##### out the Topic and you know what I want

[RedsunsFC]

First of all I've already read through the forum, but I don't really understand how to make backup's of DC games. As far as I understand, you have to have special hardware to rip the games. The only thing for us to do is to dl the game from the internet and make a self-boot on it. Am I right?
But If there's a way for us normal users to rip a game please tell me. For example: I have an original DC game at home and a PC with burner and the software required (please tell me what I need), how do I make a backup of it?
I know that some of you guys are tired of answering questions like that, but please do it one more time. Once and for all! Or do someone know a site with a guide for the ripping? I've always read in the forum about a Echelon Guide or something like that. Where is it or are there other good guides out there? Help Please!!!

[Wayne]

You've already stated in your first paragraph that it takes "special hardware". This is true.

Though I've never ripped a game myself, I've seen it talked about here a lot. You need either a Dreamcast broadband adapter, network card in your PC and a crossover cable between the two, or a Dreamcast to PC serial cable, along with the necessary software loaded on both the DC and PC to rip the game.

Once the game files are on your PC, you have to extract them (they're in .gz format), then you have to downsample any movies to a lower resolution. If there's any CDDA tracks, you may need to reduce or rip some of them out, enough to shrink the size of the entire package so it fits on a 74 or 80min disc. If there's multi-language support, you may even be able to remove files for unwanted languages to make more room... Once you do that, the files need to be hacked, patched, etc. Finally, you follow the good old Echelon self-boot tutorial* to make your disc.

*You may also try another method - use mkisofs.exe to create an ISO, then use BIN2BOOT to convert the ISO to a self-boot .CDI file.

Good luck.