Computers: The Technical Thread [!OT]

[Dreamer7000]

I have a video issue with Prince of Persia Warrior Within.
The menu of the game is all messed up, and outside the menupoints the mouse gets stuck, and multiplies. (just to start the problem) No menu background is shown either. This would not be so troubling by itself, but when I start the game, after the video, I can only see a black screen with sound under it. Half a year ago, none of these problems occured, but now that I want to install it, it won't work. No codec or Video card was changed/installed since, so I have no idea what causes this problem. Maybe it can be a little help, that the background that won't appear is moving, and so does the game screen. So moving scenery won't appear. That's all I can make out of it, hope some of you can help.

Another thing I want to add, is that NFSU's motion blur is also buggy and won't work. Motion Blur is a rapid scenery movement as well, so I sniff the same yet unknown problem. Maybe it's Windows Service pack 2? Altho I don't even know if it is installed or not.

<font color="#345E81" size="1">[ September 10, 2005 03:36 PM: Message edited by: Dreamer Hyper ]</font>

[mrwiseman]

What video card are you using? Try the latest drivers for it. Glitched motion blur in NFSU may be due to pixel shader quirks/incompatibilities (most probably because of the driver), and it looks like Prince of Persia fails some of its basic graphic calls.

[Dreamer7000]

I have an ATI Radeon 9200 card, but I was unable to find the right latest driver for it. Even the ATI site is messed up for me. I'd apprechiate it, if you could link me to the right one, cause I'm baka for it.

[mrwiseman]

IRT Dreamer: Sure, go here: http://www.rage3d.com/

In the right panel, below Catalyst Drivers, Windows XP/2000, download Catalyst 5.8 w/Control Panel, which is probably the best you can get. (Do not get the one with the Catalyst Control Center, that's bloatware.)

Download this 25 MB file, and save it somewhere. Then follow this procedure:

1. Go Control panel, Add or remove programs, and find your ATI controllers there (they start with "ATI"). If you have more than one, uninstall the one that says "Control panel" or something similar first, then reboot, and repeat this procedure to uninstall the driver itself (which should be the last thing you uninstall). Then reboot.
2. You will boot in VGA mode. Make your way so you can install the file you just downloaded; follow the instructions (straightforward), and reboot when told to.
3. You will boot in a regular mode. Right click on your desktop, Properties, Configuration, select your favorite resolution and 32 bits per pixel, then click Advanced options, Monitor, and choose your favorite refresh rate (typically 85 Hz in CRT monitors, 75 or 60 Hz in TFT monitors). Then click Ok and Ok, and verify everything's fine.
4. You might want to go back to Advanced options, and go through the ATI tabs to optimize your Direct 3D and OpenGL configuration.

[Dreamer7000]

Thank you a lot Wiseman, I downloaded the driver, and I'll do the installation process tomorrow. Should I have any problems I'll ask. ^_^

[Cataferal]

IRT WIseman - Im having problems with this too. I have a 256Mb Radeon X600, and after using both the Control Panel and Catalyst Control centre, i have definitely found the former to be more efficient. However, with this, i can only play Half-Life 2 for 5 minutes before it crashes, and the frame rate is horrid and almost made me sick. The CCC runs it perfectly, but i dont like the interface and the amount of RAM it takes up.

I cant find a compromise. Are there any unofficial solutions that you know of that i could use?

<font color="#345E81" size="1">[ September 12, 2005 05:07 PM: Message edited by: Cataferal ]</font>

[mrwiseman]

In reply to Dreamer, who asked in another thread:

Can anyone, explain the Playstation's NTSC and PAL DVD types? Which is being used where? Can Playstations in Europe or other continets read both? What is the difference between the two? I'd like to know mainly everything about this. All goes for unchipped, clean Playstations.

North America and Japan are using the NTSC television standard, which runs at 60 Hz. European countries, except France, use a more advanced standard, PAL, which runs at 50 Hz and offers higher resolution and vibrant colors, more similar to those of a computer screen. (The difference in frequency originated from Europe's alternate current frequency.)

This can cause some problems in games, especially regarding frames per second (which is noticeable if they are rendering at one half - i.e. 30 vs 25 fps), speed (poorly programmed games may run slower in Europe), and borders in lower resolution games (again, poorly programmed games will work in 640x480 resolution only). That's why the European version of a few PS2 games, and most Dreamcast games, offer you the possibility of switching to PAL60, our 60 Hz pseudostandard, which is the same as NTSC with PAL colors.

