coupla dreamcast questions

[orntar]

i just bought a dream cast on ebay. no games tho. and i am looking for a marvel vs capcam 2 for it on ebay and half of them say japan release.

can i tell the region my dreamcast is from by looking at a label or something?
can my dreamcast (assuming it is usa) play a japanese mvsc2 game disc?

and finally, any good places to get used (cheap) DC games?

[Dave_K.]

You can play imports on your dreamcast by using any of the codes/cheats CDs for dreamcast (like Action Replay, Gameshark, or DCX discs...forsale on ebay).  All of these are perfectly legal to play imports with.  There is an Action Replay demo disc that was available for freedownload one some websites which you simply burn yourself.  The best part of this is, again perfectly legal, and it also works with the DC VGA adapter  .

[TalkingOctopus]

I get my DC games from http://www.gamestop.com.  However, I do not order online.  There is one near my house that I would occasionally visit.  They sell the games for less in the store than they do online.  Games normally range from 5-20$.  So, if there is one in your town be sure to check it out.

[pmc]

I just got back from Gamespot where I bought my first series of DC games (bought the console tonight too). They are clearing it all out and it's all 30% off. I bought a mess of used games for under $5 each before the discount. Selection was really limited, but I got a couple of games for less than 50 cents.

I was also at Toys R Us before I went to Gamespot and they have many new DC games for $5 each. They too are clearing it all out so controllers are $2.48 and other accessories are also similarly cheap. I'm going back later this week to pick up a couple of controllers to smash open and interface to my cabinet...

[abrannan]

Careful, the Official Dreamcast controllers are not the easiest to hack, and there's another off brand that's tricky, especially if you want to have multiple types of controllers in your cab (I think they're Nyko Dream Masters?) since they have two different grounds for opposing buttons (Up/Down use a common high and two different grounds, L/R, a/x, b/y, etc.)  

I only warn because the last Toys-r-us I was in had only these two types of controllers there.  

[Dave_K.]

I don't think there is a problem hacking the original sega pads (if you solder to the button contacts), but the Nyko's is definatly something to avoid, good advice abrannan.  I think the madcatz are the easiest because there are small points (away from the button contacts) you could solder too from the back of the controller (through a hole in the middle of the contact)...makes for a good strong connection.  But I believe the original sega ones are fine if you solder to the button contact.

[TalkingOctopus]

Careful, the Official Dreamcast controllers are not the easiest to hack, and there's another off brand that's tricky, especially if you want to have multiple types of controllers in your cab (I think they're Nyko Dream Masters?) since they have two different grounds for opposing buttons (Up/Down use a common high and two different grounds, L/R, a/x, b/y, etc.)  

I only warn because the last Toys-r-us I was in had only these two types of controllers there.  

I hacked the original DC ones and encountered no problems.  I don't think it is that bad.

[abrannan]

Then I stand corrected.  I thought there was an issue with the L/R triggers and the analog/digital situation.  Personally I've found the Quantum fighter pad the easiest to hack.  There are four boards inside that connect with ribbon cable.  The ribbon cables map directly to contact points for teh buttons, so you can connect directly to the wires without soldering on the pad itself.

[orntar]

alright, here is a subjective one for ya.

what is the dc game i should not live with out?

[TalkingOctopus]

alright, here is a subjective one for ya.

what is the dc game i should not live with out?

Soul Caliber

[crashwg]

alright, here is a subjective one for ya.

what is the dc game i should not live with out?

Soul Caliber

Yup!

[pmc]

Thanks for the notes on the controllers. I looked into a few months ago when I first discovered that DC can do VGA out making it a natural for my cab (21" monitor). But have only now started to do some real research given that it's actually going to happen now.

Given the prices, I'll likely buy four controllers from both Gamespot and TRUs and keep the more difficult to hack as original controllers which some games really demand. The other two are to be sacrificed for cabinet controls.

I haven't looked around yet, but can I assume that the best way to work around my current IPAC/MAME configuration is to disconnect the CP from the IPAC/PC and connect to the DC hacked controllers? I can make a standard harness to switch between the two. Gotta switch the VGA inputs anyway so this seems easiest.

