Dreacmast Swap Trick FAQ - v1.4
by Dallas Scott (sdallas19@yahoo.com)
Last updated on January 24, 2002 at 4:23 PM
http://www.dallasmac.com - http://www.gamefaqs.com
Table of Contents:
i. Introduction
I. Frequently Asked Questions
II. The Swap Trick
III. Troubleshooting
IV. Information
*******************************************************************************
INTRODUCTION
Have you ever wanted to play an imported game on your local Dreamcast without
having to spend any money or performing complex procedures? Using something
known as a swap trick, you now can. This guide details what you'll need and
how to do this trick; if done correctly, you'll be playing an import on your
local machine in less than 15 minutes of following the 10 easy steps I've
listed. Although safe and easy to perform, the swap trick does has some
drawbacks, but it's a great way to play imports without having to spend money.
Version History:
v0.1 (04/28/2000): Initial Release. Added all sections.
v0.2 (05/04/2000): Added 2 new problems. Fixed a few things in the FAQ.
v0.3 (06/24/2000): Reformatted the guide.
v0.4 (07/02/2000): Added more to the F.A.Q. section as well as added a new
prolem to the troubleshooting section.
v0.5 (07/11/2000): Put alternatives up to keeping the black switch back in
the trick section. Also added 2 new problems.
v0.6 (07/27/2000): Added a few bits of information thanks to Aoi Tsuki.
v0.8 (11/12/2000): Just a few minor changes, nothing big.
v1.0 (02/23/2001): Made some changes in layout.
v1.1 (03/15/2001): Changed the top and bottom of the guide.
v1.2 (03/31/2001): Added an alternate method to resetting the internal memory
on a JP system along with an alternate disc swapping method
rather than waiting 3 minutes. Both courtesy of Timothy
Borreson.
v1.3 (06/26/2001): Added another game to the list of non-working games in
the following section. (Thanks to Kuo99).
v1.4 (01/24/2002): Another non-working game added to the list thanks to Domingo
Poliandri. I also rewrote 90% of the guide, fixing mistakes
and shortening it up.
*******************************************************************************
FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS
Q. What exactly is a swap trick and what does it do for me?
A. A swap trick is where you boot up your Dreamcast with a local game and then
swap it with a foreign game once the startup data has been loaded from the
local game. This allows you to bypass the territorial lockout on the
Dreamcast and play imported games on your local region Dreamcast.
Q. Aside from the swap trick, are there any other ways to play imports?
A. Yes. Currently, you can play imports by having a mod chip installed in
your Dreamcast, by purchasing a GameShark for the Dreamcast which has a
feature to play imports, or by using a boot disc. The swap trick is for
those who cannot afford an enhancer or don't want to take a risk with a
modification chip.
Q. What's this about a boot disc? How do I get one of those?
A. Boot discs are composed of files that can be downloaded off of the internet
and burned onto a blank CD-R. However, doing so is illegal, so don't
bother asking where you can download such files. All requests for boot
discs or the files that make a boot disc will be ignored and deleted.
Q. How does this swap trick work exactly?
A. Basically, all you're doing is holding back the small switch inside of the
Dreamcast that lets the system know when the CD cover is open and closed.
By doing so, you "trick" the Dreamcast into thinking the cover is closed
even though it's open. This enables you to swap discs once the startup
data has been booted from your local game.
Q. Is the trick easy and safe to perform?
A. Yes. Unlike other methods, the swap trick is only a temporary
modification. You simply need to have the CD cover switch held back with a
piece of material such as string or a rubber band. Nothing complex (such
as soldering) is involved, so it's safe and easy to perform.
Q. I have a European or Japanese Dreamcast. Can I still do this trick?
A. Yes. This swap trick will work on all regional versions of the Dreamcast,
though on some machines, you may need to take different actions in one of
the steps. You'll learn more as I get into the actual trick itself in the
section below.
Q. Will this trick work to play all imported games?
A. Unfortunately, no. Below is a list of games that have been confirmed not
to work with using the swap trick.
Title | Problem | Informant
----------------------------------------------------------------------
Guilty Gear X | No music or control | Kuo99@aol.com
Sakura Taisen 3 | Game doesn't load | Timothy Borreson
Skies of Arcadia | Game loads but no images, | Domingo Poliandri
| only sound |
If you know of any other games that do not work with this trick, please
let me know which ones they are and the problems you have when trying to
load them with the swap trick. Also, if you have managed to get one of
the above listed games to work with the trick, please let me know so I
can post a solution.
Q. Can I use this trick to play backup CD-R copies of games?
A. Sparing a lecture on how this is illegal and wrong, I simply don't know. I
have not attempted to burn a Dreamcast game so I wouldn't know if such
"backups" work with the swap trick.
