METROPOLIS STREET RACER (PAL)

METROPOLIS STREET RACER (PAL)
[for Sega Dreamcast]
Time Trial Online Transfer Guide Ver 0.5
by RJAY63 ([email protected])

This guide can be freely distributed as long as it remains intact.
It cannot be used for profit making purposes.

========
Contents
========

A) Introduction
B) Time Trial Transfers
B.1 Items required
B.2 Working UK ISPs
B.3 Make a Ghost Time Trial
B.4 Time Trial Bugs
B.5 Downloading Time Trials
B.6 Emailing Time Trials
B.7 Uploading Time Trials
B.8 Sega's "New" Time Trials
C) My Youtube videos & Time Trial website (msr.netii.net)
D) Kerbing
E) Fast Start
F) How to get 262/262 tracks
G) Cheat Options
H) Speed Challenge
I) Old MSR Competitions
J) Bonus Vehicles in Street Race Mode
K) Hidden Tune
L) MSR Soundtrack: Pseudo Artists
M) Links
N) What I Need
O) Guide History
P) Shouts

A) Introduction
=============
I bought MSR around the time of its UK launch but only played the game
half-heartedly. That changed in late 2007 when I finally made the effort
to complete Street Race mode. Since then I've been playing Time Attack mode
sporadically (with the occasional upload to Youtube), however I always
wondered what the best players managed to achieve back in MSR's heyday.
Earlier this year I also discovered Time Trial (TT) mode in the 'Internet'
options (where you could vary the weather) and even managed to get my
Dreamcast back online after finding some MSR TT's to compete against!
Alongside this, I conducted a thorough search of the internet for the old
Dreamarena rankings and even though I was unsuccessful, I did find plenty
of MSR info scattered around. So I decided to write a guide bringing all
these items together plus instructions for creating, emailing and uploading
Time Trials.

So why play MSR when its offspring, Project Gotham Racing, has taken the
concept to new levels of popularity and competitiveness? Why bother with
a decade old game when the PGR games offer incredible graphics, powerful
supercars, a sensible kudos system, comprehensive VS/online play, bigger
community, tournaments and for the select few the ability to earn a
salary from playing a game? Well, in short MSR's handling! The game has
a very 'coin-op racer' feel and being a fan of Sega's Outrun 2 SP, Daytona
USA & Scud Race titles alongside Namco's Wangan Midnight Maximum Tune,
this is something I really appreciate. To enhance this feeling, I strip
the game right down to a car, an empty track and a clock to avoid the
flaws (slowdown playing against CPU cars, broken kudos). It's ironic
considering the strap line for MSR is "It's not how fast you drive but
how you drive fast" yet the basic time attack modes are the reason I'm
still playing today!

As mentioned earlier, this document will focus primarily on Time Trials as
well as other information that isn't covered by the many other fine guides
available for MSR. I'll also provide links to my various Youtube videos and
some noteworthy MSR related websites (some now stored at archive.org).

PLEASE NOTE: the ISP guide for Time Trial transfer is really aimed at UK
users since I have no knowledge of foreign dial up services. I may try to
update this in my next revision.

B) Time Trials Transfers
=====================
NOTE: the following will also work for transferring vanilla MSR ghost
files, ie the ones you can save in standard Time Attack mode.

B.1 Items Required
--------------
* Working DC dial-up modem: Should come as standard with your DC. If
not you can grab them on EBAY cheap.

* BT Phone Line (UK users): The cheapest and best option to get your
DC online. You can do this through cable services but the ISP
dial-up cost will be more.

* Standard BT phone cable (UK users): To link your DC to the phone
socket. You can find a cheap 10m cable for between £1-£2, don't
spend too much on this.

* Dreamkey 3.0/Planetweb 3.0 disc: Required to amend your DC's ISP
details and for obtaining/sending TT files. Check EBAY for second
hand discs or google 'dreamcast online'. Planetweb 3.0 is essential
for uploading TT files.

* Working ISP with compatible SMTP: Required to download/upload/email TT
files. Two compatible UK pay-as-you-go ISP's are shown in the next
chapter.

* GMX email account: A basic email service just right for DC use, sign
up at www.gmx.com. Dreamkey 3.0 users should keep the email password
in lower case.

