Welcome Guest [Log In] [Register]
Welcome to Whip Ass Gaming Forums!


You're currently viewing the forums as a guest. The only limitation on guests, here at WAG Forums, is that you simply cannot contribute posts/pics/whatever. You can view all forums, all pics, all member profiles, everything. If you're just here to lurk, feel free continuing to do so...there is no reason to sign up for an account. However, if you would like to contribute then go ahead and start the registration process!


Join our community!


NOTE: I have no idea why the board defaults to centering everything when you're lurking/not logged in. Once logged in, it aligns everything to the left(as it should be).

If you're already a member...log in:

Username:   Password:
Add Reply
GamePilgrimage request and complaints; Comparisons, Criticism, hopefully facts
Topic Started: Jun 9 2010, 09:43 AM (1,057 Views)
Belpowerslave
Member Avatar
Administrator
agostinhobaroners
Nov 11 2013, 08:14 PM
Hi, Bel! Great so see you alive and kicking again!
Hey man, you too!

I'll get to a reply...I just wanted to get something up here, so you didn't think I was ignoring you. ;)

Bel
Whip Ass Gaming
Offline Profile Quote Post Goto Top
 
Belpowerslave
Member Avatar
Administrator
agostinhobaroners
 
Well, the new Flashback had some of the original designers and developers involved in the project (I've seen some interviews and stuff like that), so it looks like it isn't your average abortion-like remake. But it's far from being great or groundbreaking as far as I've seen it being played; some of the original atmosphere was replaced with some very generic new-era 3D stuff which I really dislike but it wouldn't hurt to buy it for cheap.

I picked it up a few days ago, on XBLA, for $3.24(or something insanely cheap like that). For that price, I don't think you can go wrong. One thing I am hearing though, and it's hard to believe but people say that's just the way it is, is that though the original is included...you have to play it in some weird arcade cabinet thing...and it's missing all sorts of sound. Seems strange.

agostinhobaroners
 
Yeah, that CDDA soundtrack is a Sega CD exclusive; all other CD versions (3DO, FM Towns, CD-i and PC DOS) have NO in game music aside from the ones in the cutscenes - yes, no "action segment" tunes like in the Amiga or cartridge releases as well.

You know, back in the day I would, sometimes, be disappointed that a lot of these Genesis ports to the SCD were nothing but the original version with a redone soundtrack...but looking back, I really appreciate it now. You look at something like Flashback CD where they just did an excellent job with the new soundtrack and it was totally worth it. Pitall: The Mayan Adventure is another one I really like on SCD, with its new soundtrack.

I agree with the comments you made later in the reply, about Sega probably having some influence on these devs packaging a redbook soundtrack with their games...and I think it was a good push.

agostinhobaroners
 
The 3DO, as a whole, was quite powerful for the time. The CPU clock was sort of "low" when compared to the rest of the system though, but, still, it was quite capable for 2D, 3D and video playback.

You know, the more and more I see of it the more I agree with you. It's one of those systems I just haven't had a whole lot of time with, and I think what little time I got in was with some of the lower-end bits of software. One of the games I tend to remember pretty fondly was Killing Time. I've owned that on Mac, and now PC. It's wild how not either version is a direct port of the 3DO original(as far as I can tell).

agostinhobaroners
 
In theory, no.
In reality, hummm, yes... Goldstar units have compatibility issues with some games and/or run some of the games slower than normal and/or with glitches. Some people also claim that the audio quality may vary (to low, hehe) in the Goldstar models. Sanyo Try units are said to be a bit better but some games seem to have compatibility issues as well.
Panasonic FZ-1 model has problems with CD-Rs and the laser assembly is said to be not as robust as the FZ-10's model.
Also, the Video CD expansions are specific to each model, manufacturer and region; which is a major pain since those devices are already painfully expensive and rare.
Some Japanese and Korean games also will not work in non-Japanese console units 'cause they need Kanji support in the console BIOS.
Yeah, yeah, quite funky, eh?

