The Spot 082001

By Miguel Lopez

With Shane at Space World, and The Spot quickly turning into video gaming's equivalent of Ann Landers, it was clear to us that the show must go on. So Shane came up with a dopey poll (dopey because it was made with our faces) and had you vote for your favorite editor to cover for him. I was chosen. I'm not sure whether I should thank you or punch Gerald for rigging the poll. In any event, I've tried my best to answer your many questions. I hope I've done a good job. Rest assured: If preview coverage falters this week, it's all your fault.

Thank you for voting for me. I'm happy to serve.

Send questions to thespot@gamespot.com.

08/20/2001

Get a job

Hi,

I am 16 and I would like to know how I can get into the video gaming industry. I love playing video games. You know, like produce games, develop them, or just help with the characters. Thank you for your time.

PS2 RULES!

-Vildana


It all depends on what route you want to take. If you want to develop games, you're better off if you choose a specialization early on and work at it for a long time. By specialization, I mean the precise field you want to get into, be it art, programming, sound design, and the like. There are a whole bunch of Web resources out there that could help you in this regard, many of which welcome curious newbies. Here are a couple: Gamedev.net, and Gamasutra. Both of these sites offer FAQs or forums geared toward would-be developers, and they contain a bunch of useful articles as well. Good luck to you.

You'll get Worms

Hi,

I read somewhere that Worms Blast was coming to the Game Boy Advance and saw on Team 17's website that Worms World Party was too, but I haven't heard anything about them since. Are they still coming out for the GBA? If so when do you expect the ports?

Thanks

-Anonymous


Yep, Team 17 recently announced that Worms Blast is coming to the GameCube, Game Boy Advance, and the PS2. Expect more concrete info soon, though current reports state it as coming out this fall.

Techniquez

Hello, I just had a few questions regarding screen shots, game music, and gameplay movies.

I. How do you get screen shots of PlayStation and PS2 games? Can you connect it to a computer with some kind of cable, or with some kind of software?

II. How do game companies make gameplay videos of console games? They probably run it on a computer, but how do you record the segments?

III. How do you guys get videos of games? If they are shown at a show, do you just record with a digital camera? How did you get all of the videos on GameSpot?

IV. How could you record the music of a game? I want to make a CD of Metal Gear Solid (PS) music. How could I get the songs to my PC?

Thanks for your time, and for making the best gaming source of any kind.

-Gray Fox


Gray--

What's up, sir? Here's a list, right back at you:

I. You'll need a video capture card for your PC. It has audio and video inputs that allow you to connect any such signals for it to capture. Movies are big, though, so make sure you have lots of hard-drive space.

II. Most game companies use a technique similar to the one mentioned above. Most console development systems, though, interface directly with PCs, making capturing actual gameplay as easy as debugging the code.

III. We have a pretty nice setup back in our A/V room. The guys use PCs set up with capture cards, along with DV (digital video) decks on which the raw footage is recorded. We connect the consoles to the DV decks and play the games we want movies and screens of. Then we go through the raw footage and capture the sequences we want to our hard drives. Finally, we edit everything, and the final product is the movies you download from the site. When at tradeshows, we sometimes use cameras to capture footage off of the screen. But as the quality of footage obtained that way is sometimes sketchy, we try to avoid it whenever possible.

IV. You'll need to connect your PlayStation to your soundcard's line-in input, boot up some audio-recording software, and proceed to go nuts. Most likely, though, you'll need to get an RCA adaptor to get the signal to cooperate--you can find one at any Radio Shack-type place. The adaptor fits into the skinny line-in input and allows you to connect the red and white audio cables to it.

Shady

Hola Shane,

I've seen that there are some Game Boy Advance ROMs available on the Internet these days, and you can play them with an emulator on your PC (i.e. Visualboy Advance). Right now, GBA emulators are in early development so games play at a bad frame rate and sometimes with no sound.

So, I was thinking, do you know if it's possible to re-write Game Boy Advance cartridges with other GBA ROMs?

Maybe with the proper equipment you could re-write an existing cart (or a piece of EPROM inserted in a plastic case) with another ROM. Do you know of any websites with information on this?

Thank you very much.

-Fernando Garcia


Digame, Anthony--

There's no way to practically rewrite any GBA cart. Flash carts exist, though you didn't hear this from us. Most allow you to burn single ROM images onto them at any given time, which you can then plug into a GBA and play without a problem. They're frequently used by the GBC/GBA hobbyist community to play-test their creations, as well as commercial developers, which is what we assume you're after them for. Remember the legal issues involved with this sort of thing, though--people have gotten in serious trouble over ROM piracy.

