[GUIDE/INFO] for Flash Carts, Retrode, repros, and more!

[Jagosaurus]

So does the ODE for NGCD improve the loads?

I really want a NGCD but I think I'm going to stick with PS1 imports & the XB1 ACA NG ports. Always wanted the original hardware though.

Really cool to see this tech catch on in the community. Only a couple years ago ODEs seemed super niche behind SD carts.

[Ziggy587]

Yes, it says it will load 4 times faster than the 1x CD drive.

The NGCD is a really cool console. I enjoyed using mine when I had it. And I loved those controllers, enough that I bought the PS2 NeoGeo CD controller when I got rid of the console...

[Jagosaurus]

Awesome on load times.

Whaaaaat. I didn't know that controller existed. That's sick.

[nightrnr]

You are good sticking with ports Jago. My interest stems mostly from an annoyance of the Dreamcast port of Last Blade 2. It should have been so much more that the port we got.

Still, I had to get a few other titles and some are cool enough to have a legit copy in my collection. The device allows you to play the English version of games without further modding too (where applicable).

Thing is with load times, I don't want them eliminated altogether (like the Polymega seems to do). I like the loading screens and the simple animations on some games, just shortened. 4x should do nicely.

It's killing me to wait on the Neo SD Loader, but I'm just going to have to.

I have the original CD controllers (came with my AES system), but always struggled with them with certain moves. Sticking with adapters for my use.

[Jagosaurus]

One of the fighters had a loading time for the pre fight intro, then loading before the fight. That's hilarious.

Does it load when you swap your team member out in one of the late KOFs?

Overall, I want it bc I'll never dive into AES with the cost. I proudly own JPN Metal Slug & Metal Slug X on PS1 . Plan to buy several of the XB1 ACA ports this year.

Keep us updated as the NGCD ODE comes in. Involved install with soldering or plug n play ribbon cable?

[nightrnr]

Oh yes, there will be soldering. Not too extensive (from what I hear) and should be easier than the PSIO switch board install (I hope, but nothing I can't handle).

Still, I'm taking a chance on this one system, so I don't have a bunch to experiment with like I did with PS1 (but those worked out fine without much of a test before). I do have a knack for finding systems that aren't quite dead.

Will definitely post how it goes, but I've got a wait ahead of me.

As for Fighters, there are a few that have long loading intros before each fight (Last Blade 2 being a major offender).
KOF games do have loading with every character change, but is worse with the later games. I only have KOF 95, but may put 96-99 on there too if all goes well with the mod.

[prfsnl_gmr]

Retrode 2 question...

I have been copying my GBA collection, but I have a few carts that aren’t playing nice with it (e.g., Pokémon Mystery Dungeon, Boktai, Doom II, etc.). Specifically, the Retrode will recognize the cart, but show a 0kb file. Any idea what’s going on here? Is there a way to copy these? I haven’t found anything about this online; so, I thought I’d ask here. Thanks in advance to anyone who can help me back up my entire collection!

[Ziggy587]

Retrode 2 question...

I have been copying my GBA collection, but I have a few carts that aren’t playing nice with it (e.g., Pokémon Mystery Dungeon, Boktai, Doom II, etc.). Specifically, the Retrode will recognize the cart, but show a 0kb file. Any idea what’s going on here? Is there a way to copy these? I haven’t found anything about this online; so, I thought I’d ask here. Thanks in advance to anyone who can help me back up my entire collection!

I'm not too familiar with the GBx adapter, but maybe check the Retrode site for a compatibility list? There's also the official Retrode forums, if you can't get an answer here.

edit: So they do have compatibility on the main site (here) but I don't think it's been updated recently and it doesn't include GBx. But here's a link to the fourm...

https://forum.retrode.org/

Found a GBA compatibility listing on the forum...

https://forum.retrode.org/index.php/topic,132.0.html

[opa]

Don't forget to clean the contacts on the game carts. Could be as simple as a connectivity thing.

[Ziggy587]

The newest revision of the GCLoader will be completely plug and play. The original version required a flex ribbon to be soldered in, but this new revision will require no soldering!