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Lots of people seem to have gopt importing and playing copied games mixed up. Here is why importing can be good, and the reasons for doing it:
Games released in Japan are designed to use their types of TV... called "NTSC". This runs at 60HZ (which means that the picture is refreshed 60 times a second).
The problem is that TVs in england use a "PAL" TV system. The reason for this is that this produces better pictures when you are watching TV. The problem however, is that the picture only runs at 50HZ, which means it is slightly slower than Japanese TVs. In addition, UK "PAL" TVs have taller screens- there's more space on the screen to fill.
So how do developers overcome this problem? The answer is 2 fold. Usually, to overcome the bigger screen, developers put big black borders at the top and bottom of it. This is most obvious in games like Ridge Racer (PS2).
Secondly, the developers must overcome the different "speeds" of TVs. Now, seeing as games are usually only running at 30 frames-per-second on a Japanese screen, you'd think that they could run at 30 frames-per second on a UK TV screen. This is true, but requires lots of extra programming. So most developers don't bother and just make the game slower. For this reason you can get faster lap times on the American Mario cart 64 than on the UK mario cart 64.
So, what's the outcome?
UK games are slower
UK games have black borders sometimes
UK games come out last!
There are 3 ways to get around this problem:
1) Be patient and wait for the UK game, which is inferior to the original. For example, Tekken runs miles faster on JApanese PSones and PS2s... it's meant to be a really fast game, but no one in England has ever been able to play it in this way.
2) Get a Dreamcast (says the man named after sega's mascot). The reason for this is as follows. In many Dreamcast games, the normal PAL TV mode is actually reprogrammed so that it fills up the screen, and runs as fast as possible. Also, if you have a modern TV, most games have a 60HZ option so that you can run the game in exactly the same way as the japanese original. This is the only console to support this.
3) IMPORT. (we finally got there!). Basically, you buy any countries console (UK/America/Japan)... whichever is cheaper!... and then you chip it. Chippig DOES not mean that you can play copied games (after all, it is theoretically impossible to copy DC/GC games), rather it means you can play games from any country. So, say Tekken 5 comes out in Japan. I can now buy it months before it comes out in the UK, and can play it in full screen and at full speed. Say, however, that the new Final Fantasy comes out... and you can't speak japanese. No problem, you can wait for the UK version and play that, or get the american version before the UK version is out!
You can also buy games that never come out in the UK... like Virtua On- one of my favs!
There are a few downsides though:
1) It can be expensive to get games from abroad. If this is the case then simply buy british games, and only get import games when:
a) they will never come out here... as many games do!
b) You really,really want the game before anyone else!
2) Initial cost of setting up can be expensive. By this, I mean that many people see the only way to import as being buying a Jap/American console. This can be v. expensive! BUT, u can just buy a UK machine and chip it for only £15.
3) U need a scart TV... but unless you have a v. old TV or an ancient one, then this is no problem.
4) Invalidate the console's waranty if you chip it. But then again, these only last a year,,,, and if u go to a proper specialist a chip will be fine.
Finally! You need not chip. There are devices for PSones that plug onto the back of the console and let u play import games- like gamesharks.
So, I hope you found that interesting... anything I left out, or missed just ask.
Sonic
(Sory about spelling mistakes... I'm at school, and it's almost lunch time!)
Games released in Japan are designed to use their types of TV... called "NTSC". This runs at 60HZ (which means that the picture is refreshed 60 times a second).
The problem is that TVs in england use a "PAL" TV system. The reason for this is that this produces better pictures when you are watching TV. The problem however, is that the picture only runs at 50HZ, which means it is slightly slower than Japanese TVs. In addition, UK "PAL" TVs have taller screens- there's more space on the screen to fill.
So how do developers overcome this problem? The answer is 2 fold. Usually, to overcome the bigger screen, developers put big black borders at the top and bottom of it. This is most obvious in games like Ridge Racer (PS2).
Secondly, the developers must overcome the different "speeds" of TVs. Now, seeing as games are usually only running at 30 frames-per-second on a Japanese screen, you'd think that they could run at 30 frames-per second on a UK TV screen. This is true, but requires lots of extra programming. So most developers don't bother and just make the game slower. For this reason you can get faster lap times on the American Mario cart 64 than on the UK mario cart 64.
So, what's the outcome?
UK games are slower
UK games have black borders sometimes
UK games come out last!
There are 3 ways to get around this problem:
1) Be patient and wait for the UK game, which is inferior to the original. For example, Tekken runs miles faster on JApanese PSones and PS2s... it's meant to be a really fast game, but no one in England has ever been able to play it in this way.
2) Get a Dreamcast (says the man named after sega's mascot). The reason for this is as follows. In many Dreamcast games, the normal PAL TV mode is actually reprogrammed so that it fills up the screen, and runs as fast as possible. Also, if you have a modern TV, most games have a 60HZ option so that you can run the game in exactly the same way as the japanese original. This is the only console to support this.
