Dreamcast help is rare these days, the tutorials below are part of the D-Central video game community, maybe they can help you out. Below the tutorials is the faq area, they should answer most, if not all the questions you have about the Sega Dreamcast Console. Dont forget to bookmark this page. If you still have questions or are intrested in joining DCentral, you can sign up for an account @ By Clicking HERE
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DCENTRAL GAMING COMMUNITY TUTORIALS
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How to burn a CDI image using Padus Diskjuggler
How to make a disk image with Padus Diskjuggler
An easy way to make a game selfboot using Bin2Boot
How to re-rip a backup disk using blindwrite
How to change the controller port in the Sega Dreamcast
How to change the fan in the Sega Dreamcast
How to dummy a disk using autodummy
How to re-rip a backup disk using ISOBuster
How to adjust the laser lens in the Sega Dreamcast
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DREAMCAST GAMES FAQ
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Q:Where can I buy a Dreamcast or games?
A:The best place to look is in pawnshops, Ive found that pawn shops are full of them. EBGames still carries some games. You could also try Ebay
Q:How many games are there for Dreamcast?
A:Tons, more than 800!! games were still popping up in December 2002, the most complete list of games is available in the Dreamcast section of GameFaqs
Q:Can I copy a store bought Dreamcast game in my CD burner?
A:No, the Dreamcast used GDRom, not CDRom, you can rip an original game, but you cant simply copy one on to a cd.
Q:How do I rip a Dreamcast game?
A:Check out the ripping guides @ Megagames Dreamcast Utility section
Q:So I can only copy a game that is already a backup?
A:Yes, check the DCentral tutorials above for info on how to burn an image.
Q:Do I need a modchip to play a backup game?
A:No, modchips were required untill the Utopia bootdisk was released. Now most backup games are selfboot, so you dont even need the bootdisk, just put it in and play.
Q:Where can I get a Utopia Bootdisk?
A:You can get a copy of the bootdisk from MegaGames Dreamcast Utility BootCD section.
Q:Can I make a nonselfboot game into a selfboot?
A:Yes, using a program called bin2boot which you can get at Megagames Dreamcast Utility section. The cd image must be a .bin type in order to make it a selfboot copy. If its in another format such as a .cdi or .nrg you need to re-rip the backup into a .bin type CD image.
Q:Do backup games play as good as originals?
A:No, they play well, but nothing beats an original. Somtimes files can go out of order when a game is ripped, or the CD data isnt spaced right, this can be fixed by dummying the game. Games are also somtimes chopped down in order to fit on a CD. If you going to collect Dreamcast games, make sure you buy your favorites in original format
Q:Will backup games wreck my Dreamcast?
A:Eventually yes, but so will playing originals. Nothing lasts forever. Bad rips will make your Dreamcast GDRom laser lens work harder than an orginal.
Q:What are all of these different cd image file types? What do I use to burn them?
A:ISO can be burned with almost every CD burning application. .CDI is a diskjuggler image , .NRG is a Nero image, .bin can be burned with Nero or CDRWin.
Q:I downloaded a game, and when its unpacked its bigger than 700 mb, how do I burn it?
A:Somtimes you can overburn a CD. Look in the advanced settings in your CD burning application. Some burners do not support overburning, and this can also damage your burner, be careful.
Q:Where can I get PC software to burn a backup?
Everything you could want for CD burning, ripping and more is @ CDMediaworld
Q:When I burn a CDI image with diskjuggler, what are the settings?
A:Leave them alone, the standard is what they are set at after you install the software
Q:Where can I find backup games?
A: Search around for a Dreamcast collector community or board, a newsgroup, or you could try an ftp search like Napalm. Dreamcast games range from 30 mb to 700 mb in size when they are packed, so be prepared to do alot of downloading. For info on Dreamcast games try Iso news. NEVER BUY BACKUP COPIES OF GAMES!!
Q:The screen is screwy and flips when I play my backup game, why?
A:There is two different types of Dreamcast systems, each for different TV refresh rates. PAL for Europe, and NTSC for Japan and North America. If you try to play a PAL game in a NTSC system the screen will flip or it wont work at all.
Q:When I put my backup game in, it goes to the cd player screen, why?
A:The game might not be selfboot, try using the Utopia Boot Disk, it that doesent work the game was probably incorrectly burned.
Q:What are the best games to get for Dreamcast?
