PCB-ing. Where to start, where to start...

Ok, I'm going in. There is no stopping me now.

Well, a lack of funds, perhaps, but anyway...

Yes, I plan to... no, I am entering the field of PCBs as of today. I will be expecting an e-mail from Matt (yo, Matt!) within the next couple days to see what we can do about a supergun.

MVS carts... Guwange... Progear (uh, big maybe)... I can almost smell your lovely innards. (Or... outtards?)

I'm not too sure where I should start. I'm considering picking up a brand new 1 slot ($160) and a MVS cart or two to begin with... But I'm just looking for some suggestions/ideas/whatever you have to offer.

The field is wide and untouched. Many areas are sure to be discovered.



EDIT: Anyone have experience with http://www.coinopexpress.com? I cannot recall...

They have new MS3 kits for only $118.

Yet another thing I have on my list of "Things to do when I'm not broke".

It sounds really interesting, and the idea of a cabinet in my house makes the saliva flow.

Same here... but I'm putting off the cabinet for... well, more than a few years.

I've not dealt with coinopexpress, but they're looking overpriced to me. Nice selection, though.

I didn't realize dai-ou-jou was in the 500 range already. Maybe it'll actually be affordable before year end. A fellow can dream, anyway.

when the new DDP coming to the ps2?

I was going to start PCB collecting but i'm going to university after all. I will be living in Japan in 2 years so I can get better prices that way and have less chance of ending up with bootlegged shit.

My personal vow is not to buy a single PCB until I have a nice Astro City cab sitting in my den, which looks to be, oh...more than a year away.

But from what I've heard, you should avoid coinopexpress at all costs. PaCrappa got Ninja Baseball Batman from them, but it took them months to ship.

Good luck fitting all that PCB stuff in your college dorm, Mr. Stick.

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Originally posted by Sidez
I was going to start PCB collecting but i'm going to university after all. I will be living in Japan in 2 years so I can get better prices that way and have less chance of ending up with bootlegged shit.

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Since you mention it, Coinopexpress has some legit titles and some are hacks and bootlegs. I know this much because PaCrappa got a copy of Ninja Baseball Bat Man for me. Once I plugged into my cabinet, I could immediately tell that it was not original. (The very bad audio and graphic glitches gave it away)


Click, Another site or few to consider are Echoll (Though the JP site is a little more complete, it's the same shop. Also, you can ask him about a game and just might have it--even if it's not on his list), Fillmore Games, and Cosmic. Those folks speak English and deal with orders to the States as well. I think those should be plenty for now, since you're just starting out...

Hope that helps...

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Originally posted by xS
when the new DDP coming to the ps2?

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He should be in the next WWE wrestling game.

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Originally posted by Mode7
I've not dealt with coinopexpress, but they're looking overpriced to me. Nice selection, though.

I didn't realize dai-ou-jou was in the 500 range already. Maybe it'll actually be affordable before year end. A fellow can dream, anyway.

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Interesting... was it not about $1,000 a good month ago?

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Originally posted by sleeveboy

Good luck fitting all that PCB stuff in your college dorm, Mr. Stick.

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Half the fun, my friend... half the fun.

Thank you all for the tips.

Raiden Fighters Jet. Get it. Make me jealous.

sleeveboy wrote:
"My personal vow is not to buy a single PCB until I have a nice Astro City cab sitting in my den, which looks to be, oh...more than a year away."

Basically the same here (except I don't own a den). When I can afford it I'd just rather go from 0 to 60 in one run.

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Originally posted by Click_Stick
EDIT: Anyone have experience with http://www.coinopexpress.com? I cannot recall...

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They have a minimum $200 dollar purchase I believe. They only accept money orders/wire transfers. And their shipping fees are insane (being from over seas).

For my money, the extra $$$ you spend on stuff someplace else will be worth it when you get it faster/pay less shipping/etc.

As far as your jump into arcade hardware, I say go for it!

I have two cabinets, and so far I love them to death.

Pick up a MVS along with a couple of 'slug games, and you'll be one happy monkey.

Well, I started with Double Dragon. It is cheap, cheap, cheap, it is on Ebay all the time, and it never got a home port that was even close to the orriginal. A good starting place.

I'm probably gonna start off with Metal Slug... But Zupapa has caught my eye, also. Ahh...

Choices.

Where's that CypherUppercut? I know he has Zupapa.... Anyone else own the game?

Ok, couldn't pass up Zupapa (new kit) for $58 shipped.

Ahh...

Mmm...

