Gauging interest for a group buy for Neo Flash Cart

[Mishran]

***FINAL UPDATE ***

All carts have been shipped to their respective owners which brings this group buy to a close. A final thank you to all participant for making this possible.

Price per flash cart is $69.00. Shipping to my home is $56.00 or 3.50 per flash cart. I am currently planning USPS Priority Small Flat Rate Boxes for domestic shipments as it is an easy, fast, and affordable method.
International orders: After conversing with my local post office, I have decided to go with actual shipping cost since it will be cheaper in most cases than the flat rate box.

Here is the updated list of participants so far as well as their current status. I will keep this list updated, so keep an eye on it.

Mishran (Me) - Cart test: passed
genetik - shipped!
Sadler - shipped!
incrediblehark - shipped!
HercTNT - shipped!
Senshi - shipped!
henrycsc - shipped!
xcrement5x - shipped!
Duo_R - shipped!
Sparky - shipped!
neoxeno - shipped!
esteban - shipped!
Terminarcade - shipped!
emartin373 - shipped!
mrhaboobi - shipped!
kiketonto - shipped!
c0ldb33r - shipped!
christoph - shipped!
Gogan - shipped!
tiptopjames - shipped!
[extra] - returned to IC2005 for exchange

I have stepped forward and am willing to take care of the order, purchase, and shipping (once received) of the Neo Flash carts. If anyone else wishes to take charge, please speak now or forever hold your peace. If you do not feel me trust worthy enough for this task, then please do not participate in the group buy.

I do not wish to be stuck with multiples of the cart and a severe hole in my wallet, so I must ask for half the cost of the units up front to prevent folks from backing out after the order has been made. If you do not like such an idea, then please state so now and your name will be removed from the list.

The cut-off date as been pushed back to the 21st, which will act as the last day to pay half (or all if you choose) the cost of your unit. If anyone else is interested in one, now is the time to act.

I will update the above list with new additions as well as votes as I receive them.

Stay tuned for more info and thanks in advance to everyone who is participating.

[genetik]

I'm definitely interested. Although I would prefer the 128M model, I could settle for a 64M if that's what everyone else agrees on.

[Sadler]

Count me in. Tried to order one last year, required signature, never got notice and they sent it back to Japan.

[mlbfan10]

What is this exactly?

[genetik]

What is this exactly?

http://www.ic2005.com/shop/home.php?cat=2

Flash cart for the TG16/PCE.

[incrediblehark]

I completely forgot about this! I was on board for the group buy back then, and still in for one now. personally the bigger storage the better, but I'm willing to compromise and go with the majority if it means saving a few bucks with the group buy.

Just replied to this in the old thread.

[Bernie]

hmm..  Hell, why not.  Perfect way to play those translated roms.    Yeah, I am down for one.

[Mishran]

With all the problems I heard about the 128M cart, I'd prefer to go the safe road with the 64M cart. But it depends on what everyone agrees on. Perhaps we need a poll with this thread.

EDIT: How do I even add one?

[HercTNT]

I'm interested in a 64 meg cart as well, what is the projected cost on a group buy?

[Senshi]

With all the problems I heard about the 128M cart, I'd prefer to go the safe road with the 64M cart. But it depends on what everyone agrees on. Perhaps we need a poll with this thread.

EDIT: How do I even add one?

What problems? I'd rather have the larger cart but not with a bunch of problems. I've never heard anything bad about these. I'm in regardless.

Edit: must have the save option

[genetik]

I'm interested in a 64 meg cart as well, what is the projected cost on a group buy?

For the 64M, it would be $74 per person (if we get at least 10 persons) + cost of shipping from the person that orders to your house. The 128M one would cost $114 plus shipping.

[Sadler]

I'd prefer the 128M cart with save option, but I'll take anything you guys decide on.

[HercTNT]

right, i forgot about the save option. that would be great for those of us that have gt's.  We should take a vote though.

[Mishran]

I'm unsure of what the save feature actually does? Does it work like the internal BRAM of the booster+ and turbo cd systems? Don't see how it would work like that.

