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The Uk games software market is set to reach a high of 1.56 billion pounds in 2001. The PS2 and the GBA seem to be helping the figure rise by quiye a bit. It is predicted that by 2002 the European market will overtake the US to become the most valuable sales area for games software.
Between 1996 and 200 the UK market grew by 111%. In 200 the gloabal market was worth nearly $18 billion, Us contributed around $6.3 billion, Europe $5.8 billion and Japan with $3.4 billion.
Ok so if this is the case then why are we treated so poorly compared with the Japanese market and the Us market, surley we deserve more respect? We spend so much each year on games, consoles and peripherals yet we are last to get the games, we get slower versions of games, and some don't even make it out over here. Maybe its time for a change. Maybe we should get things first.
Everyone on here likes games (if you don't then why are you here) and probably feels quite angry when they see games getting released abroad months before they are released here. A reason why some turn to piracy( thats only one reason piracy is so high but there are loads more) and get import copies. I know I've been there, done it, but didn't have time to buy the T-Shirt.
Its about time that the main developers realised how important the market is over here and did something to show that we aren't going unrecognised.
Between 1996 and 200 the UK market grew by 111%. In 200 the gloabal market was worth nearly $18 billion, Us contributed around $6.3 billion, Europe $5.8 billion and Japan with $3.4 billion.
Ok so if this is the case then why are we treated so poorly compared with the Japanese market and the Us market, surley we deserve more respect? We spend so much each year on games, consoles and peripherals yet we are last to get the games, we get slower versions of games, and some don't even make it out over here. Maybe its time for a change. Maybe we should get things first.
Everyone on here likes games (if you don't then why are you here) and probably feels quite angry when they see games getting released abroad months before they are released here. A reason why some turn to piracy( thats only one reason piracy is so high but there are loads more) and get import copies. I know I've been there, done it, but didn't have time to buy the T-Shirt.
Its about time that the main developers realised how important the market is over here and did something to show that we aren't going unrecognised.
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PAL was created after NTSC with better colours, mopre lines on the screen and better definition. The only downfall was that it ran slightly slower (PAL is 50Hz, while NTSC is 60 Hz).
Now, America introduced TV before PAL was invented... so uses NTSC. We use PAL.
Why is this a problem? Well, games are programmed to run at 60Hz (for NTSC). When they come over here, our TVs don't like 60Hz signals, so have to be converted over to 50Hz which can take time... but makes the games run better. In fact most publishers are lazy doing this- the US version of Mario Cart 64 runs faster than the UK version.
In addition to this our PAL TVs have more lines on the screen to fill. So either games will have big black borders, or publishers must spend even more time fixing this problem!
However! Most modern UK TVs CAN handle NTSC... for this reason Sega uses the 60Hz option on its games to allow the usert to play games at their proper speed. Unfortunately no other (recent) console has bothered with this idea... even though it rocks!
Sonic
Now, America introduced TV before PAL was invented... so uses NTSC. We use PAL.
Why is this a problem? Well, games are programmed to run at 60Hz (for NTSC). When they come over here, our TVs don't like 60Hz signals, so have to be converted over to 50Hz which can take time... but makes the games run better. In fact most publishers are lazy doing this- the US version of Mario Cart 64 runs faster than the UK version.
In addition to this our PAL TVs have more lines on the screen to fill. So either games will have big black borders, or publishers must spend even more time fixing this problem!
However! Most modern UK TVs CAN handle NTSC... for this reason Sega uses the 60Hz option on its games to allow the usert to play games at their proper speed. Unfortunately no other (recent) console has bothered with this idea... even though it rocks!
Sonic
Wookiee, it's probably because there's no point.
The game would have to be converted to PAL anyway, so they may as well just put the PAL version on the disc as they know that will definately work.
The game would have to be converted to PAL anyway, so they may as well just put the PAL version on the disc as they know that will definately work.
Your Honour wrote:
> So why need to convert? Can;t you just have two options when the game loads up,
> like the 50 or 60Hz option you get on some games.
You certainly can - but for some reason, many developers don't do it. I have about 14 games now, and only 4 have the option.
> So why need to convert? Can;t you just have two options when the game loads up,
> like the 50 or 60Hz option you get on some games.
