Saturn or Dreamcast?

[Guntz]

My Dreamcast works fine aside from the battery. Could have sworn I replaced it at one point. If I did I must not have done a good job of wrapping it tight with electrical tape (the black stuff).

17days, if you have a launch DC, does this mean it's disc drive isn't as noisy as later ones? Mine grinds away like it's about to blow up whenever I use it. I've been told before it's normal so I just sit and nod.

[gamevet]

according to the Wiki, the Agetec joysticks are a common culprit for killing controller ports. Fortunately for me, I use Total Control Plus adapters with PS2 joysticks FTW.

It's not the Agetec arcade stick; I've used mine for years and never had a controller port issue. I've heard that some 3rd party controller extension cables have caused issues with the controller ports on the PS2 though.

My launch DC had issues with the video chip failing (messed up texture maps) and the 2nd DC wouldn't hold the time and date, along with other issues I can't quite recall.

[Melf]

My launch DC never gave me a problem, but neither has my launch Saturn. Both were very, very reliable.

[17daysolderthannes]

My Dreamcast works fine aside from the battery. Could have sworn I replaced it at one point. If I did I must not have done a good job of wrapping it tight with electrical tape (the black stuff).

17days, if you have a launch DC, does this mean it's disc drive isn't as noisy as later ones? Mine grinds away like it's about to blow up whenever I use it. I've been told before it's normal so I just sit and nod.

Actually, my launch system is louder than my mid 2000 Sega Sports DC. The reason it's so noisy is because of the laser tracking method. A PS2, for example, uses a worm gear driven directly by a DC motor (DC as in Direct Current). The Dreamcast, for whatever reason, needs a series of nylon gears to step down the speed of the DC motor, which is what you hear when it moves. If you've ever heard an electric RC car, you're well aware it's loud as shit and sounds much like a DC because it's virtually the same gear train.

Why aren't other drives so loud, you ask? nearly all of the older CD systems are 1X or 2X so they don't track as fast. Most newer drives probably use direct drive off of the DC motor (I know PS3 does at least). XBOX 360 drives are loud because they are tremendous pieces of shit, just like everything else on that system.

here's a pic that shows the assembly, look to the part of the drive closest to the motherboard, you can see the worm gear and the stepdown gears.



based on that picture, I'd say it looks pretty damn robust. Seems to me most read errors are from dirty lenses/assemblies or slipping spindles (also from dirt/finger grease). I'm actually glad I finally looked into the exact layout of the assembly, I assumed the gears drove the laser directly (that's how my Laserdisc player is), but this is much better.

It's not the Agetec arcade stick; I've used mine for years and never had a controller port issue. I've heard that some 3rd party controller extension cables have caused issues with the controller ports on the PS2 though.

My launch DC had issues with the video chip failing (messed up texture maps) and the 2nd DC wouldn't hold the time and date, along with other issues I can't quite recall.

not my words: http://wiki-scene.com/Fix_Dead_Dream...ntroller_Ports

If you went to use your Dreamcast one day and the controllers just acted as if they weren't plugged in, then this is a simple solution to fix the problem. There is a resister that is used as a fuse on the controller port daughter-board. The Agetec Joysticks as well as a few other 3rd party controller are notorious for blowing this fuse, especially when multiples are used on the same console. This tutorial will show you how to replace the fuse with a heftier one that will hopefully not blow as easily.

Your first DC sounds like either read errors from a dirty lens/disc or overheating from blocking the vent fan that might've caused permanent damage. The second was simply a dying clock battery (no big deal).

[retrospiel]

DC Daytona plays like shit.

Well, I do have to disagree here: The game plays pretty much exactly like CCE on Saturn but features every single course from all the previous games plus some new ones.

Plus it got rumble support and it's HDTV compatible via VGA.

I have to vote Saturn, easily. The DC has a lot of great games, but most of them are available in better form on other consoles, and the ones that had online play as the major feature are no longer playable. The overall Saturn library is much larger, and it has a lot more exclusives.

Yeah, there are some great games on Saturn, but from my impression it's that most Saturn games are also available on PS1/PS2/Dreamcast, with only a handful of really worthwhile exclusives left.

