Capcom released a number of Dreamcast games that used what they called their "Matching Service". Most (all?) of these were japanese releases I believe. Now, I heard a while back that this matching service this just uses your modem to dial up someone else's phone number, like the old Doom-over-the-modem days. If this is the case, can these be properly played in North America without worring about the game calling long distance to Japan? I'd love to play Vampire Chronicle against my brother, but I'm not about to risk a huge phone bill.
By the way, anyone have a list of these Matching Service games? I know Vampire Chronicle and Super Puzzle Fighter II both use it, are there any others?
--Zero
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Dreamcast "Matching Service" Games
Started by Ze_ro, Jul 2 2003 10:24 AM
8 replies to this topic
#2 OFFLINE
liquid_sky
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Posted Wed Jul 2, 2003 11:49 AM
the problem would be, im not sure if the servers are online anymore..
#3 OFFLINE
ubersaurus
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Posted Wed Jul 2, 2003 12:21 PM
As far as I know, the games do not work in america online, and the servers probabyl got taken down anyhow by now.
Anyhow, off the top of my head, online fighters included Marvel vs Capcom 2, Capcom vs SNK 1 & 2, Super Street Fighter 2 X...there's probably more, but I can't think of em.
Anyhow, off the top of my head, online fighters included Marvel vs Capcom 2, Capcom vs SNK 1 & 2, Super Street Fighter 2 X...there's probably more, but I can't think of em.
#4 OFFLINE
Ze_ro
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Posted Wed Jul 2, 2003 2:16 PM
Oh, it actually did need internet access? I thought the idea was just to put in your friend's phone number and it would call them directly.
--Zero
--Zero
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ubersaurus
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Posted Wed Jul 2, 2003 2:44 PM
I'm not sure how it works. All I know is my friend had a japanese DC and the games, and he couldn't get it to work.
#6 OFFLINE
Xot
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Posted Wed Jul 2, 2003 4:15 PM
Ze_ro said:
By the way, anyone have a list of these Matching Service games? I know Vampire Chronicle and Super Puzzle Fighter II both use it, are there any others?
There's a version of Puzzle Fighter for the DC??? Is it significantly different from the PSX/Saturn versions?
#7 OFFLINE
Ze_ro
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Posted Wed Jul 2, 2003 8:23 PM
I've never played the PSX version of Puzzle Fighter, but the DC version seems arcade perfect to me. There's a crapload of extra stuff in it though, such as a gallery and counter gem edit mode. There's a ton of options too, but they're all in japanese, so I'm not sure what they all mean (I still don't understand why some menu's are english while others are japanese... you'd think they'd at least be consistent)
--Zero
--Zero
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Xot
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Posted Wed Jul 2, 2003 8:35 PM
Ze_ro said:
I've never played the PSX version of Puzzle Fighter, but the DC version seems arcade perfect to me. There's a crapload of extra stuff in it though, such as a gallery and counter gem edit mode. There's a ton of options too, but they're all in japanese, so I'm not sure what they all mean (I still don't understand why some menu's are english while others are japanese... you'd think they'd at least be consistent)
--Zero
--Zero
The PSX/Saturn mode doesn't have the Counter Gem Edit mode, and I've never played the arcade version. Does it have the "Street Puzzle" mode, where you unlock custom icons and special outfits and the like?
I must get this game and a means to play import DC games now.
#9 OFFLINE
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Posted Thu Jul 3, 2003 7:05 PM
Oh, I almost forgot to mention that the DC version actually has three completely different variations of Puzzle Fighter... It calls them X, Y, and Z...
X is just like the arcade version.
Y is a bit like Columns. Three (or more) gems in a row will shatter (no crash gem needed). Number blocks fall when gems shatter, and can be used to get some nice combos.
Z is completely different. It's vaguely like Pokemon Puzzle Leage for the Gameboy. Pieces gradually climb upwards from the bottom, and you get a cursor that can be used to rotate any group of four gems (in a square shape). Crash gems appear randomly as well. The idea is to move the gems around to cause them to shatter via the same rules as used in the arcade game. Shattered gems cause number blocks to appear on the opponents screen (they climb upwards alongside the normal gems).
All three modes are completely different games, although you still play in a "vs" format, the game still ends when the blocks reach the top of someone's screen, you still get the same characters and moves, and your counter gem pattern still applies (although certain patterns may prove more/less useful in different modes). Unfortunately, all three modes share the same high score list (despite the fact that the scoring is different in each mode. Go figure.)