* PC with DCI_VMI installed: Required for uploading TT files. DC_VMI
is homebrew software that makes TT files 'web ready' and you can get
it by visiting http://www.franken.de/users/deco/myfiles/myfiles.html

* Free webspace at www.000webhost.com: If you wish to host TT file's
and allow both Dreamkey/Planetweb users to download them, sign up at
000webhost.com. Keep your site basic to allow DC users quick
loading times & lower call costs.

NOTE: Once you have saved your ISP details to memory, you can even use
MSR's own browser to download and email! It has more or less the same
functions as Dreamkey 3.0, bar the ISP set-up. To jump to a URL, on
the browser page hold A and press START 10 times. Then move the cursor
to the bottom status bar and press X+A together. Check out my YT video
at www.youtube.com/watch?v=_MqfZPGhuGU.

B.2 Working UK ISPs
---------------
Below are two UK ISP's that are compatible for Dreamcast web surfing
and email. The following details should be entered via the Dreamkey 3.0/
Planetweb 3.0 disc and saved to memory.

Aardvaak (http://www.aardvaak.net/free-isp-dreamcast.html)

*INTERNET*
User login: FREE1010
Password: dreamcast
Dial Up Number: 0845 662 1009
Backup Number: 0845 662 1309
DNS 1: 80.225.252.178
DNS 2: 80.225.249.186

*EMAIL*
Login: [whatever]@gmx.com
Password: [whatever]
Email: [whatever]@gmx.com
POP3: pop3.gmx.com
SMTP: smtp.smartemail.co.uk

Inspiron (http://www.inspiron.co.uk/Default.aspx?ParentId=6&PageId=265)

*INTERNET*
User login: guest
Password: [email protected]
Dial Up Number: 0845 665 1888
DNS 1: 80.225.252.178
DNS 2: 80.225.249.186

*EMAIL*
Login: [whatever]@gmx.com
Password: [whatever]
Email: [whatever]@gmx.com
POP3: pop3.gmx.com
SMTP: smtp.inspiron.co.uk

Cost on BT line: 2p per minute between 7am-7pm and 0.5p per min all other
times (correct as of 18/8/2010).

Source: http://www.productsandservices.bt.com/consumer/consumerProducts/
pdf/UKInternationalprices.pdf

B.3 Make a Ghost Time Trial
-----------------------
**To access this option, your Dreamcast needs either ISP details saved to
memory or the 'Open All' cheat activated.**

NOTE: You cannot make Time Trials for the Free Roam courses.

1. From the main menu, choose 'Internet'
2. Select 'Create Time Trial'
3. Make your selections (circuit, weather & car) and then choose
'Trial Name'
4. Choose a 3 character tag
5. Save the file to VMU (2 blocks required)
6. Go back to the previous menu ('Internet Options'), select 'Time Trial'
and load up your file from the VMU.
7. Race around the circuit until you get the desired lap time, then quit
the race.
8. Choose 'Save Trial' and select 'Yes' to overwrite file (18-20 blocks
required).
9. You have now made a Ghost Time Trial! Check the ghost has not been
corrupted by playing through the trial again (see below).

B.4 Time Trial Bugs
---------------
If you choose a special vehicle (bus, lawnmower etc) and select 'misty'
or 'foggy', the weather is always clear when the trial is replayed.

If you strike the wall/kerb too many times during your best lap, there
is a chance the ghost car will become corrupt. By this, I mean the
ghost will suddenly crash and accelerate against the side. The only
way to rectify this is by getting a new fast time.

B.5 Downloading Time Trials
-----------------------
You will need:

* 33k/56k DC modem
* BT Phone cord
* BT line
* Compatible ISP
* Dreamkey 3.0 or Planetweb 3.0 web browser

1. Go online with your DC using the above browsers or MSR's own Dreamkey
browser
2. Visit relevant webpage
3. Click on file to download trial to VMU

I would recommend checking out either http://matchingservice.dcarena.de
(German Ranking) or http://msr.netii.net (my site). They are both
Dreamkey & Planetweb compatible. Please note, some of dcarena.de's
ghosts are corrupt as described in the previous section.

Note: Other webpages may not be Dreamkey compatible so you will need to
use the Planetweb browser instead.