However, all of this is just an excuse for shitty companies, like sony, sega, Nintendo, Microsoft, etc. to enforce one of the devil's tools: regional protection. This stupid, anti-liberalism, anti-capitalism, anti-globalization measure is about fucking you in the ass with a 2 litres Coke bottle... previously inflated to twice its normal size.

Basically, they force protections into YOUR consoles and YOUR games so that:
　　　● Japanese games will only play in Japanese consoles =="Not for inferior gaijin"==
　　　● American games will only play in American consoles =="Yuropeans need to pay more"==
　　　● European games will only play in European consoles =="Nobody cares about Europe"==

With this criminal system, you cannot play games from other regions you may find cheaper, i.e. companies establish protected economies, which violates capitalism and liberalism basic rules, or what's even worse, you are deprived of games not released in your region because some lowly manager who is massively retarded, massively racist, or both, decides you shouldn't, even if you are willing to pay for it, and your money is as good and valid as everybody else's.

That's why one does not simply import into Mordor. And that's why getting YOUR legally owned, legally paid for console which is YOUR sole and exclusive property, may be arranged by YOU to be modified according to YOUR will and under YOUR responsibility, so that this object OF YOURS will become a new, different, custom machine that, for some unbeknownst reason, simply, it will just happen to be able to play games from all regions much to the dismay of racists and faggots. This is legal, at least in most countries, and I highly encourage you to, because:

1. You can
2. You have the same right to enjoy a commercial product than the Japanese
3. Your money is just as good as the Americans'
4. The morbo of doing exactly what shitty companies don't want you to do is the best thing ever.

(And you can bet if I were the president of the World Trade Organization, I'd have these motherfuckers fined for enough money to make Bill Gates look like a beggar.)

I hope you could feel my intense hatred for criminal region system throughout all my post. I did my best.

[Dreamer7000]

Lol yes, I can see what you mean Wiseman. So then, noe final thing: What do I need to do to be able to play NTSC in my little o PS2?

[Cataferal]

There are three common methods, from the cheapest to the most expensive:

Mod chip - If you can find someone that can provide you the service of putting it in, then this is preferable, and cuts out a lot of hassle. This will enable your PS2 to play original PSX, PS2 and DVD movies from any region. Of course, part of the reason why its been so intensely criticized is that you can also play pirate copies of games. You might have a hard time finding someone that can provide you the modification service.

Swap Disc (Swap Magic 3.6) - Stick this disc in, then swap it for your import. If only it were that simple; you'll also need to buy a flip-top or a slide-card to make sure the PS2 doesnt notice this swap. This can be tedious, especially if your only playing pickup'n'play games, although its bearable for RPGs, which are usually played in long hauls. This technique only allows you to play PS2 imports, so it is a little limiting.

Hard Drive+HDLoader - The most complicated and expensive solution to what should be a relatively simple problem, although it gives you the most options. In essence, you find yourself an IDE compatible Hard Drive with a size of at least 40Gb, and stick it into your expansion bay on the back of the PS2 (that big hole casual gamers usually keep candy/pizza/wasps in). Next, you stick your HDLoader (or HDAdvance) disc in, which loads the Hard Drive. Then, you swap for your game disc, and install it on there. The HDloader disc makes this process very simple, and this means you can play your import at any time, as well as any other game you own, just through one universal disc. However, for imports, you will still need to fool the PS2 with a mod chip, Slide Card or flip-top for the first time. Once its installed though, its free sailing and you can play it at the touch of a button, with much faster loading times. However, this will allow you to play PS2 titles only, but if you have the time you can exploit the Hard Drive in any way you want (play SNES/genesis games, MP3's Movies etc)- all you need is a PC and patience.

For you, i'd recommend searching high and low for a mod chip. It can be cheap, and it'll give you the most capability for the smallest amount of effort. However, if this is too hard to find (modders are treated like drug dealers in some countries - mine included), then i'd go for Swap Magic + Flip top, which is safer than the slide card technique. Its a tricky business, all in all, but i encourage you to persevere with it as i did.

<font color="#345E81" size="1">[ September 13, 2005 06:45 AM: Message edited by: Cataferal ]</font>

[Dreamer7000]

OMG thanks everyone, you guys know something... o_O
I'd myself go for the mod chip, it really is the easiest way, and it'd make my life easier also, but it costs a lot to put it in! $$ at least here in Hungary. I have to stick to that idea, my bro found cheap chips for me before as well. I hope I can make it.

IRT Wiseman: Driver installed nicely and working fine, thanks. I'll go try out the games I've had problems with. *crosses fingers*

<font color="#345E81" size="1">[ September 14, 2005 10:00 AM: Message edited by: Dreamer Hyper ]</font>