Dreamcast Utopia boot disc

[Evil E]

Anyone know where or how to get one of these discs?? I want to play import games on my DC, and I need one of these discs right?? Or do I need a mod chip?? I am totally new to modifying game systems--so don't laugh at me please!!! Thanks in advance for everyones help!!
E.--- :o :D

[zektor]

Anyone know where or how to get one of these discs?? I want to play import games on my DC, and I need one of these discs right?? Or do I need a mod chip?? I am totally new to modifying game systems--so don't laugh at me please!!! Thanks in advance for everyones help!!
E.--- :o :D

NO worries. A disc is on its way my friend :)

[hyposhaman]

I have the same question... I gather the Utopia discs are an underground phenomenon, due to various regulations and such. I was just given a dreamcast and about 40 non-self-booting games, any ideas?
Thanks.

[googlefest1]

you can buy them at gamestop or eb -- i got mine at a gamestop - never used it though also saw it at EB

[hyposhaman]

Wicked.
Thanks a million

[demen999]

you can buy them at gamestop or eb -- i got mine at a gamestop - never used it though also saw it at EB

Buy them at gamestop?!?! When did this start happening?
The only play I know that had them was the p2p programs lol

[Moon Patrol]

You guys need to learn how to use google. I believe dcemu.co.uk has a shit ton of boot discs. It all works the same.

[TeddyRuxpin]

you can buy them at gamestop or eb -- i got mine at a gamestop - never used it though also saw it at EB

Funny. I once asked about an external hardware mod for Playstation (The kind that plugs in the back of certain models) for imports at a GameStop and the guy said directly to me "Goodbye." and I asked why and he said "We don't deal in mods." So I just ordered one from a Canadian game store site. 8-)

[demen999]

I think I still have one of those action replays for the psx, good times with backups and imports. First time I played x-men vs. street fighter was on the psx jap. import.

[Griking]

I'm sorry, but Gamestop and EBWorld do NOT sell Dreamcast Utopic CDs.

[googlefest1]

you can buy them at gamestop or eb -- i got mine at a gamestop - never used it though also saw it at EB

Funny. I once asked about an external hardware mod for Playstation (The kind that plugs in the back of certain models) for imports at a GameStop and the guy said directly to me "Goodbye." and I asked why and he said "We don't deal in mods." So I just ordered one from a Canadian game store site. 8-)

well the gamestop near me sold those things aswell as the boot disk for DC--

they didnt sel chips but they sold the game enhancers (plug in moduals) for the psx and the DC disk

and i saw the same disk at EB also -- gamestop where i got mine sold them for 10$ and the EB had them for 15$ -- they were in all the stores i went to around here -- that was the time when all the stores were trying to dump thier DC stuff

thats where i got mine - i swear

[Jive3D]

you can buy them at gamestop or eb -- i got mine at a gamestop - never used it though also saw it at EB

Funny. I once asked about an external hardware mod for Playstation (The kind that plugs in the back of certain models) for imports at a GameStop and the guy said directly to me "Goodbye." and I asked why and he said "We don't deal in mods." So I just ordered one from a Canadian game store site. 8-)

well the gamestop near me sold those things aswell as the boot disk for DC--

they didnt sel chips but they sold the game enhancers (plug in moduals) for the psx and the DC disk

and i saw the same disk at EB also -- gamestop where i got mine sold them for 10$ and the EB had them for 15$ -- they were in all the stores i went to around here -- that was the time when all the stores were trying to dump thier DC stuff

thats where i got mine - i swear

First off, Gamestop & EB were infact selling these. Maybe they were not the "Utopia" variety specifically, but when Shenmue II came out, many EBs & GS locations were selling it with an 'import enabler' disk of some sort so that US gamers could play it.

Also, in regards to the store clerk simply saying "Goodbye" to you when you asked about MODing stuff - game store clerks really need to F***ing realize that a lot of consumers do not really know what is and what is not legal. If they see a Flash cart for GBA, a lot of people will simply assume that Nintendo makes it since it's for the GBA. Same thing with external mods. It's all about respecting your consumer. I get a little worked up over this (obviously) b/c I used to work at an EB and (even though it was only my part time job during college) I took a lot of dignity in educating consumers on this and that. It ticks me off to no end when I go into a game store and see sales staff that don't care or have no idea what they are talking about. I don't mean to say that every cash-register jockey needs to know how to get the kidden key in the kidden temple in whatever game, but if they are working in a game store, they should care about games. and not give you the proverbial finger when you ask for a Dreamcast boot disk. @_@ - sorry didn't mean to thread jack.

