5k Beatmania-PSX or PS2?

[original z]

Ok, so I picked up a 5k ASC-style controller on the cheap and figured that I might as well get some use out of it. However, as I don't have a JPN system and my PS2 won't play PSX games, I need to buy a system.

I know that a few mixes require an append disc, does this feature work flawlessly on a PS2? I guess it would be more conveinent to get one of those since I wouldn't have to deal with swap discs on my USA system. Although, PSX systems are pretty cheap so it wouldn't be a big deal if the appending was flawed on PS2.

Also, for the append discs, can I use any mix that has the key, or do I need certain newer mixes for the newer append mixes? Also, is there a list that shows all the games, and whether they are append or not?

[my58vw]

I have no idea what red said above

Any beatmania that is a key disc can boot any append, meaning gottamix 2 and club mix (the last two appends in the beatmania series), can be loaded by beatmania, the first key disc. Likewise, the last master discs (6th mix + core remix) can launch any early append.

The only 2 disc beatmania game was "beatmania", which comes with beatmania 2nd mix and Yasriu mix (however it is spelled). Yasriu was an append, beatmania 2nd was a key disc.

As for what will work for beatmania, a japan ps2 or psx work equally well for appends - I have both and they work well. I also have a chipped psx and it loads psx appends fine (with master disc and codes). I would recommend a real japan psx or ps2 if you want to run these games. BTW 5-key beatmanias are some of the best in the entire beatmania series, if you can deal with the later 90's graphics...

[original z]

Well, a JPN PS2 would give me the benefit of being able to use my Japanese PS2 games, as of now I have to go through swap magic on my USA system and it's kind of annoying. Appending would be the only issue really, if the PS2 doesn't append then I'll grab a PSX.

I'm not quite sure I understand what you mean by the append discs being doubled in the case. I saw Beatmania original and it was in a double-case, so the second disc is the key disc? Can I use this disc for every single append disc? There are other mixes with key discs too, and mixes which are standalone, right?

I plan to buy every mix possible (they're only around 500yen each), so it's really not too much of an issue, but it'd be useful info to know beforehand.

Originally Posted by my58vw

I have no idea what red said above

Any beatmania that is a key disc can boot any append, meaning gottamix 2 and club mix (the last two appends in the beatmania series), can be loaded by beatmania, the first key disc. Likewise, the last master discs (6th mix + core remix) can launch any early append.

The only 2 disc beatmania game was "beatmania", which comes with beatmania 2nd mix and Yasriu mix (however it is spelled). Yasriu was an append, beatmania 2nd was a key disc.

As for what will work for beatmania, a japan ps2 or psx work equally well for appends - I have both and they work well. I also have a chipped psx and it loads psx appends fine (with master disc and codes). I would recommend a real japan psx or ps2 if you want to run these games. BTW 5-key beatmanias are some of the best in the entire beatmania series, if you can deal with the later 90's graphics...

Ah...this makes more sense. So, Beatmania original is really Beatmania 2nd? Does it have the first games songs?

Great to know that PS2s work for append. Both slims and fatties, right? I'd probably get a slim.

[Trip Machina]

Originally Posted by original z

Well, a JPN PS2 would give me the benefit of being able to use my Japanese PS2 games, as of now I have to go through swap magic on my USA system and it's kind of annoying. Appending would be the only issue really, if the PS2 doesn't append then I'll grab a PSX.

Yeah, I highly recommend playing these games in a Japanese system.

Originally Posted by original z

I'm not quite sure I understand what you mean by the append discs being doubled in the case. I saw Beatmania original and it was in a double-case, so the second disc is the key disc? Can I use this disc for every single append disc? There are other mixes with key discs too, and mixes which are standalone, right?

As my58vw said, the only beatmania CS release with 2 discs is the first CS release--beatmania 2ndMIX. The first disc is beatmania 2ndMIX, which has all 1stMIX and 2ndMIX songs on it; the second disc is beatmania YEBISU MIX, which has CS exclusive songs on it. beatmania 2ndMIX is the key disc, which is needed to play YEBISU MIX and/or ANY other append discs in the series. Inside the instruction manuals of the games, there is usually a picture description of what discs activate appends/append features. Also, on the PS1 disc itself, it should say "Key Disc" if the disc's a key disc.

Originally Posted by original z

I plan to buy every mix possible (they're only around 500yen each), so it's really not too much of an issue, but it'd be useful info to know beforehand.

By all means, get them!

Originally Posted by original z

Great to know that PS2s work for append. Both slims and fatties, right? I'd probably get a slim.

Both work, as I had both running the games. The only weird thing about the old beatmania games (specifically 2ndMIX~GottaMIX) is the saving to the memory card....I have never truly figured out how data is saved to the fullest. Normally, playing songs in the Arcade Mode makes them appear in Free Mode, and saving to the memory card could be done.......but the next time you load your game, you will never know what to expect in Free Mode---maybe there would be 1 song available, maybe 3, maybe 5, maybe all of them; it just keeps changing with each time you load the game. It's nothing serious, as 2ndMIX~GottaMIX don't have as many songs as most of the later games. I believe that 2ndMIX, 3rdMIX, YEBISU MIX, and GottaMIX share all together as a single file in your memory card. 4thMIX and up solves this, as they have their own separate files.



I'm old skool and I love the old beatmania, infact, I still play them quite a bit. I have all of the games except for beatmania: The Sounds of Tokyo.