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"Freeloader Problems"

Those of you who are picking this up, be wary.

Borrowed from Edge Forums.

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Ok I got my Freeloader today and am extremely disappointed that it doesn't work like Datel says it will. I bought 5 import games and they all have various issues with them. I'm using the official RGB Scart lead for the NGC, and my TV can display 60hz.

Firstly there are 3 fairly similiar boot methods to boot up the Freeloader.
The first method invloves a direct boot for the Freeloader from power on of the Gamecube, taking the disc out on prompt when it loads, and inserting the import game.

Second method involves inserting the Freeloader disc after you switch the GC on, waiting for it to read it, then going into the Gameplay option in the GC menu and switching discs from there.

Third method involves booting the Freeloader like normal, when it boots up, you press Z on the controller to select the region of the disc you want to play (you can select from three flags (USA, Japanese and Austrailia). This method seems to be the most successful for me. Depending on which one I chose, I had varying degrees of success. Here are my results.

Resident Evil Zero (USA) -
This game has the biggest problem making it impossible to play currently. It will only run using the third boot method. When this game boots up after using the Freeloader, it is extremely slow and choppy, sound is messed up making it totally unplayable.

Metroid Prime (USA)
This game has various issues but is now perfectly playable for me. If I boot this game using boot methods 1 or 2 it will run, but the titles screen is completely blank with just the text and a black background. If you continue and start the game, it will be very choppy when you move Samus around. The screen moves very jerkily. Even though its playable like this, its not really recommended. Its like its trying to play it in 50hz, when the game wasnt designed to,be played like this. hence the strange choppiness.
Now when I first used boot method 3 on it, the game would load up, even having the full titles screen, but there would be one BIG problem. The colours of the game would be messed up completely, i.e. yellow is blue etc. However, (and this has completely baffled me) when I run the game using method 3 now, it runs perfectly, at 60hz with the right colours. I dont know why its suddenly started working with method 3. This just makes things more confusing.

Skies of Arcadia Legends (USA)
Game runs fine using method 3. Have yet to try the other two methods.

Super Monkey Ball 2
Only runs using method 3. Will not load at all using the other two methods. Also game crashed once when I was playing it.

Animal Crossing
Again, only works using method 3.
So it seems there are lots of problems with this Freeloader. Other people might have different experiences with these same games, but I am disappointed by it as I spent approx £150 on the import games, and I can't even play one of them. The problems also seem to be rather random which makes things even worse. Didn't Datel even test this properly? It's not like the games I tried are obscure and hard to find.
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You're a knob

Josh8899 wrote:
> Tiltawhirl wrote:
> TÞhi wrote:
>
> Tack, tack, tack. Datel should just give up, or put some effort in
> for
> once.
>
> Errrrrr Datel have put a hell of a lot of effort into the
> freeloader.
> Did you really expect it to run without any problems at all?
>
> The fact is that you're only hearing the reports of faults with it,
> the majority of users have been very happy with how it's worked. The
> only major problem has been with Resi 0 and they're trying to sort
> that out as type.
>
> The fact is we're talking about a disk that enables you to run games
> from all regions on Cube, there's no way it's gonna run without and
> faults.

Actually Tphi didnt pay for it.. so nur! ;)

>
> The only reason you're speaking like this is because you've got a
> Imported Cube and you're slightly relieved to hear it wasn't a
> complete waste of your money.
>
> amen to that

You're trying to play games that aren't designed for that particular piece of hardware, using only software to attempt to correct the problems. And you expect there to be no glitches at all?

Then why bother all?

honestly

Exactly - why bother importing (except for those games that never see a UK release) when you'd be better off just waiting for the UK release?

I meant why bother making something that isn't going to work great in the first place.

Thousands of people will buy this, and many of them will have RE0 and MP, two games which apparently don't work very well, and in Resi case, don't work at all.

But yes, that too.


Now, if you'll excuse me

*does shiny shiny Q dance*

Thats what I am going to do. I aren't going to get Prime and Zero I will wait for the PAL releases, however I don't believe that Winning Eleven 6 (or Pro Evolution 2 for UK) will be released this year and I would seriously put a release into the UK into major doubt. A football game isn't going to run with that many glitches and after receiving an email back from the import company they said that the game runs fine with a Freeloader.

Whitestripes wrote:
> I meant why bother making something that isn't going to work great in
> the first place.


Tell that to Sony and the launch of the Playstation 2 :D

My Animal Crossing works perfectly on my Freeloader.

I bet all of these complainers are being payed by Nintendo to give the Freeloader bad press. :-D

good point