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★ FAQ ★ Software creation standards
Software creation standards

About multi-terminal.

Q)
It is said that the minimum level of support an application has for multi-terminals is to "operate without problems," but to what extent does this mean?
Even if the game is not designed to be played by 3 or more people (3 players), please strictly adhere to all the items described in the multi-terminal section of ``Software Creation Standards 3rd Party Version Ver. 2.00'', separate volume 2-2. The question is, is it necessary?

Specifically, is it necessary to recognize valid terminals for all connection situations? Isn't it okay to simply consider terminals 1 and 2 from the left end, regardless of whether they are enabled or disabled?
Or, at the very least, is it sufficient to ensure that there are no abnormal operations or runaways caused by connections?

A)
In principle, regardless of the number of supported players (even if there are less than 2 players), it must work without problems using multi-terminals. Specifically, please strictly adhere to the three points in the Creation Standards - Separate Volume - regarding multi-terminals.

      Page (1)  2) Multi-terminal setting principles     Double underlined part in the box
      Page (2)     Start the application                 Double underlined part
      Page (3)     Check for insertion/removal           Double underlined part

There is no problem as long as the minimum requirements are strictly followed.

Regarding the check items on the delivery note.

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

  1. VDP2 item: 3(a) “Is the FILL bit checked?”

  2. SMPC items: All

A)

  1. This item is unnecessary, so please delete it.

  2. For items 1 to 9 of this item, if you are using a library provided by our company, please enter YES to indicate that you are using a library provided by SEGA.

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

Q)
Is it possible to create a game that uses songs from commercially available music CDs as BGM during the game?

A)
Can not do. This is a security issue for gaming machines, so we must return to multiplayer as per the creation criteria.

What to do if backup is not possible?

Q)
"Standards for creating backup compatible software"< Warning message(3)> to

"If the save function cannot be used at all. Even in this case, the user must be able to play the game at his own discretion."

It says.
If Disk1 and Disk2 contain games with different modes, or if the save function cannot be used at all, the game on Disk1 can be played, but the game on Disk2 cannot confirm the startup of Disk1 or transfer data. , the game cannot be played.

This would violate the creation standard of "user's discretion...".

Is there any way to deal with this situation?
Is it okay to display a warning message and move to the multiplayer screen if there is insufficient backup space?

A)
Basically, follow the steps below.

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

  2. Let the user choose whether to continue or cancel and clean up the backup RAM.

Choice 1
If you continue, play the game with the knowledge that you will not be able to use the contents of the second CD.

Choice 2
Return to multiplayer.
Of course, do this only if you are trying to play Disk1.

It's not user-friendly to say that you can't play the game because you don't have a backup, so assuming that you can only play the first game, it would be reasonable to say that you can play the first game.

Regarding processing when the controller is not connected.

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

If I try to start the game in this situation, should I treat it as if the backup data does not exist?
Or should I just ignore the connection state?

A)
Basically, previous backup data is ignored.
In order,

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

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

Q)
Save data cannot be saved to internal backup memory. I have no choice but to make a product specification that requires the use of a backup cartridge, but is this allowed?

A)
As a general rule, you need to be able to play only with the main unit, so please devise a way to save data so that it can be stored in the internal RAM of the main unit.
However, this is just a general rule, and there are some software that actually have save data that does not fit in the main unit's RAM. If the data cannot fit into the main unit's RAM, please contact us.

I want to prevent users from reusing save data.

Q)
Rather than being able to save game data and resume from there at any time, I want saving to be just a temporary interruption.
I would like to prevent the saved data copied to the cartridge from being used for this purpose, but is there a better way?

A)
Saturn's system makes this impossible.
For example, there may be a desire to distinguish between backup files by looking at their time, but the backup management screen also copies the date information as is, so it would be difficult to determine which is the destination and which is the source. There is no means.
Even if you want to save the data temporarily, it can be avoided if the user saves the data to another peripheral before using it.

What if the application does not use all the ABC buttons?

Q)
It says that there should be no unused A, B, and C buttons.Currently, the C button is not used, but do I have to use all of the A, B, and C buttons?

A)
Please be sure to use it .
In this case, set the C button to have the same function as either the A or B button. If possible, it would be better to be able to change the assignment as an option.

I want to separate the backup data name into two.

Q)
There are two game modes: a mode in which players solve pre-prepared puzzles and a mode in which players create their own puzzles. It is designed to have data for each self-made puzzle separately.
In this case, even if the data is of completely different nature, such as the completion status and the self-made puzzle, is it okay to add a number to the record name with "8 characters in common" as shown below?

SAMPLEDAT_00 (clear status data)
SAMPLEDAT_01 (Homemade puzzle data 1)
SAMPLEDAT_02 (Homemade puzzle data 2)

Or should I fundamentally change the record names for clear status data and homemade puzzle data?

A)
Basically, you can use the save name as above, but by applying separately, you can, for example, register the clearing status and self-made puzzle data as different names.

How do I move to the second disc of a 2-disc software set?

Q)
If the software has two or more discs, how do you move on to the second disc?

A)
Even if the software is a multi-disc set, just like when there is only one disc, if the CD tray lid is opened, processing must immediately be transferred to the boot ROM's multiplayer.
If you ever need to switch to another disc during a game, please follow the process below.

The above is a method for exchanging data between multiple disks.
If you want unconditional access to and from any disk, there is no need to check your backup data.

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