B.6 Emailing via Dreamcast
----------------------
You will need:

* 33k/56k DC modem
* BT Phone cord
* BT line
* Compatible ISP with working SMTP
* Dreamkey 3.0 or Planetweb 3.0 web browser
* GMX webmail account

1. Select email function then 'compose' to go online
2. Select TT file as attachment (Planetweb 3.0 users can send more
than 1 attachment per mail to each other)
3. Send email to recipient

The recipient MUST have the same browser type as you, ie Dreamkey to
Dreamkey (inc MSR's own browser) or Planetweb 3.0 to Planetweb 3.0
The file transfer will not work Dreamkey to Planetweb or vica versa.

B.7 Uploading
---------
You will need:
* 33k/56k DC modem
* Phone cord
* BT line
* Compatible ISP with working SMTP
* Planetweb 3.0 web browser (Dreamkey WILL NOT work)
* GMX webmail account
* PC with DCI_VMI installed
* Free webspace at www.000webhost.com

1. Create Time Trial with ghost & save to VMU
2. Load Planetweb 3.0 and email Time Trial file to yourself.
You can send multiple files if you like however this will increase
the waiting times.
3. Access GMX email from PC and download Time Trial file to your PC
4. Make a note of the original file name eg. MSRCHALL.GTV
5. Change TT filename to something unique & the extension to .VMS
(eg. MSRCHALL.GTV becomes MSRALFA.VMS). The default file name for
TT's will always 'MSRCHALL' so changing avoids overwrite issues if
you're uploading more than one challenge. *CAPITAL LETTERS
SHOULD BE USED FOR FILENAMES & EXTENSIONS AT ALL TIMES*
6. Move renamed file to the same directory as DCI_VMI
7. Open Command Line from Windows Start (type CMD in run box) and
change directory to the one holding DCI_VMI.
8. Type DCI_VMI [file name].VMS
9. Press 'd' for data file. The 'file description' sections will
automatically be pre-filled.
10. Choose anyname for DCI file, this is not required.
11. Press 'y' for DCI Copyable.
12. Type the original file name in the next section. This must be EXACT
so in this example it is MSRCHALL.GTV
13. Type 'none' for VMI Program Description
14. Type 'none' for VMI Copyright Information
15. You should now have 3 files - MSRALFA.VMS, MSRALFA.VMI &
[whatever].DCI. Delete the DCI file
16. Upload both MSRCHALL.VMS and MSRCHALL.VMI files to your webspace
FTP IN THE SAME DIRECTORY.
17. Add the relevant HTML code to your webpage for a download link to
the .VMI file, ie <a href="http://mywebsite.com/MSRALFA.VMI">Alfa
Romeo GTV Trial</a>

Some webpages do not automatically allow Dreamkey users to download the
file. In this case you will need to create an .htaccess file containing
the following code:

addtype application/x-dreamcast-vms-info vmi
addtype application/x-dreamcast-vms vms

See http://rvmu.maushammer.com/faqindex.html for more info. Some
webpages (like Angelfire) do not allow you to change the .htaccess
settings especially on free accounts. www.0000webhost.com does!

B.8 Sega's 'New' Time Trials
------------------------
On the old MSR webpage at Dreamarena, there was a section about time
trials taking place on an 'exclusive circuit'.....

web.archive.org/web/20011030222845/www.metropolis.dream-key.com/usa/
msr_011.php

I found the VMU files for these 'New Time Trials' on an old download
page and discovered they DID NOT take place on unique tracks but on the
existing 'Challenge' courses. There were also no accompanying ghosts,
just empty trials. All cars drive with manual gears, no ABS and 'MSR'
on their numberplates.

Here is the data for each trial (S-Short, M-Medium, L-Long):

London: St James' Challenge (St James L-4)
Car: MG RV8 (Racing Green)
Weather: Foggy

London: Trafalgar Challenge (Trafalgar M-7)
Car: Vauxhall VX220 (Mandarin)
Weather: Clear

London: Westminster Challenge (Westminster M-7)
Car: Mitsubishi Evo 6 (Grey)
Weather: Clear

San Francisco: Financial Challenge (Financial L-6)
Car: Jensen S-V8 (Black)
Weather: Raining

San Francisco: Fisherman's Challenge (Fishermans L-4)
Car: ???????
Weather: ???????

