Build an Action Replay Max (Evo) Cheat Device...right now!

New Thread Title:
[GUIDE] Build an Action Replay Max (Evo) Cheat Device for CD/DVD original games (not! CD or DVD backups)

This tutorial only works on these game types:
original DVD
original CD

It will [bold]not[/bold] work on:
[bold]backed up CD[/bold]
[bold]DVD backup[/bold]

It will work if you have:
Modchip
Swap Magic v3+

If you need to use the AR Max Evo with your [bold]CD or DVD backup[/bold], see 3dluis excellent guide: http://forums.afterdawn.com/thread_view.cfm/267381

(It's easier to build the CD version, so I made this guide for the ones listed above. Respect to 3dluis for his clear & easy guide on the DVD version. You'll need ISO Buster & Apache2/IML2ISO for that version)

Make a perfectly working UPDATED AR Max Evo disc with this tutorial. This builds you a CD version in just a few easy steps. This lets you update your cheats to the newest version, as the URL is hardcoded into the AR Max Evo disc. (It won't be taken offline unless they update the version they sell in stores)

First you need the AR Max Evo file. Get it at this link:

http://www.megaupload.com/?d=W6SK6B8V

Alternative link:
http://rapidshare.de/files/28602791/Action-Replay_Max-Evo_NTSC-US.rar.html

You may also find an .ISO or .NRG file at various torrent sites, for use with your legally purchased AR Max Evo disc. Do not open the .NRG or .ISO file. Mount it with Daemon Tools or Alcohol 120%.

===== Doing it ====
To create an UPDATED AR Max Evo disc (Code lists are updated daily), follow these 12 simple steps:

1: Put your AR Max Disc in your DVD-Rom/CD drive and/or mount your AR Max Image using Daemon Tools/Alcohol 120%

2: Go to "My Computer" and double click on the drive that has your AR Max disc/image, so it will show you its contents. These should look somewhat like this:


3: Press ctrl + A (select all) and then ctrl + C (Copy) and then make a new folder in your C OR D DRIVE. Name it something that makes sense.

4: Press ctrl + V (Paste). Now it should copy and paste all the contents of the AR Max disc to that new folder. Doesn't matter in which order the files are copied or burned.

5: Download either of the latest codelist from the link below:

Latest US Codelist:
http://www.datelversions.com/ar_max_update/codelist_us.bin

Latest Europe (EU) Codelist:
http://www.codejunkies.com/v3test/codelist_eu.bin

6: Rename "codelist_us.bin" TO "US_CODELIST.BIN". (Rename "codelist_eu.bin" to "EU_CODELIST.BIN" if you're making a PAL Updated AR Max Evo Disc, which should be done seperately.) [bold]DO NOT UPDATE BOTH OF THE CODELISTS.[/bold] Just update the US codelist if you wanna make an updated disc that has NTSC games. If you want an updated disc with PAL games, then leave the original US codelist INTACT and overwrite the EU codelist. This is because if you update both the codelists & boot the disc, the codelists won't work.

6: Browse to new folder & then go to RES => CODELIST and overwrite the old codelist with the NEW ONE.

7: Open up Nero Express. Select "Data Disc". Then click "Add" & browse to that newly created folder and press ctrl + A (select all) and click "Add" and then click "Finished".



8: Click Next and THEN CLICK THE NERO BUTTON (as shown in image) which will switch to Nero Burning Rom.



9: After switching to Nero Burning ROM, a popup window will open up named "Burn Compilation". Click the ISO tab



10: In the ISO tab, change the "Format" to "Mode 2 / XA" DO NOT CHANGE ANY OTHER SETTINGS. At all!



11: Now click the Burn tab again, and make sure "Write" and "Finalize CD" are selected and set the "Write Speed" to the MAXIMUM LOWEST POSSIBLE ON YOUR PC. On some PCs that is 2x, on others it might be 10X. Slower burn on good media = longer lasting image, with no errors.

12: Put a BLANK CD into your burner & click "Burn".

That was quick and easy.
After the CD has been made, check it out on your modded PS2 or use Swap Magic v3+. It should work just fine with the latest codelists of your favorite games.

===Swap Magic users only===
When doing the swap, here's what you do:

Turn on PS2 --> Swap Magic CD --> AR Max Evo --> CD or DVD original

After selecting your codes for the game, you'll come to this screen:


Make sure you open your fliptop/remove your Magic Key "C" so the system detects you're about to replace the disc. If your AR Max Evo disc doesn't stop spinning, you've done something wrong. This is Magic Key "C":



webpage: http://www.console.com/product_ps2_pstwofix.php

Once your disc has stopped spinning, insert your ORIGINAL DVD or CD game. (remember, this won't work on backups at all!)

Close your fliptop, reinsert Magic Key "C". Disc will start to spin.

Press the X button to load your codes & the screen will change in a few seconds.

That's it.

===== End of Guide ======



additional notes:
If you do not have Nero and want to use any other burning program like Alcohol 120%, CloneCD, CDRwin, etc, etc, just make sure you're burning the disc using the following settings.