3) IMPORT. (we finally got there!). Basically, you buy any countries console (UK/America/Japan)... whichever is cheaper!... and then you chip it. Chippig DOES not mean that you can play copied games (after all, it is theoretically impossible to copy DC/GC games), rather it means you can play games from any country. So, say Tekken 5 comes out in Japan. I can now buy it months before it comes out in the UK, and can play it in full screen and at full speed. Say, however, that the new Final Fantasy comes out... and you can't speak japanese. No problem, you can wait for the UK version and play that, or get the american version before the UK version is out!
You can also buy games that never come out in the UK... like Virtua On- one of my favs!
There are a few downsides though:
1) It can be expensive to get games from abroad. If this is the case then simply buy british games, and only get import games when:
a) they will never come out here... as many games do!
b) You really,really want the game before anyone else!
2) Initial cost of setting up can be expensive. By this, I mean that many people see the only way to import as being buying a Jap/American console. This can be v. expensive! BUT, u can just buy a UK machine and chip it for only £15.
3) U need a scart TV... but unless you have a v. old TV or an ancient one, then this is no problem.
4) Invalidate the console's waranty if you chip it. But then again, these only last a year,,,, and if u go to a proper specialist a chip will be fine.
Finally! You need not chip. There are devices for PSones that plug onto the back of the console and let u play import games- like gamesharks.
So, I hope you found that interesting... anything I left out, or missed just ask.
Sonic
(Sory about spelling mistakes... I'm at school, and it's almost lunch time!)
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Oh! I see what u mean jimmy... never thought of that myself. The only problem is to convert the game from 50 to 60 would require some processing... so there would have to be a standard format for I/O specs of 3D engines... and while developers still want to make infinite polys like in Republic, this is not feasible.
Still, if they really wanted to do it, they'd find a way.
Sonic
Still, if they really wanted to do it, they'd find a way.
Sonic
My point is the option to switch between NTSC and PAL should be in the Hardware, not the Software.
Imagine just holding down the R1 and R2 when you turn on your PS2 ....ah an option screen that allows me to change the output from PAL to NTSC...and maybe even an option to change the DVD region settings.
Its possible, its a pitty the hardware manufacturers are to blame. Microsoft should take note, if they give us a machine as fast as the Japanese and Americans, hey Ild be interested. No region settings too that would be great, it would also create one large online community, and not segregating the communities into those with NTSC and those with PAL.
Imagine just holding down the R1 and R2 when you turn on your PS2 ....ah an option screen that allows me to change the output from PAL to NTSC...and maybe even an option to change the DVD region settings.
Its possible, its a pitty the hardware manufacturers are to blame. Microsoft should take note, if they give us a machine as fast as the Japanese and Americans, hey Ild be interested. No region settings too that would be great, it would also create one large online community, and not segregating the communities into those with NTSC and those with PAL.
New Jimmy wrote:
...
> This option should be standard on all consoles, the fact that it
> isnt is a disgrace.
Well, whose fault is it?
Sega needed to pull out ALL the stops to create a console that was unbeatable... and as a result made it sooo easy to add a 60Hz option in games, and almost made it standard on their consoles.
Sony decide that they don't want the UK market to feel neglected, and so say that this mode will be available. However, like their dev kits, they have put no effort into getting developers to use this option... both Sony and the developers think that people here won't even know that 60Hz is better (which in the most is true). Pity really... actually, I wonder if the final PS2 can actually use 60Hz? (Maybe sony just left it out like so many other features.. Anti Aliasing?)
Sonic
...
> This option should be standard on all consoles, the fact that it
> isnt is a disgrace.
Well, whose fault is it?
Sega needed to pull out ALL the stops to create a console that was unbeatable... and as a result made it sooo easy to add a 60Hz option in games, and almost made it standard on their consoles.
Sony decide that they don't want the UK market to feel neglected, and so say that this mode will be available. However, like their dev kits, they have put no effort into getting developers to use this option... both Sony and the developers think that people here won't even know that 60Hz is better (which in the most is true). Pity really... actually, I wonder if the final PS2 can actually use 60Hz? (Maybe sony just left it out like so many other features.. Anti Aliasing?)
Sonic
SonicRav wrote:
> Lots of people seem to have gopt importing and playing copied games
> mixed up. Here is why importing can be good, and the reasons for
> doing it:
Games released in Japan are designed to use their types
> of TV... called "NTSC". This runs at 60HZ (which means
> that the picture is refreshed 60 times a second).
The problem is
> that TVs in england use a "PAL" TV system. The reason for
> this is that this produces better pictures when you are watching TV.
> The problem however, is that the picture only runs at 50HZ, which
> means it is slightly slower than Japanese TVs. In addition, UK
> "PAL" TVs have taller screens- there's more space on the
> screen to fill.