[Sadler]

Hmm, actually that's a damn fine question. From browsing this thread I'm inclined to think it only supports saves on ROMs that originally had a battery back up. Populous is the only one I know for sure had that, though there may have been others. If that's the case I care far less about the save feature. Also note that 128M is megabits, not bytes. SF2 is 20 megabits, I think several of the later releases (Bonk 3, Magical Chase) were 8 mega bits. Even the 128M isn't going to hold a ton of games, so this will hardly replace your binder of hu's when you travel.

I guess all that is to say I'm still down with whatever you guys choose, but I'm marginally less motivated to pursue the 128M + save unless someone can convince me the cart actually replicates the backup memory of the booster plus/CD/Duo.

[Flare65]

I'm stil a bit confused as to what this thing actually does.  Does it come with any games on it?

[mlbfan10]

Is there a discount for doing a group buy? :p

[Sadler]

Think of it as a USB flash drive for your pc engine. It allows you to load up whatever hucard data you'd like to it and then you can select which to play from a menu on your console.

EDIT: To be clear, this isn't simply a piracy device. It's sort of like an R4 for a DS. You can load whatever you want onto it. This means homebrews like Chris Covell's work and fan translations like Bubblegum Crash.

It isn't going to expand the hardware capabilities of the machine you are running on. Don't expect to load CD ISOs on here and play them on your Express. That said there are lots of reasons to want one.

[NecroPhile]

From browsing this thread I'm inclined to think it only supports saves on ROMs that originally had a battery back up. Populous is the only one I know for sure had that, though there may have been others.

Tennokoe Bank is the only huey that saves internally, making the save function pretty much useless.

[genetik]

Tennokoe Bank is the only huey that saves internally, making the save function pretty much useless.

Well if the internal save function is pretty much unused, I say that we either go for the 64M or the battery-less 128M. The battery-less 128M would cost $104 plus shipping from the buyer's home to us as opposed $74 for the 64M one.
 

I'm stil a bit confused as to what this thing actually does.  Does it come with any games on it?

Doesn't come with any games. You load whatever you want using the usb linker.
 

Is there a discount for doing a group buy? :p

Yes, some discount. In a group, the 64M is $74 (plus shipping) as opposed to $99 (free shipping for only one cart). The battery-less 128M is $104 (plus shipping) as opposed to $129 (again, free shipping for only one cart).
 
We're saving about $20 per cart (we have to pay for the 2nd shipping as well). Since I'm located in Canada, I would get hit with a higher shipping cost. Maybe $8-9...I'm wondering if it's worth it to save $15-18. The only thing that worries me is what if some of them that are DOA. Would we have to get it exchange using the original buyer?

[majors]

Even the 128M isn't going to hold a ton of games, so this will hardly replace your binder of hu's when you travel.

I'm no expert on the flash cart in discussion, but I have the 32mb Tototek and it holds 5-6 Hu ROMS on a good day. I bought it mainly to run Magical Chase and the Caravan shooters. You are right, it's not gonna replace anyones collection but it is neat to be able to run some rares or try out some Hu's you may never had the opportunity to.

[genetik]

In preparation for getting the card, I tried to make a quick list of what I could fit on the 128 and the 64. I managed to get about 31 games to fit on the 128 (15.5MB worth of roms) and about 15 games on the 64 (7.7MB worth of roms). The 128 one would fit just about all the games I really want, but it's definitely much harder to do a selection for the 64.

[incrediblehark]

I would like the bigger one personally but will go with whatever the majority wants.

genetik, if you want I can get your card and mail it to you. We've had some transactions in the past (just bought your everdrive) and if it would save you shipping I would be happy to help out.

[genetik]

genetik, if you want I can get your card and mail it to you. We've had some transactions in the past (just bought your everdrive) and if it would save you shipping I would be happy to help out.

I don't mind, but I don't see how it would lower the shipping cost. Yes, the shipping for the 2nd card to you would be free (since it tags along yours), but I would still need to shell out the $8-9 from you to me. Plus the extra shipping time.