Enoguh of that.

I wanna get an MVS cab with some Metal slug games, that would be heaven.

Nice, CS. Be sure and do some Zupapa impressions for TFP.

Hehe... I been busy playing Animal Crossing lately. :)

$58 is a good price for Zupapa shipped. I paid $70 for it shipped. Zupapa is pretty good. I don't find it as fun as Bubble Bobble (you can't beat a classic like that), but its very enjoyable and challenging if you're trying to rack up a high score. It may bore you if you just breeze through the game with a ton of credits, that's what happened when my friends played it. I still think its great just for the fact that I always try to clear every level with one attack (I suck at doing this, but one day I'll master it). Plus its fun to chase after your Zooks while avoiding enemies!

I can post a small review if you want...

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Originally posted by Seven Force


Since you mention it, Coinopexpress has some legit titles and some are hacks and bootlegs. I know this much because PaCrappa got a copy of Ninja Baseball Bat Man for me. Once I plugged into my cabinet, I could immediately tell that it was not original. (The very bad audio and graphic glitches gave it away)


Click, Another site or few to consider are Echoll (Though the JP site is a little more complete, it's the same shop. Also, you can ask him about a game and just might have it--even if it's not on his list), Fillmore Games, and Cosmic. Those folks speak English and deal with orders to the States as well. I think those should be plenty for now, since you're just starting out...

Hope that helps...

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Sorry, only just checked back to this thread.

And thanks mate :)

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Originally posted by innova
I wanna get an MVS cab with some Metal slug games, that would be heaven.

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Trust me, it is!


Click_stick: have you gotten anything other than Zupapa kit yet?

I just ordered a couple more mvs carts, and I think I might pick up a copy of Top Hunter today 'cause I loves it.

If you are getting MVS stuff, don't overlook Magical Drop III. Best fast paced puzzle game ever made, by a mile. :) Two player is a blast.

Thanks for the nice impressions, Cypher. Zupapa looks like one of those "so simple, but just plain fun" arcade games.

Impressions are a definite, cigs. I'll gladly post some over at TFP.

Kidnemo- Unfortunately between the supergun, one slot, and Zupapa... I'm spending more than I should already.... So all the other MVS goodies will have to wait... [Good lord, there is a MS3 kit with my name all over it... I can feel it...]

And then there are all those shooters [Guwange, Dimahoo, etc... Gotta investigate these further]... and... and...

Chibi- Even though I'm not a huge fan of puzzle games, I'll keep it in mind if the price is right.

Thank you all once again.

Hey Click, what type of cab. are you getting? Make sure you can rotate the monitor before buying horizontal and vertical games.

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Originally posted by JefmcC
Hey Click, what type of cab. are you getting? Make sure you can rotate the monitor before buying horizontal and vertical games.

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Looks like he just got a Super Gun, so I don't think he's getting a cabinet anytime soon.

Though I dunno, I'm just judging from his last post. :)

Click_Stick: Any reason you got Zupapa as your first MVS game?

No cab... yet, Jef.

That will have to wait, oh... 4 years or so.

Kidnemo- I guess because: the price was right, it's a game I've been curious about, and well, yea... That about sums it up. It looks/sounds like pretty decent fun.

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Originally posted by Click_Stick
Kidnemo- I guess because: the price was right, it's a game I've been curious about, and well, yea... That about sums it up. It looks/sounds like pretty decent fun.

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Fair enough.

Maybe I'll try to track it down for an emu to see how it is before I drop the cash on it.

Note: I bought it off of MDGameSales. That guy has some great deals. I foresee him receiving much of my business.

Damn right!

I've already dealt with him.

He seems easy to deal with, and the fact that all his stuff has a 15 day warranty on it makes me feel a bit more safe when dealing with him.

One thing I don't like: he could certainly use a new website layout! No biggie, though.

Kidnemo- What MVS games have you purchased thus far?

Metal Slug 2
King of Fighters 94
Viewpoint
Fatal Fury 3
Bust a' Move.

Next week I'm planning on Top Hunter (yes!!!) and Windjammers.

I only got 'slug and KoF from MDgamesales though.

You should pick up some of Big Bears MVS cases. Go find him over at www.neo-geo.com.

Mike at MD is awesome. Most of my MVS games have come from him. Same with my ST-V games and a few PCBs. I got my Salamander 2 board off him, and it was in spotless condition. Same with the ST-V motherboard. I won't deal with anyone else, until I try MD first.

