DC Game Copy

[jacksonusa]

I am new to this site so any help would be greatly appreciated!!

I tried to copy a dreamcast game on a pc burner but obviously didn't play on the console. Can someone please tell me whether or not his is possible to do so it will play? Since they don't make the machine anymore, the games are getting to be slim pickens when it comes to finding any. Also, does a person need some sort of mod chip like the play station?

Please help if anyone can and if there is a way to be able to do this, can someone help me?

Thank you...i'm not sure if my email is shown but if it is, you can send any info there!

Thanks again

[tainangel]

Woww...I don't know how you got here without knowing some of this stuff? DC games are either boot disk dependent or self-booting MIL-CDs. No MODS ARE REQUIRED. More information and tool for dealing with DC can be found at http://www.megagames.com/dc/dc.shtml . Your DC must be used as the GD-ROM READER and transfer info to you PC via Braoadband or Serial Port. You'll need special hardware and software for connection and transfer. You may have to downsize or edit some music or video. You will need CDRWIN and/or Discjuggler to burn disks. To find pre-done game files I go to the GAME NEXUS.


BTW: How the hell did you do that?...." I tried to copy a dreamcast game on a pc burner but obviously didn't play on the console. "

[jacksonusa]

Thanks for your reply. I tried going to that site but it's too hard getting around on there. Besides, i'm not very computer literate when it comes to learning all the new progs. In answer to your question...all I did was put my DC Virtual Tennis in the burner and direct copied it. The only problem was, was that the files that copied were the a few of the identifier files. Sega...bla bla bla. No game and no audio.

[Diablosmatrix]

So it didnt play on the consol? I read your other post and wonder if you copied it onto the PC?

-If you did, then I want to ask a Question. Did you use the X-modem or did you got to [Control] -> [Macro]. I can get my PC to communicate with my DC, but when it finishes copying the files, I cant find it anywhere on my hard drive.

-If you haven't, here are some link to help you.
For a guide.
http://www.megagames.com/dc/dc_utils_guides.shtml

For Ripping Software.
http://www.megagames.com/dc/dc_utils_rip.shtml

For a Boot Disk, If you don't have one already.
http://www.megagames.com/dc/dc_utils_bootcd.shtml
note: Gameshark isn't a boot disk, its a cheat device that works with copied games. Also, there are some good utilities at the bottem of that page

[Diablosmatrix]

I just noticed what you said in the you post above mine. You can't copy GD's from a CD rom. You need a cable to connect your PC to your Dreamcast serial port (coders cable), and it copies it directly off of your DC and can take about 24 hours. CD roms can't read encrypted GD files.

[jacksonusa]

Hey! Thanks to all the people who have emailed me and replied to this message board. It's very cool that people help one another! I found the cable I need to hook up the DC to the PC. Do I just do a normal copy to the hard drive or do I have to save the game as a paticular file? Also, what real good is having a backup to a game if you need the actual game as well?

Thanks again! Sean

[jacksonusa]

I have been searching for hours for sites that a person can go to download games. All the pages do is open up another link and yet another and another. Does anyone know an actual web address for a site to do this? The ones that don't spam the hell out of me are shut down or just blank pages!

Thanks

[Wayne]

Two things:

First, do not ask for links to to Dreamcast game images. This is forbidden and you can get banned from the forum for doing so.

Second, copying the game discs is quite complicated (I've never done it because of the complication). You have to load DreamRIP on your Dreamcast, TerraTerm on your PC. Set it to rip the disc before you go to bed for the night and hopefully it will be ready by the time you get up (probably not though).

Once you have the game ripped to your hard drive, you'll have to extract the files (some people have stated that even though it gets errors, you can use WinZIP). Once the files are extracted, you have to hack various files, downsample all of the Audio/Video files, remove some files that aren't absolutely necessary (to save space) - such as JAPANESE A/V or text files. Then once you have all of the files hacked and such, you'll need to use the Echelon self-boot tutorial and possibly BIN2BOOT to burn the files to a disc.