You certainly can - but for some reason, many developers don't do it. I have about 14 games now, and only 4 have the option.
Wòókiee Møn§†€R wrote:
Most modern
> TV's and video's can deal with both signals.
So why need to convert? Can;t you just have two options when the game loads up, like the 50 or 60Hz option you get on some games.
With all the room on DVDs for PS2 games etc, can't they just put both versions on 1 disc? Butthen i suppose it would still have to be converted, so the time delay would be the same....
Most modern
> TV's and video's can deal with both signals.
So why need to convert? Can;t you just have two options when the game loads up, like the 50 or 60Hz option you get on some games.
With all the room on DVDs for PS2 games etc, can't they just put both versions on 1 disc? Butthen i suppose it would still have to be converted, so the time delay would be the same....
PAL has 100 more display lines than NTSC, and gives a much better quality picture - but refreshes at a slower rate.
Most modern TV's and video's can deal with both signals.
Most modern TV's and video's can deal with both signals.
What is the actual difference between NTSC and PAL?
I'm sure i saw a telly somewhere that said it was NTSC and PAL compatible, but i could be wrong.
Is it possible to have a TV that does NTSC and PAL? If so, why doesn't a company make it, or would it be too expensive?
I'm sure i saw a telly somewhere that said it was NTSC and PAL compatible, but i could be wrong.
Is it possible to have a TV that does NTSC and PAL? If so, why doesn't a company make it, or would it be too expensive?
It's not just the language barrier in Europe though, but promoting the games to those crazy foreigners too!
It does take way too long for games to come out here, and we do seem to be something of an afterthought, but I can see some potential stumbling blocks.
It does take way too long for games to come out here, and we do seem to be something of an afterthought, but I can see some potential stumbling blocks.
Meka_Dragon wrote:
If a game comes out in Japan first it can then be
> translated to English for the US market, but before it ships to
> Europe, more often than not we get a French, Spanish and German
> language option thrown in. On text heavy games, it just isn't worth
> the time or money to ship these games to Europe, so even though the
> game is already in the English language, we miss out.
Although... how long can it REALLY take to translate gameing text?
Most consonle titles have minimal text, relying heavily on graphics...
Unsing professional translators, manual, box and game text for a title could be done in a day... at most in a week...
The only problems I can really see with translation would be converting screen definition from NSTC to PAL...
Which, given console companies usual option of grabbing a quick display change (slowing the games to PAL screen updates, but keeping the NSTC line count) This shouldnt take too long either (iven the OO nature of most games development, this could be done whilst the translations are occuring... or at least, a universal picture translation program could be used for picture conversion... allowing games to be sold in European shops within a month of their presence in US shops...
If a game comes out in Japan first it can then be
> translated to English for the US market, but before it ships to
> Europe, more often than not we get a French, Spanish and German
> language option thrown in. On text heavy games, it just isn't worth
> the time or money to ship these games to Europe, so even though the
> game is already in the English language, we miss out.
Although... how long can it REALLY take to translate gameing text?
Most consonle titles have minimal text, relying heavily on graphics...
Unsing professional translators, manual, box and game text for a title could be done in a day... at most in a week...
The only problems I can really see with translation would be converting screen definition from NSTC to PAL...
Which, given console companies usual option of grabbing a quick display change (slowing the games to PAL screen updates, but keeping the NSTC line count) This shouldnt take too long either (iven the OO nature of most games development, this could be done whilst the translations are occuring... or at least, a universal picture translation program could be used for picture conversion... allowing games to be sold in European shops within a month of their presence in US shops...
The problem with the European market is that it's made up of all those little countries, that speak all of those different languages.
If a game comes out in Japan first it can then be translated to English for the US market, but before it ships to Europe, more often than not we get a French, Spanish and German language option thrown in. On text heavy games, it just isn't worth the time or money to ship these games to Europe, so even though the game is already in the English language, we miss out.
If a game comes out in Japan first it can then be translated to English for the US market, but before it ships to Europe, more often than not we get a French, Spanish and German language option thrown in. On text heavy games, it just isn't worth the time or money to ship these games to Europe, so even though the game is already in the English language, we miss out.
Maybe things will change then, but I think that they wont. We will no doubt be treated last compared with Japan and US just because they wouldn't like it if it was the other way around and would do more to change it than we do now.
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