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Non-NEC Console Related Discussion => Console Chat => Topic started by: schweaty on December 12, 2017, 03:15:46 PM

Title: Need some dreamcast vga connection help
Post by: schweaty on December 12, 2017, 03:15:46 PM
Gents,

My 1st generation pioneer plasma has an 15-pin vga input labelled 'analog rgb' as a pc connection.  My question is, can i connect my dreamcast with a vga cable to this input?

I cant find much tech data on the pioneer tv.  I basically just need to know if tv manufacturers considered vga an analog rgb connection.  I know it isnt really, but that doesnt mean it wont work on this tv.  I just dont want to buy a decent dreamcast vga cable and not have it work


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Title: Re: Need some dreamcast vga connection help
Post by: Bloufo on December 12, 2017, 04:31:04 PM
I cant find much tech data on the pioneer tv.  I basically just need to know if tv manufacturers considered vga an analog rgb connection.  I know it isnt really, but that doesnt mean it wont work on this tv.  I just dont want to buy a decent dreamcast vga cable and not have it work

It should work.

Worst case scenario is you won't be out too much for a decent VGA cable. Too lazy to look now but I got mine off of Amazon a year or so back for about $15.
Title: Re: Need some dreamcast vga connection help
Post by: jperryss on December 12, 2017, 11:47:49 PM
I think it will work. VGA is an analog RGB (+HV) connection, right?
Title: Re: Need some dreamcast vga connection help
Post by: Lost Monkey on December 13, 2017, 12:09:01 AM
 My DC VGA cable has worked on every HD TV i have owned with a "PC" input. Go for it - DC VGA is awesome.
Title: Re: Need some dreamcast vga connection help
Post by: SuperDeadite on December 13, 2017, 01:01:00 AM
VGA = analog RGB
Title: Re: Need some dreamcast vga connection help
Post by: SignOfZeta on December 13, 2017, 03:07:48 AM
Plug that shit in. This is exactly what it’s for.
Title: Re: Need some dreamcast vga connection help
Post by: Arkhan on December 13, 2017, 04:57:17 AM
SLIP IT INNNNNNNNNNNN

Title: Re: Need some dreamcast vga connection help
Post by: seieienbu on December 13, 2017, 05:43:21 AM
I Love how DC included VGA support.  Probably my favorite thing about that entire console generation was turning my old PC monitor sideways and playing Ikaruga how it was originally intended with the best looking picture imaginable.

Post some screen shots after you hook it up!
Title: Re: Need some dreamcast vga connection help
Post by: SignOfZeta on December 13, 2017, 05:48:31 AM
Yeah, non-tate Ikaruga over composite is not the same thing. Rez, Shenmue, even Cannon Spike are a LOT different over lesser signals.
Title: Re: Need some dreamcast vga connection help
Post by: jperryss on December 13, 2017, 06:47:53 AM
I'm going to use this thread to ask a DC-VGA question since you guys seem knowledgeable.

I'm using my Dreamcast with a SCART RGB cable plugged into my PVM, so everything is 480i. But my PVM can also display 640x480 and I want to be able to switch the DC's output to VGA mode when playing a game that supports it. Is that possible?

If not, is it possible to use the VGA cable and wire a switch to force it back to 480i?

I've already tested RGBHV on my PVM by using a T-adapter to combine the syncs. I'm trying to avoid having to swap cables whenever I play a game that doesn't support VGA mode. If there's no easy solution, I'll connect the VGA cable to my VGA monitor and just swap the cable as needed.
Title: Re: Need some dreamcast vga connection help
Post by: SignOfZeta on December 13, 2017, 07:32:10 AM
The DC can be tricked into doing different video modes with special boot discs but I don’t know about VGA. There’s some circuitry in a VGA box and I don’t know if it’s all to the audio or not. The DC itself may not be able to make a VGA signal. I’m thinking probably not.
Title: Re: Need some dreamcast vga connection help
Post by: schweaty on December 13, 2017, 08:09:41 AM
Thanks guys!  Im going to jam that shit in prison-style

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Title: Re: Need some dreamcast vga connection help
Post by: bartre on December 13, 2017, 08:28:59 AM
The DC can be tricked into doing different video modes with special boot discs but I don’t know about VGA. There’s some circuitry in a VGA box and I don’t know if it’s all to the audio or not. The DC itself may not be able to make a VGA signal. I’m thinking probably not.

