This tutorial is specific to playing CD games on a PS2. It works with an:
original CD, swap magic
backed up CD, modchip
original DVD, swap magic or modchip
It will not work on:
backed up CD, swap magic
DVD backup, swap magic
(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:
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:
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.) DO NOT UPDATE BOTH OF THE CODELISTS. 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":
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.
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.
