★ FAQ ★ Software creation criteria
Software creation criteria

About multi-terminal.

Q)
It is said that the minimum support on the application side for multi-terminals is to "operate without problems". What does that mean?
Even if the game is not designed to be played by 3 players (3 players) or more, strictly observe all the items described in "Software Creation Standards 3rd Party Version Ver. 2.00" Supplement 2-2, Multi-Terminal Section. Is it necessary to do it?

Specifically, is it necessary to recognize the effective terminal for all connection conditions? Isn't it not possible to simply consider terminal 1 and terminal 2 from the left end regardless of whether they are valid or invalid terminals?
Or is it all right to prevent abnormal operation and runaway due to the minimum connection?

A)
As a general rule, regardless of the number of players supported (even if it is 2 or less), you must use the multi-terminal and work without problems. Specifically, please strictly observe the three points of creation criteria-separate volume-for multi-terminals.

      (1) Page 2) Multi-terminal setting principle Double underlined part in the box (2) Page Start application Double underlined part (3) Page Insertion / removal check Double underlined part

There is no problem as long as the minimum items are strictly adhered to.

About check items on the delivery note.

Q)
Matters concerning the check sheet to be submitted at the time of master delivery

  1. VDP2 item: 3 (a) "Are you checking the FILL bit?"

  2. SMPC items: All

A)

  1. This item is unnecessary and should be deleted.

  2. If you are using the library provided by us for items 1 to 9, please set YES and indicate that you are using the library provided by SEGA.

I want to make a game that uses a music CD during the game.

Q)
Is it possible to create a game that can use the songs of a commercially available music CD for the BGM in the game?

A)
Can not do. This is a game machine security issue, so we have to go back to multiplayer, as per the creation criteria.

What should I do if I can't back up?

Q)
In <Warning message (3)> of "Criteria for creating backup software"

"If you can't use the save function at all. Even in this case, you must be able to play the game at your own discretion."

There is.
If there are games in different modes for Disk1 and Disk2, and if the save function cannot be used at all, the Disk1 game can be played, but the Disk2 game cannot confirm the startup of Disk1 and transfer data. Besides, I can't play the game.

This violates the creation criteria such as "at the user's discretion ...".

Is there any way to deal with such a case?
Is it okay to display a warning message and move to the multiplayer screen if there is not enough free backup space?

A)
Basically, follow the procedure below.

  1. Notify the user that there is not enough backup RAM.

  2. Let the user choose whether to continue or stop and clean up the backup ram.

Choice 1
If you continue as it is, play the game knowing that the contents of the second CD will not be available.

Choice 2
Return to multiplayer.
Of course, do this if you try to play Disk1.

It is not user-friendly to say that you do not let the game play because there is no backup, so it is reasonable to say that you can play the first one on the assumption that you can only play the first one.

About processing when the controller is not connected.

Q)
I would like to ask you what to do when the controller is not connected.
What should I do in the following situations?

Should I treat the backup data as non-existent if I try to start the game in this situation?
Or should it be processed ignoring the connection status?

A)
Basically, it ignores the previous backup data.
The order is

  1. The controller is not inserted on the 1P side.
    Ask the user if they can ignore the previous backup data and play.

The save data is too large to fit in the internal RAM.

Q)
Saved data does not enter the built-in backup memory. I have no choice but to use a backup cartridge as a product specification. Is this allowed?

A)
As a general rule, you have to play with the main unit alone, so please devise a way to save the data so that it can be stored in the internal RAM of the main unit.
However, as a general rule, there are some software that have save data that does not actually fit in the main RAM. If the data does not fit in the RAM of the main unit, please contact us.

I want to prevent users from reusing save data.

Q)
Instead of saving game data and resuming it at any time, I just want the save to be a pause.
For that reason, I would like to prevent the save data duplicated in the cartridge from being used, but is there a good way?

A)
This is not possible due to Satan's system.
For example, there may be a request to determine by looking at the time of the backup file, but since the date information is also copied as it is on the backup management screen, it is necessary to determine which is the destination and which is the source. There is no means.
Even if you want to save it temporarily, you can avoid it if you save it to another peripheral before using the data on the user side.

What if your application doesn't use all the buttons on ABC?

Q)
It says that the A, B, and C buttons should be used so that there are no unused buttons. Currently, the C button is unused, but do I have to use all the A, B, and C buttons?

A)
Please be sure to use it.
In that case, make the C button the same function as either the A or B button. If possible, you should be able to change the assignment as an option.

I want to divide the backup data name into two.

Q)
There are two game modes, a mode to solve the puzzle prepared in advance and a mode in which the player creates the puzzle by himself, but when recording the data, the data of the puzzle clear status is held as one record, and another record. As a specification, it has the data of the self-made puzzle one by one.
In this case, even if the data has completely different properties, such as the clear status and the self-made puzzle, is it okay to add a number to the record name of "common to 8 characters" as shown below?

SAMPLEDAT_00 (clear status data)
SAMPLEDAT_01 (self-made puzzle data 1)
SAMPLEDAT_02 (self-made puzzle data 2)

Or is it better to fundamentally change the record name between the clear status data and the self-made puzzle data?

A)
Basically, you can use the save name as above, but if you apply separately, for example, you can register the clear status and your own puzzle data as different names.

How can I transfer the 2-disc software to the 2nd disc?

Q)
In the case of software with two or more discs, how do you move to the second one?

A)
When the lid of the CD tray is opened, the process must be immediately transferred to the multiplayer boot ROM, as in the case of a multi-disc software with only one disc.
If you need to replace the disc with another disc during the game, follow the process below.

The above is the method for exchanging data between multiple disks.
If you want to be able to move back and forth from any disk unconditionally, you do not need to check the backup data.

★ FAQ ★ Software creation criteria
Copyright SEGA ENTERPRISES, LTD ,. 1997