There is a good number of [Dreamcast] games that remain [semi-]exclusive, that are otherwise only available on handhelds or as arcade PCBs. - Actually, I think that this is an interesting topic, and you inspired me to start a list of DC exclusives:

Alien Front Online (-)
Armada (PC: Armada Online)
Bangai-O (N64, NDS)
Blue Stinger (-)
Border Down (-)
Cannon Spike (-)
Cosmic Smash (-)
D2 (-)
Daytona USA 2001 (-)
[DUX (-)]
Dynamite Deka 2 (-)
Elemental Gimmick Gear (-)
Giga Wing / Giga Wing 2 (-)
Heavy Metal Geomatrix (-)
JoJo's Bizarre Adventure (PS1)
L.O.L.: Lack of Love (-)
Mars Matrix (-)
Mr. Driller (PS1, GBA)
Napple Tale (-)
Outtrigger (-)
Power Stone / Power Stone 2 (PSP)
Project Justice (-)
Psychic Force 2012 (-)
Q*bert (PS1)
Record of Lodoss War (-)
Red Dog (-)
[Rush Rush Rally Racing (-)]
Sega Rally 2 (PC)
Shenmue (-)
Spawn (-)
Star Lancer (PC)
Super Magnetic Neo (-)
Tech Romancer (-)
Toy Commander (-)
Toy Racer (-)
Under Defeat (-)
Vampire Chronicle (PSP)
Virtua Tennis (PC)
Wetrix (N64, PC)
Zero Gunner 2 (-)
Zombie Revenge (-)

[gamevet]

Well, I do have to disagree here: The game plays pretty much exactly like CCE on Saturn but features every single course from all the previous games plus some new ones.

Daytona CCE may be the better looking game on the Saturn, but the original is a better game. The engine sounds and power slides are closer to the arcade on the first game, while CCE just feels sloppy in comparison.

Yeah, there are some great games on Saturn, but from my impression it's that most Saturn games are also available on PS1/PS2/Dreamcast, with only a handful of really worthwhile exclusives left.

What!?

You got it backwards my friend. The DC is the console that shares alot of games with the PS1, PS2 and PC. There's a lot of Sega exclusives that stayed on the Saturn.

not my words: http://wiki-scene.com/Fix_Dead_Dream...ntroller_Ports

It's wiki. Anyone (who's Twisted Symphony?) can make an article that states something, even if it isn't true. Wiki has become the written version of youtube.

It could very well be true, but it also states:"as well as a few other 3rd party controller."


Last time I checked few would mean plural, not singular; the article doesn't even use proper grammar.

[Guntz]

I bet I'll always be in the minority on Daytona USA. I think the handling is pretty lame. I like the sense of speed and the visuals, but I really don't like how Daytona USA plays. The car always centers itself so it goes in a straight line according to the track. What the hell is up with that? I can also never seem to get the power slides right, if at all.

[17daysolderthannes]

It's wiki. Anyone (who's Twisted Symphony?) can make an article that states something, even if it isn't true. Wiki has become the written version of youtube.

It could very well be true, but it also states:"as well as a few other 3rd party controller."


Last time I checked few would mean plural, not singular; the article doesn't even use proper grammar.

OH MY GOD! HOLD THE PHONES! THERE WAS A GRAMMAR MISTAKE/TYPO ON THE INTERNET!

Most engineers I know can't even spell common/simple words correctly. Hell, a large chunk can't even finish a sentence without an "uhhh" being thrown in there. People tend to either do well with grammar/spelling/journalism or math/science, but rarely both. I'm the exception, of course, but I'm the master of the universe, so that's understandable.



check out my sweet hair.

The truth is, it's probably a coincidence that Agetec sticks cause the fuse to be blown. I wouldn't doubt it's one of those unconfirmed myths like the insistence that CD-Rs wear out the GD ROM faster. If I had to guess, I would say it would happen from plugging in controllers to a system that isn't plugged into the wall, which could discharge static and fry the fuse/resistor. I don't really know, though, as I've never heard a specific story where the person was able to pinpoint when their controller ports failed.

I bet I'll always be in the minority on Daytona USA. I think the handling is pretty lame. I like the sense of speed and the visuals, but I really don't like how Daytona USA plays. The car always centers itself so it goes in a straight line according to the track. What the hell is up with that? I can also never seem to get the power slides right, if at all.

