diff --git a/src/emulator.c b/src/emulator.c
index fd9e4c1d..76905593 100644
--- a/src/emulator.c
+++ b/src/emulator.c
@@ -601,9 +601,11 @@ static void emu_run_frame(struct emu *emu) {
 void emu_render_frame(struct emu *emu) {
   prof_counter_add(COUNTER_frames, 1);
 
-  /* check that we're not being called between calls to emu_video_destroyed
-     and emu_video_created */
-  CHECK_NOTNULL(emu->r);
+  if (!dc_running(emu->dc)) {
+    /* not running, just build debug menu */
+    emu_debug_menu(emu);
+    return;
+  }
 
   int width = r_width(emu->r);
   int height = r_height(emu->r);
diff --git a/src/guest/aica/aica.c b/src/guest/aica/aica.c
index b08d4be7..98d000f1 100644
--- a/src/guest/aica/aica.c
+++ b/src/guest/aica/aica.c
@@ -1016,7 +1016,7 @@ struct aica *aica_create(struct dreamcast *dc) {
   aica_init_tables();
 
   struct aica *aica =
-      dc_create_device(dc, sizeof(struct aica), "aica", &aica_init);
+      dc_create_device(dc, sizeof(struct aica), "aica", &aica_init, NULL);
 
   /* assign ids */
   for (int i = 0; i < AICA_NUM_CHANNELS; i++) {
diff --git a/src/guest/arm7/arm7.c b/src/guest/arm7/arm7.c
index 89d82765..848c5054 100644
--- a/src/guest/arm7/arm7.c
+++ b/src/guest/arm7/arm7.c
@@ -238,7 +238,7 @@ void arm7_destroy(struct arm7 *arm) {
 
 struct arm7 *arm7_create(struct dreamcast *dc) {
   struct arm7 *arm =
-      dc_create_device(dc, sizeof(struct arm7), "arm", &arm7_init);
+      dc_create_device(dc, sizeof(struct arm7), "arm", &arm7_init, NULL);
   arm->execute_if = dc_create_execute_interface(&arm7_run, 0);
   arm->memory_if = dc_create_memory_interface(dc, &arm7_data_map);
 
diff --git a/src/guest/bios/bios.c b/src/guest/bios/bios.c
index ae45a26d..30d0ca9d 100644
--- a/src/guest/bios/bios.c
+++ b/src/guest/bios/bios.c
@@ -12,13 +12,13 @@
 #include "guest/sh4/sh4.h"
 #include "imgui.h"
 
-DEFINE_PERSISTENT_OPTION_STRING(region, "auto", "System region");
+DEFINE_PERSISTENT_OPTION_STRING(region, "usa", "System region");
 DEFINE_PERSISTENT_OPTION_STRING(language, "english", "System language");
 DEFINE_PERSISTENT_OPTION_STRING(broadcast, "ntsc", "System broadcast mode");
 
 /* system settings */
 static const char *regions[] = {
-    "japan", "usa", "europe", "auto",
+    "japan", "usa", "europe",
 };
 
 static const char *languages[] = {
@@ -94,15 +94,6 @@ static void bios_override_settings(struct bios *bios) {
     }
   }
 
-  /* if "auto" is specified, select first supported region */
-  if (region == ARRAY_SIZE(regions) - 1) {
-    int supported_regions = DISC_REGION_ALL;
-    if (gdrom_has_disc(gd)) {
-      supported_regions = gdrom_get_regions(gd);
-    }
-    region = ctz32((uint32_t)supported_regions);
-  }
-
   LOG_INFO("bios_override_settings region=%s lang=%s bcast=%s", regions[region],
            languages[lang], broadcasts[bcast]);
 