yeah boot discs can trick the DC into outputting VGA video on games that don't support it
lots of games have patched versions that can be burned and played that way too.

here's a list of games:
https://www.epforums.org/showthread.php?56169-Dreamcast-VGA-Compatability-list-amp-Guide
Title: Re: Need some dreamcast vga connection help
Post by: SignOfZeta on December 13, 2017, 08:57:46 AM
Yes, you don’t even need to patch them, I have more than one boot disc that just lets you pick. However he’s asking if you can get the DC to put out a 480p RGB signal over the SCART, with no VGA box. That’s what I’m wondering about.

Edit: http://www.mmmonkey.co.uk/dreamcast-internal-vga-mod/

There you go.
Title: Re: Need some dreamcast vga connection help
Post by: bartre on December 13, 2017, 09:52:58 AM
ah, hadn't read that post

it's tough to say exactly without telling you to hack up your cable and try it, cuz i'm not exactly an electrican.
but I'd imagine a SPDT switch to go between grounding pins 6&7 would work.

but before doing that, I'd check to see if the cable has all the pins, a lot of DC video cables only have the ones they need.
Title: Re: Need some dreamcast vga connection help
Post by: seieienbu on December 13, 2017, 10:50:55 AM
I tried to get a lot of non-VGA compliant games to output VGA using boot disks.  Generally you'd get nothing but occasionally you could get a game to output 480p correctly; Last Blade 2 instantly springs to mind here.  If memory serves, it was unsuccessful with the "Innovation" boot disk that I bought from Gamestop but was successful with the Reindeer bootdisk I downloaded and burned from somewhere online.  Occasionally odd things would happen.  Bangai-O would output the entire game taking up only the top left quarter of the screen. 

As much as I love the DC's VGA output capabilities I think it's honestly a disservice to everyone when people don't mention the fact that a ton of games don't use VGA. 
Title: Re: Need some dreamcast vga connection help
Post by: bartre on December 13, 2017, 11:23:15 AM
I tried to get a lot of non-VGA compliant games to output VGA using boot disks.  Generally you'd get nothing but occasionally you could get a game to output 480p correctly; Last Blade 2 instantly springs to mind here.  If memory serves, it was unsuccessful with the "Innovation" boot disk that I bought from Gamestop but was successful with the Reindeer bootdisk I downloaded and burned from somewhere online.  Occasionally odd things would happen.  Bangai-O would output the entire game taking up only the top left quarter of the screen. 

As much as I love the DC's VGA output capabilities I think it's honestly a disservice to everyone when people don't mention the fact that a ton of games don't use VGA. 

yeah any commercial boot disc I've tried has been far less successful than the Utopia boot disc.
Title: Re: Need some dreamcast vga connection help
Post by: SignOfZeta on December 13, 2017, 11:51:40 AM
I tried to get a lot of non-VGA compliant games to output VGA using boot disks.  Generally you'd get nothing but occasionally you could get a game to output 480p correctly; Last Blade 2 instantly springs to mind here.  If memory serves, it was unsuccessful with the "Innovation" boot disk that I bought from Gamestop but was successful with the Reindeer bootdisk I downloaded and burned from somewhere online.  Occasionally odd things would happen.  Bangai-O would output the entire game taking up only the top left quarter of the screen. 

As much as I love the DC's VGA output capabilities I think it's honestly a disservice to everyone when people don't mention the fact that a ton of games don't use VGA. 

Yeah...I guess. Maybe I got lucky and most of the games I like work or can be tricked. I only had a few titles that absolutely wouldn’t work in VGA and I actually wanted to play them. Jojos, I think was one of them.
Title: Re: Need some dreamcast vga connection help
Post by: seieienbu on December 13, 2017, 03:21:16 PM
Yeah...I guess. Maybe I got lucky and most of the games I like work or can be tricked. I only had a few titles that absolutely wouldn’t work in VGA and I actually wanted to play them. Jojos, I think was one of them.

I've never looked until now, but a brief search shows me that there are lists out there that show what games work with VGA and what don't.  What I find surprising is that Last Blade 2 is on the "Not VGA compatible" list.  I distinctly remember it working with a boot disk, so, perhaps the list is wrong or perhaps my aging memory is failing me.  Either way, there's 19 US games that can't be tricked into working according to what I just read.