[segagamer]

I believe EB and GameStop used to sell DC-X, which allows you to play any region's DC games on any region's DC system.

[fpbrush]

I found the iso for the Utopia disc on a dc mod/emu site... im pretty sure the guys that developed the Utopia disc never ment for it to cost money? It looked pretty homebrew.

[Evil E]

I found the iso for the Utopia disc on a dc mod/emu site... im pretty sure the guys that developed the Utopia disc never ment for it to cost money? It looked pretty homebrew.I paid Zektor $5 for mine--but that was before I knew about downloading them myself for free!!! He saw me coming, and I don't blame him!! LOL LOL

[InsaneDavid]

You guys need to learn how to use google. I believe dcemu.co.uk has a shit ton of boot discs. It all works the same.

Very true.


I found the iso for the Utopia disc on a dc mod/emu site... im pretty sure the guys that developed the Utopia disc never ment for it to cost money? It looked pretty homebrew.

Indeed, I think everyone needs some clarification from someone that knows the scene. (surprised goatdan hasn't popped into this thread yet)

The Utopia boot disc, both versions 1.1 and 1.3 are redily available on many homebrew sites as a free download, either as a discjuggler or nero image. You just download it and burn the file with its noted program. Additionally for imports you can use the GameShark CDX demo, again, that you can find on many homebrew DC sites as a free downloadable image - you load it up, and swap in your import.

The Utopia boot disc (just as the non-selfbootable backups that it was designed to allow to run) was NEVER designed to be sold. This goes double since it's an all in one prebuilt file that you simply download, burn, and your done.

EB and Gamestop never sold the Utopia Boot Disc, they sold DC-X for a short amount of time. DC-X is the "professional retail" boot disc solution for playing imports and honestly it's a nice package. However with a combination of the Utopia boot disc and GameShark CDX demo disc you really don't need one.

Just the same most DC projects have been selfbooting for years now so the Utopia Boot Disc has fallen into the shadows as for current stuff (Beats of Rage, emulators, etc.) it isn't needed.

Look here...
http://www.megagames.com/dc/dc_utils_bootcd.shtml

...Meseta is the sincerest form of flattery. :)

[hyposhaman]

Wowser.

Thanks for all the comments, y'all... this has been really informative... I knew virtually nothing of boot discs and swaps and the amazing homebrew culture before I found this site. Amaing stuff. You guys are great!

[Cryomancer]

You can also often use various DC gamesharks to boot stuff in a pinch.

[InsaneDavid]

You can also often use various DC gamesharks to boot stuff in a pinch.

Such as the GameShark CDX downloadable demo that I mentioned and linked to three posts up. ;)

[anagrama]

Quick summary:

DC-X is the best choice - as far as I'm aware there's nothing it doesn't play, and it can also force PAL games into 60Hz if they didn't already include the option.

Gameshark/CD-X/Utopia 1.2+ - OK, but not quite 100% compatibilty. You may struggle with Shenmue II or Rez, to name a couple.

Utopia 1.1 - OK with earlier games, but won't boot a lot of later titles.

[Pantechnicon]

Gameshark/CD-X/Utopia 1.2+ - OK, but not quite 100% compatibilty. You may struggle with Shenmue II or Rez, to name a couple.

I've got Utopia, probably 1.1, and it loads Shenmue II without a hitch. Just sayin, z'all....

[kaustik]

If I remember correctly, the first thing you see when using a utopia boot disc is "If you paid for this... you got ripped off".

[fpbrush]

If I remember correctly, the first thing you see when using a utopia boot disc is "If you paid for this... you got ripped off".


For some reason I remember a spinning reindeer LOL

It's been awhile.

[kaustik]

Yes there was indeed a spinning reindeer too.

[dreamcaster]

I use the Gameshark CDX Demo as I have both the Utopia 1.1 ans 1.2 discs, and neither of them worked with my imports. Imports I have;

Sega Rally 2 (NTSC-J)
Space Channel 5 (NTSC-U)
The House of the Dead 2 (NTSC-J)

Gameshark played these fine on my PAL DC.

