User:PolarManne/Hardware research

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preliminary hardware info

DJ-MAIN

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

Digital

Karaoke

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:

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

GSAN1

VIPER

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

PYTHON

PYTHON 2

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.

PC-based