Taito G-Net, should I grab one?

[Azure]

Thinking about adding the Taito G-Net to my collection. Is it worth picking up. Anyone have any recommendations gamewise? Thanks for any suggestions given:)

[gameoverDude]

I'd go for it.

Chaos Heat hasn't been ported to anything, and is worth getting the G-Net for. A PS1 port had been planned at one time but was axed. This is a survival horror themed game somewhat reminiscent of Resident Evil. There's more emphasis on shooting- your gun has unlimited ammo but it can overheat. Tapping twice in a direction allows you to do an evasive roll.

Here's a video of the first part of Chaos Heat.

Super Puzzle Bobble is not the same game as the PS2 one, despite the same name. The PS2 SPB has different characters (except for Bub & Bob) and levels.

Raycrisis on G-Net has better graphic clarity than the PS1 port, and supports 2 players. Night Raid is a tad better than its PS1 port- it has 2 player, but the graphics improvement isn't quite as big as Raycrisis.

MAME's G-Net emulation currently has incomplete sound.

[PC Engine Fan X!]

There're three different Taito G-Net motherboards to choose from:

Version 1 - runs all the original Taito G-Cards not including the CF-based ones released later on.

Version 2 - runs all original Taito G-Cards & CF-based G-Cards.

Version 3 - runs all original G-Cards & CF-based G-Cards + a single CF card with a G-Net game rom loaded.

If the NVRAM of a typical G-Net motherboard ever becomes corrupted, it can be revived back to 100% working condition if reflashed with a Version 2 upgrade eprom chip. Easy as pie.

PC Engine Fan X! ^_~

[cools]

PCEFX, you've mentioned the V2 reflash multiple times, but I've never seen the hardware to do so. How would one acquire such a device?

[PC Engine Fan X!]

Yes, it'd be a simple matter of going to hobbyrom.com site and getting a G-Net version 2 eprom burned for you for a small fee.

In my case, I had a version 1 G-Net mobo that somehow became corrupted (due to a strange static discharge stint). It would boot up with just a black colored screen if powered up on my candy cab and would stay that way until being turned off. Upon getting ahold of one the aforementioned Ver. 2 G-Net upgrade eprom, that did the trick alrighty to revive it back to 100% working condition.

G-Net Factoid: You can hook up to a pair of 100w bookshelf speakers rated at 8 ohms to a G-Net's stereo 4-pinout and the built-in MOSFET heatsink will still remain cool to the touch even if the volume is cranked up. The G-Net can handle some serious wattage indeed without breaking a sweat.

PC Engine Fan X! ^_~

[trap15]

So you simply put the EPROM in the socket, and it'll reflash? And you just remove it when done? That's pretty handy.

[PC Engine Fan X!]

Yep, it couldn't be any simplier than that, folks.

PC Engine Fan X! ^_~

[Dave_K.]

Allow me to make a minor correction, since its been awhile since PCEFX had this procedure done to his PCB. You need the update firmware eprom, and a jumper pin. Turn off game, remove gamecard, plug in eprom and apply jumper pin, then boot up. After firmware is loaded, power down, remove jumper and eprom.

Actual scans of Taito firmware instructions uploaded here.

[cools]

Right, thanks. So the modbios one is simply modified this way. Cool.