Action Replay vs. Max Drive: Differences, and what's better?

pk500 · Post by **pk500** » Mon Jan 03, 2005 6:00 pm

Boys:

What's the difference between a Max Drive and an Action Replay? Both look like memory devices that allow you to take saved rosters, etc., and transfer them from your PC to a console.

I've seen some posts on forums saying the memory cards that come with the AR can be lousy. So it would seem to me to be stupid to have to get an official Xbox memory card and an AR to ensure reliability.

So, what's the difference between the two? Which one is more reliable? Which is better, and why?

Thanks.

Take care,
PK

dbdynsty25 · Post by **dbdynsty25** » Mon Jan 03, 2005 6:04 pm

I have not had a single problem with my Action Replay. I ONLY use the included memory card for transfers. If I'm going to backup my HD saves, I'll use my official memory card. The card that comes with the AR hasn't caused me any fits at all.

I think the major difference, is that most people use AR, so it's a lot easier to get some help if you have problems with some of the rosters. I'm not sure if the Max Drive uses the same file formats and stuff, so it may be a moot point, but the AR seems to have the market share, so that's probably what I'd recommend.

skinsfan · Post by **skinsfan** » Mon Jan 03, 2005 6:10 pm

I have AR and the included card works perfectly.I think the older the AR the bigger chance of a bad card.Basicallly the Max Drive just has a bigger memory card- 16 MB vs. 8 MB for AR.I don't think you have enough game save needs for the 16 MB,pk.8 MB is 512 blocks-the average roster save is 20-50 blocks and a franchise save is 70-100 blocks.

bdoughty · Post by **bdoughty** » Mon Jan 03, 2005 6:11 pm

Ditto to what DB said. I have never had problems with the AR for the Xbox and I have a launch version. I even use it as a memory card transferring saves/rosters between systems. It is just more popular which means it will be easier to get questions answered if you get one.

Just don't base anything on what you read in the downloads section at the OS forums. Yea there are some bad memory cards out there but I question a few peoples intellectual capaicty to use an AR. Assuming things have not changed, that section of the forum has proven that something as simple as the AR is can be too much for some to handle. God help them if they still allow these kids to use Bunsen burners in science class.

pk500 · Post by **pk500** » Mon Jan 03, 2005 6:38 pm

Thanks for the input, fellas.

Take care,
PK

XXXIV · Post by **XXXIV** » Mon Jan 03, 2005 6:46 pm

Yeah
Thanks
Ive been in the market for awhile....
Im sold
AR it will be

matthewk · Post by **matthewk** » Mon Jan 03, 2005 6:51 pm

Looks like a couple of you (PK & 34) have already made your decision, but I just wanted to add to the "yeas" for the AR. I've had mine for over a year, and never had a problem. Like DB, I only use the card for transfers, no sense in using it for active saves when the Xbox has 8 Gig sitting there.

Inuyasha · Post by **Inuyasha** » Mon Jan 03, 2005 6:52 pm

Go with AR. I've had no problem with their Mem Card or the device.

pk500 · Post by **pk500** » Mon Jan 03, 2005 7:08 pm

Weaver:

Think I may have. Amnesia setting in at a young age. Not sure if I'm getting one of these, as I question whether I'll use it for anything other than college hoops. I don't play college football games, and I prefer to unlock cars in racing games the old-fashioned way -- earning them.

But if I do get one, it will be an AR thanks to the good advice in here.

Thanks,
PK

Dave · Post by **Dave** » Mon Jan 03, 2005 9:17 pm

PK, I thought the same thing, then one day just bought one as a "throw-in" with the TV for our spare bedroom. I figured I'd use it for NCAA games (almost entirely), and then football stunk, leaving only basketball. I still think it is worth it to me, although I know you are tighter with a buck than I am. I've used it to download updated rosters for ESPN Baseball (since they never released a roster with updated call-ups and such), Hockey, and Madden.