Yea... I'm interested in the Shock Boxes, but you have to preorder a minimum of 20...

That's over $100...

I have to pass for now.

Click>I'm probably gonna put in for 20 shock boxes, so if you want you give me some cash and I'll put yours in with my order.

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Originally posted by Kidnemo
Click>I'm probably gonna put in for 20 shock boxes, so if you want you give me some cash and I'll put yours in with my order.

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Hmmm... sounds like a plan, my friend. A good one.

When is the deadline? I need some time to consider it first.

Thanks for the offer!

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Originally posted by Click_Stick


Hmmm... sounds like a plan, my friend. A good one.

When is the deadline? I need some time to consider it first.

Thanks for the suggestion!

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BB hasn't even put up the official Pre-Order thread and he said it would probably take 2-3 months to fill all the preorders. So you still have quite a while I'd surmise.

Admittedly though, thats alot of money for some boxes to hold your games.

Will look nice with the inserts n' stuff though.

Yea... I'd love to start making some custom inserts... I just need to find the correct dimensions.

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Mike at MD is awesome.

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While Mike provides good service, many of his MVS carts are bootlegs.

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Originally posted by Shou-sama


While Mike provides good service, many of his MVS carts are bootlegs.

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Damn.

I haven't heard/seen anything like that before.

Any links/info on this?"

I too would like a second opinion on this matter or bootlegs...

From what I've heard on Neo-Geo.com Mike is pretty good at pointing out if he's selling a bootleg. I've seen him mention that a game is a bootleg on some of his ebay auctions. Some of the carts I've got from him have strange lables, but I'm just thinking that they're just replacement lables that he made cause it looks like an old lable was ripped off of them. He did say that the carts were used. I haven't tried opening up the carts and checking them.

You might as well get Garou and Metal Slug 1, 2, and X...after all, they are hella cheap....

Garou, I will pass... I have no problems with the DC port. You can bet your ass I will pick up most, if not all of the MS games. Certainly the original and 3. Probably X... hell, probably 2 also.

And 4. Yea, maybe. When/if the price is right.

Don't forget Crossed Swords and Street Slam. Both are good 3rd party titles...

Oh yeah...The Sunsoft fighters, too:)

PCB overload!

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Originally posted by Seven Force

Click, Another site or few to consider are Echoll (Though the JP site is a little more complete, it's the same shop. Also, you can ask him about a game and just might have it--even if it's not on his list), Fillmore Games, and Cosmic. Those folks speak English and deal with orders to the States as well. I think those should be plenty for now, since you're just starting out...

Hope that helps...

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Ok, reaaalllly late reply!

Great links, Seven Force. Question, though: Do you know if the PCBs Fillmore has in stock are new or used? They have a number of nice ones...

Pretty well the only time you're going to find PCBs new is close to their production date. In which case: lots and lots of money. The most home consumers can usually hope to get in on is some of the various trimmings -- flyers, manuals, marquees, promo crap, etc.

By the way:

http://symphony.gamersgraveyard.com/batrider2s.jpg

Life is good.

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Originally posted by Mode7
Pretty well the only time you're going to find PCBs new is close to their production date. In which case: lots and lots of money. The most home consumers can usually hope to get in on is some of the various trimmings -- flyers, manuals, marquees, promo crap, etc.

By the way:


Life is good.

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#$%^%. Shit. What I meant to say was MVS carts. They don't seem to be new kits, but you never know....

Nice Batrider PCB. Is that a flyer you got with the game? Impressions - Must post !

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Originally posted by Click_Stick


Ok, reaaalllly late reply!

Great links, Seven Force. Question, though: Do you know if the PCBs Fillmore has in stock are new or used? They have a number of nice ones...

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Pretty much what Mode7 said. The dealers are big enough whore as to sell you color copies of the instrction cards and manuals. Once in a blue moon will you see an original. As for MVS carts, the title cards will at least be real, while the move lists and such are likely not so.

Ok. Thanks for the clear-up.

That's great Mode. I hope I can manage to get some of the flyers/extras when I ever get into PCBs. I'd be very interested to hear what you think about Batrider after you've had a chance to play it a bit.

I can tell you about Batrider...

It's a great shmup that runs for cheap (usually under $100).

Why would I recommend it?

-The guest players rock! Yes, the Mahou Daisakusen and Battle Garegga cast are a great addition here. That makes for a total of 18 characters!!

