
|---|---|
|
|
Placeholder Text
Likely present to fill space before data was downloaded from the cable operator, or maybe just for testing. Curiously, ticker five line one includes an extra "WO" in its text. This can be found at 0x2C3A in the Scientific Atlanta version, while it's at 0x2C3E in the General Instrument version.
THIS IS TICKER ONE LINE ONE
THIS IS TICKER ONE LINE TWO
THIS IS TICKER ONE LINE THREE
THIS IS TICKER ONE LINE FOUR
THIS IS TICKER ONE LINE FIVE
THIS IS TICKER ONE LINE SIX
THIS IS TICKER ONE LINE SEVEN
THIS IS TICKER TWO LINE ONE
THIS IS TICKER TWO LINE TWO
THIS IS TICKER TWO LINE THREE
THIS IS TICKER TWO LINE FOUR
THIS IS TICKER TWO LINE FIVE
THIS IS TICKER TWO LINE SIX
THIS IS TICKER TWO LINE SEVEN
THIS IS TICKER THREE LINE ONE
THIS IS TICKER THREE LINE TWO
THIS IS TICKER THREE LINE THREE
THIS IS TICKER THREE LINE FOUR
THIS IS TICKER THREE LINE FIVE
THIS IS TICKER THREE LINE SIX
THIS IS TICKER THREE LINE SEVEN
THIS IS TICKER FOUR LINE ONE
THIS IS TICKER FOUR LINE TWO
THIS IS TICKER FOUR LINE THREE
THIS IS TICKER FOUR LINE FOUR
THIS IS TICKER FOUR LINE FIVE
THIS IS TICKER FOUR LINE SIX
THIS IS TICKER FOUR LINE SEVEN
THIS IS TICKER FIVE WO LINE ONE
THIS IS TICKER FIVE LINE TWO
THIS IS TICKER FIVE LINE THREE
THIS IS TICKER FIVE LINE FOUR
THIS IS TICKER FIVE LINE FIVE
THIS IS TICKER FIVE LINE SIX
THIS IS TICKER FIVE LINE SEVEN
Error Text
Generic error messages, possibly displayed in operation if a serious error occurred, or simply used during debugging. This text is at 0x32E1 in the Scientific Atlanta version before the diagnostic tools text, but at 0xEBC5 in the General Instrument version after the diagnostic tool text.
BUS ERROR:
ADDRESS ERROR:
OUT OF SAT ERROR:
OUT OF VRAM ERROR:
OUT OF OBJECTS ERROR:
GENERIC ERROR:
ERROR!
Remote Diagnostic Tools
Scientific Atlanta version
Possibly meant for cable operators to provide remote support using equipment at the headend, pieces of a remote diagnostic tool are located starting at offset 0x34DF. What could be done remotely, if anything, is unclear, although some of the text indicates the existence of a downlink test that would fill RAM with dummy data, and a debug display that would list the contents of the 68000 registers and stack pointer.
SegaChannel Remote Diagnostic SCHAN
Filling %lX from %08lX to %08lX
Tuning %08lx
FIXIT_STARTADDR: %04X
FIXIT_WORKBOUND: %04X
GAME_TIMEOUT: %04X
GAME_ID: %04X
PKT_MATCHADDR: %04X
CURRENT_SPACKET: %04X
GEN_STATUS: %04X
GEN_CONTROL: %04X
ERROR_COUNTER: %04X
CRC_INPUT: %04X
CRC_LOWOUT: %04X
CRC_HIGHOUT: %04X
Decompressing Took %u vblanks
ASIC
TUNE
COMP
PLL Config %mwd
Tuner Type %t
DONE
FIRST TEST
SECOND TEST
DATA %mld
ADDRESS %mld
BLOCK %mld
FILL DATA %mld
DRAM TEST %mwd
P0%mwd
P1%mwd
P2%mwd
P3%mwd
P4%mwd
P5%mwd
P6%mwd
P7%mwd
SP%mwd
NU%mwd
Current Logical Channel %mbd
Current Channel %mbd
$PASSED CRC
TARGET CRC %mld
ACTUAL CRC %mld
FAILED CRC
BLOCK %mld
Developer Diagnostics
This diagnostic tool appears to be for developers, as it gives out the internal registers within the Sega Channel cartridge and also returns the value of the game downloaded. It begins at 0xA32C in the ROM.
ADAPTER ADDRESS :%p
INITIALIZED :%p
AUTHORIZED :%p
ART ALIVE : 06000029%p
BFD VALUE :.%p
PLL IC :%p
TUNING WORD : %m
MEMORY TEST : NOT INITIATED%p
ADDR WRITE READ%p
ASIC REG : %msd
%p
TCU BYTE :%p
RESET CONDITION :%p
GENERAL STAT REG :%p
GENERAL CTRL REG :%p
TCU STATUS REG :%p
ERROR COUNT :%p
/S%p!
