Poor Game Copy and Fixed Dreamcast

[Beak]

Last year my Dreamcast gave out after a long 4-5 hour session of Mark of the Wolves. I let it sit around broken until recently I calibrated the laser and now it's working again.

I tested it again on some games, and I noticed that Garou: Mark of the Wolves (burned copy) is one loud game for the poor little machine. My Dreamcast has to constantly read the disk during fights. Is this just the case with certain games, or with certain copies? I'm wondering if it's no coincidence that my DC gave out on this game in particular. It may have been due, but I don't think MotW helped it at all.

Is this game being rough on my DC? It is CONSTANTLY reading while I play. Could it be that this is a poor copy and I should try some other version of the rip? It doesn't have to do half the work to play most other games.

[Reprise]

Yeah it could be. It could either be the game itself, or that it's a bad copy.

Some games make the laser work like mad though, and I guess this strains the laser more. My first Dreamcast died whilst playing D2 (it had lasted for 8 or 9 years though) and I noticed that game works the laser like mad.

I'd say it's not something to really worry about (unless it's a bad copy). I mean playing games that work the laser harder won't break a machine just by playing them. But I guess they just ware out the laser quicker (for obvious reasons).

P.S. Calibrating the laser tends to be a temporary fix, so I'd advice looking into getting a new Dreamcast (if only to serve as a spare).

[CRTGAMER]

Killed your DC the first time. From what you posted seems like a marginal copy tearing up the laser eye tracking.
To save the wear and tear maybe get another good copy or if you really like that game, an original.

[Ziggy]

It could definitely be a bad copy of the game. TuxTheWise says that a lot of groups that put out the DC games didn't care too much for file order and whatnot. That's why he's been making his own releases that are of MUCH better quality than all others. He optimizes the file order which makes the Dreamcast have to work less, which in turn makes it quieter. Also, he tries to fit more of the original game onto a CD-R without having to remove or downsize content.

http://snesorama.us/board/showpost.php? ... stcount=94

And check this out:

http://snesorama.us/board/showpost.php? ... stcount=38

Features of this release:
- No more sound lag! It's working wonderful.
- No annoying group introduction like Echelon's release.
- Not corrupted files at all, it was made with GD dump files.
- File order is the same of GD, it means faster loadings and much less noise of Dreamcast reader.
- Selfboot.
- Dummied for 700mb CDs, what helps a lot.
- "Extras" folder in pack contains some useless stuff.

[WrathOskvro]

I always go for the releases that TuxTheWise/DCRES make. Everyone elses are usually..just..crap. With TuxTheWise I don't have to worry about the audio being cut out or the videos downsampled like crazy.

[Beak]

Awesome, guys! Thanks a lot.

EDIT: Also, a particular thank you to you, Ziggy, for the links.

[xan_racketBOY_fan]

It could definitely be a bad copy of the game. TuxTheWise says that a lot of groups that put out the DC games didn't care too much for file order and whatnot. That's why he's been making his own releases that are of MUCH better quality than all others. He optimizes the file order which makes the Dreamcast have to work less, which in turn makes it quieter. Also, he tries to fit more of the original game onto a CD-R without having to remove or downsize content.

http://snesorama.us/board/showpost.php? ... stcount=94

And check this out:

http://snesorama.us/board/showpost.php? ... stcount=38

Features of this release:
- No more sound lag! It's working wonderful.
- No annoying group introduction like Echelon's release.
- Not corrupted files at all, it was made with GD dump files.
- File order is the same of GD, it means faster loadings and much less noise of Dreamcast reader.
- Selfboot.
- Dummied for 700mb CDs, what helps a lot.
- "Extras" folder in pack contains some useless stuff.

Wow, great share! All this time I've been getting any .cdi.

[Ziggy]

This might be the 12th or so time I've made, more or less, that same exact post. Still, it's good info to know, which is why I make sure to post it every time playing CD-Rs on the Dreamcast is brought up.

[Merz]

Mark of the Wolves was the game that killed my Dreamcast too.

[gtmtnbiker]

Mark of the Wolves was the game that killed my Dreamcast too.

Maybe it might be a good game to play via the SD card using DreamShell?

See this thread for DreamShell info/download:
http://www.dc-swat.ru/blog/dreamshell/20.html

See this thread for installing an alternative BIOS and soldering tips:
http://www.assemblergames.com/forums/sh ... hp?t=24880