Air Force Delta
Bangai-O
Ceasars Palace 2000
Coaster Works
ECW Hardcore Revolution
Hydro Thunder
Iron Aces
JoJo Bizare Adventure
King of Fighters 99 Evelution
Last Blade II Heart of a Samarai
MTV Sports Skateboarding
Plasma Sword
Psychic Force 2012
Ring, The: Terror Realm
Skies of Arcadia
Snow Surfers
Soul Fighter
Sydney 2000
WWF Attitude

There may be a couple of mistakes here so if I can stop being lazy I'll test a few later.
Title: Re: Need some dreamcast vga connection help
Post by: bartre on December 13, 2017, 06:08:55 PM
also worth noting that some games can be tricked to play widescreen
*supposedly* i haven't gotten around to trying this myself

https://segaretro.org/List_of_Dreamcast_widescreen_codes
Title: Re: Need some dreamcast vga connection help
Post by: SignOfZeta on December 13, 2017, 06:24:36 PM
Yeah...I guess. Maybe I got lucky and most of the games I like work or can be tricked. I only had a few titles that absolutely wouldn’t work in VGA and I actually wanted to play them. Jojos, I think was one of them.

I've never looked until now, but a brief search shows me that there are lists out there that show what games work with VGA and what don't.  What I find surprising is that Last Blade 2 is on the "Not VGA compatible" list.  I distinctly remember it working with a boot disk, so, perhaps the list is wrong or perhaps my aging memory is failing me.  Either way, there's 19 US games that can't be tricked into working according to what I just read.

Air Force Delta
Bangai-O
Ceasars Palace 2000
Coaster Works
ECW Hardcore Revolution
Hydro Thunder
Iron Aces
JoJo Bizare Adventure
King of Fighters 99 Evelution
Last Blade II Heart of a Samarai
MTV Sports Skateboarding
Plasma Sword
Psychic Force 2012
Ring, The: Terror Realm
Skies of Arcadia
Snow Surfers
Soul Fighter
Sydney 2000
WWF Attitude

There may be a couple of mistakes here so if I can stop being lazy I'll test a few later.


Yep, most of that is shite. I remember Psychic Force not working, that was a bummer.

I’m %99.9 sure that list is wrong about Skies of Arcadia. I cleared that game when it was new and it seems like I would have remembered having to move the DC to another display to play it.

I’m not surprised Last Blade doesn’t work. All the 2D fighters have something f*cked about them on DC. Third Strike and MvC 2 and CvS2 worked and thats what mattered.
Title: Re: Need some dreamcast vga connection help
Post by: Lost Monkey on December 14, 2017, 01:10:32 AM
also worth noting that some games can be tricked to play widescreen
*supposedly* i haven't gotten around to trying this myself

https://segaretro.org/List_of_Dreamcast_widescreen_codes

Bad instructions on that site - what Dreamcast cheat device specifically? Gameshark probably...

This reminds me - I have 3 Dreamcasts and all 3 have the lid switch jumpered due to failure of the switch.. I can't use a swap disk...

Need to find some replacement lid switches...

Edit:  Looks like these switches are unobtanium...  they have to be refurbed or replaced with an external switch...  Maybe I'll try that this weekend. 
Title: Re: Need some dreamcast vga connection help
Post by: SignOfZeta on December 14, 2017, 06:07:44 AM
PAR codes, presumably. F355 has a wide function in the menu but that being a 3D simulator that actually makes sense. I can’t envision what CvS2 looks like wide or why anyone would want it to be.
Title: Re: Need some dreamcast vga connection help
Post by: bartre on December 14, 2017, 07:33:05 PM
regarding the cheat codes, Gameshark and Action Replay (and their rereleases) are the same thing, just distributed under different names.
the only other one released to my knowledge was the codebreaker, which according to the segaretro page on it is compatible with the same codes.
I'll give it a shot next week and return with my results.

Either way, there's 19 US games that can't be tricked into working according to what I just read.

