Need help identifying this game (Raystorm)

[dunpeal2064]

I was browsing around the local flea market, and came across a copy of Raystorm. It is disc only and was in a cd holder laying in a pile of stuff.

I bought it immediatly, and at a 2nd glance noticed that it is a PAL version. So, I decided to look it up online, and none of the PAL discs look like mine.

So basically, the entire disc is pink, and it looks like it has a giveaway of some sort on it. Something like, "win $10,000" is whats written.

I have no way to play the game atm, and am just trying to identify it so I can properly trade it away. lol.

[ZOM]

That can't be a PAL version. Sounds more like the NTSC-U version Workind designs published; they did a contest for it and the winner got $10,000.

[BulletMagnet]

There was a contest, but I don't remember the disc being all pink.

[Bloodreign]

Looking at my US copy, the disc is blue with the ship, the blue being the sky, not a shade of pink at all other than the Spaz and Working Designs label.

[dunpeal2064]

I tried to get a better pic but my camera fails. It does say PAL underneath the playstation label, where my other games say ntsc-u.
It is in good condition, but will not play on my american ps2

[StarCreator]

Is the logo really cut off like that? That's either a bootleg or the craziest silkscreening error I've ever seen.

Does the disc run in a PS2 emulator with a PAL BIOS?

[dunpeal2064]

I don't know, where might I find one of those?

Also, the label is textured, and if it is a bootleg, its a really well done one.

And on the flipside of the disc, in the silver ring closest to the clear center, it says raystorm

EDIT: just noticed that it also says Signature Series on the bottom right side, although the word series is also cut off

[ex.machina]

Judging from the disc, I'd guess it's actually a bootleg.

[BPzeBanshee]

I have copies of Windows 98 and 2000 Server lying around the house somewhere with covers almost just like those (but no colour). I'd say they're bootlegged.

[gundamalpha]

Definitely bootleg, I have seen too many of them

[SFKhoa]

Yeah, that's definitely bootleg. No question about it.

[dunpeal2064]

Ah ok. Thanks guys. Least it only cost me a dollar. lol

[Ed Oscuro]

By the way, your photo came out bad because you were trying to focus closer than your camera will allow. You probably have to stand a ways further for it to come out sharp. If you have a zoom lens on the camera, some focal lengths (i.e. from wide to telescopic - and inbetween) might let you get closer than others. Find your manual.

[JGcontraman]

RayCrisis > RayStorm

[dunpeal2064]

Ah ok, I will try that with the camera next time.

I haven't played Raycrisis only Raystorm, but it looks awesome

[szycag]

Rayforce > Raystorm > Raycrisis

[JGcontraman]

I haven't played Force but Crisis is most certainly better than Storm, a hundred fucking times better.

[null1024]

I haven't played Force but Crisis is most certainly better than Storm, a hundred fucking times better.

RayForce is the best, then RayCrisis, then RayStorm. All are good, but the quality shifts between the three are massive.

[PC Engine Fan X!]

Yep, Working Designs had a $10,000 contest for it's 1st Spaz labelled RayStorm game. I managed to send in a VHS tape of my highest score to them and waited to see what would happen. Fast forward to early 1998, got a package from Working Designs. Wasn't expecting it but hey, it's gotta be something inside. Proceeded to open it up and lo behold, a brand new colorful RayStorm mouse pad and a letter. The letter stated that I didn't win the grand prize and to accept this mouse pad as a consolation prize. Still have the cool WD emblazeoned RayStorm mouse pad to this day.

I used one of those Asciiware PSX arcade sticks for scoring/entering this WD Raystorm contest. When WD finally had another $10,000 contest for RayCrisis PSX game, I entered it as well. But no consolation prize that 2nd time around.

If you have a PSX Goldfinger cheat device, it's possible to play PAL PSX games on a NTSC-U PSX console (assuming your PSX has a Parallel Port I/O installed on the back)...just have to implement a special command with the installed hack device and it'll work (although, you'd need access to a monitor that would be able to display in both NTSC and PAL video formats -- a Commordore 14" Amiga 1080 RGB monitor can accept both video formats with ease). Or another alternative would to access to one of those old school TV monitors with an RF input as the only means of video input (that hail from the mid to late 1980s), those TVs can accept either NTSC or PAL format but you'd need access to an PSX RF adapter. Sony made two different PSX RF adapters, one for the original PSX console & another variant for the later produced PSX consoles (that did not come with dedicated A/V output phono jacks on the backside of said console).

Just for kicks, I downgraded the S-Video output from my Supergun setup running Raiden Fighters into a S-Video to RCA composite video adapter and from there, fed the composite video into a RF switchbox adapter and fed the RF signal into an old-school 19" Tenika CRT monitor that had the only sole input was RF input at best -- it was able to properly display Raiden Fighters SP1 cart without any problems nor any scrolling screen problems either. Picture was stable and solid.

PC Engine Fan X! ^_~

[ZOM]

Who was the winner again? I thought it's a member here... or one of the old board?

[dunpeal2064]

Sorry for the late reply on this. So is this disc pretty much trash? I have Taito Legends 2 to play this game on so I have no need for it really. lol.

[BIL]

The PS1 port's arrange mode is pretty interesting if you're a big fan of the game, and it's not on the PS2 (although the PS2 one is the better port). I'm pretty sure it's in both the NTSCJ and US versions of RayStorm.

Don't know how well that boot actually plays, of course, but I keep my PS1 copy for it.