@@ -304,8 +295,31 @@ static int bios_boot(struct bios *bios) {
   return 1;
 }
 
-static int bios_init(struct device *dev) {
+static int bios_post_init(struct device *dev) {
   struct bios *bios = (struct bios *)dev;
+
+  bios_validate_flash(bios);
+
+  bios_override_settings(bios);
+
+/* this code enables a "hybrid" hle mode. in this mode, syscalls are patched
+   to trap into their hle handlers, but the real bios can still be ran to
+   test if bugs exist in the syscall emulation or bootstrap emulation */
+#if 0
+  /* write out invalid instructions at syscall entry points. note, the boot rom
+     does a bootstrap on startup which copies the boot rom into system ram. due
+     to this, the invalid instructions are written to the original rom, not the
+     system ram (or else, they would be overwritten by the bootstrap process) */
+  struct boot *boot = bios->dc->boot;
+  uint16_t invalid = 0x0;
+
+  boot_write(boot, SYSCALL_FONTROM, &invalid, 2);
+  boot_write(boot, SYSCALL_SYSINFO, &invalid, 2);
+  boot_write(boot, SYSCALL_FLASHROM, &invalid, 2);
+  boot_write(boot, SYSCALL_GDROM, &invalid, 2);
+  /*boot_write(boot, SYSCALL_MENU, &invalid, 2);*/
+#endif
+
   return 1;
 }
 
@@ -407,38 +421,12 @@ int bios_invalid_instr(struct bios *bios) {
   return handled;
 }
 
-int bios_preboot(struct bios *bios) {
-  bios_validate_flash(bios);
-
-  bios_override_settings(bios);
-
-/* this code enables a "hybrid" hle mode. in this mode, syscalls are patched
-   to trap into their hle handlers, but the real bios can still be ran to
-   test if bugs exist in the syscall emulation or bootstrap emulation */
-#if 0
-  /* write out invalid instructions at syscall entry points. note, the boot rom
-     does a bootstrap on startup which copies the boot rom into system ram. due
-     to this, the invalid instructions are written to the original rom, not the
-     system ram (or else, they would be overwritten by the bootstrap process) */
-  struct boot *boot = bios->dc->boot;
-  uint16_t invalid = 0x0;
-
-  boot_write(boot, SYSCALL_FONTROM, &invalid, 2);
-  boot_write(boot, SYSCALL_SYSINFO, &invalid, 2);
-  boot_write(boot, SYSCALL_FLASHROM, &invalid, 2);
-  boot_write(boot, SYSCALL_GDROM, &invalid, 2);
-  /*boot_write(boot, SYSCALL_MENU, &invalid, 2);*/
-#endif
-
-  return 1;
-}
-
 void bios_destroy(struct bios *bios) {
   free(bios);
 }
 
 struct bios *bios_create(struct dreamcast *dc) {
   struct bios *bios =
-      dc_create_device(dc, sizeof(struct bios), "bios", &bios_init);
+      dc_create_device(dc, sizeof(struct bios), "bios", NULL, &bios_post_init);
   return bios;
 }
diff --git a/src/guest/bios/bios.h b/src/guest/bios/bios.h
index 99cf22ba..19c07973 100644
--- a/src/guest/bios/bios.h
+++ b/src/guest/bios/bios.h
@@ -18,9 +18,7 @@ struct bios {
 struct bios *bios_create(struct dreamcast *dc);
 void bios_destroy(struct bios *bios);
 
-int bios_preboot(struct bios *bios);
 int bios_invalid_instr(struct bios *bios);
-
 void bios_debug_menu(struct bios *bios);
 
 #endif
diff --git a/src/guest/dreamcast.c b/src/guest/dreamcast.c
index 6e618e22..b8dee542 100644
--- a/src/guest/dreamcast.c
+++ b/src/guest/dreamcast.c
@@ -70,28 +70,28 @@ void dc_suspend(struct dreamcast *dc) {
   dc->running = 0;
 }
 
-int dc_load(struct dreamcast *dc, const char *path) {
-  struct disc *disc = NULL;
+int dc_running(struct dreamcast *dc) {
+  return dc->running;
+}
 
+int dc_load(struct dreamcast *dc, const char *path) {
   if (path) {
     LOG_INFO("dc_load path=%s", path);
 
     struct disc *disc = disc_create(path);
+
     if (!disc) {
-      LOG_WARNING("dc_load failed");
+      LOG_WARNING("dc_load_game failed");
       return 0;
     }
 