Sheesh...yeah, that's something else. I just don't understand...I mean, I know that manufacturer's will find cheaper ways to make their systems, cut parts out, etc, etc, but it just seems like stuff like running the games at a slower speed should be right out.

agostinhobaroners
 
As a final note about the Genesis and Sega CD versions of Flashback, those are the only ones which have the same lead programmer of the Amiga version; so it shouldn't be all that strange to realize that those versions have some serious advantages over the other ports - actually featuring a lot of extra sound effects and MUCH more music when compared to the Amiga version (it didn't had music for the cutscenes, to begin with).
Also, the 12 Mbit Genesis cartridge has several sfx and music tracks more than the 16 Mbit SNES cartridge released significantly later - go figure why people say that Tiertex sucks balls.

I'm glad you brought that up...I've got this theory I've pitched to Scott about that whole thing(in general) and I've always wanted to get some further input from another one of our tech-minded forum members. What say you to this:

My theory on why Genesis games will have more music and/or sound effects(like Flashback), more characters(like UMK3) and/or more animation(like WeaponLord) than their SNES counterparts is due to the graphics and/or music/sound effects taking up less space due to the hardware limitations. Essentially, developers would reduce the data size since the Genesis couldn't display it as is.

For example, and this is the one I've pitched to Scott, take UMK3...of which the SNES version is missing Sheeva all together. Ok, now let's take Kano's character...all the animation the goes with the sprite and let's say it's 500k(not a guess, just using it to have a number to work with) on the SNES...but due to the color limitations on the Genesis, with his lower color count(all the same data), it should come out to be less(let's say 300k). I'd imagine it's like taking a Jpeg that's 500k and converting it to a Gif at 300k.

So, in the end, the data on the Genesis would be less than the data on the SNES because of the limitations....which would allow them to do more before (and possibly without)making any cuts.

It's late, and it's been long day...I'm sure that didn't make as much sense as it did when Scott and I first talked about it...sorry about that. ;)

Bel

Whip Ass Gaming
Offline Profile Quote Post Goto Top
 
sheath
Member Avatar
I have been, and remain, non-sequitur
I have been told repeatedly by the tech community that the lower number of subPalettes on the Genesis does not affect ROM or VRAM in any way. It is the same number of palette entries per tile because every 8x8 tile is still just 15 colors plus the transparent color.

What the tech heads have also told me is that the Genesis has faster DMA from ROM than the SNES to aid with animation. Also, SNES carts have to use samples for every sound, whereas the Genesis can use mostly FM+PSG audio which doesn't take a significant amount of ROM. So, by default a same size cart ROM on the Genesis would have slightly more free space for animation and characters than the SNES.

That's all I got, though my head is still fuzzy from being sick all week.
www.gamepilgrimage.com
Buy the games of yore before they are no more
Posted Image
Offline Profile Quote Post Goto Top
 
sheath
Member Avatar
I have been, and remain, non-sequitur
This is just a quick update. I am working on a series of PC to console comparison pages including benchmarks and games. I enjoy rooting out the actual performance numbers in game or even in benchmarks of various hardware configurations. I did not enjoy rooting out the Sony and Nintendo fanboys of Sega-16 in the process, but that happened.

This is definitely a work in progress, as I don't have every 90s Video card I would like to test and I have a ton of benchmarks, games and demos to test and compare to highly publicized super awesome high polycount Playstation 2 games. But here is what is done so far, on the side of real life.

http://www.gamepilgrimage.com/content/95-99-pc-comparisons
www.gamepilgrimage.com
Buy the games of yore before they are no more
Posted Image
Offline Profile Quote Post Goto Top
 
ZetaBoards - Free Forum Hosting
Enjoy forums? Start your own community for free.
« Previous Topic · Anything'a'Gamin'...and more · Next Topic »
Add Reply