So how do developers overcome this problem? The
> answer is 2 fold. Usually, to overcome the bigger screen, developers
> put big black borders at the top and bottom of it. This is most
> obvious in games like Ridge Racer (PS2).
Secondly, the developers
> must overcome the different "speeds" of TVs. Now, seeing
> as games are usually only running at 30 frames-per-second on a
> Japanese screen, you'd think that they could run at 30 frames-per
> second on a UK TV screen. This is true, but requires lots of extra
> programming. So most developers don't bother and just make the game
> slower. For this reason you can get faster lap times on the American
> Mario cart 64 than on the UK mario cart 64.
So, what's the
> outcome?
UK games are slower
UK games have black borders
> sometimes
UK games come out last!
There are 3 ways to get
> around this problem:
1) Be patient and wait for the UK game,
> which is inferior to the original. For example, Tekken runs miles
> faster on JApanese PSones and PS2s... it's meant to be a really fast
> game, but no one in England has ever been able to play it in this
> way.
In Italy the arcade machines were Japanese and Tekken Tag was super fast compared to the version I played in the England airport!
> Lots of people seem to have gopt importing and playing copied games
> mixed up. Here is why importing can be good, and the reasons for
> doing it:
Games released in Japan are designed to use their types
> of TV... called "NTSC". This runs at 60HZ (which means
> that the picture is refreshed 60 times a second).
The problem is
> that TVs in england use a "PAL" TV system. The reason for
> this is that this produces better pictures when you are watching TV.
> The problem however, is that the picture only runs at 50HZ, which
> means it is slightly slower than Japanese TVs. In addition, UK
> "PAL" TVs have taller screens- there's more space on the
> screen to fill.
So how do developers overcome this problem? The
> answer is 2 fold. Usually, to overcome the bigger screen, developers
> put big black borders at the top and bottom of it. This is most
> obvious in games like Ridge Racer (PS2).
Secondly, the developers
> must overcome the different "speeds" of TVs. Now, seeing
> as games are usually only running at 30 frames-per-second on a
> Japanese screen, you'd think that they could run at 30 frames-per
> second on a UK TV screen. This is true, but requires lots of extra
> programming. So most developers don't bother and just make the game
> slower. For this reason you can get faster lap times on the American
> Mario cart 64 than on the UK mario cart 64.
So, what's the
> outcome?
UK games are slower
UK games have black borders
> sometimes
UK games come out last!
There are 3 ways to get
> around this problem:
1) Be patient and wait for the UK game,
> which is inferior to the original. For example, Tekken runs miles
> faster on JApanese PSones and PS2s... it's meant to be a really fast
> game, but no one in England has ever been able to play it in this
> way.
In Italy the arcade machines were Japanese and Tekken Tag was super fast compared to the version I played in the England airport!
aaaahhhhh.....the Amiga 1200 I remember that. Fond memories of Quik n silver fly back to me.
Yes if you held down the two mouse buttons while turning on a Amiga1200 then you were presented with an option screen, which amoung other things allowed you to change the output from PAL (50Hz) to NTSC (60Hz) and believe me you could tell the difference. The great thing is you didnt even need a Scart lead, the RF did the job. This option should be standard on all consoles, the fact that it isnt is a disgrace.
Didn't know about the old Amigas allowing 60Hz.
About the PS2... from what I've heard Sony have allowed developers to put 60Hz modes in their games... problem is that NO ONE has!
Sonic
About the PS2... from what I've heard Sony have allowed developers to put 60Hz modes in their games... problem is that NO ONE has!
Sonic
Hopefully all games will soon allow us to play them at 60Hz or 50Hz, depending on our choice (providing of course we have a new TV that can cope with both signals)...many Dreamcast games now give us this e.g. Dead or Alive 2.
Its quite sad really that something that was standard in an Amiga 1200 (9 years ago) has not been implemented (The 1200, allowed you to switch between PAL and NTSC screenmodes on bootup, and through a standard RF connection too ).
There is no excuse for not letting gamers choose, I hate games being 17% slower. Its not much of a problem with games that dont push a machine to its limits, as the extra processing power can compensate for the NTSC to PAL slowdown...however games that push a system such as Tekken3 on the Playstation really suffer.
Its quite sad really that something that was standard in an Amiga 1200 (9 years ago) has not been implemented (The 1200, allowed you to switch between PAL and NTSC screenmodes on bootup, and through a standard RF connection too ).
There is no excuse for not letting gamers choose, I hate games being 17% slower. Its not much of a problem with games that dont push a machine to its limits, as the extra processing power can compensate for the NTSC to PAL slowdown...however games that push a system such as Tekken3 on the Playstation really suffer.
Guess what the PS2 in the UK has definately no problems playing 60hz DVDs, I got a hold of some region 0 discs which playin it and they played in NTSC format, no bother!! So there is more to us being short changed than meets the eye in this post. The consoles must be compatible with anyone wanting to play through an RF ariel which means 50hz PAL only, as to why there isn't 60hz modes in the games, laziness!!
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