Q. Are there any drawbacks to using the swap trick?
A. For starters, the swap trick will take up to 5 minutes to load a game, but
that's the price you pay for such an easy-to-perform trick. Also, there
has been talk of the trick causing problems with the Dreamcast's GD drive.
Whether or not the swap trick is directly related to any drive problems in
the Dreamcast has not been determined (AFAIK), though I can report that I
have not had any problems in using it.
Q. How did you know how to do this trick in the first place?
A. Sailor Bacon, a well-known user at GameFAQs, told me how to do it on the
GameFAQs message boards nearly two years ago.
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THE SWAP TRICK
PRECAUTION: Remember to disconnect all power cords and controllers from the
Dreamcast prior to performing this trick. (There should be no wires connected
to the main console when you open it up).
TOOLS YOU WILL NEED:
--------------------
* A phillips-head screwdriver
* A rubberband, piece of string, tape, or something similar.
* The default web browser that came with your Dreamcast.
* Any local Dreamcast game
* An import Dreamcast game to test the trick
THE TRICK (IN 10 EASY STEPS):
-----------------------------
1) Using the phillips-head screwdriver, loosen the first three screws in the
corners of the bottom-side of the Dreamcast. Gently turn the system over
once all have been loosened to remove them and set them aside in a safe
place, as you'll need to replace them later.
2) In the back-right corner of the system, you'll find the modem. Pop it off
and you'll find the last screw. Loosen it and set it aside with the
others, then carefully remove the cover of the Dreamcast to reveal its
insides. Pretty cool, eh?
3) Looking at the back-right corner of the inside of the system, you'll spot
a small, black switch. This is the CD cover switch that tells the
Dreamcast if the lid is open or shut. What you want to do is have this
switch held back so the system thinks the lid is shut even when opened.
4) Use the rubberband, string, tape, or whatever it is you have to hold this
switch back as far as it will go. Be gentle, however, because you don't
want to force it back (which can cause it to break it off).
5) Place the lid of the Dreamcast back on then turn it back over (carefully).
Replace each screw and tighten them. Pop the modem back in, plug in all
the cords and you're ready for the non-technical part of the trick.
6) Put the original web browser disc that came with your Dreamcast inside.
Make sure you have a a controller plugged in the second controller port
(also make sure the VMU is not in the controller) and start up the web
browser. As you turn your system on, hold down B + X on the controller in
the second port.
7) Continuing to hold down B + X for a few seconds will cause a few boxes to
appear on your screen. This means your Dreamcast's internal memory has
been reset. This is necessary in order for the trick to work. If you
have a Japanese Dreamcast, see below for information on resetting the
interal memory on it.
RESETTING THE INTERNAL MEMORY ON A JP DREAMCAST (Method 1):
Thanks to Lord Ukyo for information on how to do this.
Diagram of the inside of a Japanese Dreamcast:
-----------------
| S | S: Switch
| |
| B | B: Battery
| 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | #: Controller Ports
-----------------
The battery is about the size of a quarter. Around the edge, it is wrapped
with blue plastic and looks like a quarter standing on it's edge. Below it
you can see a '+' or "positive" sign. It is connected on both sides. You
can disconnect one side by gently pulling it apart with pliers. You can
reconnect it again with tape or rubber band but you don't really need the
internal memory anyway. Without the battery the set time screen comes on
every time you turn on your Dreamcast.
RESETTING THE INTERNAL MEMORY ON A JP DREAMCAST (Method 2):
Thanks to Timothy Borreson for this method.
Would you like to know a safer method of temporarily disabling the
Dreamcast Internal Memory while using the swap trick? This method could
prevent possible damage from using pliers on the battery of a Japanese DC.
Locate the battery behind controller port 2. Notice that there are two
pieces of metal connecting the battery to the board -- a thicker one in
the back, and a thin one in the front. I simply use a straightened paper
clip to touch these two pieces of metal together while the DC is powered
off. This shorts the battery's signal, wiping the memory.
One point of warning is that leaving the two battery terminals connected
will discharge the battery, and possibly overheat it, causing damage to
the board. You only need to touch them together briefly to clear the
memory.
This method seems to be a lot safer than physically disconnecting the
battery. However, you'll have to leave the case off for easy access to
the battery, any perform the touch each time you boot.
8) With the internal memory now reset, take out the web browser disc and
replace it with any local game of choice. Keep the CD cover open and
start up the system (remember, with the switch held back inside, the
Dreamcast thinks the lid is closed even though you still have it open).
