Have been wondering this for a while. After all, unless the speed is adjusted by the developers (which is rarely the case), PAL (50Hz) is 17% slower than NTSC (60Hz). Especially for shmups, having a game run 17% slower makes a huge difference.
So, shouldn't there be a distinction?
To illustrate my point: The same console game running at 50 and 60Hz:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0xMt_hHiBuI
EDIT: Of course this poll is only about such shmups that actually run slower in PAL mode. For games that run at the same speed a distinction between PAN and NTSC obviously doesn't matter.
Separate Score Tables for PAL Shmups that Run Slower?
Separate Score Tables for PAL Shmups that Run Slower?
Last edited by Ceph on Fri Oct 03, 2008 12:36 pm, edited 2 times in total.
the case of speed adjustment is not that rare - so the poll makes little sense as a generalization. It must be seen for each case.
When PAL is not optimized, yes, there should be separate boards. But does it matter anymore? I mean, 99% of the STGT is done via MAME these days. Serious players even buy PCBs of their favorites. I suspect that the familiar act of inserting a dusty cartridge into a twenty year old plastic box is something that is rarely seen around.
When PAL is not optimized, yes, there should be separate boards. But does it matter anymore? I mean, 99% of the STGT is done via MAME these days. Serious players even buy PCBs of their favorites. I suspect that the familiar act of inserting a dusty cartridge into a twenty year old plastic box is something that is rarely seen around.
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If the difference would be really as big as it sounds, our score boards would be dominated by people playing 60Hz games on PAL consoles. Yet somehow they aren't, so it really seems to be a non-issue.
Additionally, it only affects the twitch-gaming aspects of any given game, and these are largely irrelevant for scoring. Seperate score boards would mark a new peak in an already hyper-anal field. You could as well make seperate tables for different autofire rates (e.g. Darius Gaiden), which actually affect the gameplay much more, because the advantage is completely on the player's side, as oppsed to a whole game (including the player ship movements) running a wee bit slower.
Additionally, it only affects the twitch-gaming aspects of any given game, and these are largely irrelevant for scoring. Seperate score boards would mark a new peak in an already hyper-anal field. You could as well make seperate tables for different autofire rates (e.g. Darius Gaiden), which actually affect the gameplay much more, because the advantage is completely on the player's side, as oppsed to a whole game (including the player ship movements) running a wee bit slower.
how do you force UD (a native 60Hz-game) to be displayed in 50Hz?Ceph wrote:Try playing Under Defeat with a PAL DC.
The game becomes much easier when played at 50Hz; a pretty unfair advantage.
afaii every ntsc-import runs @60Hz on a pal-DC (only pal-releases have the option to switch between 50/60Hz, don't they?)
^^
Some of those disks that allow you to play imports, slow the games down to 50Hz.
Anyway, maybe there should be a rule that you must use 60Hz on PAL games that have that option?
I'm not that bothered myself, but it does seem to make a huge difference playing 17% slower to me. Messing around with MAME, I can notice a difference in difficulty just by making a game run five frames slower, it definitely gives an advantage.
Some of those disks that allow you to play imports, slow the games down to 50Hz.
Anyway, maybe there should be a rule that you must use 60Hz on PAL games that have that option?
I'm not that bothered myself, but it does seem to make a huge difference playing 17% slower to me. Messing around with MAME, I can notice a difference in difficulty just by making a game run five frames slower, it definitely gives an advantage.