Ideally, the person ordering the lot should be a trusted member of the forum and be located where the bulk of the other buyers are located, which is most likely the US. That person gets a small discount of not paying for the 2nd shipping (also gets the cart first), but will have to pack the other 9 carts and send them.

[henrycsc]

I'd be interested as well.  Either way.

[xcrement5x]

I'm also interested as well, I'm in the US too.

Someone brought up the matter of dead on arrival goods and I also think that it's something that would want to be tested for once we got them if it's a common occurrence with these carts.

[HercTNT]

dumb question, but does the flash linker come with it as well? I would imagine it would or you could not do much with it right?

[Deletion]

Does anyone know the status of the Turbo EverDrive? Is Krikzz developing it and planning a release for later this year? That would have a strong bearing on whether I get in on this group buy or not.

[SignOfZeta]

I would be interested but I have a feeling that it would either be DOA or such a pain in the ass to use that I'd just be paying $100 to be pissed off at something.

[nat]

Have we determined that some of these 128M carts are actually DOA and not just suffering from the works-on-some-consoles-but-not-others-because-of-shoddy-power syndrome?

I mean, conceivably someone with only one console who received one of these and had it not work might immediately think the thing was DOA when it fact it just suffers from the same affliction that all of them do.

Which really, is a problem with the consoles themselves and not the carts.

[cabbage]

I have a 128Mb+save. So far I have found no use for the save function at all. It doesn't seem to be compatible with the Tennokoe and it does not replace the Backup RAM. I've not had any luck writing homebrew code that saves to the Neo Flash save RAM either (surely it's possible, though). I wonder what the Neo Team was thinking when they added that feature 

The Neo Flash is a nice thing to have, though. It's not nearly as user-friendly as R4 and the like, but with a bit of tinkering most (maybe all?) games can be made to work well. It still has some quirks that I don't understand, but it's good to be able to play homebrew and translations and hu-cards that I'll probably never find or be able to afford (Magical Chase).

If anyone is on the fence about joining a group buy and has some questions about the cart, feel free to ask.

HercTNT- mine came with a linker. I don't know if they can be bought without one. The Neo Flash card actually has pins on both sides--one side has a PCE/TG16 connector and the other has a GBA one. When you want to play, you plug the PCE side into your console and go to town. When you want to flash some new stuff on it, you plug the GBA side into the USB linker and run their flashing software.

[SignOfZeta]

Have we determined that some of these 128M carts are actually DOA and not just suffering from the works-on-some-consoles-but-not-others-because-of-shoddy-power syndrome?

I mean, conceivably someone with only one console who received one of these and had it not work might immediately think the thing was DOA when it fact it just suffers from the same affliction that all of them do.

Which really, is a problem with the consoles themselves and not the carts.

I have a DOA one. It's been tested on a IFU, US Duo, and Duo R.

[Duo_R]

I am interested, but when does the everdrive for PCE come out?

[Mishran]

Regardless, the 64M is my preference. I see no need for the larger one in case the everdrive DOES release. I've never heard anyone mention problems with the 64M either. I was considering taking care of the purchase and dispersal of these as well if nobody objects.

[genetik]

I am interested, but when does the everdrive for PCE come out?

There's no set date really. Krikzz hoped to deliver it in summer. But right now he's not working on it. He's focusing on the mega everdrive also he's helping, if I'm not mistaken, on a new snes flash cart as well.

[nat]

Have we determined that some of these 128M carts are actually DOA and not just suffering from the works-on-some-consoles-but-not-others-because-of-shoddy-power syndrome?

I mean, conceivably someone with only one console who received one of these and had it not work might immediately think the thing was DOA when it fact it just suffers from the same affliction that all of them do.

Which really, is a problem with the consoles themselves and not the carts.

I have a DOA one. It's been tested on a IFU, US Duo, and Duo R.

Fair enough. Anyone else?