-Lots of secrets! Few have earned the fomidable "Galaxy Valhallyzer"!. Special formations, level ups and points are enopugh to keep you busy (and on your toes)

-As for the game itself, it holds up in the trdaitional Raizing flavor-meaning aside from the sometimes pain-in-the-ass "invisible" bullets that have plagued other Raizing games, it will still prove to be a challenging yet fun game. Also, using bombs is okay-since it can sometimes uncover a bonus!! You can't forget the different modes, such as team edit (Three to four different ships, one life each), and even Boss only mode (exactly that) to name a few.

-The graphics may a slightly less fluid than Battle Garegga, but they are still good. You have your share of huge, multi-jointed bosses and big multi-prt explosions

-The music is good and couple of the tracks are catchy. In a way, some can be reminiscent of Battle Garegga

-Did I tell you that this shooter has endings? Yes it does! Some are even dependent on the characters that you choose!!

You (usually) would get the instruction cards when you buy a PCB, like I said before, they MIGHT be original, but at a minimum, you'll get a color copy. A place or two that I know of sells the promo posters as well.

MARVELOUS!! (Batrider Announcer's voice)

http://www.8ing.net/prd/batrider/p2.gifhttp://www.8ing.net/prd/batrider/e1.gifhttp://www.8ing.net/prd/batrider/c1.gifhttp://www.8ing.net/prd/batrider/chit_kao2.gifhttp://www.8ing.net/prd/batrider/carp_kao2.gif

I'll probably pick up some cheap PCB's when I move out of my parents home. Seven: how much does aliens vs predators go for?

AvsP runs about an easy $300...

Thanks SevenForce. What do you think of Great Mahou Daisakusen?

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Originally posted by Seven Force
AvsP runs about an easy $300...

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If it's a good game that's never been ported, expect to pay top $$$ for it.

Not that they seem needed by this point, but my impressions.

Also, don't listen to anyone who complains about invisi-bullets. If they bother you that badly, change their color.

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Originally posted by Mode7
Not that they seem needed by this point, but my impressions.

Also, don't listen to anyone who complains about invisi-bullets. If they bother you that badly, change their color.

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Of course I do. Those words are merely collective impressions from other gamers here and abroad...over a three and a half year period.






Great Mahou Daisakusen (Dimahoo):

For being among the last of RAIZING (before they were absorbed by 8ing) shmups, this is definitely the most complex. How? A lot of new elements are incorporated.

First is the Elemental power (Fire or Ice) that allows your options to either absorb bullets or deal double damage amongst enemies of the opposite element (sounds like Ikaruga, doesn't it?) For example, you come across an ice dragon and you are in 'fire' mode. Your option shots will bring it down in half the time (and double it's score value), where as if you are in 'ice' mode, your option shots take a bit longer, but they can absorb its shots as well. How do change from fire to ice mode? Simple! Hold the shot button.

In holding the shot button (or by shooting enough enemies, you have a guage that rises from 1 to 8. This is a reflection of what level the items the items gained are going to be at. Before you get confused let me explain...when charge, the gauge rises. Releasing the button allow you to perform a special attack that will cause various items to fall from destroyed enemies such as swords, rings, treasures, shoes, staffs and even Capcom-themed items. There are a total of a 108 items and most affect your ship in some way or another. (i.e. the Swords affect your main shot's power and the Shoes affect your speed) The items are also a great sources of points. Collecting all 8 levels of one type of item cause it to multiply it's point value by the number of completed categories. If you collect all of the Food items and all of the Axe items, and capture a level 7 axe, you just scored 3000x3 points! Finding some of the rare or high-level items require certain conditions such as number of bombs or using your charge shot at the right moment.

The cast has taken a cut since the days of Shippu Mahou Daisakusen. You have the following to choose from: Solo-Bang, the warrior, the token hero who seems much like his predecessor, Gain, with a sense of balance in his power and speed. His subweapon is a laser from his two sword options. Karte, the Magician, who is much like Chitta (The 'hyper-cutie'). Faster, and that much weaker. Her options track enemies as they are gunned at. Miyamoto the Samurai dragon returns with his great speed and ninja (kanji) bombs. And lastly, you have Grimleen, A group of Necromacers who are very powerful but take a lot getting used to since their subshot fires relative to how you move the joystick, not to mention their lack of speed. Not enough for you? There is a code that brings back Gain and Chitta (from the the rest of the Mahou Daisakusen series) and even Birthday and Golden from Batrider!