[dunpeal2064]

Ah, didn't know of that other arrange mode. I am not sure if I enjoy the game enough to go through the work of playing it on my little POS compy. Oh well, I'll toss it in a cd holder for the shmup collection. lol.

[R-Gray 1]

Rayforce > Raystorm > Raycrisis

Im agree...or maybe Raystorm>= Rayforce

Rayforce is the most complicated ( not mention the game in Taito memories, infinite lives or continues sucks)

raycrisis looks very good, but not all is good graphics.
i like a lot raystorm for its soundtrakc and fun.

i woul like to know who won that price ...


does any body beat the 13 ship mode ?????

pd: im talking about sega saturn rayforce, psx raycrisis and raystorm

[BIL]

( not mention the game in Taito memories, infinite lives or continues sucks)

Taito Memories II Joukan's Rayforce doesn't give the player infinite lives, it gives three by default. Once they're gone you can just not continue, and your score gets reset either way. Same goes for any shooter port that doesn't limit credits.

Also, Saturn Rayforce gives out extra lives twice as frequently as the arcade version. For some stupid reason it can't be set to arcade level. Again, TM2J lets you use the arcade defaults.

[R-Gray 1]

( not mention the game in Taito memories, infinite lives or continues sucks)

Taito Memories II Joukan's Rayforce doesn't give the player infinite lives, it gives three by default. Once they're gone you can just not continue, and your score gets reset either way. Same goes for any shooter port that doesn't limit credits.

Also, Saturn Rayforce gives out extra lives twice as frequently as the arcade version. For some stupid reason it can't be set to arcade level. Again, TM2J lets you use the arcade defaults.

maybe my memory fails
i dont like in TM2J rayforce screen is small , but i dont know how looks exactly in saturn console , i played in emulator and i think was full screen) and the infinite continues in TM2J is bad.

i will check it these days in my ps2 about arcade defaults.

i need to play again rayforce because last shmups i was playing were
Ikaruga
radiant silvergun
Mushihimesama ( a little time )


BTW I liked a lot Raystorm ( my avatar lol )
arcade, extra mode, 13 ships mode, music, stages.
was my first Shmup in Playstation ( 1999 i guess )

[BulletMagnet]

i dont like in TM2J rayforce screen is small

If memory serves tate mode is available in the second batch of Taito Memories collections (but not the first).

[TrevHead (TVR)]

This is going slightly off topic but Ive heard rumours of a beta of a 2D sequel to rayforce that was scrapped infavour of the 2 3D sequels. Whats it called? is it available on the net? is it playable or in a near finished state? Anygood?

[BIL]

i dont like in TM2J rayforce screen is small

If memory serves tate mode is available in the second batch of Taito Memories collections (but not the first).

It is. I had quite a time narrowing that one down, credit goes to Ghegs.

Saturn Rayforce is chopped-down to fit the screen in yoko mode, which makes locking on to some enemies impossible. You need to put your TV on its side and play in tate to get the full screen and maximum points. TM2J displays the full picture in yoko, as well as featuring tate (rotates both ways, too).

About the unlimited credits; if you don't want them, don't use them. It's as simple as that! Or look at it this way... if you're exhausting the five credits the Saturn version gives, you still need practice. Just use the same amount on the PS2, until you can clear the game without continuing.

i will check it these days in my ps2 about arcade defaults.

Rayforce arcade defaults = Difficulty normal, Lives 3, Extends at 1 million and 2 million points. TM2J uses these settings by default. Saturn version is stuck with the first extend at 500k - not sure how it goes from there.

This is going slightly off topic but Ive heard rumours of a beta of a 2D sequel to rayforce that was scrapped infavour of the 2 3D sequels. Whats it called? is it available on the net? is it playable or in a near finished state? Anygood?

R-Gear. As far as I know it's never surfaced in any playable state, online or off.

[R-Gray 1]

i dont like in TM2J rayforce screen is small

If memory serves tate mode is available in the second batch of Taito Memories collections (but not the first).

It is. I had quite a time narrowing that one down, credit goes to Ghegs.

Saturn Rayforce is chopped-down to fit the screen in yoko mode, which makes locking on to some enemies impossible. You need to put your TV on its side and play in tate to get the full screen and maximum points. TM2J displays the full picture in yoko, as well as featuring tate (rotates both ways, too).

About the unlimited credits; if you don't want them, don't use them. It's as simple as that! Or look at it this way... if you're exhausting the five credits the Saturn version gives, you still need practice. Just use the same amount on the PS2, until you can clear the game without continuing.

i will check it these days in my ps2 about arcade defaults.

Rayforce arcade defaults = Difficulty normal, Lives 3, Extends at 1 million and 2 million points. TM2J uses these settings by default. Saturn version is stuck with the first extend at 500k - not sure how it goes from there.

This is going slightly off topic but Ive heard rumours of a beta of a 2D sequel to rayforce that was scrapped infavour of the 2 3D sequels. Whats it called? is it available on the net? is it playable or in a near finished state? Anygood?

R-Gear. As far as I know it's never surfaced in any playable state, online or off.

turn the tv r? ...well i know many games have that option.

and its not the same infinite continues to less continues.
Im talking about people who play for first time in ps2 or in sega saturn.

im not only a shooter gamer, i used to play diferent games, not time to try to beat it without continues, or to practice playing like a robot ( memorizing all the game)

sorry to people who felt bad when i used that adjective to reffer TM2J

Now these days im going to check TM2J screen options in rayforce