Version A and B is decided on the CD-ROM, unless it’s the no CD kit which is Japan only and can only be version 990512.
So you just need to burn a CD to swap to and from A / B.
The Asian version has different voices, yeah that’s the only difference. I’ve no idea if you could ever tell by looking at the carts but I’ve seen the yellow label JPN one booting up the Asian version because it was revived.
Also on the blog, iirc he can only re-write SF3: NG to Red Earth and back. He needs special keys and hasn’t gotten any other to work. One other thing though, if you did buy a Jojo’s or 2i kit cheap and wanted to put 3s on it you need more RAM or it won’t run.
Ah brilliant thanks for the answers, I was confused as to how the tool worked since he implied it worked with any game and you swapped out SIMMs while loading it in with 2CD method, but that seemed bizarre to me since presumably the memory would be needed at runtime. I was looking at getting a jojo’s kit cheap and trying it out but the price difference isn’t really that huge on top of getting all the other stuff, plus a 3S board should have the required memory to swap to a less intensive game like Jojo’s or Red Earth.
edit: The readme and blog do seem to imply it supports everything but some weird version of Red Earth and 2nd Impact though, like here’s a quote:
Now presumably the memory thing still holds true but it looks like it supports jjba/ng/3s/warzard.
Just looked at the darksoft project and yeah it seems you’re right. 2i doesn’t use the same encryption, so it works for everything else except that (which is cool).
Unfortunately though the RAM which goes into CPS-3 boards is expensive. I’m not sure if any generic modules work for it, but the last dude I saw with them on eBay was charging upwards of $60 a stick and he sold them all in a week.
okay new question. if I spring for this, I might wanna pick up a VSav board and an ST board. is it easy to switch out the boards on a Versus City or not really?
Recent udpate on CPS3 boards phoenixisation: Breaking CPS3
Not sure about details, i don’t know any name called ‘SF III-2nd Strike’, but good news anyway…
Looking up different things on google images, ran across TheShend almost buying “that game.” It would be him out of all people of course.
2009, he was asking about the carts, knows its NewGen + a bonus 2nd Impact CD?!
Here’s a look at the CPS3 cart for IglooBob as well, just an example, usually only see the big blue cases for the CPS2, not insides. But those are rectangle / square, where the box art label is on top right? “A board + B boards.”
cool, thank you to everyone who helped out in the thread with info. I’m gonna do it. will report back once I have everything, which will take a couple months of saving money probably. got an old expensive ass clarinet I can sell too haha, that’ll probably put me ~$1000 towards it. need to make a “WTB 3s 990512 Japan board and versus city cab” thread everywhere that enthusiasts gather, starting with that neo geo site. If I buy everything through that coin op express site + shipping and I’m doing the math correctly I’ll end up putting down like $3000. hopefully I can do better than that elsewhere but that can be my last resort.