General questions and confusion about some things.

[matt]

I am confused about a few things here..

I am reading that with firmware version 500a you now have access to a memory card feature and can save your progress in some games, but I cannot for the life of me figure out how to access this.. Am I just being stupid? When playing Magician Lord, if I choose to not continue, it gives me the option of saving my game, but even choosing yes I cannot figure out how to load my progress when starting again.. None of the other games seem to give me the option to save however. Can someone explain this?

Also, I noticed when pushing the menu button at the game selection screen, I have firmware version 500a. I thought I needed to purchase the mega pack vol. 1 for this? I just bought the gold limited box.. So, if I do decide to buy the mega pack vol. 1 what am I getting besides the 15 games that it has? The case? The rocket cable? Do I REALLY need the rocket cable to charge this thing without using the dock? Is there another cheaper way to do this?

And speaking of the dock, why would tommo put HDMI, AV and a charging port on the handheld itself if it needed to be docked for any of the ports to be used? Why can't you just connect the handheld to a TV via these ports straight from the handheld?

[crujones4life]

When you start a game that has been saved previously it should say "memory card load ok?"...

500a was originally distributed on Mega Pack Vol. 1... Apparently they have since started shipping them that way (I didn't know that).

You can just plug your X directly into your TV bypassing the dock if you want to.

You can charge with any mini USB phone charger if you wish.

[matt]

I do see the memory card load message on Magician Lord but any time I start over I just start from the beginning of the game again..?

If that is the facts about the dock and charger then why does the manual and dock warn of never using the handheld without the dock for any of these feature or risk damaging the handheld?

[danthor]

You'd need a save game to load! To save your game, same as Magician Lord, once you get game over, let the timer run out, and you'll be given the option of saving. Save your game, and once you reload, you'll begin at the beginning of the stage you died in. So, if you haven't cleared stage 1 yet, then yes, you'll always just load at the beginning of the game. No checkpoints, here! Get to stage 2, your loading will put you at the start of that stage, instead. This is true of pretty much every game available on the system.

Another possibility for not saving, even if you've completed a stage, is not using a card. The game files don't save locally to the console, but rather to the Collection volume/Mega Pack cards, themselves. Even the built in games. The Ninja Master's card that comes packed in can't be saved to, if I remember, right. Where the v500a firmware was originally distributed -with- said cards, it was a non-issue, as you had the update, and a medium to save to. I also didn't know units were shipping with v500a built in. If this is the case, I guess while you have the function, you can't actually save till you have one of those cards. At least it saved you the headache of actually applying the update, many users had difficulty making it work, myself included.

While it is possible to charge via miniUSB charger, the docs -do- advise against it. I'm not sure why, as many members here charge via miniUSB and as far as I've known, haven't had any issues. I've never done so myself, I've stuck to using the dock, or Rocket cable combo, so I can't speak for em.

If you get the Mega Pack now, you're getting all 15 remaining games available for the system, a place to save your games (see above) the case, and the rocket cable. The case is nice, though. The booklet inside does come with some pretty awesome stickers. The booklet also outlines the changes and new controls the v500a firmware brings (such as changing TV mode, aspect ratio, turbo mode), but since you started with it, it's likely old hat for you.

And like Crujones said, you can absolutely hook the handheld into a TV without using the Dock. The dock is best for TV Output when you A) want to charge while playing. B) Want to use the stick, instead of the handheld controls. or C) Have a 2nd stick, and want to do mulitplayer.

[matt]

Thank you. You have answered all of my questions.

I have got to stage 3 so far in Magician Lord, but it looks like I'm going to need to pick up another game pack in order to be able to save in anything... I guess it's a no go on saving since I only have the Ninja Masters card?

[danthor]

No problemo!

And yup, I just tried it to be sure, Ninja Master's is a no go for saving. This is why the Mega Pack is the best option, especially if you plan on getting more than one of the collection volumes. It'd prevent situations like trying to load a file in Metal Slug, or anything, and then realizing "Dammit, that save was on Collection 2, and I've got Collection 5 in there right now." Everything is in one tidy spot. Also, with each Collection volume coming with -another- Rocket Cable, you'd be swimming in them in no time. You only ever really need one!

On the upside, you can keep going for a single sitting clear! Satisfying stuff, that.

[neogenesis]

Jul 22, 2015 20:29:05 GMT -5 matt said:

Thank you. You have answered all of my questions.

I have got to stage 3 so far in Magician Lord, but it looks like I'm going to need to pick up another game pack in order to be able to save in anything... I guess it's a no go on saving since I only have the Ninja Masters card?

Get the Mega Pack if you get the chance. You get 15 additional awesome games. Blazing Star, Shock Troopers, and Kizuna Encounter are the standout games in my opinion. You can also connect the rocket cable to the AC adapter to charge your NGX. Plus you'll be able to save as mentioned.