are there any bits of hardware we should start sourcing now if we want to hit the ground running once this comes out?
System 2X6 is required.
- Follow the compatibility lists if you want specific games as many older games don't work (yet?) on the 256 (Clearly I'll be investigating this, as will likely others, once it's easier to do so)
- If you want Time Crisis 4, you'll want a Super System 256 (this MAY be patchable, so I wouldn't waste the Money at the moment, but I can't promise)
- If you want Wangan Midnight or Wangan Midnight R, you'll want a System 246 (Driving) or 246A PCB that's been upgraded to maximum memory (64MB - either a single card, or two 32MB cards) - at this point there's no way to get a 246B or C to run the game. It'll boot, but hang after the intro movie.
A JVS IO PCB such as the normal Sega Naomi style is highly suggested.
- While the JAMMA I/O works for fighting games and the like, it still requires a tekken-style kick harness setup for extended buttons, and doesn't help at all for games that need analog input.
- I am not aware of any game that does not at least (potentially) run on this IO.. some of the early shooting games may not, but I actually doubt this even, and investigation of the screen-out switch toggle may be all that's needed. Touchscreen games additionally need a serial touchscreen, and are a complete bag of hurt at the moment, usually involving rather expensive IC cards as well, so that's more of a FUTURE exploration thing, even though the games will load fine on the dongle.
- The Namco force feedback setup is unnecessary on driving games thanks to work by KrHacken to patch around the initilization and post-init checks on Ridge Racer V
- Analog is ESSENTIAL for many of the more niche games (Driving, Gun, Taiko, and Touchscreen, although the input hardware varies wildly, and you may want to be wary if you're not already in possession of a compatible input device.
Along with the JVS IO, I'd recommend a JVS power supply, with the wiring necessary to drive both the PCB and the IO board you go with, of course if you simply want basic JAMMA fighting games and the like, the JAMMA IO will work fine.
Compatible optical drives can be a bit of a mess.
- I've found a series of DVD-ROM drives I recommend (more on this later) that work great for both all 246 games and all 256 games (they employ the complete ATAPI command set and are pretty commonplace.
- DVD-ROM drives from mid-2000's or earlier, IDE interface, as well as older drives that have the full ATAPI command set, are really not in great shape at present. even NEW drives commonly have accumulated weird film over their lenses and will need cleaning, while others may simply be burnt out. There's nothing I can really do about this, and I wish there were, but the real answer is to wait for the emulator, that IS coming, I just have nothing to share about it still.
Hard drives are far more compatible, and Compact Flash WILL work if it's fully IDE/ATA compatible.
- This said, CF is notably slower than HDD in a lot of cases, and while I've found no PROBLEMS with extended load times due to slower CF cards in place of HDD, YMMV.
- Due to the usage of Sony APA partitioning (completely weird, random, and kinda handy) used on the majority of HDD games (Namco/Bandai/Capcom titles), they can actually all be made to coexist. Well... All but the Taito games. Each of the Taito games is programmed in such a manner that only one game can be on a drive at a time, so this means no Battle Gear or Zoids games without some kind of media swap.
- Depending on your plans, you may want to consider options involving HDD or CF hot-swap bays. I have a setup (that mostly works) that I'll eventually show, and I wouldn't be adverse to selling as upgrade kits, that removes the need to unscrew and swap actual drives all the time.
- I've had some luck with SATA drives, but it seems to be a mixed bag, and likely due to compatibility issues specific to the model SATA/IDE adapter used.
On to ADDITIONAL stuff you will need.
Sony PlayStation 2 (Hacked, or booting FMCB already) + uLaunchELF (Note, if you do not have a PlayStation 2, some of the newer models will NOT run FMCB)
OR
GENUINE Sony PlayStation 3 Memory Card Adaptor Adapter Reader CECHZM1 (You do not need a PlayStation 3 however)
These are NOT optional, and right now, the only way to get data onto the cards requires a PlayStation 2, or an equivalent device, hence the CECHZM1.
In the future, this requirement may be removed via hardware and software development, but at present, this is part of the cost of entry.
FYI, the CECHZM1 is far more convenient I find, BUT it's also currently fetching $40 USD + price tags on eBay, AND copy speeds are lower, IF speed matters to you. On the upside, I've made a little Raspberry Pi distribution that can program the cards using an LCD interface and this adapter, and if I can clean up the code a little, I'll gladly give it out as well.
