seeking Shenmue II owners (anywhere) for testing help

[Heliophobe_]

I'm about to release a one-shot utility for the Dreamcast that will convert Shenmue US version saves to UK format so you can continue your game in the UK version of Shenmue II. (it will also be possible to convert back to US). The existing methods of patching for people without a serial cable are a bit complex and requires net access and having access to a server configured to offer up VMS files in a particular way - this will be a much simple solution.

I'd like to find some beta testers. What I'm looking for are people who:

-Have a completed Shenmue I US save (if you have net access, you can download one from http://www.gamefaqs.com)
-Have an copy of Shenmue II (European version).
-Have an empty VMU/Memory card (or VMU/memcard with expendable save files) for testing. I am particularly interested in results with non-SEGA memcards, or memory cards insert into controllers other than the standard dreamcast control pad - but all testing is appreciated.

This will also serve as the first public test of my VMU i/o routines.

I might see if I can add the ability to act as a boot disc for Shenmue II, but I'm not quite sure how to go about doing that (I think I need to read and execute the actual boot sector for the disc).

email at the usual address (smeg@kenseiden.com) if you are interested. Newsposters, don't post this on the frontpage please, I'd rather not have too many people expecting a release of this, in case there turns out to be something wrong.

[AbsoluteXero]

i thought it already let you use US saves

[Heliophobe_]

Nope, it doesn't recognize it as a save. You have to patch it (just a simple matter of changing four bytes).

[discostu55555]

hey helio, i emailed you already, but my email is a 50/50 shot, so ill sum it up in here, i have a completed shenmue 1 save, euro copy of shenmue 2 and an empty vmu as well as a 4X memory card, so im willing to test...

[Heliophobe_]

Thank you sir, got your email. I'll let you know when it's ready : should I email back to the same address or PM you here?

[discostu55555]

i check the boards more often, and like i said my email isnt exactly reliable (its ign run...dont ask me why i signed up with them), so a pm would be best...

[StraitJack]

im in UK, but have a US save and a original copy of II

if you want another tester i dont mind...

[Heliophobe_]

Sure thing, straitjack. And it occured to me anyone with net access can download a Shenmue I save from gamefaqs.com, so an updated subject line and a:

[Dreamcast Is Still Alive]

You can also download a Shenmue 2 one...

[Heliophobe_]

ER, yeah, but that's not what the test is for.

[Dreamcast Is Still Alive]

Thats nice...