How touchy are GD-Roms?

[jalvarez82]

Hey guys. I'm just wondering how much it takes to completely ruin a Dreamcast game.

Which areas on the bottom part of the discs are most fragile? The outer area or the inner ring area??

I have a few games that have (what seems to be) light scratches and they won't even start up. Then I have a 2nd copy of Ready 2 Rumble Boxing, which also has some scratches, that starts up fine but the menu music skips pretty bad.

Thanks for your help.

[CD AGES]

I have a 2nd copy of Ready 2 Rumble Boxing, which also has some scratches, that starts up fine but the menu music skips pretty bad.

What color is your R2R disc! Red or Yellow? If its the latter then the music skipping has nothing to do with the scratches on the disc. That yellow disc was a first printing launch disc that suffers from this issue among others.

GD rom media is a fragile as any other CDrom based media. Just take care of your discs!

[Alec1382]

I've heard that GD-R's are more finicky when it comes to scratches as well as resurfacing. In fact, I think it was someone on the forum who told me. Either way, I wouldn't be surprised if they were, what with the data concentrated twofold.

I'm not sure what parts of a disc are most sensitive, but I know that circular scratches are always more damaging since the data runs in that pattern.

[Gary_b]

I've heard that GD-R's are more finicky when it comes to scratches as well as resurfacing. In fact, I think it was someone on the forum who told me. Either way, I wouldn't be surprised if they were, what with the data concentrated twofold.

I'm not sure what parts of a disc are most sensitive, but I know that circular scratches are always more damaging since the data runs in that pattern.

it is my experience that they are more touchy. You cant resurface them as easy. If you buff the discs a lot to remove the scratching it makes the discs unreadable. I had a few GDs that looked great, but they would not play for this reason.

[jalvarez82]

What color is your R2R disc! Red or Yellow? If its the latter then the music skipping has nothing to do with the scratches on the disc. That yellow disc was a first printing launch disc that suffers from this issue among others.

Oh ok. I see. Yup. Its a yellow disc. Luckily I bought a red disc version a while back. Thanks, man. And don't worry. I take very good care of my games. If they are badly scratched, then I got them like that.

You guys are right about the buffing of DC games. The console is very touchy and knows when a game has been buffed. I have some extras lying around that won't play anymore because of it (or maybe because of it going thru a shitty buff job).

Thanks for your replies.

[CD AGES]

Oh ok. I see. Yup. Its a yellow disc. Luckily I bought a red disc version a while back. Thanks, man. And don't worry. I take very good care of my games. If they are badly scratched, then I got them like that.

Always try to AVOID these Midway titles in this manner as they will be 1st print discs which contain bugs and/or various other issues

MK Gold - Yellow Disc
Hydro Thunder - Blue Disc
Blitz 00 - Blue Disc
Ready 2 Rumble - Yellow

ALWAYS go for their "HOT NEW" reprint discs which are all pressed with a Red disc cover for all these titles mentioned.

You guys are right about the buffing of DC games. The console is very touchy and knows when a game has been buffed. I have some extras lying around that won't play anymore because of it (or maybe because of it going thru a shitty buff job).

Yes, that's why I always use professional disc resurfacing as a last resort to fix a disc that will either not play or has major audio issues. If a GD disc has scratches but plays fine, i leave them as is. GD discs are not tolerant to disc buffing.

[jalvarez82]

Always try to AVOID these Midway titles in this manner as they will be 1st print discs which contain bugs and/or various other issues

MK Gold - Yellow Disc
Hydro Thunder - Blue Disc
Blitz 00 - Blue Disc
Ready 2 Rumble - Yellow

ALWAYS go for their "HOT NEW" reprint discs which are all pressed with a Red disc cover for all these titles mentioned.

Right on, bro. I didn't know that about the Midway titles. Thanks!

[CD AGES]

You welcome! I would've just said only buy Midway games with "Hot New" Green sticker that is seen in the box art, but sometimes people sell the disc only by itself or pull the ol' switch-A-roo.