PC Engine CDrom Quality

[wolfman]

Are there any quality differences in CD batches on PCE CDs? I have a few originals that seem to be completeley different in loading times - like they weren´t from the same quality grade as others.
It also appears that the print art on the CD itself is somewhat different in terms of appearance/quality. Could it be that this happened with earlier production runs? Currently I noticed that on Altered Beast and Splash Lake....

Can someone confirm this?

[Black Tiger]

Are there any quality differences in CD batches on PCE CDs? I have a few originals that seem to be completeley different in loading times - like they weren´t from the same quality grade as others.
It also appears that the print art on the CD itself is somewhat different in terms of appearance/quality. Could it be that this happened with earlier production runs? Currently I noticed that on Altered Beast and Splash Lake....

Can someone confirm this?

Are you comparing multiple copies of the same titles?

The difference in label print quality is simply the difference between different methods of labeling. My favorite is the silk screen style of early NEC Ave CD games like Super Darius and Side Arms Special.

The difference in load times between different games is from the fact that every game is loading a different amount of data at any given time and not all games are programmed or organized the same way.

A CD-ROM2 game is only ever loading as much as 1 Mb per load, while Arcade Card games transfer up to 18.5 Mb per load, using the same speed CD drive

[wolfman]

Are you comparing multiple copies of the same titles?

No, just the two different ones I have. They seem to be early titles and they have a somewhat thicker labelling on the top side. That´s why I thought they might not so good in quality.

The difference in load times between different games is from the fact that every game is loading a different amount of data at any given time and not all games are programmed or organized the same way.

I was referring to the seek time, which I can hear. Looks like the laser is slipping tracks and has a hard time sticking to it...I only have this issue otherwise with CDRs, not with originals, mostly before the games load. Did you ever experience this issue?

[Tatsujin]

yeah. whilst f.e. a gate of thunder has almost non-existing loading times (even level graphics and enemies are huge), some low-production games with probably only a fraction of that data let you wait for 10 secs and more.

[Bonknuts]

Different games have different loading procedures. Most games that I've looked at, use unnecessarily slow routines. I.e. instead of loading a single large segment, they load from different offsets within a data track (the seek time is what slows down the load times). GoT loads a single 192k block for each level - no seek time other than the initial call. That, and it starts it in the 'Stage Clear' part to help hide the seek time.

[wolfman]

I.e. instead of loading a single large segment, they load from different offsets within a data track (the seek time is what slows down the load times).

Yes, ICFTD is one of those, I can tell.

[nosorrow]

Kind of off topic, but I didn't want to start a new thread with what is the noobest of questions: does the Duo-R have a boot up screen when there is no game (CD or card) inserted in the system? I turned the system on but nothing seemed to happen... I figure it's normal, but I'd prefer receiving confirmation, lol.

P.S. Just received my Duo-R, but the 6 games I've ordered have yet to arrive.

[MrFulci]

When you turn on the Duo-R, there should be a screen saying, "Super CD System", or something, and to press run to start. That's the screen you'd see if you were looking to play a CD game, Run would start the CD game.

Card games, they just start.

[nosorrow]

Ok, thanks for the quick reply, but I'm concerned now...

I will go try again.

[MrFulci]

If you don't see anything on the screen, tap run, and listen if the Duo-R is searching for a CD.

[nosorrow]

Ok, I will try that.

P.S. Just went back to the mancave and hooked it elsewhere and nothing on the screen either. I'm kind of starting to freak out now, lol.

[MrFulci]

The reason I mention pressing the run button, is because then you can tell if it is getting power.

If it is getting power, maybe the TV is on an incorrect input, etc. Process of elimination!

[nosorrow]

Ha! when I pressed the Run button, the blue light lit up for like seven or eight seconds, so it was probably looking to access the drive. Nothing appeared on the screen though. You think it'll be ok when an actual game is in the system now? (It's from seller Doujindance on ebay.)

Also, is it just my system or is the CD door way too hard to shut than it should?

[MrFulci]

If it's getting power, then it is something with the video. Focus on that. TV on the correct input? Everything plugged in snugly?

[nosorrow]

Ok it works now... but only with the S video cables: the composite cables included must be damaged or something.

Now I need an S video splitter to hook up my Saturn and PC Engine on the tv at the same time. Do you - or anyone else - know of such a product? I'm familiar with this one (from Monoprice): http://www.monoprice.com/Product?c_id=104&cp_id=10422&cs_id=1042204&p_id=1124&seq=1&format=2

...but since it seems rather wide, it will probably not be possible to plug the cords for other systems (that are plugged right besides) at the same time. (Hopefully this is not too cryptic and you get what I mean.)