Region switch or Freeloader?

I was going to go with the Freeloader, since there's no chance of screwing up the Gamecube I bought last Friday :smt023 . I just don't like the idea of swapping discs, along with the fact that if I ever lose the Freeloader disc, I'm fucked.

I've bought Animal Crossing and Metroid Prime so far, and I want a quirky Japanese game that doesn't require the language to use it (I don't know a lick of Japanese).

 

if you are expecting freeloader to be any where near CD-X on DC you will be disappointed IF you live in PAL country - there are quite number of PAL titles having issue with it.
between US and JPN it's much better although there still exist some odd issue - i.e. JPN Donkey Konga won't save unless you have JPN machine and etc.

probably country switch will be the sure fire way and from what I heard isn't that difficult - the hard part is pulling apart your GameCube.

cheers

 

Look for anything Naruto, I'm talking about the fighting games btw.

 

NARUTO... GEKITOU NINJA TAISEN... TSU!!!

(Naruto Gekitou Ninja taisen 2)

... that's what I'd recommend at least.

 

I've been using a freeloader for quite some time on my pal machine and there are only 2 games that i have problems with donkey konga and f-zero who both work but have some glitches but for 98% of all games work with it.

 

If you do go with the Freeloader, make sure and get the latest revision.

If your Gamecube is second hand/out of waranty, though, I'd be much more inclined to go with the switch. It's very simple.

 

i will dig up and post the web site that I came across before.
it list all US/JP/PAL GC titles with their compatibility using FreeLoader...

I used to use that site to get PAL GC to run on my GC but now I just get used JPN GC titles from Japan...

cheers

 

Damn it. Apparently you need the gamebit dealies to open up the Gamecube. Here I am thinking Nintendo would actually use Phillips for a change :smt022 . I guess the Freeloader is going on my Christmas list....

 

can't you get a set from Radio Shack or something?
I got mine from our equivalent in Sydney... wasn't cheap though...

also I believe there's a seller on eBay selling two gamebits...

 

I thought gamebits had three "prong" things. Those on ebay look suspiciously like hex bits.

 

Gamebits cost far more than they should. You can "make" a one with a biro instead. Take all the guts out of the pen, heat the narrow end up, and plunge it onto one of the funny shaped screws Nintendo use. If you do it right it'll set in the gamebit shape and you'll be able to use it on the other screws as well. I know this works as I've done it myself, as have others on this board no doubt.

 

I did that too, but it left me with a fair amount of sore fingers, a bad smell in the room and took a few hours total. I ended up using a pen to turn the first few rounds and from there on I used a pincet, as the pen would break easily.

 

Yeah, the pen solution more often than not leads to fume headaches and burnt fingers, and the softness of the plastic only guarantees you a working tool for a short amount of time. It's much more worth it to spend the $8 or so total on eBay to get the bit.

I'd say go with the Freeloader if you can find one cheap, but if you have an old/spare Gamecube, just do the region mod - it's insanely simple, jsut two wires and you're good to go.

 

and here's the web site...

http://www.chrismarshall.net/freeloader/list.php?format=UK

cheers

 

There is also an IC which i guess is an internal chip should be safer than a switch but that's coming from the place selling those..