Hydro Thunder

not 100% accurate.
there's 2 versions of Hydro Thunder, the original release and the Hot! New!/Sega All Stars rerelease
you can tell by the color of the disc.
the OG release has a blue top to the disc and doesn't support VGA
the rerelease has a red disc and does support VGA, as well as having a couple bug fixes
buuuuuut maybe it's the other way around.
again, I'll test it out next week when I have some time.
Title: Re: Need some dreamcast vga connection help
Post by: schweaty on December 15, 2017, 12:29:51 PM
So, can i use codebreaker to "trick" the non-vga games into vga?

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Title: Re: Need some dreamcast vga connection help
Post by: SignOfZeta on December 15, 2017, 04:15:00 PM
Not without a VGA box.
Title: Re: Need some dreamcast vga connection help
Post by: schweaty on December 16, 2017, 05:44:04 AM
Welp, got my vga cable in today.  Im getting a ton of video interference over the audio.  The picture is also dark and unstable.  Bad cable?



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Title: Re: Need some dreamcast vga connection help
Post by: schweaty on December 16, 2017, 06:16:53 AM
anybody know a place that sells high quality vga cables?  ive never had any luck with the retro-bit crap
Title: Re: Need some dreamcast vga connection help
Post by: Gypsy on December 16, 2017, 06:37:44 AM
Just go to a thrift store and pay a dollar. That way you don't have to wait for shipping.

I'm surprised you don't have a bunch though. I just kind of accumulated them as well as those generic 3 prong power cords.
Title: Re: Need some dreamcast vga connection help
Post by: Bloufo on December 16, 2017, 06:47:13 AM
Welp, got my vga cable in today.  Im getting a ton of video interference over the audio.  The picture is also dark and unstable.  Bad cable?

I recall with one of those I had to press it in the DC's port pretty hard for a good connection.

Didn't have the problems you describe, though. Which one did you get, this one?
https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B01BF74KOS/ref=oh_aui_detailpage_o00_s00?ie=UTF8&psc=1
Title: Re: Need some dreamcast vga connection help
Post by: schweaty on December 16, 2017, 06:50:21 AM
Welp, got my vga cable in today.  Im getting a ton of video interference over the audio.  The picture is also dark and unstable.  Bad cable?

I recall with one of those I had to press it in the DC's port pretty hard for a good connection.

Didn't have the problems you describe, though. Which one did you get, this one?
https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B01BF74KOS/ref=oh_aui_detailpage_o00_s00?ie=UTF8&psc=1
It was pretty stiff but i made sure it was seated.  I didnt get that one, but it looks exactly like it.  Probably going to return it and try the tomee one

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Title: Re: Need some dreamcast vga connection help
Post by: Gypsy on December 16, 2017, 06:56:01 AM
Oh. You should get an actual VGA box for sure.
Title: Re: Need some dreamcast vga connection help
Post by: bartre on December 16, 2017, 07:56:33 AM
yeah, the ones that are just cables are kind of notoriously bad.
I'd expect $30-40 for a good one
Title: Re: Need some dreamcast vga connection help
Post by: schweaty on December 16, 2017, 09:11:05 AM
yeah, the ones that are just cables are kind of notoriously bad.
I'd expect $30-40 for a good one
If its going to be that much i might as well spring for the kuro box. 

Anybody have any experience with the hong kong vga boxes that cost about $40?

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Title: Re: Need some dreamcast vga connection help
Post by: Gypsy on December 16, 2017, 10:07:34 AM
yeah, the ones that are just cables are kind of notoriously bad.
I'd expect $30-40 for a good one
If its going to be that much i might as well spring for the kuro box. 

Anybody have any experience with the hong kong vga boxes that cost about $40?

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At this point I would definitely recommend just springing for something from Beharbros. Their prices are pretty reasonable.
Title: Re: Need some dreamcast vga connection help
Post by: bartre on December 17, 2017, 08:46:42 AM
yeah, the ones that are just cables are kind of notoriously bad.
I'd expect $30-40 for a good one
If its going to be that much i might as well spring for the kuro box. 

Anybody have any experience with the hong kong vga boxes that cost about $40?

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yeah, just go for a nice one at that point imo
Title: Re: Need some dreamcast vga connection help
Post by: Lost Monkey on December 20, 2017, 02:29:54 PM
Welp, got my vga cable in today.  Im getting a ton of video interference over the audio.  The picture is also dark and unstable.  Bad cable?