San Francisco: Pacific Challenge (Pacific M-8)
Car: Mazda RX-7 (Vintage Red)
Weather: Wet

Tokyo: Asakusa Challenge (Asakusa L-4)
Car: TVR Chimera (Yellow)
Weather: Drizzle

Tokyo: Shibuya Challenge (Shibuya L-4)
Car: Audi TT Roadster (Denim Blue)
Weather: Downpour

Tokyo: Shinjuku Challenge (Shinjuku S-11)
Car: Renault Spider (Sports Blue)
Weather: Foggy

Unfortunately the VMU file for Fisherman's Challenge was missing, however
I have a feeling the car was probably the Toyota Celicia GT4 (only 2
other 4WDs present) and weather was either misty or clear.

You can find them at http://www.angelfire.com/journal2/gzaxxxskams/
otherdownload/ogd.html. There's no real point downloading though, just
make your own copies!

C> My Youtube Time Trial videos & download website (msr.netii.net)
===============================================================
I have made various Youtube videos showing some of my best TT laps.
They are as follows:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mD2oKQTUn9c
Course: Tokyo-Asakusa-Long-Nishi Sumita Gawa (Asakusa-L2)
Car: Nissan Skyline GTR
Time: 0'51.024
Weather: Clear

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pGKUj8OiBsc
Course: London-Westminster-Long-Bridge Street West (Westminster L1)
Car: Mitsubishi Evo VI
Time: 1'07.696
Weather: Downpour

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tsopoihkrpE
Course: San Francisco-Fisherman's Wharf-Medium-Taylor North
(Fishermans M-8)
Car: Jensen SV-8
Time: 45.323
Weather: Clear

http://www.youtube.com/view_play_list?p=24E648DEB802C6F6&playnext
=1&v=NnWYYqv97BE
Courses: Speed Challenge tracks (separate TT files to allow manual
transmission & no ABS)
Car: Opel Speedster
Times: 1.02.386 (San Francisco), 1.11.407 (London), 0.57.890 (Tokyo)
Weather: Clear

To compliment this, I also uploaded some of these Trials/Ghosts to a DC
compatible website for you to download and challenge. The URL is
msr.netii.net and you can download these ghost/trials via Planetweb or
Dreamkey. Make sure you have enough space in your VMU before doing so
(approx 20 blocks per Trial).

D) Kerbing
=======
When exiting a corner a little too fast your car sometimes bounces off the
kerb unscathed. As well as preventing you from crashing into the sides,
this quirk can be also exploited for faster lap times especially on narrow
circuits. Basically you need to turn so the tyres on your outer side hit
the kerb, bouncing you away. Practice is required to obtain the optimum
speed and car position: if you drive too fast or hit the kerb too early,
you will loose speed or crash.

Please also note there has to be an actual kerb on the corner for this
technique to work! ;)

See my Time Trial videos on Youtube for some examples of kerbing (links
in previous section).

E) Fast Start
==========
Useful on Street Challenge/Quick Race mode but difficult to pull off.
During the countdown, hold the accelerate so the needle is just at the
start of the redline. Then the moment the announcer shouts "GO", floor
it! Here's a Youtube video I made at www.youtube.com/watch?v=KRDgkU-YfAA

F) How to get 262/262 tracks
=========================
*You will need to have aquired the 'Open All' cheat (see next section)*

1. Activate the 'Open All Cheat' within the Cheat menu to open the 3
remaining courses (featuring in Speed Challenge mode).
2. Go to Time Attack mode and set a fast lap on each of the 3 tracks
3. After the final autosave you should have 262 tracks available.

NOTE: Sometimes if you race the 'Speed Challenge' option, the above
tracks will lock themselves off again. Simply redo the above to release.

G) Cheat Options
=============
These are found inside the normal 'options' menu. This list is
assuming you have completed Street Race mode.

Skip Car Challenge: Self explanatory - required for obtaining the
Alfa Romeo GTV in the PAL version.

Open All Cheat: Unlocks remaining tracks and options.

Time Of Day: Self explanatory - sets the time of day overriding
the DC's internal clock

Silly Cheat*: Stretches the visuals making the game more or less
unplayable.

Bubble*: Makes the screen bounce up and down.
See www.youtube.com/watch?v=VJG3shmEpJ8 for an
example.

