DC: Problem with Demolition Racer

[Schenley]

I picked up Demolition Racer: No Exit used at EB. Didn't work. Returned it to EB.

But, I liked the looks of it from the booklet, so I got one on Ebay - brand new. That one didn't work either. The disc is brand new with no scratches on it... I contacted the seller and they sent another one with no questions asked. Guess what, this one doesn't work either!!

All three do the same thing: If I turn the DC on with the disc in it, it locks up right after displaying the spiral in the DC logo. If I put it in after the DC is on, it says "reading disc..." and then goes back to the main screen....

Any ideas??

[Perkar]

it's your hardware. a few games have been known to do this... airforce delta and sonic adventure 1 have both done it to me, same exact thing. this was when i only had 1 dreamcast...

i have 4 now. those 2 particular games work in 2 of my machines, and don't in the other two... i'm not sure if it has to do with the production runs or what... but it seems to be a (somewhat) common occurance.

[Schenley]

Thanks, Perkar...

I have model HKT-3020. Should I be on the lookout for a different model #? Might as well get a second one since they're only $15....

[Arcturius]

Yeah I get that problem with Worms Armageddon & Street Fighter 3rdStrike (Both PAL) where they just stop loading on or after the Sega screen

[Perkar]

so, the 2 dreamcasts that i have that work with the games were both made in july 1999... the other two were made in november 99 and july 2000. so if that helps any... heh.

[NintendoMan]

Ready to Ruble boxing 1 + 2 do this to me.

[Schenley]

Aside from getting a second DC, is there any fix to this?

[esquire]

Vanishing Point is another game that does this.

[leonk]

I just purchesd sonic advenutre 1 for my DC. The disc is in mint condition, but no matter what does not start up! I got half a dozen other games that all start up problem free.

I heard that some of these games had problems with their security track.

If I purchase one of these CD's that allow me to play backups/PAL games on my machine, do you think it will make this game work? (i.e. start the boot disc, when it tells me to swap or what not, put sonic 1 in and play) ??

[Schenley]

I just purchesd sonic advenutre 1 for my DC. The disc is in mint condition, but no matter what does not start up! I got half a dozen other games that all start up problem free.

I heard that some of these games had problems with their security track.

If I purchase one of these CD's that allow me to play backups/PAL games on my machine, do you think it will make this game work? (i.e. start the boot disc, when it tells me to swap or what not, put sonic 1 in and play) ??I doubt it. I just tried it with Demolition Racer and a Utopia boot disc...

I think the idea is to get a unit manufactured in 7/99 (as per Perkar)... I started looking for one in all the stores around here. The clerks all think I'm crazy. @_@

[Evil E]

it's your hardware. a few games have been known to do this... airforce delta and sonic adventure 1 have both done it to me, same exact thing. this was when i only had 1 dreamcast...

i have 4 now. those 2 particular games work in 2 of my machines, and don't in the other two... i'm not sure if it has to do with the production runs or what... but it seems to be a (somewhat) common occurance.

I just bought Mortal Kombat Gold for my DC--it works in one and not in the other! Same thing. The DC it doesn't work in, has ALWAYS played every game flawlessly until now. I wonder why some games won't play in some DC's?!

[leonk]

I read somewhere it has something to do with the security track on these discs.

It looks like Sega made the DC too secure to the point where some drives read this security track in different ways!

A guy at a local game shop said it was a known problem, and Sega even re-released Sonic Adventure! The original (buggy one) is with the white spinal, while there is a new one that is yellow and works in all systems!

Anyone else care to confirm that their sonic case is all white?

[Schenley]

THANKS PERKAR!

It seems you might have stumbled on to something. I made another journey out to all the EB/Gamestops in the area. (I didn't realize we had so many stores around here until I started this 'hobby')

At Electronics Boutique, I brought Demolition Racer in with me and explained to the dude at the counter my problem. He went in the back - not really understanding what I was looking for. He thought I wanted one newer than 7/99. Anyway, he found one from August 99, and we hooked it up. DR didn't boot up. That was the oldest system he had.

