Problem booting Sega Smash Pack on the DC

[Geezer]

I recently sold the game on eBay and the buyer has contacted me saying it won't boot on his DC. I know for a fact that it won't work with utopia (I had to boot it with DC-X). I asked him which boot disc and which region DC he is using and got the following response:

"i have a rare multi region dreamcast which has no region chip installed. i
have plenty of u.s games and jap and have never had this problem."

What advice can I offer him?

Geezer

[Saurian]

"i have a rare multi region dreamcast which has no region chip installed. i
have plenty of u.s games and jap and have never had this problem."

Any intelligent person would try Utopia/DC-X first...

[Geezer]

My point is that if he has a true multiregion DC, then the game should work without a boot disc. Unless there is some sort of technical reason, which is what I'm looking for.

[Valken]

I've never heard of a rare multiregion DC that doesn't have a modchip installed... In fact, it sounds like nonsense to me.

[Papercut]

does sound like nonsense - maybe he has a treemcast?

he should still try DC-X, that might fix it all the same.

[Geezer]

I've told him to get hold of a DC-X. Sounds like he either has some sort of dev unit or he got skanked and was actually sold a chipped DC.

[randombs]

maybe a dev machine? or maybe not...

sounds to me like he's got a chipped machine

he's probably saying it's a rare multiregion to cover his back so that you can't say "your chips buggered", thus avoiding any further scrutiny from yourself

Maybe he scratched it?

I guess it depends on the wording of your auction, too. I'm assuming it's the US version?

I'd say recommend DC-X too - I've never tried it myself (never had to - got a jap chipped DC) but it seems to be the answer to the problem

I'd say ask him for proof that his DC is a rare multiregion (get a model number or something), and just make sure he isn't trying to send it back coz he doesn't like it

[Valken]

I'm sure someone else will know better than me but I was under the impression that you'd need a deb kit (which looks nothing like a DC) for it to be multiregion...

Even for testing/mags etc Sega had their own form of boot disc rather than multiregion machines.

[Blu3Flame]

I'm pretty sure some Asian models are region-less, I believe Halo owns one. Did you sell him a PAL game, because he only mentions owning JAP/US. DC-X is the best advice to give him, if he owns an odd Dreamcast then the reason for it not working is purely his fault, he can hardly expect a refund if he is using non standard equipment

[Geezer]

He was never askig for a refund, just a bit of help getting it working. Smash pack is US only btw. He said he's going to hunt down a DC-X which should solve his problem