Graphically, this game is great! Raizing visuals on CPS2 chips? Great stuff to look at. You still get the super-detailedness you come to expect from Raizing, as well as the huge enemies and nice explosions. The stage backgrounds have nice and sometimes dark feel to them, without being cold. Lots of animation! You even see a cow being cooked on a rotisserie in the first stage...

The sound, I think is amime-quality goodness. More 'orchestratd' than the preivous Mahou games (What do you expect? It's QSound!), It makes for nice blend of heroic-rockin' sound--all of which is fitting.

As for the difficulty, it's up there. Even on it's default setting. Getting a high score is entirely about surviving alone. It's also about collecting items-for they do help you a lot in later areas. And it's also about scoring, which would lead back to the items. You don't have to worry about the past "Invisibullets" anymore. but the speed and patterns of some can shock many. Prepare to be challenged!

Overall, It's a good game. It'll frustrate some and please many. I see Great Mahou Daisakusen as the last 'true' Raizing game (even though they helped with 1944-The Loop Master it doesn't come off well). Give it a spin. You won't be disappointed...

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Originally posted by Click_Stick
Yea... I'd love to start making some custom inserts... I just need to find the correct dimensions.

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Hey, if you need Photoshop templates or scans or even compleate printed inserts let me know. I've made quite a few in my day. They are extreemly high res, and the scans are from my own mini marquees, flyers, and SNK art books.

Another thing to like about Armed Police Batrider:

Some of the music was composed by shmup master composer Hitoshi Sakimoto. I don't know which tracks, but "Zero Cop" (the intro track) and "Let Ass Kick Together" (boss track) definitely sound like his style.

Mode7- Thanks for the link. Very insightful. Same thing, Seven - Nice.

I'll have to keep this.... Batrider in mind.

Chibbi - I found some templates at Kazuya's... Thanks for the offer!

Ah, you got the templates already... Did you see some of my inserts up there?

I don't think I looked at any of them... I will do so right now!

. . .

Good lord, those are gorgeous! Very stylish. Downloading now.

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Originally posted by Seven Force
-Lots of secrets! Few have earned the fomidable "Galaxy Valhallyzer"!. Special formations, level ups and points are enopugh to keep you busy (and on your toes)

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I just got the Galaxy Valhallyzer (by accident, of course) a couple of weeks ago :) Very neat! But I having to miss a 1-up in order to get it makes it more of a novelty than anything.

Batrider is great - it's got the most secrets of any shooter out there, bar none.

- Matt

Seven- Thanks for those detailed impressions, very much appreciated.

Mode7- Ditto. It's great to hear impressions from someone who actually tracks down games like this in their original form.

Mmmmmm.....cabinets.

Zupapa! kit came in yesterday. It looks so lonely on top of my monitor.

Can't wait.

And am I correct in thinking mini marquees were stopped being produced before Zupapa! released? I'm almost sure of it.

I'm pretty sure they were.

The actual MVS carts are just beyond cool to me. Carts in themselves have a super cool retro type of feel to them. Hence making MVS carts super ultra kicky cool 'cause they're so much bigger!

I must thank all those who have recommended Cosmic once again.

Metal Slug 3 with box for $98? Yes, please..

Bless these men.

Did you order it?

Let me know how the service/shipping/etc is.

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I must thank all those who have recommended Cosmic once again.

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Allow me to give you some more advice on MVS carts and dealers. Cosmic deals with Korean distros quite a bit so many of their carts are Korean which are censored and CANNOT be changed in the software dip settings. Voice samples are usually missing altogether and in-game graphics which are thought to be offensive to Koreans are just removed.

eek.

I've heard the changes are fairly extensive in KoF '98.

I'd rather pay a bit more and get exactly what I want then.

They told me it's a complete English kit so I'm not too worried. Thanks for that tip though, sir Shou.

Kidnemo- They're gonna send me an invoice with payment info. before I send out a IMO, apparently. I'll certainly be sure to let you know how everything works out.

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Originally posted by Shou-sama
Allow me to give you some more advice on MVS carts and dealers. Cosmic deals with Korean distros quite a bit so many of their carts are Korean which are censored and CANNOT be changed in the software dip settings. Voice samples are usually missing altogether and in-game graphics which are thought to be offensive to Koreans are just removed.

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In other words, they're hacked well enough to pass off as "original"-even with the said flaws...right?

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Originally posted by Seven Force
In other words, they're hacked well enough to pass off as "original"-even with the said flaws...right?

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AFAIK they are actually official releases, just censored.

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AFAIK they are actually official releases, just censored.

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That's correct. They're official releases from SNK Korea but not desirable to most buyers I would think.