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Those of you who are picking this up, be wary.
Borrowed from Edge Forums.
****
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.
****
Borrowed from Edge Forums.
****
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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Good luck reading Japanese Alistair, I'll be sticking to USA imports.
scruffythejanitor wrote:
> cookie monster wrote:
> The only problems ive had is THPS3 not working at all, and SMB2
> being
> tempermental, other than that it works pretty well. But ive got
> version 1.04 is it possible to have it sent back to get the more
> recent one?
>
> why the hell did you buy import thps3? its been out here since
> may!!!!
I got it at a bargain price.
> cookie monster wrote:
> The only problems ive had is THPS3 not working at all, and SMB2
> being
> tempermental, other than that it works pretty well. But ive got
> version 1.04 is it possible to have it sent back to get the more
> recent one?
>
> why the hell did you buy import thps3? its been out here since
> may!!!!
I got it at a bargain price.
I have found a copy of Winning Eleven 6 (Japan) for £39.97 inc. delivery from a shop in Japan which also happens to sell the Freeloader for £15 so hopefully I will have Winning Eleven 6 ordered before the weekend is over and then I will save up for a Memory Card and Freeloader once it has arrived. The game apparently runs fine using the Freeloader 3rd method (thanks Tiltawhirl for the information) so all I need is the cash now. I have played Japanese games before for my PSONE so understanding the language shouldn't prove too difficult. I seem to be the only one importing this game yet I thought this would have been one of the biggest imports?! I can't wait to play it as I missed out on Pro Evolution 2 for the PS2 and this is the GC version with a few updates :)
So there was only a few dodgy versions.
As long as it's been sorted.
I'll be waiting for the Action Replay version - cheat thingamy for just £10 extra. Hopefully that'll be problem-free, although I won't be getting it at launch anyway.
As long as it's been sorted.
I'll be waiting for the Action Replay version - cheat thingamy for just £10 extra. Hopefully that'll be problem-free, although I won't be getting it at launch anyway.
cookie monster wrote:
> The only problems ive had is THPS3 not working at all, and SMB2 being
> tempermental, other than that it works pretty well. But ive got
> version 1.04 is it possible to have it sent back to get the more
> recent one?
why the hell did you buy import thps3? its been out here since may!!!!
> The only problems ive had is THPS3 not working at all, and SMB2 being
> tempermental, other than that it works pretty well. But ive got
> version 1.04 is it possible to have it sent back to get the more
> recent one?
why the hell did you buy import thps3? its been out here since may!!!!
Tiltawhirl wrote:
> Oh stop chatting unfounded bo**ocks it's really getting quite boring
> now.
ALL I said was true, sorry if that offends you in some way. Do you work for Datel or some way? I dont' understand why you are defending a company that has let us all done with constant delays and other problems.
> First it was 'animal crossing won't work properly.....
I said not all functions will work, and they dont. Is reporting true facts now wrong if it hurts poor Freeloader?
> Oh stop chatting unfounded bo**ocks it's really getting quite boring
> now.
ALL I said was true, sorry if that offends you in some way. Do you work for Datel or some way? I dont' understand why you are defending a company that has let us all done with constant delays and other problems.
> First it was 'animal crossing won't work properly.....
I said not all functions will work, and they dont. Is reporting true facts now wrong if it hurts poor Freeloader?
nice...
Yay! My FreeLoader is being packed as we speak.
>JC941< wrote:
> Bleeders wrote:
> >JC941< wrote:
> So in 2 week the shops should have the newer version on the shelves?
>
> Nope. The newer versions are already in circulation.
>
> I suppose the old version will still be floating about and may get
> mixed in with the newer version. Does it say on the box what version
> it is?
The only way of telling is when you boot the disc up I think.
> Bleeders wrote:
> >JC941< wrote:
> So in 2 week the shops should have the newer version on the shelves?
>
> Nope. The newer versions are already in circulation.
>
> I suppose the old version will still be floating about and may get
> mixed in with the newer version. Does it say on the box what version
> it is?
The only way of telling is when you boot the disc up I think.
I ordered mine from Play.com too (about a week ago), I sure hope they hurry up coz as soon as it arrives it gives me a damn good reason to import Animal Crossing.
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