Please advice me on a device that performs the following...

Hey all, this is my first thread. Sorry if I post this question in an actual thread, but as it was buried in a GT3 post that deals with a subject completely different (getting better with the game), I thought I would get a better chance of receiving more opinions/advices if I actually started a thread for this subject. I am sure other people would benefit from this too, so please don't arm your flamethrowers yet... ...putting on flamesuit just in case... ...

I have been looking into getting a Sharkport/Max Drive/[insert name of random device here] to do a few things, but I don't want to buy one of each to do different things, so if you all can suggest me which one to get that performs ALL of the following, I would gladly appreciate it:

1) Makes a backup of your memory card so that you can save it/modify it on your PC with dedicated software (found/downloaded on the internet, possibly free)

2) Allows you to import a different save game to your PS2

3) Allows you to make hybrids in GT3 (and possibly in GT4, if such feature is supported by the game)

4) Allows you to save the pictures you take in "Photomode", so you can use them as wallpapers for your PC (possibly high quality ones, and not compressed/artifacted)

5) Works on an original/unmodded PS2, particularly on an old one (mine is version: SCPH-30001)

6) Is still in producton/can still be bought (don't mind if it is either new or used) without TOO much hunting for it on the Internet or a local store.

So, is there a device (does it even exist? lol!) that does all that? I know I am asking a little bit too much, but I figured some of you guys might know what works for what.

Thank you.
The Wizard.

Action Replay MAX-EVO EDITION

The EVO edition is the latest one with the good software and Maxdrive(usb pendrive)
Love mine!!

GameShark Broadband Enabled is a good one two.

MAXDrive will do pretty much all of it, with the possible exception of saving Photomode pics.. we've heard one report of a no-go on that from an owner of the Japanese version, but I'm still holding out hope.

Jedi2016

MAXDrive will do pretty much all of it, with the possible exception of saving Photomode pics.. we've heard one report of a no-go on that from an owner of the Japanese version, but I'm still holding out hope.

Click to expand...

I use AR MAX but not with MAX Drive, I use a Sony Micro Vault 128MB USB 1.1 flash memory with it (my other USB 2.0 models failed to work with AR MAX), and it works with GT4 Photo mode.

From what I've read, it is not easy to find a compatible one to AR MAX if you don't use the MaxDrive.

If the Action Replay MAX doesn't work, you could consider getting Codbreaker 9.0.

It is pricipally a Cheating device, but also has support for flash drives. Since GT4 is compatible with some flash devices, and Codebreaker is compatible with some devices, you could attempt to get a flash drive that works with BOTH GT4 and Codebreaker.

Total cost would be around $40, 20 for Codebreaker and 20 for compatible flash drive.



EDIT: If you got that setup to work with GT4's photos, then it would do all of the functions you want (transferring game saves, using transferred game save to make hybrid, backup saves). And you could use it as a cheat device, if you wanted to.

Jedi2016

MAXDrive will do pretty much all of it, with the possible exception of saving Photomode pics.. we've heard one report of a no-go on that from an owner of the Japanese version, but I'm still holding out hope.

Click to expand...

Sadly, you just told me what I didn't want to hear... I knew already, from looking at the thread that discuss which devices work with "Photomode", that the MAX Drive does not support it. I thought I would ask anyway, hoping that there was another device out there that I didn't know about that could do all the things I need it to do.

But:

maskrider

I use AR MAX but not with MAX Drive, I use a Sony Micro Vault 128MB USB 1.1 flash memory with it (my other USB 2.0 models failed to work with AR MAX), and it works with GT4 Photo mode.

Click to expand...

Good news! So not all hope is lost, I might still be able to do everything buying the MAX Drive plus some other flash drive... now if only we could make a list of the ones known to be compatible (other than the Sony Micro Vault 128MB USB 1.1 that you just mentioned, of course). Anyway, I will have time to get the extra flash drive, as I don't have GT4 yet (and I won't have it until the Apocalypse Day, when it will finally be released here in the States... ). So, for now I am just concerned on transferring saves from my memory card to my PC and vice versa, getting the LAMBORGHINI in GT3, saving some of my replays to partecipate in the WRS and other online events, getting some other (good) drivers' replays into my GT3 so I can learn to drive better (using the ghost feature), and play with some hybrids.

So, off I go to buy the MAX Drive, I hope it will work with my outdated old PS2...

Thank you all.
The Wizard.

Like I said, I'm still holding out hope for the MAXDrive. Perhaps it's simply made for American-model PS2's, or perhaps the modchip is interfering somehow. And we know that having multiple USB peripherals hooked up together can cause problems, so maybe the DFP is getting in the way. Or perhaps the MAXDrive in question wasn't formatted properly, and had some sort of Datel-mumbo-jumbo setup that the game didn't recognize (after all, my computer sees it in exactly the same way it would see any other thumb drive.. as just another removable disc drive). Who knows? I'm not going to take anybody's word for it until I test it myself.. I'd be really pissed if I went out and bought a new thumb drive, only to later find out the one I already had works after all.

Worst case, send me a PM a day or two after the American release, I'll have a definite answer for you then, or I'll post it in a thread here somewhere.

Jedi2016

Like I said, I'm still holding out hope for the MAXDrive. Perhaps it's simply made for American-model PS2's, or perhaps the modchip is interfering somehow.

Click to expand...

I hope it works just like you said. No worries though, as I am not going to buy another flash drive right until GT4 will be in my PS2 ready to run (and only if the MAX Drive will not work, that is... hopefully by then, you or somebody will have a definitive answer or some way to fix the problem --> such as a proper way of formatting the device).

The Wizard.