-    /* boot to bios bootstrap if disc is valid */
     gdrom_set_disc(dc->gdrom, disc);
-    bios_preboot(dc->bios);
-    sh4_reset(dc->sh4, 0xa0000000);
   } else {
-    /* boot to main menu of no path specified */
-    bios_preboot(dc->bios);
-    sh4_reset(dc->sh4, 0xa0000000);
+    LOG_INFO("dc_load no path supplied, loading bios");
   }
 
+  /* boot to bios bootstrap */
+  sh4_reset(dc->sh4, 0xa0000000);
   dc_resume(dc);
 
   return 1;
@@ -129,8 +129,15 @@ int dc_init(struct dreamcast *dc) {
 
   /* initialize each device */
   list_for_each_entry(dev, &dc->devices, struct device, it) {
-    if (!dev->init(dev)) {
-      LOG_WARNING("dc_init failed to initialize device '%s'", dev->name);
+    if (dev->init && !dev->init(dev)) {
+      LOG_WARNING("dc_init init callback failed for '%s'", dev->name);
+      return 0;
+    }
+  }
+
+  list_for_each_entry(dev, &dc->devices, struct device, it) {
+    if (dev->post_init && !dev->post_init(dev)) {
+      LOG_WARNING("dc_init post_init callback failed for '%s'", dev->name);
       return 0;
     }
   }
@@ -200,12 +207,13 @@ struct device *dc_get_device(struct dreamcast *dc, const char *name) {
 }
 
 void *dc_create_device(struct dreamcast *dc, size_t size, const char *name,
-                       device_init_cb init) {
+                       device_init_cb init, device_post_init_cb post_init) {
   struct device *dev = calloc(1, size);
 
   dev->dc = dc;
   dev->name = name;
   dev->init = init;
+  dev->post_init = post_init;
 
   list_add(&dc->devices, &dev->it);
 
diff --git a/src/guest/dreamcast.h b/src/guest/dreamcast.h
index f5594455..c0fe6b23 100644
--- a/src/guest/dreamcast.h
+++ b/src/guest/dreamcast.h
@@ -89,12 +89,21 @@ struct memory_interface {
  * device
  */
 typedef int (*device_init_cb)(struct device *);
+typedef int (*device_post_init_cb)(struct device *);
 
 struct device {
   struct dreamcast *dc;
   const char *name;
+
+  /* called for each device during dc_init. at this point each device should
+     initialize their own state, but not depend on the state of others */
   device_init_cb init;
 
+  /* called for each device during dc_init, immediately after each device's
+     init callback has been called. devices should perform initialization
+     that depends on other device's state here */
+  device_post_init_cb post_init;
+
   /* optional interfaces */
   struct debug_interface *debug_if;
   struct execute_interface *execute_if;
@@ -161,7 +170,7 @@ struct dreamcast *dc_create();
 void dc_destroy(struct dreamcast *dc);
 
 void *dc_create_device(struct dreamcast *dc, size_t size, const char *name,
-                       device_init_cb init);
+                       device_init_cb init, device_post_init_cb post_init);
 struct device *dc_get_device(struct dreamcast *dc, const char *name);
 void dc_destroy_device(struct device *dev);
 
@@ -183,6 +192,7 @@ void dc_destroy_memory_interface(struct memory_interface *memory);
 
 int dc_init(struct dreamcast *dc);
 int dc_load(struct dreamcast *dc, const char *path);
+int dc_running(struct dreamcast *dc);
 void dc_suspend(struct dreamcast *dc);
 void dc_resume(struct dreamcast *dc);
 void dc_tick(struct dreamcast *dc, int64_t ns);
diff --git a/src/guest/gdrom/disc.c b/src/guest/gdrom/disc.c
index be6d6131..3d9225d8 100644
--- a/src/guest/gdrom/disc.c
+++ b/src/guest/gdrom/disc.c
@@ -6,6 +6,14 @@
 #include "guest/gdrom/gdi.h"
 #include "guest/gdrom/iso.h"
 