[PsychedelicShaman]

Hey guys, I would suggest waiting for the Turbo Everdrive.  It will leave the neoflash version very outdated, and is months away.  This will run off of a sd or microsd card so you can put the entire tg16/pce library on it and forget about it.  There's talks of integrating the Arcade duo card into the Turbo Everdrive, but I'm not sure he's interested in doing that.  He's speccing it out to be more around the pricing of the everdrive md which is $78. So if it's around $100 it's still cheaper than the group buy price for a 128mb + save neoflash cart and better.  Grant it, the price and release date is still speculation.

Here is the forum thread where you can track the progress over at assemblergames.  Admittedly there isn't a whole lot of progress since he's working on the new everdrive md.  http://www.assemblergames.com/forums/showthread.php?t=31764.  Retrocollect article on it, the link to the Turbo Everdrive shows the pcb design.  http://www.retrocollect.com/News/krikzz-to-release-pc-engine-turbografx-16-flash-cartridge-a-updated-ultimate-mega-drive-everdrive.html

tl;dr Why drop more than $100 for a cart that you will be replacing with a better one for around $100 in around 6 months?

[genetik]

For sure the everdrive will be better in every way. No doubts about it. I own all of Krikk's product and I love them.

I myself have no Hucards yet, so I would very much like having a neoflash cart while waiting for the everdrive. The 64M would be cheaper than $100. I see it as a fairly inexpensive way to play what I want while waiting for the evedrive.

[BigusSchmuck]

For sure the everdrive will be better in every way. No doubts about it. I own all of Krikk's product and I love them.

I myself have no Hucards yet, so I would very much like having a neoflash cart while waiting for the everdrive. The 64M would be cheaper than $100. I see it as a fairly inexpensive way to play what I want while waiting for the evedrive.

The problem with the NeoFlash (from what I have heard) is that it doesn't work on every system due to the voltage requirements. So its really a 50/50 chance that it will work at all. See this thread for more details:
https://www.pcengine-fx.com/forums/index.php?topic=10670.0

[HercTNT]

I thought Steve found a work around to get more voltage to it?

[neoxeno]

I thought Steve found a work around to get more voltage to it?

What is the work around?

[HercTNT]

I have no idea, i remember steve talking to someone about tapping in to the board somewhere to get more voltage to the cart slot. I have shit for memory sometimes. Either he said he found a way, or he said he was pretty sure if he could look at it, he would find a way.

[SignOfZeta]

I would assume that it isn't really more voltage that is required necessarily, but rather more current so that the standard amount of voltage can be maintained under the increased draw of the flash card.

[HercTNT]

Would an ac/dc adapter with a larger milliamp rating be the fix then? or is it still an internal problem?

[nat]

Would an ac/dc adapter with a larger milliamp rating be the fix then? or is it still an internal problem?

It's an internal problem. Using higher-rated AC adapters won't get you anywhere.

[BlueBMW]

I think he directly linked the 5v line on the hucard slot to the output of one of the 7805 regulators so it had full supply and wasnt going through any other  components.

[Sparky]

count me in either way.... maybe i can make up a sticker to go on the cart face...hahaha...there is a sticker for every solution!!! 

[Mishran]

Well seems we have enough people to do this thing so far.

Mishran (Me)
genetik
Sadler
incrediblehark
Bernie
HercTNT
Senshi
henrycsc
xcrement5x
Duo_R
Sparky

Any volunteers on doing the ordering, payment, and eventual shipment of these? I'd be happy to take care of it, but I'd have to ask half the price up front to prevent people from backing out and leaving me with unadopted carts and a large hole in my wallet.

[HercTNT]

Mishran, I'm good to go after wendsday of next week. thats when i can throw in half.

[Mishran]

If I'm doing the honors, I'll wait until the 19th to order. Give anyone else interested a chance to step forward. We need to decide as a whole what version we are going with. The 128M would be nice, but with what I hear about them, I really don't wish to take the chance with it. Others interested chime in again stating which version you want so we can get a vote which direction we take.

My vote: 64M