Dance Dance Revolution Memory Card FAQ Version 1.1 Written 1/13/04 Written by Thunderbird *********************************************************************** Copyright Notice *********************************************************************** This FAQ is copyright (c) 2003-04 by Sean Taylor This FAQ is merely intended to assist you, the reader, with tips for using your memory card in Dance Dance Revolution Extreme for the arcade. You may not post it elsewhere without first asking for permission. You may not modify this FAQ and then post it as your original work. You may not use this FAQ for money making purposes (this includes running ads on the same page as this FAQ). If this FAQ is posted on your site (with permission), it may not be placed in an area that requires a special membership (paid or otherwise) to access. If you would like to ask permission to post this FAQ on your site, please email me at sscthunderbird@yahoo.com and I'll probably allow you to do so, provided that the above conditions are met. *********************************************************************** Copyright Notice *********************************************************************** Table of Contents 1. Introduction 2. Version Information 3. What You Need 4. Creating the Link Data 5. Tracking Scores 5.1 Scoring Limitations (DDR Extreme Only) 6. Extra Options 7. Playing Edits 8. Conclusion 1. Introduction I've seen countless questions asking how to use memory cards in the arcade for various DDRs. However, to date there is no FAQ specifically for this (GurtyGurt's FAQ covers it for the earlier mixes, but it is huge, and doesn't cover the latest mixes). So I took it upon myself to make one, since I've been using my memory card in the arcade for awhile now. This FAQ is useful for the following arcade versions of Dance Dance Revolution: DDRMAX: Dance Dance Revolution 6th Mix DDRMAX2: Dance Dance Revolution 7th Mix Dance Dance Revolution Extreme Items specific to a certain mix will be noted. 2. Version Information Version 1.0 Written 11/14/03 Initial version. FAQ fully completed and posted to GameFAQs. Version 1.1 Written 1/13/03 Added a tip from iceman0736 on the GameFAQs boards. Thanks iceman! Added a note about arcade link data and edits. 3. What You Need Of course, there are a few things that you will need handy in order to use your memory card with the arcade. They are as follows: One Playstation memory card (PS2 cards will not fit in the slots) 2 blocks (at least) free on this memory card The arcade machine you play at must have memory card slots (only Japanese origin machines have these. US ones do not) EITHER: A copy of the Japanese DDR 5th Mix and a PSX/PS2 capable of playing imports OR A DexDrive and a copy of the link data. 4. Creating the Link Data There are two ways you can get the link data on your memory card. If you have a copy of the Japanese 5th Mix and a system that will play it (it is a Japanese game, so a normal US PSX/PS2 will not accept it), go into the Arcade Link menu on the game. Select New Version Link Data. Select Create New Link Data. The game will ask at least one question in Japanese, the Yes option is on the left side. Press the Circle button (NOT the X button) to make your choice. After you have created the data, it is now usable in the arcade, but does not have a specific mix name on it. Alternatively, if you do not have 5th Mix, but are in possession of a DexDrive, you can search out a copy of the link data on the Internet. Once you get it, you can easily transfer it to your memory card and go. You will not be able to manage your records this way, however. Note that memory cards used for DDRMAX/MAX2 must have the link data wiped and recreated to be used for DDR Extreme. MAX and MAX2 memory cards are compatible with each other (though it's recommended to keep separate cards for them if you are tracking scores on both, due to differences in the scoring system). 5. Tracking Scores When you go up to play your turn on the machine, place your memory card in the slot that you will be playing. The screen will say "Inserted" and then "Ready." Occasionally Inserted will not appear right away, insert a credit to get to the title screen, where it will affirm the memory card presence. If you see Memory Card Error, pull the memory card out and try again. If it reappears, your memory card may be corrupted. When the memory card is placed in the memory card slot of a DDRMAX/MAX2/Extreme machine for the first time, it will be "stamped" with the mix that it is being used in. This may take some time. In order to track scores, your memory card must be placed in the slot on the side that you are playing as (if it's in a slot with no player, it will only be checked for edits). When the Select Music screen appears, you will now see symbols next to the song names. The grade is placed in the slot, and the score is positioned appropriately (1P score is above the current song, 2P score is below it). If both players are using memory cards, there will be two grade slots, 1P is on the left and 2P is on the right. Player records are tracked separately on each player's memory card. When a song is completed, if the score you have achieved on the song at that difficulty is higher than the currently scored score (not grade), you will see "It's a new record!" written above your score. The new score and grade will be recorded, even if the grade is lower. If this happens, you can remove the memory card at this point (data is not actually saved until your game ends) to keep your old score. The machine will say DANGER, but nothing actually happens. Once the game is completed, any new records will be saved