If you're lucky, and you did everything exactly so, you'll have a usable game disc. The odds are though, it will take some trial and error and several coasters before you figure it out.

[tainangel]

Wayne covered just about everything. Thou downing the file to your PC with broadband is much faster & easier than the serial. Still, to get your PC to cooperate can be difficult if you are not PC/network inclined. As for games there are about a dozen places I know, but only one real good one. The Game Nexus. Good luck finding it. Remember the rules!

[jacksonusa]

Thanks very much to Wayne and tain angel for their help and insight on the problems I have been having regarding the DC!! I apologize for asking about certain downloading sites. On another note, I have searched countessly for the nexus but with no luck.

thanks again!!! jacksonusa**********com

[Wayne]

Another place to search in addition to the web is Newsgroups.

You'll need a good news reader and a fast connection though, in addition to a good newsgroup server. If your ISP doesn't provide a good server (mine censors many of the groups), you might try a pay-newsgroup server such as http://www.easynews.com . Easynews costs $9.98 USD per month for 6gb of downloads. They also have a file download service in which they extract the files from all file-attached messages and provide them for direct download. This eliminates the need for a news-reader if downloading is the only reason you're accessing newsgroups.

Good luck in your quest.

[Brandono]

If you still want to know how.
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\/ \/ \/ \/ \/ TuS
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`- Proudly Presents:....Dreamcast Ripping Guide v.2.0

Game.....: N/A

Origin...: N/A - Filename.....: misterc_ripping_guide_2
Released.: 02.02.2001 - Format.......: .txt
Platform.: Sega Dreamcast (DC) - CD(s)........: N/A
CD1 Info.: 1 txt file / ?? MINS - Ripped.......: N/A


- --- Release Notes ------------------------------------------------>

This guide is in no way intended to be used for piracy, and is in no way
associated with or endorsed by SEGA, use of this guide is for educational
puposes only, I will not be held responsible for any damage caused by using
it, USE AT YOUR OWN RISK!

Ok first things first, things you need before we start

1 DC-><-PC Serial Link cable Either build (Instructions can be found here:
jules.thegypsy.com)
or buy one from one from somewhere like this--> (www.lik-sang.com)
(www.dcwarez.com) (www.gamefreax.de)

2 The infamous Serial/Slave Image from Marcus (mc.pp.se/dc)

3 DreamRip and Hack from BERO can be found here:
(www.geocities.co.jp/Playtown/2004/dcdev)

4 TeraTerm Pro, terminal emulator needed to connect to and receive the
ripped GD data. (can be found all over the net just look and you will find)

5 And to be able to burn/selfboot/basically **** about with your images these:
WinZip/WinraR, cdrecord, CDRwin or what ever,Echelon's self boot guide.

6 And to down sample/size Video files etc these:
Sfd2mpg,Adx2wav,Wav2adx, All of which can be aquired from here:
(www.geocities.co.jp/Playtown/2004/dcdev)

7 mkisofs/cdrecord can be found here(Win32 Binaries)
(ftp.fokus.gmd.de/pub/unix/cdrecord/alpha/win32/cdrtools-1.9a03-win32-bin.zip)

- --- COM Settings!! -------------------------------------------------->

Firstly I would recomend that you configure your chosen COM port, the settings
go like this: (e.g. COM 1 )

Bits per second: 115200

Data bits: 8

Parity: None

Stop bits: 1

Flow control: Harware

- --- Let It RIP!! ---------------------------------------------------->

OK so now connect your DC to your PC with your cable, Done it? Good!

Now boot up your Serial/Slave image, leave it until you see the blue borders
once the borders go blue at the SEGA LIECENCE screen remove the serial/slave
and replace with your chosen GDROM, it will spin and you may here a little beep!
this simply means the DC has recognised the disk (like you didnt all know that)
and you are ready for action, now set up TeraTerm leaving the GDROM spinning in
your DC.

