User:PolarManne/Hardware research

preliminary hardware info

DJ-MAIN

• Based on KONAMI GX
• CPU: Motorola 68EC020 @ 25 MHz
• GPU: KONAMI custom, 512x384
• SPU: KONAMI custom
• Storage: EEPROM (program data), HDD (sound)
• Games used:
  • beatmania → beatmania THE FINAL
  • pop'n music → pop'n music 3
  • pop'n stage → pop'n stage ex

The first system used for the BEMANI series, the DJ-MAIN board is a modified version of the KONAMI GX board introduced in 1994, with the main addition being the inclusion of an IDE hard drive used for storing audio data. Data apart from the audio is stored on EEPROM chips, making it the only system used for BEMANI games to use non-removable storage. As such, version upgrades involved removing the entire board from the arcade cabinet and replacing it with a new one, the old board could then be sent back to KONAMI to be recycled in exchange for a rebate.

SYSTEM 573

• Based on Sony PlayStation
• CPU: MIPS R3000A @ 33.87 MHz
• GPU: Sony custom, 320x240p or 640x480i
• SPU: Sony custom
• Storage: CD-ROM, flash ROM, PCMCIA flash card

The SYSTEM 573 is the most-used hardware for the BEMANI series, with a total of 49 games released during its 6-year lifespan (counting GUITARFREAKS and drummania separately as well as updated releases)

Analog

• Games used:
  • DanceDanceRevolution → DanceDanceRevolution 2ndMIX
  • Dancing Stage featuring TRUE KiSS DESTiNATiON
  • Dancing Stage featuring DREAMS COME TRUE (JAA version)
  • GUITARFREAKS → GUITARFREAKS 2ndMIX
  • drummania

Digital

• Games used:
  • DanceDanceRevolution 3rdMIX → DanceDanceRevolution EXTREME
  • DanceDanceRevolution Solo BASS MIX → DanceDanceRevolution Solo 2000
  • Dancing Stage featuring DREAMS COME TRUE (JCA version)
  • DanceDanceRevolution USA
  • Dancing Stage EuroMIX → Dancing Stage EuroMIX2
  • Dancing Stage featuring Disney's RAVE
  • GUITARFREAKS 3rdMIX & drummania 2ndMIX → GUITARFREAKS 11thMIX & drummania 10thMIX
  • Dance Maniax → Dance Maniax 2ndMIX append JPARADISE
  • MAMBO A GO GO

Karaoke

• Games used:
  • DanceDanceRevolution Karaoke MIX → DanceDanceRevolution Karaoke MIX 2nd

TWINKLE

• Based on Sony PlayStation
• CPU: MIPS R3000A @ 33.87 MHz
• GPU: Sony custom, 640x240
• SPU: Sony custom, Ricoh RF5C400
• Video: Victor XV-D701
• Storage: CD-ROM (program data), HDD (audio data), Video CD (videos 1st-5th), DVD-Video (videos 6th-8th)
• Games used:
  • beatmania IIDX → beatmania IIDX 8th style

Like the SYSTEM 573, the TWINKLE used hardware based on the PlayStation, though with significant differences between the two. Probably the biggest one is the TWINKLE's three storage media for storing games. Program data and graphics are stored on a CD-ROM, much like the SYSTEM 573 (although data is read directly from the CD rather than being installed to EEPROM chips), with audio data stored on the hard drive similarly to the DJ-MAIN. Videos are played using a unique solution however; instead of using the PlayStation's built-in FMV decoder (as used by the SYSTEM 573), they are instead played on a separate DVD player that feeds the video signal into the TWINKLE, which then mixes it with the game's visuals to allow for both high-quality videos and graphics at the same time. The DVD player is notoriously unreliable however, which leads to videos freezing and skipping during gameplay or failing to read the disc entirely and showing the Victor logo in its place.

The TWINKLE could also be connected to the SYSTEM 573 over its other serial port, which was used solely for linking feature of DanceDanceRevolution 2ndMIX with beatmania IIDX CLUB VERSiON and its update.

FIREBEAT

• CPU: IBM PowerPC 403 @ 66 MHz
• GPU: KONAMI custom, 640x480
• SPU: Yamaha YMZ280B, Yamaha XT446 (KEYBOARDMANIA only)
• Storage:
  • beatmania III: CD-ROM (program data), HDD (audio)
  • KEYBOARDMANIA: CD-ROM (program data, MIDI audio), CD-DA (PCM audio)
  • pop'n music: CD-ROM (program data), DVD-ROM (audio)
  • ParaParaParadise: CD-ROM (program data), CD-DA (audio)
• Games used:
  • beatmania III → beatmania III THE FINAL
  • pop'n music 4 → pop'n music 8
  • pop'n music アニメロ → pop'n music アニメロ2号
  • pop'n music MICKEY TUNES
  • KEYBOARDMANIA → KEYBOARDMANIA 3rdMIX
  • ParaParaParadise → ParaParaParadise 1st MIX Plus

GSAN1

• CPU: Hitachi SH-3
• GPU: Hitachi Q2SD, 400x300
• SPU: Yamaha YMZ280B
• Storage: CompactFlash
• Games used:
  • DanceDanceRevolution KIDS

VIPER

• CPU: Motorola PowerPC 603e @ 200 MHz
• GPU: 3dfx Voodoo3
• SPU: Yamaha YMZ280B
• Storage: CompactFlash via PCMCIA adapter
• Games used:
  • ParaParaParadise 2nd MIX

PYTHON

• Sony PlayStation 2-based
• CPU: Sony Emotion Engine @ 294.91 MHz
• GPU: Sony Graphics Synthesizer, 640x480
• SPU: Sony custom
• Games used:
  • Dancing Stage Fusion
  • pop'n music 9 → pop'n music 14 FEVER!

PYTHON 2

• Based on Sony PlayStation 2
• CPU: Sony Emotion Engine @ 294.91 MHz
• GPU: Sony Graphics Synthesizer, 640x480
• SPU: Sony custom
• Games used:
  • DanceDanceRevolution SuperNOVA → DanceDanceRevolution SuperNOVA2
  • GuitarFreaks V & DrumMania V → GuitarFreaks V3 & DrumMania V3
  • Toy'sMarch → Toy'sMarch 2
  • DANCE 86.4 FUNKY RADIO STATION

The successor to the PYTHON, the PYTHON 2 is similarly based around Sony's PlayStation 2 hardware. But whereas the PYTHON uses a modified PlayStation 2 motherboard, the PYTHON 2 instead uses an unmodified retail system housed inside its case. Specifically, it is an SCPH-50000 MB/NH model with the included PlayStation BB Unit and 40GB HDD connected, along with the external P2IO board connected to the front USB port. Upon starting up, the PlayStation 2 loads the PYTHON 2 BIOS stored on the HDD, which takes over operations from there. If the HDD is disconnected, the PYTHON 2 behaves like a regular PlayStation 2 system capable of playing retail games.