It turns out that the options allow quite a bit of alteration to the game. For example, you can remove the diamond gems from the game if you want, add lag to games (to simulate online play), and various other effects. These options are all in japanese, but you can find some useful translations on GameFAQs if you want. There is an option within the menus to play the American, European, etc versions of the game, but this doesn't translate the menu... only the in-game text (as well as changing some character names, Gouki->Akuma and so on). As I said before, there's also a Gallery mode, there's a menu option that will show you all the intermission animations, there's a counter gem edit mode (Save two custom patterns onto your VMU, one for player 1 and one for player 2... hold Start while picking your character to use them), and there's a training mode where your opponent will just sit there while you play.
The secret characters are handled differently in this version than in any other version. Dan, Akuma, and Devilot can be found just by presing down while your cursor is on the bottom row of characters. Anita (Donovan's sister/daughter/whatever), Lin-Lin (Hsien-Ko/Lei-Lei's sister), and Morrigan in her bat form are also selectable (Hold L and R while selecting Donovan, Hsien-Ko and Morrigan respectively). Also, you can play as an "alternate version" of any of the other characters by holding L and R while selecting them. As far as I can tell, the only difference is that the character will do different moves when you sent them number gems (Akuma can use a double air fireball for example, and Ryu can do a hurricane kick). Obviously, this doesn't really change the game much, but it's interesting at least. Each character has four outfits to choose from (no unlocking necessary). Finally, there's a fourth difficulty setting that's even harder than Hard mode.
I don't know how much of that is in the other versions, but that's what I've seen in the Dreamcast version. I'm not aware of any "Street Puzzle" mode... unless it was replaced by the Y or Z versions. As far as I know, there is nothing available to unlock in this game except for (I think) some extra background music. I've also heard that Dan will never challenge you in the DC version, but that Akuma and Devilot will still pop up. I'm not very good at the game though, and I've never been challenged by any of them.
--Zero
X is just like the arcade version.
Y is a bit like Columns. Three (or more) gems in a row will shatter (no crash gem needed). Number blocks fall when gems shatter, and can be used to get some nice combos.
Z is completely different. It's vaguely like Pokemon Puzzle Leage for the Gameboy. Pieces gradually climb upwards from the bottom, and you get a cursor that can be used to rotate any group of four gems (in a square shape). Crash gems appear randomly as well. The idea is to move the gems around to cause them to shatter via the same rules as used in the arcade game. Shattered gems cause number blocks to appear on the opponents screen (they climb upwards alongside the normal gems).
All three modes are completely different games, although you still play in a "vs" format, the game still ends when the blocks reach the top of someone's screen, you still get the same characters and moves, and your counter gem pattern still applies (although certain patterns may prove more/less useful in different modes). Unfortunately, all three modes share the same high score list (despite the fact that the scoring is different in each mode. Go figure.)
It turns out that the options allow quite a bit of alteration to the game. For example, you can remove the diamond gems from the game if you want, add lag to games (to simulate online play), and various other effects. These options are all in japanese, but you can find some useful translations on GameFAQs if you want. There is an option within the menus to play the American, European, etc versions of the game, but this doesn't translate the menu... only the in-game text (as well as changing some character names, Gouki->Akuma and so on). As I said before, there's also a Gallery mode, there's a menu option that will show you all the intermission animations, there's a counter gem edit mode (Save two custom patterns onto your VMU, one for player 1 and one for player 2... hold Start while picking your character to use them), and there's a training mode where your opponent will just sit there while you play.
The secret characters are handled differently in this version than in any other version. Dan, Akuma, and Devilot can be found just by presing down while your cursor is on the bottom row of characters. Anita (Donovan's sister/daughter/whatever), Lin-Lin (Hsien-Ko/Lei-Lei's sister), and Morrigan in her bat form are also selectable (Hold L and R while selecting Donovan, Hsien-Ko and Morrigan respectively). Also, you can play as an "alternate version" of any of the other characters by holding L and R while selecting them. As far as I can tell, the only difference is that the character will do different moves when you sent them number gems (Akuma can use a double air fireball for example, and Ryu can do a hurricane kick). Obviously, this doesn't really change the game much, but it's interesting at least. Each character has four outfits to choose from (no unlocking necessary). Finally, there's a fourth difficulty setting that's even harder than Hard mode.
I don't know how much of that is in the other versions, but that's what I've seen in the Dreamcast version. I'm not aware of any "Street Puzzle" mode... unless it was replaced by the Y or Z versions. As far as I know, there is nothing available to unlock in this game except for (I think) some extra background music. I've also heard that Dan will never challenge you in the DC version, but that Akuma and Devilot will still pop up. I'm not very good at the game though, and I've never been challenged by any of them.
--Zero
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