The arcade version is cool, but I never really got the handling either. Outrun 2 is the best Sega arcade racer, hands down. Ferrari F355 Challenge wins the sim category, of course (the actual sit down arcade, that is).

[GriskaGyoran]

Is that an unmodified Dreamcast? Because mine has a board for the disc drive controller. If that is unmodified then my idea for a Dreamcast Laptop is going to be much easier than I originally thought.

[retrospiel]

Looks like a Rev 2 Dreamcast to me.

[gamevet]

OH MY GOD! HOLD THE PHONES! THERE WAS A GRAMMAR MISTAKE/TYPO ON THE INTERNET!

Most engineers I know can't even spell common/simple words correctly. Hell, a large chunk can't even finish a sentence without an "uhhh" being thrown in there. People tend to either do well with grammar/spelling/journalism or math/science, but rarely both. I'm the exception, of course, but I'm the master of the universe, so that's understandable.

I'm just saying that Wiki isn't the be all of sources, especially when something as simple as a singular vs. plural isn't even caught with proof-reading.


I've used my Agetec arcade stick for 10 years and have had absolutely no issues with controller ports.

[17daysolderthannes]

Is that an unmodified Dreamcast? Because mine has a board for the disc drive controller. If that is unmodified then my idea for a Dreamcast Laptop is going to be much easier than I originally thought.

how do you plan on streaming the games? is that SD card adapter out and I missed the memo?

oh, and yes, AFAIK it's unmodified, though it does have several parts removed to show off the motherboard. I didn't take that pic, but it's the only one that showed off the nylon gear assembly in the drive.

I'm just saying that Wiki isn't the be all of sources, especially when something as simple as a singular vs. plural isn't even caught with proof-reading.


I've used my Agetec arcade stick for 10 years and have had absolutely no issues with controller ports.

Again, proof reading fail=/=false information. I have found typos in every single one of my college textbooks, are they all false now?

He said it was from using multiple sticks/controllers of certain makes, so maybe 4 people playing Power Stone 2 or NBA Showtime with Agetec sticks full of VMUs might cause an issue.

Either way, I'd still like to hear from Da Shocker on exactly what controllers he was using when his ports failed.

[Da_Shocker]

This was back in 01 or 02. I use to use my DC as a webtv so I used the Sega leyboard. I never don't think I owned any agetec controllers. I have one 3D2 pad that I can't remember where I got it from. I was shocked when my current ports were blown as the last memory I have from playing it was back in 05 and playing NBA 2K it worked fine then so idk what happened after that.

[17daysolderthannes]

This was back in 01 or 02. I use to use my DC as a webtv so I used the Sega leyboard. I never don't think I owned any agetec controllers. I have one 3D2 pad that I can't remember where I got it from. I was shocked when my current ports were blown as the last memory I have from playing it was back in 05 and playing NBA 2K it worked fine then so idk what happened after that.

just wondering: did you try any of the other ports to make sure they were ALL blown? It could just be simple oxidation or a bent pin from angled insertion/removal.

[gamevet]

Again, proof reading fail=/=false information. I have found typos in every single one of my college textbooks, are they all false now?

He said it was from using multiple sticks/controllers of certain makes, so maybe 4 people playing Power Stone 2 or NBA Showtime with Agetec sticks full of VMUs might cause an issue.

Again, he says something, but he provides very little technical information. What is written in that small piece is just heresay, unless he has some sort of evidence to back what he said. That's my problem with some of the wiki articles, unless they have sources attached or cause and effect to back up what is written.

This article explains why the controller ports have failed and firsthand accounts documenting when and how it happened. (Yes, there is a typo.)

Obviously, these guys are doing something different than what I do when I use my Agetec arcade stick. They could be plugging it in when the system is on, plugging in multiple arcade sticks, or unplugging the DC pad and plugging in the Agetec stick.Are they plugging the systems directly into a wall outlet, using a surge protector or UPS and what kind of surface environment is the system and controllers being set on.

Until any of this was brought up in this thread, I'd never heard of the Agetec arcade sticks as being the reason why the ports have failed. I know I've unplugged, and plugged back in my controllers each and every time I use the Dreamcast. I keep my systems on a surge protection unit, never lay them on the floor and the DC I have hooked up using VGA is connected though a UPS.