Restrictions for playing online: You MUST have some sort of broadband internet access, and you must have DHCP provided by your ISP.(to find out if you have DHCP enabled internet, go to Start>Run>command> and type "ipconfig /all" if it says anywhere in the list 'DHCP enabled' or any DHCP server number, then you have it.) If you do not have DHCP, you can still play online, but you will have to contact somebody else, or read the gcars-doc.txt file in the gcars folder. or you can post on this forum:
Fuzziqer Software :: View Forum - GameCube Action Replay Simulator and Control Simulator
OK! first and formost, you need the right version of SSBM. Check your SSBM disc. If it says DL-DOL-GALE-USA on the top, and if it says DOL-GALE-0-00 USA or DOL-GALE-0-00 JPN in small letters around the inner ring on the bottom of the disc, you're in luck!! NOTE: If your SSBM disc says anything different from this, you may not be able to play online, because the software you have to use does not support anything else but USA v1.0(for NOW). You could find out if your Disc is considered to be a v1.0 SSBM disc if SSBM v1.0 Action Replay codes work for it.
ALSO, you will need to make sure another friend has the same hardware and version of SSBM as you need to play. You MUST have somebody else you know that can do this, because later on you will need to exchange external IP's to play. The program you use is in its prime, still in beta stages, but works PERFECTLY with un-noticable lag, if you set up everything correctly.
OK that being said, lets get started! You will need the following things:
-=HARDWARE=-
-Internet Connection(duh)
-Router(any will do)
-2 straight-thru network cables(NOT crossover) one for router to hook to the computer, and one for gamecube to hook to the router.
-Gamecube
-1 WIRED Controller(must be wired)
-1 Gamecube Broadband Adapter
-1 memory card(only needed to bypass all the PSO crap) prefferably one without any important saved data on it.
-1 Copy of Phantasy Star Online Episode 1&2(does not have to be the non-plus edition, And you don't even need the Phantasy Star Online game, but is highly recommended, see "Extra Useful Info #1" on the FAQ/Help Page)
-1 Copy of Super Smash Bros Melee DOL-GALE-0-00 USA or DOL-GALE-0-00 JPN
-=SOFTWARE=- (just save to your desktop, and unzip)
NEW Version: gcars-cs-public-beta-099.zip (I recommend using the older version .95(listed below) as v.099 didn't work for me)
OLD Version: gcars-cs-public-beta-095.zip (This version worked just fine for me. You don't need to download both .099 and .095, just one of them)
PSO Loader: czn-psul11.zip
OK make sure everything is hooked up properly. have your modem/internet hooked into port #1 of your router, and have the gamecube hooked up to port #2(or any ports you want)
Step 1: open up command prompt(Start>Run>command> type "ipconfig" and leave it open
Step 2: put in PSO, go to Options, Network Options, Provider Option
press yes, press yes, click on network setup, edit menu, press Next, choose "Manually set an IP address" and "Do not automatically Disconnect"
click next, choose an IP that you want your gamecube to have(must be on the same network as your router) Ex: if your router's address is 192.168.1.1, set your gamecube to 192.168.1.101
Subnet Mask: whatever it says in the command prompt screen
Default Gateway: whatever it says in the command prompt screen
Primary DNS: the IP Address(also shown in ipconfig screen) of your computer
click next, next, Save.(you're done dont worry about the other blank spaces)
Step 3: Start an Online Game(create character, and profile, any will do) then choose it, press Confirm, press agree
enter ANY serial number, any access key, and any password press ok, register, then wait at that screen.
Step 4: go to your desktop, and put the PSUL.exe into the gcars folder, so that both files are in the same folder. then drag and drop gcars.dol into PSUL.exe.(a command promt should come up and say "Waiting for connection")
Step 5: finally go back to PSO and click Yes and Yes and you should see the bluish vortex, and eventually a greenish room will appear with animated objects, and eventually the PSUL tool will close by itself from your computer, and gcars will be running on your gamecube!! Take note that the program you now see on your gamecube IS NOT Phantasy Star Online. Rather, it is the gcars.dol file you drag-dropped onto PSUL.exe.
CONGRATULATIONS IF YOU HAVE GOTTEN THIS FAR!