Fan-eater

Hey Shane (or if Shane is at Space World, hey whoever)--

I come here a lot for updates on PS2 and I'm keeping my eye on Xbox. My question is, why all the fighting? It seems every time new screen shots are released for some water racing game or whatever for the Xbox first, the Xbox fans get there and say it will rule and put Sony out of business (which by the way is darn near impossible because Sony doesn't only make games). And then, the Sony fans get there and say PS2 rules forever and Xbox will be put out of business, and then the GameCube fans come in and tell everyone that some fighting game with cartoon characters is better then MGS. Why?? Why does this atmosphere of anticipation for the GameCube and Xbox bring out the worst in gamers? It seems they want to have the other systems go out of business, when they don't realize that keeping three systems in the market could very well revitalize the market and create a crapload of cash for more developments!

-Anonymous


Word. The truth is, a healthy industry is good for everyone--the gamers get good games, the developers are allowed opportunities to make great games, and the journalists develop mad amphetamine addictions. Here's how I like to think about the phenomenon of the console fan: Very much like a sports fan, the console fan is excited by the opportunity to extol the object of his or her devotion, while putting down its rivals. Put an Xbox fan in front of Rogue Leader (or, conversely, a GameCube fan in front of Halo), and you'll likely see them mouth off quite a bit. Sit them down in front of a competitor's impressive game in private, though, and they'll likely play it like mad. So my advice is to not take the fanboys too seriously; they very seldom have anything interesting to say. If they really cared about Sony (or Microsoft or Nintendo), they'd realize that a fat market will, in the end, benefit everyone involved in the industry, right down to the end user.

PS2 rules

Hey Shane,

Recently, I was reading an article on a fan site that said that there are certain PSOne games that the PS2 is not compatible with. There were many games listed, including Tomba!, Mortal Kombat Trilogy, and worst of all, Final Fantasy Anthology. This definitely confuses me because I thought that the PS2 has all the capabilities of the PSOne, as well as all of its extra features and abilities. So is this true or not? Hope not...

Thanks a lot,

-Stiltzkin


Yeah, due to some crazy bugs, a lot of PSOne games don't work. I've seen people playing Mortal Kombat Trilogy on their PS2s, though, so I'm inclined to believe that it's more of a case-by-case basis. For a full list of known incompatibilities, check here.

A whole bunch of video games

Hey Shane. This is my first time writing to The Spot, but I have read it before. Now I am addicted to it; I love reading it! Your site rocks! (Where is your main office--I want to meet you guys!) Now to the point: I have a few questions to ask you. First, will PSO on GameCube be the equivalent to PSO ver.2 on the DC? I know though that there will be two new characters in the PSO on GC. Also, will Devil May Cry be on Xbox (just wondering if you happen to know)? Also, is there a chance that FFXI and FFXII will be on the GC? You might not know this, but will the GTA3 on Xbox be different/better than the GTA3 on PS2? Because the graphics on PS2 suck! They are so horrible; at least that's what I think. Last but not least (at least for now!), what do you think will be the best system, gamewise (as to which system will have better games or a more [fun] game variety)? Thanks. Don't lose the great touch to your site. See you. I am pretty sure I'll write to you again! Bye!

-Pranav


Pranav-- Thanks. I'll tell Shane he's the man for you, when he returns. Although, he probably already knows that. PSO for the GameCube will feature all the Version 2 enhancements, as well as a bunch more. We'll know more after Space World, no doubt. As for DMC on the Xbox, I'd count on it, despite Capcom's halfhearted realization (up to now) of its grand multiplatform plans. Still, I'd say it's a no-brainer. As for FFXI and FFXII on GCN, that would be an interesting turn of events, wouldn't it? Sakaguchi has expressed his willingness to work on the platform; it's all up to Yamaguchi to squash the beef. And yeah, the Xbox version of GTA will likely have better graphics, in that they'll be much sharper. You're probably complaining about their low poly counts, which is something that even Redmond's black technology can't remedy--given the amount of madness going on onscreen at any given time, in GTA 3, more-detailed models are probably unfeasible. Still, look at the lighting effects! Mad style, son!

I want my GCN

Shane,

I've been asking around a lot and no one seems to know the answer. Do you have any idea when official GameCube preorders will start? The sales clerk in Electronics Boutique didn't know and Nintendo hasn't gotten back to me yet. I was just wondering, because I want to make sure I get one on launch day. Thanks in advance.

-John


At the risk of sounding like a broken record: Wait until after Space World. Nintendo hasn't allowed retailers to start raking orders in yet, and it probably won't until the console's launch looms a bit closer. If I had to guess, I'd say early October.

Pipe-bombs

Dear GameSpot,

First, I wanted to compliment you on your excellent website. I frequently check it during the day, and have been scolded more than once by my boss, who's wandered by to find me checking the latest PlayStation 2 information instead of working. The site is a gamer's guilty pleasure.