Grass*: Turns the road green but not to actual grass.
If you want to race on actual grass, drive on the
banks of the St James's Park courses!

Adjustable Camera*: During a race, pause the game and select
Options -> Camera -> Adjust Camera. You can now
amend the distance, height and rigidity of a
particular viewpoint. Once changed, you cannot
access this option again during the race.

Widescreen*: Enables 16:9 on a compatible TV, probably the
most sought-after cheat.

* You will need to switch these options back on after each race.

Try combining Silly, Bubble & Grass for the ultimate eye-bleeding
experience!

H) Speed Challenge
===============
This mode formed part of Sega's MSR competitions when the Dreamarena
portal was still active. Found within the 'internet' option, the
purpose is to gain the best lap on 3 pre set tracks for the lowest
combined time. You are forced to drive MSR's headline car, the Vauxhall
VX220/Opel Speedster with automatic gears and ABS on. Although this is
not an ideal set-up, the world's best players managed some outstanding
times during a competition in March 2001, easily beating my records set
with Manual Gears and no ABS (see section below for more info)! The tracks
are as follows:

Track 1: San Francisco-Financial Distric-Medium-Market West II
Track 2: London-St James's Park-Long-Parliament Street South II
Track 3: Tokyo-Shinjuku-Long-Higashi-Dori Kita II

You can see videos of my times on the Speed Challenge courses on Youtube
(see section C for links).

I) Old MSR Competitions
====================
Dreamarena Vauxhall VX220 competition
http://gaming-age.com/news/2000/10/17-113

A European Dreamarena competition with an actual Vauxhall VX220 as first
prize. Basically you had to answer a series of questions with the option
of gambling your correct answers for more 'kudos'. From a business point
of view this made sense as the money obtained from the Dreamarena phone
charges probably paid for the competition. However it's a shame they
didn't have a similar challenge to the one that took place in France (see
below) where the prize was won through actually playing MSR rather than
winning a quiz. The winner was featured in an edition of UK Dreamcast
magazine.

European DC Racing Wheel competition
http://web.archive.org/web/20010503210811/www.dreamcast-europe.com/
english/news/000108/000108.php

One of Sega's 'Speed Challenge' competitions. Not much of a prize but a
good idea to see what the best racers could achieve. They managed some
spectacular times, especially being forced to drive with automatic gears
and ABS! Here they are listed below:

Track 1: San Francisco - 1.01.3 set by sirus (UK)
Track 2: London - 1.10.4 set by benvollo (France)
Track 3: Toyko - 0.56.034 set by manasel (Spain)

The UK winner was also featured in an edition of UK Official Dreamcast
magazine.

French Opel Speedster competition
http://www.micromania.fr/special/msr/dc_details.php (pop this URL into Google
translator)

Now this is more like it: win a real Opel Speedster by actually playing
MSR! Basically a Kudos challenge, you needed to obtain the highest scores
obtained without a joker on set circuits. The top 4 players progressed
to the final in Paris where the eventual winner won the car. You can
read some of the participants comments archived on
http://www.jeuxvideo.com/forums/0-3054-0-1-0-1-0-metropolis-street-racer
.htm, including this rather interesting topic from the alledged winner
saying he wishes to sell his prize (http://www.jeuxvideo.com/forums/1
-3054-2316035-1-0-1-0-0.htm)!

Prelimenaries:
Street Race-Chapter 18-Race 7/Old Palace Yard North

Finals:
Street Race-Chapter 19-Race 7/Parliament Street South II

Grand Final:
Street Race-Chapter 20-Race 7/West Jefferson IV
Street Race-Chapter 20-Race 8/Nishi Shinjuku Restaurant
(You also needed to finish 4th, probably to stop people exploiting the
flaws in the Kudos system)

J) Bonus Vehicles in Street Race mode
==================================
**You need to be driving a normal car & have a bonus vehicle in your
garage.**

1. Go to Main Menu
2. Select 'Street Racing'
3. Choose the chapter & challenge
4. Select 'Change Car'
5. Choose the bonus vehicle in your garage and away you go!

K) Hidden Tune
===========
Very rare but sometimes after a completing a challenge/time attack, a
hidden tune plays on the menu screen. I have only heard it 6/7 times in
the past decade and have no idea what triggers it but luckily in 2007,
my DVD Recorder was active while the tune played. I emailed Richard
Jacques about this music and he confirmed it is his work and was
originally composed as 'credit' music with no name. It's a smooth jazzy
instrumental and you can listen to the track on Youtube at
www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ur8ViXiLcfw.