to the memory card. The amount of time this takes depends on the following factors: How many new records are saved (minimal impact) How many new songs are recorded (high impact) How many memory cards are being used (obviously, using two potentially doubles it) Do NOT remove the memory card(s) while the saving is going on (the announcer will say "Don't touch the memory card!"). Once the saving is complete, the game will wait for you to remove the card(s) for about 20 seconds. Once the memory cards are removed, or 20 seconds have elapsed, the game will move on to the next step (the credits, or Game Over). Note that data will not be saved if the session ended unnaturally. The following conditions can cause this: Resetting the machine by pressing the 3 menu buttons in Event Mode Machine loses power For these reasons, it is not recommended to bring your memory card to tournaments (and the fact that using memory cards increases the start time is a big factor). 5.1 Scoring Limitations (DDR Extreme Only) If you are using a memory card with DDR Extreme, there are some things to be aware of. The machine will not save a score if one of the following is true: The song was played in Beginner Mode. The song was played in Oni mode (and the song has regular steps). There is no room for another song to be recorded (in the case of playing a new song). Extreme will only track records for 176 individual songs. Since the machine itself actually has 240, this means your memory card can fill up. If for some reason your score will not be saved for a song, a memory card icon will appear in the score slot. Note that in some cases while playing Double, a memory card will appear but the score WILL be saved. This is only to indicate that the current song is not on your memory card. It will be stored once you have completed the song, provided one of the above conditions is not true. MAX and MAX2 have no scoring limitations (though I do not believe the bonus is saved in MAX). 6. Extra Options Once you have played at least one game at the arcade using your memory card, some new options will open up on the 5th Mix New Version Link menu. They are: Name Entry Internet Ranking Music Records Name Entry is used for automatically putting in your name on a high score list, if you get a high score. Use the arrows to scroll and select the letters (you can use up to 4), leaving any unused slots blank. Press Circle to confirm your name. If this option is not used, you will be asked to enter your name manually if you earn a high score on the machine. If you do not have this field filled in, and you obtain a high score on a machine, the game will fill this field in when saving to your memory card so you don't need to do so any more. Thanks goes to iceman0736 on the GameFAQs boards for this tip (this clearly shows how often I play Pop4, Naoki Neo- Standard and Dancemania Oni). Internet Ranking stores the various IR codes you have obtained while playing. If you are using a memory card and get an IR score, this score might not actually appear on the arcade screen, but it will be saved. MAX displays an IR code after every set, extra stage included or not. MAX2 displays codes for Oni mode, and special song sequences. Extreme displays codes for Nonstop and Oni mode. Note that at present this section is useless because Internet Ranking is not currently open. Music Records will allow you to browse the song records you have recorded. They are ordered in the order that you obtained them in the arcade. The records screen shows what to do. 7. Playing Edits There is one other function of memory cards: playing edits. Any edit for a song on the arcade machine that you are playing on can be used. There are two limitations on this: The edit must be from a Japanese version, or be hacked to make it look like one MAX does not read freeze arrows in edits, and therefore, playing edits with freezes on MAX will result in play as if you'd turned the freeze arrows off. Edits can be stored on your memory card, or in the machine itself. If a song has one or more edits for the current mode you are in on your memory card, a memory card icon will appear to the left of the song name. Tapping the right dance arrow twice will switch to Edit Mode, in which you can select edits. Memory card stored edits are prefixed with PSX: and arcade stored edits are prefixed with ARC:. If the machine has one or more edits for the current song on the current mode, it will display a special indicator. On MAX and MAX2, the pad icons to the left of the song banner will light up. The number of lit icons will indicate how many edits are stored. Extreme has two battery icons next to the stage display. Again, the number of lit batteries signals how many edits are present. Edits can only be stored on the machine by the machine service menu (you need the keys to the cabinet to be able to get to this mode). Note that you DO NOT need Arcade Link Data on the memory card to be able to use it to play edits. You could fill up a card with 15 edits and be able to play them all, if you like (I know someone who's done this, so I know it's possible). 7. Conclusion I would like to thank the following: Konami for making DDR GameFAQs for hosting this guide. iceman0736 for emailing me a tip about the Name Entry section. Useful for those who use a DexDrive to get their link data. If you'd like to email me on this FAQ, please include FAQ in the subject. Emails not following this rule will be deleted. The only exception is if you're asking to host this guide. If you do wish to host this guide, feel free to email me. Sometimes I may take awhile in replying to the emails, but I will get to them eventually.