As for "must have" games.... my two nights of experience have me playing Jet  Grind Radio and Crazy Taxi the most. Nothing I've played yet sucks completely, but most have almost no replay value or I get sick of it very quickly and know I won't be going back for more. One thing is for sure -- I can't beleive that I've been wasting my time buying PSX games over the last year. I'll see if I can pick up Soul Calibur when I get the controllers.

Hey.... one more question. Easier to make a VGA adapter? Or should I skip it and just eBay a VGA-box?

- Patrick

[Dave_K.]

Its easier/cheaper to just buy a vga adapter.

Ikaruga should be on your must have list (its an import so you will need a boot disc).

And yes, just use common connector between your control panel and ipac and dc pads (I use a pair of molex 15pin connectors for player1 and 2 sides of my control panel).

[pmc]

Its easier/cheaper to just buy a vga adapter.

Ikaruga should be on your must have list (its an import so you will need a boot disc).

And yes, just use common connector between your control panel and ipac and dc pads (I use a pair of molex 15pin connectors for player1 and 2 sides of my control panel).

Great! I know just where I'm heading now. Thanks for saving me some cycles on this. I'll start looking for Ikaruga right away. I already have a boot disk... a couple actually. But I haven't messed with them yet except to play around with some of the emulators for the DC. Downloaded lots of stuff for the DC but am slowly working through understanding it all. It's all new to me.

Any good shooters for the DC? I love the shooters on the cabinet. I play r-type and and a couple others under ePSXe on the cabinet and they are excellent. I leave the Tomb Raider / Technu and Doom type games for normal controllers. But the shooters are WAY more fun with real arcade controls. I'll do some searching through past threads for game lists...

- Patrick

[TalkingOctopus]

Any good shooters for the DC? I love the shooters on the cabinet. I play r-type and and a couple others under ePSXe on the cabinet and they are excellent. I leave the Tomb Raider / Technu and Doom type games for normal controllers. But the shooters are WAY more fun with real arcade controls. I'll do some searching through past threads for game lists...

I think that Ikaruga is probably one of the BEST shooters ever.  It is very challenging and it looks outstanding.  Bangai-O is also a good original shooter for the DC.  

Other shooters like Mars Matrix and Gigawing 1 + 2 that exist for the DC can also be found in MAME.  Mars Matrix is ok but Gigawing is definately medicore.

[abrannan]

alright, here is a subjective one for ya.

what is the dc game i should not live with out?

My Picks based on Genre:

Fighter:  Soul Calibur
Shooter (non-Import): Bangai-O
Shooter (Import): Ikaruga
Sports: Sega Tennis 2K2 (aka Virtua Tennis 2)
MultiPlayer/Party Game: Ooga Booga
Novelty Shooter: Rez
MultiPlayer/Party Fighter: Power Stone 2

[pmc]

My Picks based on Genre:

Fighter:  Soul Calibur
Shooter (non-Import): Bangai-O
Shooter (Import): Ikaruga
Sports: Sega Tennis 2K2 (aka Virtua Tennis 2)
MultiPlayer/Party Game: Ooga Booga
Novelty Shooter: Rez
MultiPlayer/Party Fighter: Power Stone 2

Duly added to my "go find" list. But what's a "party game"? Like "You don't know jack"?

I bought Chef's Love Shack, but so far, it seem slow and a little stupid too. I think it'd be great with a (small) crowd, a bunch of booze, and a little faster change from screen to screen.

- Patrick

[abrannan]

Duly added to my "go find" list. But what's a "party game"? Like "You don't know jack"?

Party games are a, IMO, nebulous definition.  The "traditional" party games are of course, Mario Party 1-N, Fuzion Frenzy for Xbox, pretty much characterized by a bunch of mini-games connected in some way, be it a board game, scoreboard, etc.  Ooga Booga is a little different in that it's more of a group (4-player) fighting-ish game.  4 players compete to score the most points in a specified period of time by damaging each other with various weapons.  (Shrunken Heads, wild boars, fireball spells, etc.  You know, typical stuff)  In my experience these are really only the most fun with a full load of players.  If you aren't going to have four players to play the game, then you may want to put it a little lower on you priority list.