+/* ip.bin layout */
+#define IP_OFFSET_META 0x0000    /* meta information */
+#define IP_OFFSET_TOC 0x0100     /* table of contents */
+#define IP_OFFSET_LICENSE 0x0300 /* license screen code */
+#define IP_OFFSET_AREAS 0x3700   /* area protection symbols */
+#define IP_OFFSET_BOOT1 0x3800   /* bootstrap 1 */
+#define IP_OFFSET_BOOT2 0x6000   /* bootstrap 2 */
+
 /* meta information found in the ip.bin */
 struct disc_meta {
   char hardware_id[16];
@@ -31,6 +39,31 @@ static void disc_get_meta(struct disc *disc, struct disc_meta *meta) {
   memcpy(meta, tmp, sizeof(*meta));
 }
 
+static void disc_patch_regions(struct disc *disc, int fad, uint8_t *data) {
+  /* patch discs to boot in all regions by patching data read from the disk. for
+     a disc to be boot for a region, the region must be enabled in two places:
+
+     1.) in the meta information section of the ip.bin
+     2.) in the area protection symbols section of the ip.bin */
+  if (fad == disc->meta_fad) {
+    /* the area symbols in the meta information contains 8 characters, each of
+       which is either a space, or the first letter of the area if supported */
+    struct disc_meta *meta = (struct disc_meta *)data;
+    strncpy_pad_spaces(meta->area_symbols, "JUE", sizeof(meta->area_symbols));
+  } else if (fad == disc->area_fad) {
+    /* the area protection symbols section contains 8 slots, each of which is
+       either spaces, or the name of the area if supported. note, each slot
+       has a 4-byte code prefix which jumps past it as part of the bootstrap
+       control flow */
+    char *slot0 = (char *)data;
+    char *slot1 = (char *)data + 32;
+    char *slot2 = (char *)data + 64;
+    strncpy_pad_spaces(slot0 + 4, "For JAPAN,TAIWAN,PHILIPINES.", 28);
+    strncpy_pad_spaces(slot1 + 4, "For USA and CANADA.", 28);
+    strncpy_pad_spaces(slot2 + 4, "For EUROPE.", 28);
+  }
+}
+
 int disc_read_bytes(struct disc *disc, int fad, int len, uint8_t *dst,
                     int dst_size) {
   CHECK_LE(len, dst_size);
@@ -69,6 +102,7 @@ int disc_read_sectors(struct disc *disc, int fad, int num_sectors,
   for (int i = fad; i < endfad; i++) {
     CHECK_LE(read + track->data_size, dst_size);
     disc->read_sector(disc, track, i, dst + read);
+    disc_patch_regions(disc, i, dst + read);
     read += track->data_size;
   }
 
@@ -205,6 +239,13 @@ struct disc *disc_create(const char *filename) {
     return NULL;
   }
 
+  /* cache off information about the IP.BIN file location for region patching */
+  struct session *session = disc_get_session(disc, 1);
+  struct track *first_track = disc_get_track(disc, session->first_track);
+  disc->meta_fad = first_track->fad;
+  disc->area_fad = first_track->fad + IP_OFFSET_AREAS / first_track->data_size;
+  disc->area_off = IP_OFFSET_AREAS % first_track->data_size;
+
   /* extract meta information from the IP.BIN */
   struct disc_meta meta;
   disc_get_meta(disc, &meta);
@@ -219,20 +260,6 @@ struct disc *disc_create(const char *filename) {
                      sizeof(meta.device_info) - 5);
   strncpy_trim_space(disc->bootname, meta.bootname, sizeof(meta.bootname));
 
