
        The following is a list of "Game Doctors" and its capabilities I
compiled for your information.  And what is "Game Doctor", and it's
origin. 

----------------------------------------------------------------------------
	"Game Doctor" is the name giving to devices that can read the ROM
on the video game cartridges and store it on floppy disk, which later can
be play back on the video game consoles without the original cartridge.
	The first "Game Doctor" got its start on the Nintendo Famicom
(Japan's NES).  As most of you know, Famicom has a 2.8" disk drive
available for it, and to save the material cost, many software maker
publish games on the 2.8" floppy.  (I think Nintendo choose to use a 
nonstardard disk size to control software piracy, as there won't be much
blank 2.8" floppy disks around to copy the games on.)  Anyway, sooner or
later, someone has written a disk copying program(don't think it's ever
legal in Japan).  And somehow as the years go by, there's plenty of blank
2.8" disks around.  I guess that's why there's never a disk drive for the
U.S. Nintendo, and now, most of the new games in Japan were out in cartridge
only.  To counter this, somebody made some new hardware that connects to the 
Famicom and the disk drive that backs up the games on to the floppy.
Thus, creating the first "Game Doctor".
	Applying the same concept to other video game consoles, many 
companies in Hong Kong and Taiwan made such devices for Famicom, and then
for PC-Engine, Genesis, etc.  These were the first generation "Game Doctors",
which only works with one type of machine, and generally uses the old 2.8"
Nintendo disk drive.  (Don't think there's ever any "Game Doctor" made
by a Japanese company, as the software companies, Nintendo, and Sega would
suit the pants off that company.  And Hong Kong had historically ignored the 
copyright laws of other countries.  They even have Nintendo Famicom clones.
Don't know about Taiwan. )
	As there are many limitations to the first generation of "Game Doctors",
like, limited storage of 2.8" floppy disks, only one megabit per disk, 
too expansive for multisystem owners, having to buy a "Game Doctor" for each
of his video game system, etc., comes the second generation of "Game Doctors".
	Almost every second generation of "Game Doctors" have a 3.5" drive,
and many of them can be use with serval different types of game systems at
the same time.
	And right now, the third generation of "Game Doctors" have already
been out.  The latest "Game Doctor" uses the more expansive static RAM,
to prevent hung up in the middle of the game.  (as DRAM has to refresh 
itself every cycle, and ROM do not, these could cause problems with the
video game consoles.  Static RAM acts much more like ROM than DRAM.)
Also, the new ones can be use with any video game systems that's ever out
and will be out in the future, including portables, like Game Boy, and 
Game Gear.  As all they have to do is to make a new interface.  And the 
size of the third generation "Game Doctors" is about a bit larger than a 
VHS video cassette, and can be use on battery power.
	I would not discuss how the first and second generation "Game Doctor"
works, instead, I'll talk more about the third generation, which I think
should be the most interesting to you.
	Currently there are two "Game Doctors" that are of the third generation.
They are 'Multi Game Doctor 2' and 'Super Twin Star', both made in Hong Kong.
The main unit contains a 3.5" HD disk drive, a LCD display, and a 
microprocessor for controlling, with a slot on the side.  They are about
the size of a VHS video cassette, can be use on battery power or AC.
To play a game from the disk, you first insert a special RAM cart into 
the slot on the main unit.  Then you load the game data onto the cart.
After that, you take out the cart, and plug it into an interfacing cartridge
for your type of video game console.  Then turn on the game console and play!
Isn't that simple?  As to how do you get the games on disk, first you
get the game cartridge you want to play.  Then, plug it into a special
interface for that type of game system, and plug the whole thing into the
slot on the main unit, and select the function BACKUP on the main unit.
And it will back up the cartridge on to disk.
	And as these two "Game Doctor" uses the standard IBM disk format,
you can pop the disk into your PC and modify the game, using PC Tools or
other disk editing program.  Like making the game to give you unlimited
1-ups or invincible, etc.  The possibility are endless.  And as to which
bytes to change, they're frequently published in Hong Kong video game
magazines.
	The following is a list of all the "Game Doctors" currently 
available.

Mega Disk	Type: 		can only be use on Sega Mega Drive
		Company:	Taiwan Sang Ting Co. Ltd.
				11/F., RM. 1101C, Ho King Comm. Centre,
				2 Fa Yuen St.,	
				KLN., Hong Kong
				Tel:   7704068
				Fax:   7807653
				(Please add Hong Kong international 
				 area code)
		Description:	a boxy shaped thing that sits on top of the
				Sega Mega Drive, much like a Genesis Master
				system converter.  has a built in 3.5"HD drive.
				Has 8Megabit memory, (cannot play 12M games
				like Star Control).  has a slot on top for
				plugging in cartridges, so you don't have to 
				remove 'Mega Disk' everytime you want to 
				play a cartridge game.  since it does not have
				a battery backup, you have to reload the game
				each time you turn off the system.  but takes
				only 34 seconds to load an 8 M game.
				While playing games from disk, you can plug
				in a save cart with battery into 'Mega Disk'
				to save your progress anytime, even if the
				game is an action game.  each save cart can 
				only save one game at a time.  it can
				also back up cartridges onto disks.
		Prices:		'Mega Disk' costs HK$ 1650
				save cart   HK$200