/10S%p
GAME ID MATCH REG :%p
PKTADDR MATCH REG :%p
CURR PKTADDR REG :%p
There's also a small DRAM writing test at 0xAD24.
WRITING TO DRAM
TESTING DRAM...%p
INITIATED
%p PASSED
%p FAILED
TEST STOPPED
General Instrument version
Compared to the Scientific Atlanta version, the General Instrument version is significantly simpler.
Text for a diagnostic screen can be seen in the ROM at 0x4E90.
DIAGNOSTIC SCREEN%p
SERIAL NUMBER:%p
SOFTWARE VERSION:%p
ERROR CODE:%p
STATUS:%p
FER:%p
FORCE TUNE FREQUENCY: 000.0 MHZ%p
CURRENT TUNE FREQ: 000.0 MHZ%p
CHANNEL MAP:%p
TO EXIT RESET THE ADAPTER
There's also text for a more succinct download diagnostic program at 0xEDC3.
GI SegaChannel Remote Diagnostic
Sep 12 1995
SCHAN
Filling %lX from %08lX to %08lX
Command=%02X
%02X
No Rx
Test start at %08lX
Reading -- Press return to start
Mem fail at %08lX - was %08lX
SRAM Fail @ %08lX
SRAM Fail @ %08lX
SRAM Test finished!
Checksum = %04X
Copying game from ROM
Game finally Copied
Verifying game is in DRAM
Game didnt make it!
Game Verified
Verifying game is in DRAM
Game not quite there!
Game Verified
| BIOS/Firmware ROMs | |
|---|---|
| Nintendo | |
| Consoles | Famicom Disk System • FamicomBox • GameCube • Wii • Wii U • Nintendo Switch |
| Handhelds | Game Boy Color • Game Boy Advance • Nintendo DS • Nintendo 3DS |
| Official Accessories | Super Disc • Super Game Boy • BS-X • Game Boy Camera • GB Memory • 64DD • e-Reader |
| Unofficial Accessories | StudyBox • Game Genie (Game Boy) • Pro Action Replay (NES) • Game Genie (SNES) • Pro Action Replay (SNES) (MK2 • MK3) • Action Replay (GameCube) • GameShark (N64) • GB Hunter • Tri-Star • XBAND (SNES) • Action Replay DS (DSi) |
| Arcade Systems | Triforce |
| Sega | |
| Consoles | Genesis • Sega CD • 32X • Sega Saturn • Dreamcast |
| Accessories | Sega Graphic Board v2.0 • Game Genie (Genesis) • Sega Channel (Prototypes) • Visual Memory Unit |
| Arcade Systems | Sega Titan Video • Sega Hikaru • Triforce |
| SNK | |
| Consoles | Neo Geo • Neo Geo CD |
| Arcade Systems | Neo Geo |
| Sony | |
| Consoles | PlayStation • PlayStation 2 • PlayStation 3 |
| Handhelds | PlayStation Portable |
| Others | |
| 3DO | 3DO |
| Bit Corporation | Gamate |
| Brezzasoft | Brezzasoft Crystal System |
| Commodore | Amiga CD32 |
| GamePark | GP32 |
| JungleTac/KenSingTon | Vii |
| Konami | Bubble System |
| LeapFrog | Leapster • LeapFrog Epic |
| Microsoft | Xbox |
| Nabi | Nabi SE |
| Namco | NA-1/NA-2 • Triforce |
| NEC | TurboGrafx-CD • United Amusements PC Engine |
| Philips | CD-i |
| TimeTop | GameKing |
| VTech | V.Smile |
Categories:
- Games developed by Sega
- Games developed by Pacific Softscape
- Games developed by Foley Hi-Tech
- Games published by Sega
- Genesis games
- Games released in 1994
- Games with hidden developer credits
- Games with hidden development-related text
- Games with unused text
- Defunct games
- BIOS/Firmware ROMs
Games > BIOS/Firmware ROMs
Games > Defunct games
Games > Games by content > Games with hidden developer credits
Games > Games by content > Games with hidden development-related text
Games > Games by content > Games with unused text
Games > Games by developer > Games developed by Foley Hi-Tech
Games > Games by developer > Games developed by Pacific Softscape
Games > Games by developer > Games developed by Sega
Games > Games by platform > Genesis games
Games > Games by publisher > Games published by Sega
Games > Games by release date > Games released in 1994
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