[abrannan]

I just got back from Gamespot where I bought my first series of DC games (bought the console tonight too). They are clearing it all out and it's all 30% off. I bought a mess of used games for under $5 each before the discount. Selection was really limited, but I got a couple of games for less than 50 cents.

I was also at Toys R Us before I went to Gamespot and they have many new DC games for $5 each. They too are clearing it all out so controllers are $2.48 and other accessories are also similarly cheap. I'm going back later this week to pick up a couple of controllers to smash open and interface to my cabinet...

Went to Toys r us today and the official Sega Controllers are now $1.98 ea.  I bought 6 (to give me a total of four for each DC I own), and I may go back for more.

[orntar]

where are you people that get these great deals located? i got bubkiss, goin all over town. two rumblerpacks 2.19 each and arf switch thingy for 1.99, thats it! boise, idaho, by the way.  

[pmc]

where are you people that get these great deals located? i got bubkiss, goin all over town. two rumblerpacks 2.19 each and arf switch thingy for 1.99, thats it! boise, idaho, by the way.  

Outside of Boston. I went shop-hopping (bottom feeding) for Dreamcast garbage on Sunday and I got:

• VMU for $1.99 at Gamespot
• Rumble Pack (or whatever it's called) for $3.99 at EBGames. This was my expensive purchase!  ;D
• HighFrequency brand control pads (translucent red and purple) for $2.48 each at ToysRUs
  
• ToysRUs branded black control pad with included rumble pack for $1.98
• GameShark Lite at ToysRUs for $1.98.

Plus a few games for under $5 each from each of the three locations. No notable titles.

The EBGames (Framingham MA) had two empty cardboard Dreamcast boxes on their shelves. Assuming each box has a DC to go in it, then they had two as of Sunday. I think they wanted $20 or $25 for it (I don't really recall).


Anyone ever hack one of the HighFrequency control pads? I bought 'em to smash open and connect to my cab (as per the other conversation in this thread). If they are a problem, I can go back to ToysRUs and get two more of their branded controllers.

[abrannan]

where are you people that get these great deals located? i got bubkiss, goin all over town. two rumblerpacks 2.19 each and arf switch thingy for 1.99, thats it! boise, idaho, by the way.  

Rockville, MD, just outside DC.  There's a density advantage here.  I've got 4 Gamestops, 3 EB games, 2 Toys-r-uses, 2 Circuit Cities, a Best Buy, and a CompUSA within a 10 minute drive.  Add 5 minutes to that and I get another Gamestop, EBGames, Toys-R-us, and CompUSA.  It also borders one of the more affluent areas around DC, where all of the parents already bought their kids DCs, and are only interested in the latest and greatest systems.  I heard a woman in EBGames talking about how her sister's kids each had their own copy of each current game console.  1 household with 3 PS2s, 3 xboxes, 3 Gamecubes, and 3 Gameboy SPs (And I'll go out on a limb and say 3 Gameboy Advances as well).  


This is also a bit of a rare time as three chains are all going clearance with their Dreamcast stuff (T-r-U, Gamestop, & EBGames) at the same time.  Toys-R-us tends to be a great spot to go when they're clearing stuff out because gamers tend not to go there (Their normal prices are lousy, they're rarely directly in the mall with EB and such) and when they want to clear something out, they price it to MOVE.  I remember passing up on an opportunity to buy a TurboGrafix 16 there when I was younger.  IIRC, it was a new system for $30, and a near full selection of games for $1-$2 each.  

[Generic Eric]

I got a good deal in the beginning of Feburary.  EB was selling the Dreamcast console w/ 1 controller for $9.99, provided you bought a game.  Well this EB didn't have any games, so I got the Dreamcast for $9.99.

Since then, I have picked up the fishing rod (a bit steep @ 19.99) and the arcade stick for $7.99.

Just the other day, I bought Chu-Chu rocket for 2.99.  Thats a fun little game.  Its kinda like the adventures of Lolo for NES if any of you remember that one.  Oh well.