L) MSR Soundtrack: Pseudo Artists
==============================
We all know the man responsible for the music is Richard Jacques, however
the radio station DJs quote pseudo-artists for each track. Here is the
complete list:

Song Pseudo Artist
---- -------------
Am I Only Dreaming Undulator feat Kym Rogers
California Demon Zeffer
Club Paris Earthburn
Come On Baby Otis Cook
Don't Wait Fay Douglas
Fallen Angel Slipstream
Freeway Shakka
Heartlands New Dawn
Holding On Sugar Free (??)
I Can Still Believe Helena Davidson
It Doesn't Really Mater Chantelle
Let's Get It On Tonight MC Momo
Live Your Life Salford Keys (sic)
Long Long Road Kurt Austin
Low Lights Clarence Mitchell Quartet
Outside In Defunct
Overdrive Dominator
Passion Infinity
Push Atomhead
Red Line Tomahawk
Show Me Your Love Capricorn
Sold Out Elevation
State Of Mind Intuition
Think About It Black & White
Time Shanice Williams
When She Comes Back The Jacque Richards Band
You Can Love Me Gabriel Nelson

M. Links
=====
German MSR rankings (with downloadable ghosts/trials)
http://matchingservice.dcarena.de

My Time Trial website
http://msr.netii.net

My Youtube site
http://www.youtube.com/user/RJAY63

Cyberscore MSR Ranking (Time Attack)
http://www.cyberscore.me.uk/game-msr.php

MSR VMU Saves & Ghosts/Time Trials
http://bswirl.kitsunet.org/
http://www.bucanero.com.ar/dreamcast/vmu/metropolisracer

Old MSR Dreamarena website (rankings are not present)
http://web.archive.org/web/*sr_31nr_10/http://metropolis.dream-key.com/*

Bizarre Creations website & forum
http://www.bizarrecreations.com

Archived Bizarre Creations MSR forum (many broken links)
http://web.archive.org/web/20030710123239/http://pub40.ezboard.com/
fbizarrecreationsfrm2

French MSR Discussion board
http://www.jeuxvideo.com/forums/0-3054-0-1-0-176-0-metropolis-street-racer
.htm

French MSR fansite
http://msrfan.ifrance.com/

Edge Award 2001 (graphical achievement):
http://web.archive.org/web/20010502092229/www.dreamcast-europe.com/
english/news/000007/000007.php

Russian MSR records site (never took off)
http://web.archive.org/web/20080105154321/http://www.dc-swat.net.ru/vmu/
msr/

Unofficial VMU Guide
http://rvmu.maushammer.com/faqindex.html

DCI_VMI download and other VMU homebrew
http://www.franken.de/users/deco/myfiles/myfiles.html

N. What I need
===========
* Dreamcast compatible ISP's from outside the UK (with working SMTP)
* An archive of the old rankings from MSR's long dead Dreamarena page
* MSR strategies and driving techniques.

Email me at: [email protected]

O. Guide History
=============
Ver 0.5 - Created sporadically between July-August 2010.

P. Shouts
======
Virtuaracing & Team 'Avit: keeping the Sega dream alive!

Eric: you will play Daytona USA 2 again, don't give up hope!

Archive.org: Giving dead websites eternal life! For all the MSR info and
proving there was a Daytona competition back in 1999.

gzaxxs: For your download webpage that helped me solve the 'New Time
Trials' mystery.

Onlineconsoles.com: Helping me getting my Dreamcast back online.

Aardvaak & Inspiron: Still allowing Dreamcast users access to the
internet with working email.

GMX: Providing a DC compatible email service

000webhost: For Dreamkey compatible webspace

Dreamcast-Talk: For the Planetweb 3.0 disc

Bizarre Creations: For making MSR

Sega: For the Dreamcast

Silly Boi Singh: The man who thought a Wade gravy jug would make him a
millionaire! :p

Mac: Good luck in your studies!

Metropolis Street Racer (C) 2000 Sega.
Car names are trademarks of their respective owners
This guide (C) 2010 RJAY63 ([email protected])

{End of file}