9) As the game loads, you will be brought to the clock setting page (whenever
the memory is reset, the clock setting page comes up). Feel free to set
it if you want, but do NOT press the OK button yet. Now it's just a
waiting game (or not depending on what you choose to do next).
10) Let the local game spin in the Dreamcast for approximately 2-3 minutes
and it will stop. When this happens, take the game out and replace it
with the import title you want to play. Close the lid and hit the OK
button to finish the startup and enjoy the game!
Don't feel like waiting for the game to stop spinning? Timothy Borreson
has a tip that speeds things up, but could potentially be damaging to the
Dreamcast. Here's what he has to say: "If you remove the spinning CD and
wait 2 or 3 seconds, the CD drive will stop and you can insert another CD
right away. (It may be easier to remove the CD if you push down on the
center spindle to slow the drive -- I get the feeling that this is
probably bad for the drive's motor, though.)"
That's it! If you did everything correctly, you should now be able to play
your favorite imports on your local Dreamcast.
*******************************************************************************
TROUBLESHOOTING
PROBLEM: Data on a VMU is erased when performing the swap trick.
CAUSE: VMU was left in the controller when internal memory was reset.
SOLUTION: Make sure your VMU is removed from the controller when resetting
the Dreamcast's internal memory to avoid data loss.
PROBLEM: Dreamcast web browser does not work to reset internal memory.
CAUSE: Incorrect version of browser is being used.
SOLUTION: Use the web browser version that came with your Dreamcast upon
purchase to ensure a successful memory reset.
PROBLEM: Screws on bottom of Dreamcast are not phillip screws.
CAUSE: Dreamcast was bought used and default screws have been replaced.
SOLUTION: The only way to remove foreign screws is to use a tool that fits
the screw's head. There are no other solutions to this problem.
PROBLEM: Swap trick causes problems with GD drive or controller ports.
CAUSE: *The swap trick has not been directly linked to such problems.*
SOLUTION: The controller ports on the Dreamcast have been known to fail a lot,
so the swap trick is an unlikely candidate for that problem. As for
the drive burn-out, this is just a rumor and has not been confirmed.
I've never had any problems with the drive, though my controller
ports have long since stopped functioning (I doubt the swap trick
was the cause, however).
PROBLEM: Import game does not properly run with swap trick.
CAUSE: Some games are incompatible with the swap trick.
SOLUTION: There is no solution to this. See the current list of games in the
Frequently Asked Questions section that have been confirmed to not
work with the swap trick.
If you find any other problems (or potential problems) with using the swap
trick or have an alternate solution to any of the ones listed here, don't
hesitate to contact me so I can add them to the guide.
*******************************************************************************
INFORMATION
Disclaimer:
This document is Copyright 2000-2002 by Dallas Scott. All rights reserved.
It may not be altered or reproduced in any form (this includes posting on web
sites) without advance permission from the author. The latest version of this
guide can always be found at the GameFAQs web site, so if you're reading an
outdated version, please check the above site before e-mailing me with
questions. This guide and its author are in no way affiliated with SEGA or
any other company for that matter. I am not responsible for any outcome (good
or bad) of performing this trick.
Credits and Sources:
First, I want to thank Sailor Bacon for telling me all about this trick and
how to perform it.
Thanks also to Timothy Borreson for the alternate method to resetting the
internal memory on a Japanese Dreamcast as well as for informing me that
Sakura Taisen 3 does not work with the trick.
Aoi Tsuki provided random bits of information about the trick.
Lord Ukyo sent the first method to resetting the internal memory on a
Japanese Dreamcast (in which the battery is disconnected).
Kuo99 informed me that Guilty Gear X has problems with the trick.
Battosai (of GameFAQs) gave me some useful information about the Dreamcast.
And finally, thanks to CJayC of GameFAQs.com for hosting this FAQ (and all of
my others) on his web site.
Contact Information:
Should you need to contact me with questions, comments, suggestions, praise,
contributions, or even some constructive criticism, I'm always willing to hear
it. Though I may not reply to 80% of the e-mail I receive, keep in mind that
I do read it all. You may contact me via one of the following:
E-mail address: SDallas19@yahoo.com
Web site URL: http://www.dallasmac.com
Webmasters:
If you're wanting to post this FAQ on your web site, please contact me first
letting me know the address of your site. Any site wanting to post this FAQ
must not alter the guide in any way, must keep it in TEXT format, must give
proper credit, must not place any advertisements on the FAQ and must keep the
FAQ up to date. If you meet the aforementioned criteria, go ahead and drop
me a line.
===============================================================================
This document is Copyright 2000-2002 by Dallas Scott.
-EOF-