Super Magic Drive
		
		Type:		Super Magic Drive is for Sega Mega Drive only,
				but the company makes two versions of it for
				Nintendo Famicom, and NEC PC-Engine.  And is
				about to come out with one that works with 
				Super Famicom.  Each version can only be use
				with the system it designed for.
		Company:	don't know, the name is in Chinese
				Tel:  3870223
				Fax:  3867980
				(please dial the Hong Kong International
				 area code first)
		Description:	the Sega version works much the same way as
				the 'Mega Disk', also sits on top of the
				Mega Drive, but it has built in save cart,
				and can have unlimited saves by writing it
				to disk.  also can have a max of 16 Megabit 
				memory. 
				the Nintendo Famicom version has 6M of 
				Memory, while the NEC PC-Engine version,
				comes in either 4 or 8 Megabit of memory,
				all three uses the same type of 3.5" HD
				disk drive.  the main unit is separated
				from the disk drive, connected by a cable.
		Prices:		Sega Mega Drive version:  8M    HK$1100
							 16M	HK$1600
				Famicom version:   6M  HK$695
				PC-Engine version:  4M  HK$1050
						   8M  HK$1300	  
				3.5" HD Sony disk drive:    HK$550



Turbo GD 6+	Type:		for Nintendo Famicom only
		Description:	plugs into cartridge slot of Famicom and
				sits on top of it. has 6M memory, needs
				to buy another device for it in order to
				save game.  two piece type, main unit on top
				of Famicom with a cable connected to a
				3.5" disk drive.
		Company:	don't know
				(the name is in Chinese only)
				Tel:  7282879
				Fax:  7283012
				(add Hong Kong international area code
				 when dialing)
		Princes:	Don't know


Super Twin Star HM-Drive

		Type:		portable, multi system, can be use with any
				system, including Gameboy and Game Gear
		Description:	a portable unit about the size of a VHS
				cassette, has built in 3.5" HD disk drive,
				a two line LCD display for system function,
				and a slot on the side for accepting its
				own type of battery backed RAM cartridge,
				to play a game from disk, you first plug
				the RAM cart into its slot, then load the 
				game data from disk and write it to the
				RAM cart, then, take out the cart and plug
				it into a interface cartridge for your
				game system, and plug the whole thing into
				your video game system and play.
				to copy a game from cartridge, plug the 
				game cartridge into a special interface and
				then plug it into Super Twin Star, and 
				select the backup command.
				the RAM cart size is about 5 AA batteries
				put together.
				right now, it only have interfaces for using
				on PC-Engine, Super Famicom, Mega Drive,
				Game Boy, and Game Gear.
		Company:	FM Trading Company
				Tel:  3878985
				Fax:  7259680
				(dial Hong Kong area code first)
		Prices:		main unit with 4M RAM cart:  HK$2400
					       8M RAM cart:  HK$3200
         			  (includes one interface with main unit)
				All interfaces are HK$80 each, except
				Super Famicom, which is HK$400 	

		Note:		Instruction manual is in English


Multi Game Doctor
		Type:		Multi system
		Description:	two piece type, one is main unit, connected 
				to the disk drive via a cable, or you can 
				buy a special cable with software and use
				your IBM's disk drive.
				comes in 4M or 8M memory.
				the RAM is built into the main unit, 
				connecting via cable and an interface 
				cartridge, the flat cable is easy to break.
				Right now only have interface for Mega Drive,
				PC-Engine, and Super Famicom.
		Company:	Makko Toy Co., Ltd.
				Tel:  7283703
		Prices:		4M Multi Game Doctor:   HK$1250
				8M Multi Game Doctor:   HK$2150
				3.5" disk drive:       HK$850
				PC-Engine & Mega Drive 
					     interface:  HK$80 each
				Mega Drive interface with
				      built in save cart:  HK$180
				Super Famicom interface
				with built in save cart:   HK$650


Multi Game Doctor 2
		
		Type:		portable, multi system
		Description:	Just like Super Twin Star, except it has
				a much smaller LCD display, and its RAM
				cart uses tiny lithium battery, and about
				the size of a Game Boy cartridge.
				can have a max of 32M memory, but right now
				only offers a max of 8M RAM cart.
				(Super twin star uses a regular AA or AAA 
				 battery for its RAM cart, but the lithium
				 battery in Multi Game Doctor 2 RAM carts
				 lasts only a month)
				right now, have interface for Mega Drive,
				Super Famicom, PC-Engine, NEC Super Grafx,
				Game Boy, and Game Gear.
		Prices:		Multi Game Doctor 2:   HK$1100
				1M RAM cart:   HK$395
				2M RAM cart:   HK$695
				4M RAM cart:   HK$1125
				8M RAM cart:   HK$1990
				Game Boy interface with 
				     save game feature:  HK$185
				Game Gear interface:     HK$170
				PC-Engine interface:     HK$150
				Super-Grafx interface:   HK$150
				Mega Drive interface
			        with save game feature:  HK$215
				Super Famicom interface
				with save game feature:  HK$590
				Cartridge backup to disk
						interface:  HK$200 for 
							    each system
				lithium battery for RAM cart:  HK$15



Where to get the "Game Doctor"?
--------------------------------

	Of course if you can go to Hong Kong, you can get it there.  But, if 
you are like most people, which you won't be in Hong Kong in the near future,
and don't have any friends there,  you could try to find some specialty
Hong Kong importing company and ask them to get one for you, which they
many times charges no less than 50% of the price of the system.
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