-  /* the area symbols array contains characters, which are either a space or a
-     specific character corresponding to a particular region the disc is valid
-     for. if the character for a particular region is a space, the disc is not
-     valid for that region */
-  if (meta.area_symbols[0] == 'J') {
-    disc->regions |= DISC_REGION_JAPAN;
-  }
-  if (meta.area_symbols[1] == 'U') {
-    disc->regions |= DISC_REGION_USA;
-  }
-  if (meta.area_symbols[2] == 'E') {
-    disc->regions |= DISC_REGION_EUROPE;
-  }
-
   /* generate unique id for the disc */
   snprintf(disc->uid, sizeof(disc->uid), "%s %s %s %s", disc->product_name,
            disc->product_number, disc->product_version, disc->media_config);
diff --git a/src/guest/gdrom/disc.h b/src/guest/gdrom/disc.h
index 7d2b9617..06b0fa65 100644
--- a/src/guest/gdrom/disc.h
+++ b/src/guest/gdrom/disc.h
@@ -44,6 +44,12 @@ struct session {
 };
 
 struct disc {
+  /* information about the IP.BIN location on disc, cached to quickly patch
+     region information */
+  int meta_fad;
+  int area_fad;
+  int area_off;
+
   /* meta information extracted from IP.BIN */
   char uid[DISC_UID_SIZE];
   char product_name[DISC_STRING_SIZE];
@@ -51,7 +57,6 @@ struct disc {
   char product_version[7];
   char media_config[12];
   char bootname[17];
-  int regions;
 
   /* media-specific interface */
   void (*destroy)(struct disc *);
diff --git a/src/guest/gdrom/gdrom.c b/src/guest/gdrom/gdrom.c
index 10291200..2b83b4f7 100644
--- a/src/guest/gdrom/gdrom.c
+++ b/src/guest/gdrom/gdrom.c
@@ -527,12 +527,6 @@ void gdrom_get_bootfile(struct gdrom *gd, int *fad, int *len) {
   CHECK(res);
 }
 
-int gdrom_get_regions(struct gdrom *gd) {
-  CHECK_NOTNULL(gd->disc);
-
-  return gd->disc->regions;
-}
-
 void gdrom_get_subcode(struct gdrom *gd, int format, uint8_t *data, int size) {
   CHECK_NOTNULL(gd->disc);
   CHECK_GE(size, GD_SPI_SCD_SIZE);
@@ -726,7 +720,7 @@ void gdrom_destroy(struct gdrom *gd) {
 
 struct gdrom *gdrom_create(struct dreamcast *dc) {
   struct gdrom *gd =
-      dc_create_device(dc, sizeof(struct gdrom), "gdrom", &gdrom_init);
+      dc_create_device(dc, sizeof(struct gdrom), "gdrom", &gdrom_init, NULL);
   return gd;
 }
 
diff --git a/src/guest/gdrom/gdrom.h b/src/guest/gdrom/gdrom.h
index a46e4b3c..e9fe7b8a 100644
--- a/src/guest/gdrom/gdrom.h
+++ b/src/guest/gdrom/gdrom.h
@@ -28,7 +28,6 @@ void gdrom_get_session(struct gdrom *gd, int session,
                        struct gd_spi_session *ses);
 void gdrom_get_subcode(struct gdrom *gd, int format, uint8_t *data, int size);
 
-int gdrom_get_regions(struct gdrom *gd);
 void gdrom_get_bootfile(struct gdrom *gd, int *fad, int *len);
 
 int gdrom_find_file(struct gdrom *gd, const char *filename, int *fad, int *len);
diff --git a/src/guest/holly/holly.c b/src/guest/holly/holly.c
index 002cf19a..7cea03a7 100644
--- a/src/guest/holly/holly.c
+++ b/src/guest/holly/holly.c
@@ -390,7 +390,7 @@ void holly_destroy(struct holly *hl) {
 
 struct holly *holly_create(struct dreamcast *dc) {
   struct holly *hl =
-      dc_create_device(dc, sizeof(struct holly), "holly", &holly_init);
+      dc_create_device(dc, sizeof(struct holly), "holly", &holly_init, NULL);
 