TeraTerm Pro, set up as follows:

Select: SETUP, SERIAL PORT and set:

Baud rate: 57600bps

Data rate: 8bit

Parity bit: None

Stop bit: 1bit

Flow Control: Hardware

Select the correct COM port and OK

Select : SETUP, TERMINAL SETTING and set:

Transmit new line: CR+LF

Select OK

Press enter in the terminal window and you should see this >.

Now Select : FILE, SEND FILE and select (e.g.) G:\Dreamrip\dreamrip.srec
(you will now see lots of these >>>>>>>>>>>>>> in the terminal window
whilst the file is sent and on your TV/monitor your blue borders will have
now turned PINK this is your indication that the file has sent correctly)


When the file has sent you will see a message "Please set to 115k and hit OK"

Now Select: SETUP, SERIAL PORT and set:

Baud rate: 115200

Select OK

Select: CONTROL, MACRO and select (e.g.) G:\Dreamrip\dcrip.ttl.

The file will now be saved and the XMODEM Recive window will appear.
Dont panic if it apears to hang at 16 packets it will for a few seconds and
then start again it will start slow but will gradualy speed up(ish)

When complete you will have a file(s) called trackxx.xxx.gz
this is the data (game) file, trackxx.raw.gz is the CDDA (audio) tracks.


OK, Now I am not going to kid you here this process can and probably will
take anything from 2 up to 24 HOURS so be carefull you DC doesnt melt.

- ---Prepare the ISO!! ------------------------------------------------->

WOO HOO so far so good.

Load WinZip/Winrar and unzip the file trackxx.xxx.gz to your
(e.g.) G:\Dreamrip\whatever directory you will be left with trackxx.iso.

Then open your DOS window and change directory to where ever you have your files
e.g. G:\Dreamrip\dciso

Type ..\extract ..\trackxx.iso. All the files from the GD will be extracted
to your chosen directory. it is likely you have chosen the directory you have
your Dreamrip and Extract exe files. Now set up a new folder called selfboot
and within that a one called data G:\selfboot\data(yes just like it specifies in
the echelon s/b tutorial) move all of the game data to the data dir EXCEPT
1st_read.bin/ip.bin so that you have your game files in "Data" and your boot files
in "Selfboot"


- --- Not So Fast!! ---------------------------------------------------->

So you have your files sitting in their directorys and all is good until you
realise that your files are to big and cant get them to fit on a CD-R.

That is where the tools (Sfd2mpg,Adx2wav,Wav2adx)mentioned in No.6 of the requirements
list come in these can be used to downsample Audio/Video etc etc instructions can
be found in the readme files in each of the tools respectivley....

- --- Not so fast Again!! ---------------------------------------------->

Once you have your downsampled files it is required that you must hack various
files to enable the game to boot correctly, and since the original GDROM has two disk
areas your DC will try to initialize the CD-R from the second sectors 45000+ and will
NOT boot your game so you must point it to the new start sector which can be obtained
after you have burned your audio session for selfboot.

Burn your audio session in the way you would when selfbooting any game using your
prefered prog cdrecord for example is as follows:

cdrecord -dev=x,x,x -multi -audio audio.raw
where x,x,x is your cd-r drive if you are unsure run "cdrecord -scanbus"

Next get the msinfo for your second session
cdrecord -dev=x,x,x -msinfo (this will return the start sector for your second session)
After you have your first session burned and have your msinfo you can hack your
"boot files".

So run in DOS: Hack 1st_read.bin xxxxx
Where xxxxx is the number msinfo gave you e.g. 11700/11702 etc

After all of that you are now set up to follow the Echelon selfboot tutorial

And remember Do believe the hype this method works onehundred% sweet.

"I thank you"

- --- GREETS!! --------------------------------------------------------->

dRUNKeN mASTeR, rOSSCo, cAMP aL, NICKy, DAZ
BERO, MC, tHE dENTIST, TONe, BLAH BLAH blahh

AND ALL OF THE GROUPS THAT HAVE KEPT
THE MASSES HAPPY ON THE DC SCENE




I followed this tutorial for about 5 games and they all worked fine.