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Tried the code with Daytona - couldn't get it to work. 
Title: Re: Need some dreamcast vga connection help
Post by: SignOfZeta on December 20, 2017, 03:06:01 PM
Daytona doesn’t need a code, does it? Do you have some f*cked euro shit or something?

EDIT:

I’m kind of surprised this is such an issue...now, aparently, since I don’t remember any VGA issues back in the day other than sometimes the monitor wouldn’t sync with a box I had. I can’t remember the details.

VGA boxes are an officially supported 1st party peripheral. There’s even a logo for it on some games that support it. VGA boxes were made by Naki, Nuby, Sega, and lord knows who else. Maybe you should try something vintage that they made thousands of good examples of instead of this garagista bullshit.
Title: Re: Need some dreamcast vga connection help
Post by: Lost Monkey on December 20, 2017, 03:20:03 PM
Daytona doesn’t need a code, does it? Do you have some f*cked euro shit or something?

EDIT:

I’m kind of surprised this is such an issue...now, aparently, since I don’t remember any VGA issues back in the day other than sometimes the monitor wouldn’t sync with a box I had. I can’t remember the details.

VGA boxes are an officially supported 1st party peripheral. There’s even a logo for it on some games that support it. VGA boxes were made by Naki, Nuby, Sega, and lord knows who else. Maybe you should try something vintage that they made thousands of good examples of instead of this garagista bullshit.

Yeah - I quoted the wrong post - I was trying the anamorphic widescreen code... US game (original) with Codebreaker DC. 
Title: Re: Need some dreamcast vga connection help
Post by: SignOfZeta on December 20, 2017, 03:26:35 PM
Ah...some of those codes/modes are video specific. For example, F355 has wide in the menus normally but it doesn’t work in VGA since there’s no such thing as anamorphic VGA. I think you need SD video. I’ve never used any of those codes but I assume it’s not an entirely different thing.
Title: Re: Need some dreamcast vga connection help
Post by: seieienbu on December 22, 2017, 01:36:13 PM
I would definitely second getting an original VGA Box rather than a cable from Amazon.  I tried two different DC VGA cables and wasn't pleased with either.  Both had rather shitty signal quality.
Title: Re: Need some dreamcast vga connection help
Post by: jperryss on January 11, 2018, 10:01:21 AM
I ended up taking a gamble on one of the $15 Retro-Bit cables and it works fine, other than requiring some extra force to insert into the back of the Dreamcast. It's a tight fit and I probably won't unplug it too often (only have a couple non-VGA games) but otherwise, no issues. And it looks really good on a VGA monitor.
Title: Re: Need some dreamcast vga connection help
Post by: ClodBuster on January 11, 2018, 05:51:57 PM
... other than requiring some extra force to insert into the back ... It's a tight fit ... probably won't unplug it too often ...looks really good
I'm a pervert.
Title: Re: Need some dreamcast vga connection help
Post by: Gypsy on January 12, 2018, 12:36:06 AM
I ended up taking a gamble on one of the $15 Retro-Bit cables and it works fine, other than requiring some extra force to insert into the back of the Dreamcast. It's a tight fit and I probably won't unplug it too often (only have a couple non-VGA games) but otherwise, no issues. And it looks really good on a VGA monitor.

Honestly there is no reason one of these cables can't look good. The Chinese ones are crap because they use crap parts to keep the price down. I've not tried the retrobit ones but I do have a custom made one coming from an eBay seller in Poland. I have his Saturn SVideo cable and it is excellent. The retrobit cable is cheap enough that I'll probably do a comparison at some point.
Title: Re: Need some dreamcast vga connection help
Post by: schweaty on January 12, 2018, 02:58:12 AM
I feel like Im missing something here.  I've seen a couple of posts about most dreamcast games being vga compatible, but when I look on the back of the games I have, it looks like at least half are not.  Huh?

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Title: Re: Need some dreamcast vga connection help
Post by: Gypsy on January 12, 2018, 03:03:46 AM
I feel like Im missing something here.  I've seen a couple of posts about most dreamcast games being vga compatible, but when I look on the back of the games I have, it looks like at least half are not.  Huh?

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Many that don't mention it on the back of the case can be forced into it anyway.
Title: Re: Need some dreamcast vga connection help
Post by: jperryss on January 12, 2018, 03:05:56 AM
I feel like Im missing something here.  I've seen a couple of posts about most dreamcast games being vga compatible, but when I look on the back of the games I have, it looks like at least half are not.  Huh?

