Bypassing the 32X's region-lockout??...

dave4shmups · Post by **dave4shmups** » Sun Dec 30, 2007 6:17 pm

Is there anyway to do this; either via some sort of cart, or through electronic/physical modification?? Because I just played Darxide on Gens last night, and it's one of the best shooters I've ever played.

Ex-Cyber · Post by **Ex-Cyber** » Sun Dec 30, 2007 7:57 pm

There is a switch mod for changing the Genesis/MD region register. The exact details vary by which Genesis/MD model you have: early models, later models

Rumor has it that I found a Game Genie code to bypass Darxide's region check a few years ago (I don't remember actually doing this, but it's plausible). I've been told, however, that the GG doesn't actually work on 32X, so this is probably only useful with a flash cart or copier and a suitable ROM-patching tool. The code is: AAET-AAAR

dave4shmups · Post by **dave4shmups** » Mon Dec 31, 2007 1:51 am

Ex-Cyber wrote:There is a switch mod for changing the Genesis/MD region register. The exact details vary by which Genesis/MD model you have: early models, later models

Rumor has it that I found a Game Genie code to bypass Darxide's region check a few years ago (I don't remember actually doing this, but it's plausible). I've been told, however, that the GG doesn't actually work on 32X, so this is probably only useful with a flash cart or copier and a suitable ROM-patching tool. The code is: AAET-AAAR

Ok, thanks! Are you sure, though, that Darxide is region-locked? I've been told that it isn't.

null1024 · Post by **null1024** » Mon Dec 31, 2007 2:32 am

Test it in Gens by changing the region. There should be an option. (don't ask me how, I use Kega Fusion...)

Ex-Cyber · Post by **Ex-Cyber** » Mon Dec 31, 2007 2:47 am

dave4shmups wrote:Ok, thanks! Are you sure, though, that Darxide is region-locked? I've been told that it isn't.

I'm not really sure, but I wonder what that GG code does if there is no lockout.

And yeah, it should be possible to test it in an emulator by forcing a region setting.

SamIAm · Post by **SamIAm** » Mon Dec 31, 2007 6:31 am

Ex-Cyber, old boy, you found that code at my request on the SegaXtreme forums a few years ago. I've always been grateful for it!

In my case, I was using a Genesis flash-cart from tototek with a US region/60Hz system. The code most certainly is necessary - you get a lockout message without it - but I also remember discussing the likelihood of the game running (extra) poorly in 60Hz because of the decreased time between frames.

dave4shmups, I have to warn you, the framerate this game gets in an emulator is a big step up from what it gets on real hardware, especially at 60 Hz (I think). There will be frames lost and slowdown with all but the smallest objects onscreen. You would probably get a much better gaming experience by bumping the SH2 clocks in Gens up above 100% and playing it that way. Although this might speed up the game as well, I don't know.

Tell me if you ever get past level 4 or 5. That's about as far as I ever made it. It's a shame, I always wanted to battle one of those groovy mothership things you see in the demo.

dave4shmups · Post by **dave4shmups** » Thu Jan 03, 2008 12:34 am

null1024 wrote:Test it in Gens by changing the region. There should be an option. (don't ask me how, I use Kega Fusion...)

I just did and it's region-locked.

After setting Gens to US-NTSC, I got a message saying that the game was only developed for PAL and SECAM.

Stinks about the frame rate not being as high as it is in Gens, but I'd still like to get Darxide eventually, but, again, I'd have to figure out how to get around the region-lockout.

The developer made a cell-phone port; I guess they probably wouldn't consider releasing an NTSC port of the 32x original. They would definitely sell copies, especially if they "launched it" at something like the Classic Gaming Expo.

Ganelon · Post by **Ganelon** » Thu Jan 03, 2008 4:25 am

You know how uncommon and highly priced it is, right? I know some people will be interested/rich enough to own it but I somehow doubt you'd get as much enjoyment out of it as you could from many other games/systems.

dave4shmups · Post by **dave4shmups** » Thu Jan 03, 2008 10:03 pm

Ganelon wrote:You know how uncommon and highly priced it is, right? I know some people will be interested/rich enough to own it but I somehow doubt you'd get as much enjoyment out of it as you could from many other games/systems.

Yeah, I know about the price, and you're probably right. Still, I've emulated enough of the 32x's library to know that I want to pick up a 32x.