Disc type: CDROM-XA
Track mode: MODE2 FORM1
FINALIZE/CLOSE SESSION

You can change that bad startup music of AR Max to your fav song. Browse to that newly created folder on your C or D drive and go to RES => AUDIO and delete that "INTRO.mp3" file and replace it with any mp3 file that you like. Don't forget to rename that new mp3 to "INTRO.MP3"

Reburn this baby every few weeks or months with the newest codelist. Their is also a cr*cked Codebreaker but I'll leave that guide for later. The AR Max Evo is the better cheat device IMHO.


fyi:
If you find a recently made AR Max Evo on the Internet, look at the codelist date (you must download the file first). You must open the file, then go to RES ==> CODELIST & that will tell you the date it was added.

additional bull$**t:
Why won't this work with CD or DVD backups? It will, but only with a modchip. With SwapMagic v3.6+ it won't. Because you'll need to do this: Swap Magic CD --> AR Max Evo --> Swap Magic CD or DVD --> CD or DVD game

When the AR Max Evo looks for the bootcode, it won't find it. Swap Magic bootcode does not carry over in memory. I'm not a friggin rocket scientist, go ask ps2-scene dot org how to get it working.

 

If you plan on booting this without a modchip, remember this simple process:
Turn on PS2. Swap Magic > Action Replay > Game
if for some reason that doesn't work (it should) then try this:
Turn on PS2. Swap Magic > Action Replay > [bold]Swap Magic {again}[/bold] > Game

If you have a modchip, you don't need the Swap Magic at all. The AR disc will work with CD or DVD based games, remember to boot your PS2 with the proper SM disc. CD for your CD-based game, DVD for your DVD-based game.

 

very nice thread, might try it out myself!!

Top work!

PS, can we use a dvd if we dont have a cd?

 

You do know I alreaddy Posted a topic like this lol. Oh well, good work..... BTW, I'd remove the link's to the action replay cause that is illegal, and against the rules on this site

 

Nice ,

might give it a go.

 

This thread must be Stickied, it is brilliant!!
Do it!

 

I just use the pendrive and update it that way ,alot easier than building a disc.

 

I tried this method of using backed up version of ar max evo with swap magic 3.6 on my slim ps2 and it does not work. First I booted my ps2 with swap magic cd version then I swap it with the backed up ar max evo that is on cdr and it loads. I then select the game cheat codes I want to use from ar max and select start with cheats then ar max states to make sure game is in the ps2 so I put in my swap magic dvd then press start and then it goes to swap magic screen then I swap with my dvd backup game and then it goes to memory card screen and says invalid disc.

So then I tried the method explained on this post http://forums.afterdawn.com/thread_view.cfm/267381 which is a bit more long winded than the method described here and the method is about creating modified version of ar max and then I put it on cdr and it works for me! But the method described on this post did not work for me. Has anyone who uses swap magic got the method described in this post to work?

 

Is this for the NTSC version or Pal? If NTSC does anyone know where I could get a Pal version from?

 

nice guide but are you sure it works with sm cos i all ready have a back of ar and it dont work when you swap with games it just boots back to the brower

correct me if mine wrong it might be diff with your build

i still perfre to use the orginal and use the pen dirve use visa versa code lists pal/ntsc

boobooman

 

I suggest you read the thread title. The AR, AR Max and AR Max Evo are different products; they don't all work on the same PS2 versions. There are now 15 versions out. v10 (U.S.) was the last FAT PS2. [bold]I have a v12[/bold] (SCPH-70012) and [bold]the AR Max Evo works[/bold]. _The AR Max does not_.

As stated in the thread, you can update the codelist with the European (PAL) or the US (NTSC). Need more help? Send me a PM.

 

yeah and i talking about evo on a v6 v7 v9 v12 v14 and none of them work with a backup copy of sm trust me but like i said it make no diff to me i own the orgianl and for the price of it i really couldnt be botherd to back it up


hope it works for you

boobooman

and by the way

ar was v2 that came with a dongle

ar max is just the same as evo but with out the usb pen

evo comes with the usb pen in a sliver tin

 

Hi i just downloaded a AR max from a torrent. i burned it, it loaded then it said on the screen insert game disc or dvd what should i do, put in a game, coz i thought you choose the game cheats then put the game in can any1 help?

 

For some reason the U.S. codelist link doesn't like to work. Let's try this one:
http://www.datelversions.com/ar_max_update/codelist_us.bin
Europe: http://www.codejunkies.com/v3test/codelist_eu.bin

Of course everyone knows you cannot boot this disc directly. Make sure to use it with a [bold]modchip[/bold] or [bold]swap magic v3.6[/bold]+

And this is for the CD version of Action Replay MAX. With modchip, no problem. With Swap Magic, use the CD version to boot this.

note: I have never tried to boot a DVD game from AR MAX directly using this method. Tonight i'm going to try it.
note 2: You might have to burn the DVD version of AR MAX (which simply uses Nero7 & a few changes) if you want to directly boot a DVD game. I'll check on this tonight.

 

This thing doesnt work man... I can run the cd-r with swap magic cd but there is no codelist... ive tried it alot of times... someone help me...

 

I did exactly what the tutorial said and when I load the codelist there's nothing there, I tried this many times with different variations and nothing. Please help.

 

I tried what says on this thread and it worked... http://forums.afterdawn.com/thread_view.cfm/267381 its long but works...

 

is can i have all the files there so i can make an ar max

 

Clearly you didnt read the forum rules before clicking the Submit button!

 

3dluis tutorial IS better. I made this version from something I saw at another site (it did work). This guide only works with a CD version of AR Max, not a DVD version. So, if you have a swap magic & try this with a DVD backup, it WILL NOT work. If you try this with a CD backup, it WILL work.

If you use this guide with a CD -or- DVD original, it will work. You simply replace the codelist file with the newer one on the website. btw, this codelist is the same that your PS2 looks for when you go to update the codelist through the software. So you know it will always be there, with a newer version!