Dreamcast Software Development Standards
Dreamcast Software Development Standards/Ver.1.00E
Recommended: Options should be provided whenever possible, unless they would destroy the character of the game or if the game is a transplant of an original that has no options.
Standardized: In race or action games where it would disturb the user to have the Start/Option button bring up the Options Screen and then return to the Title, such as in an RPG/Adventure, the options can be set by an Options command from within the game.
Standardized: The following options are standard for arcade transplants and others.
LEVEL (of difficulty)        EASY >NORMAL< HARD
PLAYERS (number of)          1 2 >3< 4 5
CONTROL (button setting)
RAPID (continuous shooting)  >ON< OFF
AUDIO (output setting)       >STEREO< MONAURAL
SOUND (test)                 >BGM01<
                             SE02
                             VOICE00
Initialize Settings (return to initial settings)
EXIT
Prohibited Terms: "Default" or "Reset" to refer to the initialization of settings and the initial settings.
Recommended: Considering the many users who play on monaural TVs, the Stereo/Monaural selection should be provided whenever possible.
Recommended: Option settings should be backed up (saved) if possible.
Recommended: If the option settings are to be backed up according to the above, save should be executed while traversing the Options Screen.
Recommended: If the same data is to be used to play in another environment, the Stereo/Monaural setting should not be saved (masked from the save data).
Recommended: Despite the existence of the backup data, the option settings should be retained after soft reset.
9.3 Stereo/Monaural Audio Output Settings
The initial Stereo/Monaural setting should match that in the Boot ROM as mentioned in 3.2 Audio Output Settings Upon Loading an Application.
Recommended: When a user changes the audio output setting in the application's Option Screen or otherwise, the Main Unit's Boot ROM setting should be immediately changed to correspond.
As used in the procedures of 3.2, 9.2 and 9.3, the Stereo/Monaural setting refers to Main Unit setting, and other option settings refer to the saved data (if present).
9.4 Advancing to the Next Screen
Recommended: When EXIT is selected and any action button is pressed, or when a Start/Option button is pressed from any location in the Options Screen after a Start/Option setting, operation should revert to the Start/Option Selection screen instead of to the Sega Logo and Title Screen.
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