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In the Groove 2
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In the Groove 2
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==Machine Hacking== ===General Information=== Due to the fact that In the Groove runs a distribution of [[Debian Linux]] and that the game utilizes [[StepMania]] as its engine (which has been used outside ITG for creating and distributing stepcharts for other songs), technologically savvy players have found methods of hacking additional content onto an "In the Groove 2" machine. The most popular methods involve utilizing a live Linux distribution (most methods [[Slax|SLAX Frodo]]) to boot the machine to a rogue operating system that the user has control over. Additional songs are loaded onto a USB card (plugged into the Player 1 USB port), and a USB keyboard (plugged into the Player 2 USB port) is used to type commands at the Linux console. Most of these hacks utilize an option in one of StepMania's configuration files, ''Static.ini'', to load songs and content from additional locations other than the main song folder. ===Pros & Cons=== Songs loaded onto an ITG 2 machine in this manner circumvent the restrictions imposed on custom songs: the banner and song samples load on the song selection screen, the background pictures and/or videos display during gameplay, and if the song is 2Β½ minutes or longer, it will not be cut off. Due to the static settings which are defined by the arcade theme, no song will take up 2 rounds. This is because the tutorial was considered when developing the original ITG and was designed to use only 1 stage. Songs loaded onto a machine in this way will play regardless of if the machine's USB slots are working. This can be beneficial for tournament operators who want to load custom songs on a machine in preparation for a custom songs tournament. However, even with these benefits, arguments can still be made against hacking the machine. Aside from the difficulty of the procedure itself and the danger of damaging the machine, one can also question the dangers of adding rogue material to a publicly available entertainment device. A measure of care must be taken as to ''which'' songs get loaded onto the machine. Often songs are pirated, and some songs aren't appropriate for all audiences. Many simfiles are not synced properly or don't have all five difficulty levels for both singles and doubles play. Some stepcharts are mislabeled or unreasonably difficult or unfair to complete. All of these factors can reduce the overall quality of the machine if care is not taken to only add high quality content to a hacked machine. Custom songs that have been loaded onto an arcade machine in this way also have more stringent formatting requirements. Since the machine is not being used in the intended way, no safeguards or conveniences are made for the modder. The exact requirements and consequences for not meeting those requirements differ depending on the revision of the cabinet, but improperly formatted simfiles can result in empty stepcharts, warped music, or entire system crashes, all of which detract from the overall appeal of the game in a commercial institution.
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