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Many that don't mention it on the back of the case can be forced into it anyway.

But that requires ripping/downloading the ISO, patching, and burning it, right?
Title: Re: Need some dreamcast vga connection help
Post by: schweaty on January 12, 2018, 03:13:33 AM
I feel like Im missing something here.  I've seen a couple of posts about most dreamcast games being vga compatible, but when I look on the back of the games I have, it looks like at least half are not.  Huh?

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Many that don't mention it on the back of the case can be forced into it anyway.
Ok, but can they be forced into it with a boot disk like codebreaker or do you have to have a box with a Hz switch?

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Title: Re: Need some dreamcast vga connection help
Post by: seieienbu on January 12, 2018, 07:06:05 AM
I've used a boot disk to trick several games that don't natively support VGA into playing on VGA.  Beyond that, several games that don't specifically list VGA support on the package will work easily right out of the package.  I've never used an updated patched game but supposedly that works too, I can't comment much on that.
Title: Re: Need some dreamcast vga connection help
Post by: Keith Courage on January 12, 2018, 08:13:46 AM
I feel like Im missing something here.  I've seen a couple of posts about most dreamcast games being vga compatible, but when I look on the back of the games I have, it looks like at least half are not.  Huh?

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I wonder if this is because most people use CD-rs and at least 95% of games are patched to work with a VGA cable now days.

Also, I have two super generic VGA cables that were maybe $15 each. Never had an issue with either one as far as video quality or buzzing audio is concerned.
Title: Re: Need some dreamcast vga connection help
Post by: Gypsy on January 12, 2018, 09:03:02 AM
The Chinese ones are really bad and you will easily notice when compared to a good solution. The retro bit might be fine though, I have no idea there as previously mentioned.
Title: Re: Need some dreamcast vga connection help
Post by: SignOfZeta on January 12, 2018, 12:11:05 PM
I feel like Im missing something here.  I've seen a couple of posts about most dreamcast games being vga compatible, but when I look on the back of the games I have, it looks like at least half are not.  Huh?

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I wonder if this is because most people use CD-rs and at least 95% of games are patched to work with a VGA cable now days.

Also, I have two super generic VGA cables that were maybe $15 each. Never had an issue with either one as far as video quality or buzzing audio is concerned.

Not every piece of supported hardware is mentioned on every game, especially US release. The VGA box was not promoted in any way in the states, I’m not sure if OEM ones ever were sold here. So many games work and they just don’t mention it.

From my experience usually the games that don’t work or work badly if tricked are 2D or have some 2D aspects to them. I’m not sure why this is but that’s what I’ve noticed. The 2D fighters come to mind but also even some games like Sakura Wars 1 or 2 (one or both of them, I can’t remember) have a malfunction or two if played in VGA even if the rest of the game is fine. The other two SW games are native to DC (1 and 2 were ports of SS games) and used no code in common, are largely 3D, and work great in VGA as do many games from my experience and I’ve played almost nothing but originals.

I would go check Skies of Arcadia right now but my f*cking power just went out and it’s going to hit 11F tonight so I have to go haul some f*cking wood into the house. WeeeeeeehhhAaaaas!
Title: Re: Need some dreamcast vga connection help
Post by: seieienbu on January 12, 2018, 12:15:15 PM
I'm pretty sure that Skies of Arcadia worked fine in VGA.  I remember comparing that game specifically on VGA to a composite upscaler called "JAM!" that looked a good deal worse.
Title: Re: Need some dreamcast vga connection help
Post by: Gypsy on January 12, 2018, 01:50:41 PM
I feel like Im missing something here.  I've seen a couple of posts about most dreamcast games being vga compatible, but when I look on the back of the games I have, it looks like at least half are not.  Huh?

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I wonder if this is because most people use CD-rs and at least 95% of games are patched to work with a VGA cable now days.

Also, I have two super generic VGA cables that were maybe $15 each. Never had an issue with either one as far as video quality or buzzing audio is concerned.

Not every piece of supported hardware is mentioned on every game, especially US release. The VGA box was not promoted in any way in the states, I’m not sure if OEM ones ever were sold here. So many games work and they just don’t mention it.