After a couple more stops, I found one at FuncoLand with a manufactured date of July 99. Because of the no school holiday yesterday, the place was packed, so I didn't bother asking them to try it in the store. It was marked down 30%, came out to $15 including tax.

When I got home, the first thing I did was put in DR. Worked no problem!!

So, I'm guessing that they made a change to the BIOS in August 99 regarding the copy protection scheme.

[Jasoco]

A guy at a local game shop said it was a known problem, and Sega even re-released Sonic Adventure! The original (buggy one) is with the white spinal, while there is a new one that is yellow and works in all systems!

Anyone else care to confirm that their sonic case is all white?
I'm curious now to know what you mean.

WTF's a Spinal?

Also, I see no yellow anything on mine. And it came with a demo disc for Sonic Adventure 2. (Which probably means it was a later release anyway.) It's a non-All-Stars edition.

[SoulBlazer]

Curious about the late model Dreamcasts.

When were those things made? Production started in July 99? And the last ones were made when?

Maybe Sega was so concerned about piracy that they decided to damn some eariler games to make the systems better.

[Perkar]

glad i could help... i just wish we could 100% identify the problem with these things? anyone know anyone who worked for sega on the dreamcast? x_x

that might be wishful thinking... heh

[Hypnotuba]

This is a strange problem! I have a July '99 Dreamcast. I have this same loading problem with Coaster Works and Alone In The Dark. Occasionally they will load on the 2nd or 3rd time but usually it'll just sit on the swirl screen, or on the console setup screen.

What I've noticed, though, is that if I play a game that I have no loading problems with for a little while, and then try to load one of the non-working games, they will work. :hmm:

. . .

OK, I just tried it again to make sure, cause what I typed doesn't sound believable even to me. :) Coaster Works wouldn't load after repeated attempts, so I played about half a quarter (5 minute quarters) of NFL 2K2. Shut the Dreamcast off, switched games, turned DC back on. . .Coaster Works loads.

:hmm: O_O :hmm:

[AitD still wouldn't load. . .maybe the Dreamcast needs to warm up some more. . . :)]

I will say though, that's there's a difference in the noises coming from the DC when CW loads. Not so much that the noises sound altered (they sound like typical noises the drive makes when loading a game); they're just late. After a few seconds of nothing it's like the Dreamcast wakes up and starts loading.

[Schenley]

This is a strange problem!

What I've noticed, though, is that if I play a game that I have no loading problems with for a little while, and then try to load one of the non-working games, they will work. :hmm:

Hmmm, I will have to try this with Demolition Racer on the newer system.

I'll let you know...

[dreamcaster]

Now you guys have got me scared. @_@

:P

I have 25 PAL Dreamcast games - NONE of which I've had a problem with on either of my DC's.

The only 'problem' I've had is that I couldn't get my JAP Sega Rally 2 to load up using the Utopia. But then I tried with a Gameshark CDX demo and it works fine (although, the graphics are jittery due to a forced 50Hz mode :angry: )

One thing I have noticed is that on my two TV's at home, my older DC's 60Hz mode won't display properly (flashes top area of screen). Although, it seems to work fine with other people's TV's. :o

Fortunately my newer DC's 60Hz mode works without a hitch on my TV's - which I great since I don't think I could stand to play Marvel vs Capcom in it's awful 50Hz mode anymore.

[Hypnotuba]

This is a strange problem!

What I've noticed, though, is that if I play a game that I have no loading problems with for a little while, and then try to load one of the non-working games, they will work. :hmm:

Hmmm, I will have to try this with Demolition Racer on the newer system.

I'll let you know...

Good luck! If doing that will make Demolition Racer work for you on the, well, the system it doesn't work on, that'd be great. I don't think it's likely. . .but it does work for me. . .I just have no clue why. :)

[Schenley]

I haven't tried it yet. I really don't need to, as Demolition Racer works fine on my older system. I'm just curious about this, and maybe we can help someone else down the road...