At the same time, I'm writing to inquire about something a little more substantial. Video games have frequently been the target of politicians and the like for inspiring violence, deviance, and other unsavory behaviors. I find this to be completely unfounded. However, more legislation is constantly being introduced (or at least threatened to be) that will hinder the gaming industry, and more of it looks as though it's going to pass. As a result, I've grown quite concerned that the hobby I enjoy might soon be taken away from me.

I was wondering if there were any lobbyist groups or organizations that are fighting to preserve the rights of the video gamer. While this might sound grandiose, I believe that we need nothing less. I, like many gamers, am in my twenties, a taxpayer, a regular voter...and I'm married to boot. I'm not some anarchist teenager who only turns off the games to construct pipe bombs. I find the generalization, repeatedly being made by politicians, that games create monsters, to be offensive.

I am not a ticking time bomb. I am John Q. Taxpayer.

Anyway, I was wondering if these organizations existed...and if they did, I'd like more information. Thanks for reading this, and if you need to post it, I understand if it must be edited for length.

Sincerely Concerned,

-K.N.F.


Dear taxpayer--

Thanks for the propers. The Interactive Digital Software Association (or IDSA: http://www.idsa.com) is the group you want to check out. And I hear you; I'm not a ticking time bomb either, nor are most of the gamers I know. Those that are were so before they ever knew what a cacodemon was. Given the current, ahem, political climate, though, I wouldn't be surprised to see a good bit of fundamentalist insanity manifesting itself. But I have faith in the eventual intelligence and clout of the games industry, and I feel that the worst that these enemy forces can muster will amount to nothing but a small hurdle, in the long run. The support of upstanding citizens such as you can only help gaming get the legitimacy it wholly deserves. Keep the faith.

Scarred!

Hey guys, I have a question. How do you get a (Lamborghini) Diablo GT in Gran Turismo 3? It would make me very happy if you have the answer or could help me find it. Thank you very much for your time.

-Anonymous


Looks like you're out of gas, son. Our own resident GT3 head owns a garage full of F1 cars, and he has yet to even see an in-game Diablo. Perhaps the early videos depicting one in action was full of wishful thinking on Sony's part. Certain licenses, you see, are pretty hard to get--Lamborghini's among them. It wouldn't surprise us if one wasn't available. In any event, to our knowledge, there is no Lamborghini Diablo GT in GT3.

Delltron 2005

I have a friend who claims he saw an article in a magazine fairly recently that exposed details of a new gaming system being developed by Dell. Can you confirm or dispel this rumor, please?

-Anonymous


We've heard nothing of the sort and would be very surprised to learn of any such developments. A fourth console from a well-known PC manufacturer is just what the industry needs, though.

Thank heavens

Wasuuuuuppppp!

I've been to my local arcade lately and I played Midway's Offroad Thunder, which is amazing. That's the kind of game for the arcades, but I saw in PlayStation magazine that it's coming to the PS2. I can't find any information on it, so please help me!

-Brandon Scott


Midway representatives say nay, sir. Your magazine was lying to you. That is unless Midway was lying to us, which isn't impossible. Who shall you believe?

Sega sold out

Hey,

I have a quick question. I have been hearing many rumors that Sega is going to stop making Dreamcast games. Is that true? I have heard that Sega is going to start making games for other platforms, but does this mean that they are going to stop the production of DC games? I hope not. I think the DC is one of the best systems ever, and that it would be crazy to stop making games for it. Please email me back ASAP.

-Steve Radomsky


Sega has stated that it will continue to support the Dreamcast so long as demand remains strong. We interpret this to mean that the stream of games will die out after this Christmas. All is not lost, though--there is a huge hobbyist community out there that has vowed to continue developing software for it indefinitely. And these hardware cults are not to be underestimated. Sega itself has recently opened up Dreamcast development to any who want it, so the sky's the limit for these home-brewers. Type "Dreamcast development" into a search engine, and you'll find a wealth of stuff.

PS2 to PC?

Hi. I just wanted to ask why only some video games for the PS2 and other game consoles are ever made for the PC? Some games would work really well for the PC. I would really like to see Gran Turismo 3: A-Spec on the PC.

Thanks,

-Matt


There are a lot of reasons, actually, but most of it has to do with different audiences. The people who play PC games don't necessarily like console games, and vice versa. Still, there are certain games that manage to transcend this sort of boundary, and Gran Turismo 3 certainly is one of them. However, it would be against Sony's best interest to release it for the PC--it wants PS2 owners to be the only group capable of playing the flagship game, and releasing it for the PC will seriously limit the effect of this. Still, many upcoming games have touted their cross-platform compatibility. We'll see what the future brings.

So that's it for today! Send your questions to the usual address, and pray for kinder Internet weather: thespot@gamespot.com!