[Evil E]

If I remember correctly, the first thing you see when using a utopia boot disc is "If you paid for this... you got ripped off".Yup--that's when I knew I got ripped!!!! :roll:

[InsaneDavid]

I use the Gameshark CDX Demo as I have both the Utopia 1.1 ans 1.2 discs, and neither of them worked with my imports. Imports I have;

Sega Rally 2 (NTSC-J)
Space Channel 5 (NTSC-U)
The House of the Dead 2 (NTSC-J)

Gameshark played these fine on my PAL DC.

THe Utopia boot disc was designed to boot non-selfboot backups, the GameShark CDX demo will boot import games. Two different discs for two different uses.

[d4rkmoon]

you can buy them at gamestop or eb -- i got mine at a gamestop - never used it though also saw it at EB

yeah you never used it ;), thats for shure cause it says @ the boot screen: "if you bought this CD you´ve been cheated". oO

[evildead2099]

I'm sorry, but Gamestop and EBWorld do NOT sell Dreamcast Utopic CDs.

Actually, I have seen Utopia Boot Discs sold at EB in Canada.

[kainemaxwell]

I'm sorry, but Gamestop and EBWorld do NOT sell Dreamcast Utopic CDs.

Actually, I have seen Utopia Boot Discs sold at EB in Canada.
How much were they ripping people off for them?

[Tony Montana]

you can buy them at gamestop or eb -- i got mine at a gamestop - never used it though also saw it at EB

Funny. I once asked about an external hardware mod for Playstation (The kind that plugs in the back of certain models) for imports at a GameStop and the guy said directly to me "Goodbye." and I asked why and he said "We don't deal in mods." So I just ordered one from a Canadian game store site. 8-)

well the gamestop near me sold those things aswell as the boot disk for DC--

they didnt sel chips but they sold the game enhancers (plug in moduals) for the psx and the DC disk

and i saw the same disk at EB also -- gamestop where i got mine sold them for 10$ and the EB had them for 15$ -- they were in all the stores i went to around here -- that was the time when all the stores were trying to dump thier DC stuff

thats where i got mine - i swear

First off, Gamestop & EB were infact selling these. Maybe they were not the "Utopia" variety specifically, but when Shenmue II came out, many EBs & GS locations were selling it with an 'import enabler' disk of some sort so that US gamers could play it.

Also, in regards to the store clerk simply saying "Goodbye" to you when you asked about MODing stuff - game store clerks really need to F***ing realize that a lot of consumers do not really know what is and what is not legal. If they see a Flash cart for GBA, a lot of people will simply assume that Nintendo makes it since it's for the GBA. Same thing with external mods. It's all about respecting your consumer. I get a little worked up over this (obviously) b/c I used to work at an EB and (even though it was only my part time job during college) I took a lot of dignity in educating consumers on this and that. It ticks me off to no end when I go into a game store and see sales staff that don't care or have no idea what they are talking about. I don't mean to say that every cash-register jockey needs to know how to get the kidden key in the kidden temple in whatever game, but if they are working in a game store, they should care about games. and not give you the proverbial finger when you ask for a Dreamcast boot disk. @_@ - sorry didn't mean to thread jack.

Actually GameStop sold something called the "Innovation Super Game Converter" I know because I am looking at it right now with the GameStop sticker on it. It says it allows you to play imports but not backup copies, dont know though cuz I never tried it. There may have been others though too.

As far as asking about modding at the retail stores, its a tough situation. The companies tell employess if they talk about it at all they will basically be fired because of the pressure from the companies they deal with - Sony and Microsoft especially. I've always explained that I cant talk about it because its not authorized by the companies. Go to the internet if you wanna know about that kind of thing though.

[googlefest1]

ok so i got the names messed up then - i called all those disks the utopia disk - its was the dc -x thing i purchased

i just found it when looking through my DC stuff

[ddockery]

The Utopia disc will boot imports too, no need to have both around.

[anagrama]

The Utopia disc will boot imports too, no need to have both around.

Unless you want to play any of the games that Utopia won't boot. If you only want one boot disk, get DC-X.

[anagrama]

Gameshark/CD-X/Utopia 1.2+ - OK, but not quite 100% compatibilty. You may struggle with Shenmue II or Rez, to name a couple.

I've got Utopia, probably 1.1, and it loads Shenmue II without a hitch. Just sayin, z'all....

That's why I said "may struggle". I sold a copy of Shenmue II to a guy in Brazil, and it wouldn;t work for him with Utopia or Gamesherk - only DC-X did the trick.