Dreamcast CDI versions of games issue. Outtrigger & Rent-a-Hero.

[Blamhammer]

Got a unmodified PAL DreamCast, VA1 model, which is playing original and burnt CDI games from all regions fine. Using a third party SCART cable.
Apart from the US CDI version of Outtrigger and the English patched Rent-a Hero. The screen goes black after the Sega screen on my CRT.
It's outputting something since my VMU is active. I went ahead and tried it on a LCD screen instead and...

Two images. Squished and not 100% complete either. Tried the original RF cable and a third party S-Video cable and got the same results. I have been looking everywhere on the net for something similar and not come across anything like it. I've got a gut feeling theres something wrong with the CDI versions of these games.

If there is anyone here with a PAL DC VA1 able to replicate this issue with either a burnt copy on disc or via a ODE, I can at least rule out the possibility of a faulty console.
Thanks!

 

[Deleted member 132407]

Got a unmodified PAL DreamCast, VA1 model, which is playing original and burnt CDI games from all regions fine. Using a third party SCART cable.
Apart from the US CDI version of Outtrigger and the English patched Rent-a Hero. The screen goes black after the Sega screen on my CRT.
It's outputting something since my VMU is active. I went ahead and tried it on a LCD screen instead and...
View attachment 106208
View attachment 106209

Two images. Squished and not 100% complete either. Tried the original RF cable and a third party S-Video cable and got the same results. I have been looking everywhere on the net for something similar and not come across anything like it. I've got a gut feeling theres something wrong with the CDI versions of these games.

If there is anyone here with a PAL DC VA1 able to replicate this issue with either a burnt copy on disc or via a ODE, I can at least rule out the possibility of a faulty console.
Thanks!

Is the game VGA (480p) patched?

Post automatically merged: Sep 2, 2025

Got a unmodified PAL DreamCast, VA1 model, which is playing original and burnt CDI games from all regions fine. Using a third party SCART cable.
Apart from the US CDI version of Outtrigger and the English patched Rent-a Hero. The screen goes black after the Sega screen on my CRT.
It's outputting something since my VMU is active. I went ahead and tried it on a LCD screen instead and...
View attachment 106208
View attachment 106209

Two images. Squished and not 100% complete either. Tried the original RF cable and a third party S-Video cable and got the same results. I have been looking everywhere on the net for something similar and not come across anything like it. I've got a gut feeling theres something wrong with the CDI versions of these games.

If there is anyone here with a PAL DC VA1 able to replicate this issue with either a burnt copy on disc or via a ODE, I can at least rule out the possibility of a faulty console.
Thanks!

I think basically the problem is your playing an NTSC on PAL console thus explaining the resolution issue.

 

[Blamhammer]

I have a feeling that the games in question are pushing a 480p image but my TV can't display it.
Had to be on the one DC game I wanted to play too.

 

[Miles Miles]

CDI versions of games in general seem to have issues. I played the CDI version of Sega Rally 2 on Flycast, and it has no music. The music works just fine on the original GDI version. I also heard that the CDI version of Sonic Adventure has a missing track. Unfortunately I think CDI is the only option when it comes to burning games onto a disc. The CDI version has a smaller file size, meaning assets have to be compressed or even taken out.

 

[Deleted member 132407]

CDI versions of games in general seem to have issues. I played the CDI version of Sega Rally 2 on Flycast, and it has no music. The music works just fine on the original GDI version. I also heard that the CDI version of Sonic Adventure has a missing track. Unfortunately I think CDI is the only option when it comes to burning games onto a disc. The CDI version has a smaller file size, meaning assets have to be compressed or even taken out.

The problem with .cdi is content is either removed or compressed to fit onto a cd-r. You're better off getting an original .gdi copy & compress to .chd

 

[Miles Miles]

The problem with .cdi is content is either removed or compressed to fit onto a cd-r. You're better off getting an original .gdi copy & compress to .chd

Thanks for the tip!

 

[Blamhammer]

Rent a Hero and Outtrigger behave the same way as the unpatched Skies of Arcadia (US) does.
The game needs a RGB patch to work on PAL consoles, but theres no demand for that so *shrugs shoulders* guess i'll play them via VGA with the right monitor.