A:On a recent poll held A DCentral, these were the top 50 games that members voted for, starting from the most popular title down to number 50.(This poll is still ongoing)
-Soul Calibur -Tennis 2k2 -Shenmue 2 -Resident Evil : Code Veronica -Dead Or Alive 2 Reg or LE -Skies of Arcadia -Shenmue -Crazy Taxi 2 -Jet Grind Radio (Jet Set Radio) -Headhunter -Sonic Adventure 2 -Metropolis Street Racer -Rez -NBA 2k2 -Tony hawk pro skater 2 -Gauntlet Legends - Grandia 2 - Crazy Taxi -Phantasy Star Online V1 or V2 - Marvel VS Capcom 2 -Ikaruga -Capcom Vs. SNK 2 -NFL 2K2 -NHL 2k2 -House of the Dead 2 -Test Drive Lemans (24 le mans) -Virtual Tennis - Test Drive V-Rally 2 -Resident Evil 3 Nemesis -Powerstone 2 -Bomberman Online -Typing of the Dead -Daytona USA 2001 -Sonic Adventure 1 -Resident Evil 2 -Unreal Tournament -Rayman 2 -Zero Gunner 2 -Vanishing Point -StarWars Jedi Power Battles -Super Robot Wars Alpha -Ultimate Fighting Championship -Mr. diller cdda -Samba De Amigo -SanFransico Rush 2049 -Quake 3 Arena -18 Wheeler -Capcom vs. Millenium Fight 2000 Pro -Mars Matrix -Tokyo Extreme Racer 2
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DREAMCAST DEVELOPMENT FAQ
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Q:I want to develop games, where should I go for more info.?
a:Try BOOB
Q:IS there such thing as a Dreamcast dev computer?
a:Yes
Q:Where can I get a Dreamcast dev computer?
a:Try Searching for on on EBAY, they pop up now and then.
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DREAMCAST SOFTWARE FAQ
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Q:Can I play VCD and Divx movies on my Dreamcast?
a:Yes, there is a decent VCD player that can be purhcase from a site like Liksang.com. There is also a DCDiVX player that can player lower quality DIVX movies, usually with 320x240 or lower rez. Try looking for the DCentral DCDivX Toolkit for tutorials and tools.
Q:Will these movies wreck my Dreamcast?
a:They could, DCDIVX movies run hot!
Q:Where can I get a internet web browser?
a:Try looking on MegaGamesfor one.
Q:What other software is available for the Dreamcast?
a:The Dreamcast doesent have a shortage of dev software. Emulators including NES and Playstation, and all kind of great stuff is out there.
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DREAMCAST HARDWARE FAQ
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Q:When I put a game in, my Dreamcast wont read the disk, why?
a:Usually this is caused by an out of sync laser lens, its hard to fix. Your best bet would be to buy another system, try Ebay or local pawn shops, they are usually cheap. If your very patient you could try this method. How to adjust the laser lens in the Sega Dreamcast
Q:My Dreamcast controllers dont work, why?
a:A controller port failing is a common problem, once again you could be stuck having to buy another system. Ask at local pawn shops and see if they have any non-working systems in the back that you can purcahse dirt cheap. Changing the port is easy, here is a tutorial on how. How to change the controller port in the Sega Dreamcast
Q:When I start my Dreamcast it freezes on the boot screen, why?
a:Another common problem, your moboard is probably dead. Time to buy another system.
Q:What is a VGA adapter? Is it worth buying one?
a:With a VGA adapter you can play games on your PC monitor. The quality of output on a monitor vs a TV is much higher. Games such as DOA2 look Sweet! Problem is that some games dont support VGA output, this problem can be fixed by patching. Check D-Central.com for more info.
Q:Can I set up a server to play Dreamcast games on?
a:There is tools out there that support Quake 3 Arena and a few other games, there doesent seem to be enough intrest for anyone to set up a server.
Q:Where can I buy Dreamcast addon/gear?
a:Try Liksang.com or GoCyberShop
Q:Can I connect to the internet with a anything faster than 56k dialup?
a:Yes with a broadband adapter.
Q:Where can I find a broadband adapter?
a:Try Ebay, they are very rare and usually expensive.
Q:What are the system specs. for the Sega Dreamcast?
a:CPU: Hitachi SH-4 128bit 200Mhz
Graphics Processor: NEC/VideoLogic PowerVR
Main RAM: 16Mb
Memory bandwith: 3.2Gb/sec
Graphics RAM: 8Mb
Theoretical performance: 3 million polygons
Estimated performance: 1.5 million polygons
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DREAMCAST EMULATION FAQ
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Q:What's an emulator?
a:basicly sofware created for a sytem to mimic the performance of another system.
Q:What systems are emulated for Dreamcast?
a:Almost everything you can think of, NES, SMS, MAME Arade, SNES, Atari and more.
Q:Where can I get emulators?
a:Your best bet for finding anything to do with emulators is ZOPHAR
Q:Where can I find roms for my emulators?
a:Roms are illegal, so youll have to do searching with google. There is tons of fake rom sites out there, so it will take you a while before you find a decent site.
Q:Is there a Dreamcast emulator for my PC?
a:There is one that looks promising, and few fakes out there. Nothing released yet worth while.
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DREAMCAST INTERNET FAQ
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Q:Where can I go to play Dreamcast games online?
A:There isnt a place that I know of anymore that you can play Dreamcast games. Originally you could play online @ SEGANET, Dreamcast servers may not be available anymore.