From my experience usually the games that don’t work or work badly if tricked are 2D or have some 2D aspects to them. I’m not sure why this is but that’s what I’ve noticed. The 2D fighters come to mind but also even some games like Sakura Wars 1 or 2 (one or both of them, I can’t remember) have a malfunction or two if played in VGA even if the rest of the game is fine. The other two SW games are native to DC (1 and 2 were ports of SS games) and used no code in common, are largely 3D, and work great in VGA as do many games from my experience and I’ve played almost nothing but originals.

I would go check Skies of Arcadia right now but my f*cking power just went out and it’s going to hit 11F tonight so I have to go haul some f*cking wood into the house. WeeeeeeehhhAaaaas!

I'm very sure Skies works. I could check Sakura Wars if anyone cares but no one cares. Man, it's been so long since I played through those games.

With the fighters, I know Last Blade 2 doesn't work, as it's one of my favourites and the best I can play it with is svideo.

Another game that didn't work was some derpy ass baseball game that sucked anyway. Most stuff pretty much just works and I've played a shit ton of Dreamcast games.
Title: Re: Need some dreamcast vga connection help
Post by: schweaty on January 12, 2018, 01:56:40 PM
I feel like Im missing something here.  I've seen a couple of posts about most dreamcast games being vga compatible, but when I look on the back of the games I have, it looks like at least half are not.  Huh?

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I wonder if this is because most people use CD-rs and at least 95% of games are patched to work with a VGA cable now days.

Also, I have two super generic VGA cables that were maybe $15 each. Never had an issue with either one as far as video quality or buzzing audio is concerned.

Not every piece of supported hardware is mentioned on every game, especially US release. The VGA box was not promoted in any way in the states, I’m not sure if OEM ones ever were sold here. So many games work and they just don’t mention it.

From my experience usually the games that don’t work or work badly if tricked are 2D or have some 2D aspects to them. I’m not sure why this is but that’s what I’ve noticed. The 2D fighters come to mind but also even some games like Sakura Wars 1 or 2 (one or both of them, I can’t remember) have a malfunction or two if played in VGA even if the rest of the game is fine. The other two SW games are native to DC (1 and 2 were ports of SS games) and used no code in common, are largely 3D, and work great in VGA as do many games from my experience and I’ve played almost nothing but originals.

I would go check Skies of Arcadia right now but my f*cking power just went out and it’s going to hit 11F tonight so I have to go haul some f*cking wood into the house. WeeeeeeehhhAaaaas!

I'm very sure Skies works. I could check Sakura Wars if anyone cares but no one cares. Man, it's been so long since I played through those games.

With the fighters, I know Last Blade 2 doesn't work, as it's one of my favourites and the best I can play it with is svideo.

Another game that didn't work was some derpy ass baseball game that sucked anyway. Most stuff pretty much just works and I've played a shit ton of Dreamcast games.
Are you using a box or cable?  Original discs or patched burns?

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Title: Re: Need some dreamcast vga connection help
Post by: roflmao on January 12, 2018, 02:08:46 PM
The only game I have (granted my library is only a couple dozen games) that doesn't do VGA natively is Evolution, and I found a video showing that if I power on the Dreamcast without the VGA cable connected and wait for a certain moment to plug it in, it'll still work through the VGA cable. I have one of those cheap Chinese knock-offs, but it is WORLDS better than composite.
Title: Re: Need some dreamcast vga connection help
Post by: Gypsy on January 12, 2018, 02:26:13 PM
Are you using a box or cable?  Original discs or patched burns?

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I pretty much only use original game discs for Dreamcast now. Anyway it had been a long time so I grabbed the game, it actually does say it is VGA compatible on the back of the US and Japanese cases. Sure enough it does work. I tested with an Akura HDMI box which only outputs to 480p. I have a cable coming (because I want something to easily hook up to a CRT monitor) but it just shipped from Poland today so it will be a bit yet. I can test with it when I get it if you'd like, but I'm sure it will work.

If there are any other games you are curious about just ask me odds are decent I have them.
Title: Re: Need some dreamcast vga connection help
Post by: schweaty on January 12, 2018, 02:30:14 PM
Are you using a box or cable?  Original discs or patched burns?