Think of College Hoops as a $50 game this year!

vader29 · Post by **vader29** » Mon Jan 03, 2005 9:39 pm

I bought an action replay last summer and used it for NCAA football rosters, but when I went to use it for the ESPN College Hoops roster I couldn't get it to transfer to the card, kept getting a failed to enumerate error. After reading about others having trouble with the included card I ended up getting a microsoft card and was able to transfer the save with no problems.

pk500 · Post by **pk500** » Mon Jan 03, 2005 10:18 pm

vader29 wrote:I bought an action replay last summer and used it for NCAA football rosters, but when I went to use it for the ESPN College Hoops roster I couldn't get it to transfer to the card, kept getting a failed to enumerate error. After reading about others having trouble with the included card I ended up getting a microsoft card and was able to transfer the save with no problems.

And that's exactly what I'm trying to avoid -- shelling out $60 just so I can have rosters for ESPN College Hoops.

I've already inputted the rosters manually for more than 60 teams, so I'm leaning toward not getting the AR. Plus I read where all of the ESPN rosters for the AR that were built at OS have a flaw in which every players' value is set to 90 after the first season of a Dynasty because the edits were done in the global player editor rather than the name editor. If that's true, it's yet another reason to rely on myself to input the rosters for the major conferences and powerhouse schools from the smaller conferences.

Some may say it's a waste of time, but I do it piecemeal, and I KNOW the names are right for every school I input, with no Legacy problems down the line.

I still might consider an AR down the road if I can see true value for it. Maybe closer to the NCAA Tournament, when I have the urge to play the really small, obscure schools.

Take care,
PK

bdoughty · Post by **bdoughty** » Tue Jan 04, 2005 1:00 am

PK,

I have a spare AR memory card so if you just want the CH 2K5 rosters I can mail it to you and then you can mail it back.

Teal · Post by **Teal** » Tue Jan 04, 2005 1:32 am

Well, I bought the max drive, and I LOVE it. At one time I had the SharkPort, and that was a pain in the arse. This thing, you plug it in the CPU, download, go to the Xbox, upload, and...voila. It's easy as pie. Hell of alot better than buying a memory card to send to blacklover...

pk500 · Post by **pk500** » Tue Jan 04, 2005 1:45 am

BD:

I just might take you up on that offer. Thanks, man! You're a good egg.

Out,
PK

bdoughty · Post by **bdoughty** » Tue Jan 04, 2005 2:03 am

Just let me know and I will send it out. Probably only costs .75 to mail it in a small box to protect it from disgruntled postal cariers. I use the companies postage machine so it is on the house so to speak.

Also if you want it and have other files/rosters you are intrested in I can add them. If they are from OS you would need to e-mail me the file as I am not able to get those. You can also check out codejunkies.com to check out all the files available for AR.

dbdynsty25 · Post by **dbdynsty25** » Tue Jan 04, 2005 2:05 am

Guess my offer a few hours ago wasn't good enough. Ah well.

pk500 · Post by **pk500** » Tue Jan 04, 2005 10:08 am

dbdynsty25 wrote:Guess my offer a few hours ago wasn't good enough. Ah well.

Wah! Wah! Let's start a pity party.

Just saw the PM before I went to bed. I appreciate your offer, as well.

Guess I'll flip a coin.

Thanks,
PK

pk500 · Post by **pk500** » Tue Jan 04, 2005 12:00 pm

BD, DB (wow, that's almost a palindrome!):

Check your PM's, fellas.

Appreciate both offers, big time.

Thanks,
PK

maskedmarvel · Post by **maskedmarvel** » Tue Jan 04, 2005 4:05 pm

I'm in the same boat as PK. Couple of questions:

1) Does AR work with a Mac? My guess is no -- I don't see Mac support listed on the AR website -- but I'm wondering if any enterprising gamers have gotten it to work. If not, I'm out of luck ...

2) ... leading me to my second question: If I mailed out a XBox memory card and postage, would anyone be willing to mail it back with rosters for College Hoops and/or the classic team rosters for NFL 2k5?

I have a standard issue memory card (came with XBL beta). Don't know if it's big enough for both requests, though.

Thanks in advance.

Dave · Post by **Dave** » Tue Jan 04, 2005 6:44 pm

Nope, no Mac support. I have to use the in-laws PC...