Neo Geo BIOS replacement
What is the Arcade Mod? What Can it do for me? Why Should I buy one? Well First let's take a look at what it can do.
So what is the Arcade mod?
The Arcade mod is a chip that mounts on top of the Neo Geo Language rom on the Cart System. it allows you to set up a variety of option, but I'll cover those later. Usually a switch is also installed so you can switch between your original rom or the Arcade mod, but so far I haven't had to switch it once.
Well, lets get to it.
Main Screen
Here is what it looks like
As you can see there is basically 10 different sub menus to it lets cover each menu one by one.
Mode
Well, there are 2 option to set in this one. The options are:
- Type: the 3 settings are (Home use, Devl. home use and Devl. MVS)
- Country: The 3 setting are (USA, Japan, Europe-Asia)
Setting these to either Devel. MVS or any Type with Japan as the Country will give you the uncensored version of the game. Some of the newer title will not accept the Devel. MVS as a setting and will pop up a warning screen.
If this happens simply reset the Neo Geo system (at worst case turn it off and on) and set the setting to either of the home use settings with Japan as the country. This will give you the uncensored version just not any options or gameplay that might be unique to the arcade version. For instance, the Kurko's character will appear in Samurai Showdown 2 arcade.
The work list form what I can figure Just give some general Info. The One I find most interesting is the Game code. What I have found is this references the NGH-## on the cart boxes.
Main Soft Dip
This one sets the number of coins to play and continue.
The last 3 option are Game select, start Timer and demo sound respectively which seem to be related to the multi Slot MVS system and have no bearing on the Home unit from what I can tell.
Thanks to Owen for translating these for me.
Game Soft Dips
The game soft dips only take effect if the Cart will accept the Devl. MVS type setting.
Actually Samurai Showdown 3 is a bad example because Unfortunately It won't.
At least I haven't been able to get it to, more on that later. Anyway these are Unique to the cart itself. Most all of them have the continue and Difficulty setting but they vary from game to game.
Some let you choose more lives, a greater time limit, etc. This are basically what the Arcade Operators set on the MVS systems.
Restart
Warm boots the system, basically the same as hitting the reset button.
Default Start
Restarts the system with the default setting.
Game start Test
Goes back into the game with the Settings you have changed, No restart.
Card Full
Fills up your memory card with gobbly guke code.
Have no Idea why.
Check SUM
Runs a check sum on the cart rom.
Book Keeping
I'm not really sure, It asks for a 1 mbit card which I don't have so.
Game Debug Dip
Debug options are great. They allow you to do all the things I showed up and more like seeing all the players endings, getting to play secret characters without the code, no Energy Drain, Tons of stuff.
Unfortunately they seem to be all unique to each cart you set them for if they work at all. So far I've only been able to come up with option on SNK carts. I tried ADK and Vidsys with no extras. But Since SNK programs about 80% of the carts anyway that's not to big of a deal.
Sometimes you are able to combine them. For instance no energy drain and a stupid CPU, or Next Character select and a distance meter. Then there's the tricky settings which only come up if you set 2 or more dips, like the sprite browser.
Most of the game playing options though come up when setting just 1 dip on. I've decided to take it upon myself to try to catalog all the settings available for each cart of any. It's a big task so any help would be GREATLY appreciated from you fellow Arcade mod owners.
Well that's about all that can be said for it in general.