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I pretty much only use original game discs for Dreamcast now. Anyway it had been a long time so I grabbed the game, it actually does say it is VGA compatible on the back of the US and Japanese cases. Sure enough it does work. I tested with an Akura HDMI box which only outputs to 480p. I have a cable coming (because I want something to easily hook up to a CRT monitor) but it just shipped from Poland today so it will be a bit yet. I can test with it when I get it if you'd like, but I'm sure it will work.

If there are any other games you are curious about just ask me odds are decent I have them.
I am just trying to figure out if most people are using cables or boxes to trick the non-vga games into using vga.  There's a few ways to do this and I just want to know which works at the lowest cost.

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Title: Re: Need some dreamcast vga connection help
Post by: Gypsy on January 12, 2018, 02:34:00 PM
The Akura can trick games (I didn't have to with Skies) but it's $85. I'll let you know on the cable and test some games that would require tricking.
Title: Re: Need some dreamcast vga connection help
Post by: Keith Courage on January 13, 2018, 08:02:41 AM
I've never been able to successfully do the trick by plugging in my VGA cable after the system has been on shortly. however, I've only tried this on maybe 5 games since most of the games I have just work with the cable. so if I ever want to play any of these five games I just use my CRT television.
Title: Re: Need some dreamcast vga connection help
Post by: SignOfZeta on January 13, 2018, 09:36:43 AM
I feel like Im missing something here.  I've seen a couple of posts about most dreamcast games being vga compatible, but when I look on the back of the games I have, it looks like at least half are not.  Huh?

Sent from my SAMSUNG-SM-N920A using Tapatalk



I wonder if this is because most people use CD-rs and at least 95% of games are patched to work with a VGA cable now days.

Also, I have two super generic VGA cables that were maybe $15 each. Never had an issue with either one as far as video quality or buzzing audio is concerned.

Not every piece of supported hardware is mentioned on every game, especially US release. The VGA box was not promoted in any way in the states, I’m not sure if OEM ones ever were sold here. So many games work and they just don’t mention it.

From my experience usually the games that don’t work or work badly if tricked are 2D or have some 2D aspects to them. I’m not sure why this is but that’s what I’ve noticed. The 2D fighters come to mind but also even some games like Sakura Wars 1 or 2 (one or both of them, I can’t remember) have a malfunction or two if played in VGA even if the rest of the game is fine. The other two SW games are native to DC (1 and 2 were ports of SS games) and used no code in common, are largely 3D, and work great in VGA as do many games from my experience and I’ve played almost nothing but originals.

I would go check Skies of Arcadia right now but my f*cking power just went out and it’s going to hit 11F tonight so I have to go haul some f*cking wood into the house. WeeeeeeehhhAaaaas!

I'm very sure Skies works. I could check Sakura Wars if anyone cares but no one cares. Man, it's been so long since I played through those games.

With the fighters, I know Last Blade 2 doesn't work, as it's one of my favourites and the best I can play it with is svideo.

Another game that didn't work was some derpy ass baseball game that sucked anyway. Most stuff pretty much just works and I've played a shit ton of Dreamcast games.

I know all Sakura Wars games work, but the first two need to be tricked.
Title: Re: Need some dreamcast vga connection help
Post by: Purple1308 on January 13, 2018, 09:46:58 AM
It should work


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Title: Re: Need some dreamcast vga connection help
Post by: schweaty on January 14, 2018, 03:35:45 AM
The Akura can trick games (I didn't have to with Skies) but it's $85. I'll let you know on the cable and test some games that would require tricking.
Awesome... I will be monitoring this thread

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Title: Re: Need some dreamcast vga connection help
Post by: schweaty on January 20, 2018, 09:26:35 AM
Little update, and probably last post in this thread.  I decided to order the white tomee cable (I'm such a cheap-ass).  Got it today, tested out my humble collection of 20-ish games, and everything but KOF 99 works.  No boot disk necessary.  I knew KOF would not work before I tried it.

Thanks for all the help here.

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Title: Re: Need some dreamcast vga connection help
Post by: seieienbu on January 21, 2018, 07:20:11 AM
It's good that your games work in VGA.  With that said, how does the picture look with that cable though?
Title: Re: Need some dreamcast vga connection help
Post by: schweaty on January 21, 2018, 10:50:28 AM
Looks good.  No distortion.

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Title: Re: Need some dreamcast vga connection help
Post by: SignOfZeta on January 22, 2018, 02:38:49 AM
That part really should’t be hard. :)