 /* init registers */
 #define HOLLY_REG(addr, name, default, type) \
diff --git a/src/guest/maple/maple.c b/src/guest/maple/maple.c
index df069ff6..ccb48bd2 100644
--- a/src/guest/maple/maple.c
+++ b/src/guest/maple/maple.c
@@ -139,7 +139,7 @@ void maple_destroy(struct maple *mp) {
 
 struct maple *maple_create(struct dreamcast *dc) {
   struct maple *mp =
-      dc_create_device(dc, sizeof(struct maple), "maple", &maple_init);
+      dc_create_device(dc, sizeof(struct maple), "maple", &maple_init, NULL);
 
   /* register a controller and vmu for all ports by default */
   for (int i = 0; i < MAPLE_NUM_PORTS; i++) {
diff --git a/src/guest/pvr/pvr.c b/src/guest/pvr/pvr.c
index 2a831e05..2c4e445c 100644
--- a/src/guest/pvr/pvr.c
+++ b/src/guest/pvr/pvr.c
@@ -246,7 +246,8 @@ void pvr_destroy(struct pvr *pvr) {
 }
 
 struct pvr *pvr_create(struct dreamcast *dc) {
-  struct pvr *pvr = dc_create_device(dc, sizeof(struct pvr), "pvr", &pvr_init);
+  struct pvr *pvr =
+      dc_create_device(dc, sizeof(struct pvr), "pvr", &pvr_init, NULL);
 
   return pvr;
 }
diff --git a/src/guest/pvr/ta.c b/src/guest/pvr/ta.c
index 238fbe6e..4e93be63 100644
--- a/src/guest/pvr/ta.c
+++ b/src/guest/pvr/ta.c
@@ -832,7 +832,7 @@ void ta_destroy(struct ta *ta) {
 struct ta *ta_create(struct dreamcast *dc) {
   ta_init_tables();
 
-  struct ta *ta = dc_create_device(dc, sizeof(struct ta), "ta", &ta_init);
+  struct ta *ta = dc_create_device(dc, sizeof(struct ta), "ta", &ta_init, NULL);
 
   return ta;
 }
diff --git a/src/guest/rom/boot.c b/src/guest/rom/boot.c
index 56990f62..f5d0668a 100644
--- a/src/guest/rom/boot.c
+++ b/src/guest/rom/boot.c
@@ -111,7 +111,7 @@ void boot_destroy(struct boot *boot) {
 
 struct boot *boot_create(struct dreamcast *dc) {
   struct boot *boot =
-      dc_create_device(dc, sizeof(struct boot), "boot", &boot_init);
+      dc_create_device(dc, sizeof(struct boot), "boot", &boot_init, NULL);
   return boot;
 }
 
diff --git a/src/guest/rom/flash.c b/src/guest/rom/flash.c
index 3c6fa725..bed5f18d 100644
--- a/src/guest/rom/flash.c
+++ b/src/guest/rom/flash.c
@@ -201,7 +201,7 @@ void flash_destroy(struct flash *flash) {
 
 struct flash *flash_create(struct dreamcast *dc) {
   struct flash *flash =
-      dc_create_device(dc, sizeof(struct flash), "flash", &flash_init);
+      dc_create_device(dc, sizeof(struct flash), "flash", &flash_init, NULL);
 
   return flash;
 }
diff --git a/src/guest/sh4/sh4.c b/src/guest/sh4/sh4.c
index 1785d2b3..24f5bd23 100644
--- a/src/guest/sh4/sh4.c
+++ b/src/guest/sh4/sh4.c
@@ -321,7 +321,8 @@ void sh4_destroy(struct sh4 *sh4) {
 }
 
 struct sh4 *sh4_create(struct dreamcast *dc) {
-  struct sh4 *sh4 = dc_create_device(dc, sizeof(struct sh4), "sh", &sh4_init);
+  struct sh4 *sh4 =
+      dc_create_device(dc, sizeof(struct sh4), "sh", &sh4_init, NULL);
   sh4->debug_if = dc_create_debug_interface(
       &sh4_dbg_num_registers, &sh4_dbg_step, &sh4_dbg_add_breakpoint,
       &sh4_dbg_remove_breakpoint, &sh4_dbg_read_memory, &sh4_dbg_read_register);