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OG Xbox Forums => Hardware Forums => Xbox Audio/Video Technical => Topic started by: fubarduck on September 04, 2004, 08:33:00 PM

Title: Ggx2: Reload, Major 480p Glitch! Workaround?
Post by: fubarduck on September 04, 2004, 08:33:00 PM

As I outlined in the following thread HERE, the import version of Guilty Gear XX: #Reload for X-Box has a bug in which enabling 480p stretches the game well beyond its intended aspect ratio.  As a result, most of the edges are cut off, the characters/backgrounds/life displays are stretched, etc.  Basically, it looks like the "Zoom" function of an HDTV was enabled on this game permenantly while 480p is on.  Well, I tried to suggest for Majesco (the company bringing the game to the US) to fix it, but of course they refused to.

First of all, before anyone tries stating the obvious, I know what I'm talking about.  I have played tons and tons of games on my X-Box in progressive scan, and even done comparisons with 480p enabled and disabled on several other games.  The only game affected is Guilty Gear XX: #Reload, so it is not a problem with the overscan on my TV, or the factory settings with 480p enabled, etc.

As proof:  here are some pictures taken by a Majesco employee, proving that the problem still exists in the U.S. version:

http://majescogames.com/480/norm_big.jpg
Here's what the game normally looks like, running in 480i.  Notice how a little piece of each character is cut off on the edge.  This is a normal part of the game, though.

http://majescogames.com/480/high_bigger.jpg
And here's the game with 480p enabled.  Notice that a LARGE portion of each character is cut off in the corner.  It pretty much makes the game unplayable,  because if you're stuck in the corner you can't even tell what's going on.

Anyway, the US version of Guilty Gear X2: #Reload is coming out on X-Box this Wednesday (09/08/04) and I'm now seeking solutions for possible workarounds to play the game correctly in progressive scan, with no stretching of the game's graphics.  Yes, I could just disable 480p, run the game, and then re-enable 480p every time I'm done playing, but I'm a perfectionist and that's way too much work to play a game every time.

So, here are some possible solutions I have been outlining in my head:

1) Someone could write a patch to remove the problematic 480p resolution from the game.  So, whenever I wanted to play on my X-Box, I wouldn't have to change settings every time.

2) Even better, someone could write a patch to FIX the problematic 480p resolution.  All that would have to be done is to squish the screen a little bit to mimic the normal aspect ratio like when 480p is off.  I am nothing more than a game enthusiast, so I lack the skills to make such a patch, but perhaps someone knows how to fix a problem this simple.

HOWEVER!  These solutions only apply to the modded side of an X-Box.  As many know, this game comes with LIVE support.  So, what about when I want to play the game on LIVE?  Is there any simpler way to do it than disabling 480p in the dashboard, playing the game, then re-enabling it when I'm finished?  Here are some more possible solutions (again, don't know if these are possible, I'm just providing ideas):

1) Could there possibly be an EEPROM patch such that 480p is disabled for only one particular game?  This way, I would be forced to play in 480i (which sucks) but at least the game wouldn't be stretched.

2) Could there possibly be a -SIGNED- save file for the game such that the 480p resolution is adjusted back to normal?  This way, the save file would load on my unmodded BIOS and I would have 480p + no stretching.

3) Last solution I am thinking: I could buy a component video splitter, and splice the X-Box's signal to two different component inputs on the back of my HDTV.  I could borrow my friend (who is ISF certified) to calibrate the unused component input's 480p mode just to fix the overly stretched GGX2: #Reload.  So, whenever I was using my X-Box normally, I would leave it on the component input that I already have it on now.  But, whenever I played GGX2: #Reload, I would just have to hit TV-Video on my TV's remote, then I'll have my video input with my HDTV's factory settings modified to squish the stretched 480p.

Option 3 here is the most realistic and possible, but 1 and 2 seem like longshots to me.  Does anyone else have suggestions?  (Besides disabling 480p in my dashboard every time.  I DON'T want to do that).

Phew!  Well, that's about the extent of things right now.  As a big Guilty Gear fan, I would like to play the US version of the game perfectly, even if it requires heavy modifications.  I would love to hear any suggestions as to what could be done--anything for the modded OR unmodded side of my X-Box would be helpful.

Title: Ggx2: Reload, Major 480p Glitch! Workaround?
Post by: fubarduck on September 15, 2004, 11:19:00 PM

Now that the game is out, do people see what I'm talking about?  I think the most helpful thing would be if someone discovered a hex edit or made a patch to fix the buggy 480p.  If anyone can do something like that, please do a favor for the fighting game scene and do so.

Title: Ggx2: Reload, Major 480p Glitch! Workaround?
Post by: The Axledental DJ on September 19, 2004, 08:44:00 PM

I've had the NTSC Japanese Import of GGXX #Reload for a while now, and yes I noticed the 480P glitch, although I didnt bother me as much.. But lets hope since Sammy knows about it and that they will NOT Repeat their mistake on GG XX:Isuka for the XBOX in December!!! There is a PC version of GGXX #Reload..

This post has been edited by The Axledental DJ: Sep 20 2004, 03:46 AM

Title: Ggx2: Reload, Major 480p Glitch! Workaround?
Post by: Kleath on September 24, 2004, 02:14:00 PM

bump to help fubarduck, and Im curious as well...

Title: Ggx2: Reload, Major 480p Glitch! Workaround?
Post by: Dreamcazman on September 25, 2004, 02:04:00 AM

To be honest, I didn't really notice the problem when playing it in 480p. Once I read this thread, I tried it in interlaced mode and 480p does stretch it out sideways. I can see how it can be annoying for someone who is passionate about the game.

I personally would rather play it in progressive than interlaced and put up with the slight stretching. A fix would be nice though.

Title: Ggx2: Reload, Major 480p Glitch! Workaround?
Post by: fubarduck on September 25, 2004, 09:22:00 AM

QUOTE (Dreamcazman @ Sep 25 2004, 09:36 AM)

To be honest, I didn't really notice the problem when playing it in 480p. Once I read this thread, I tried it in interlaced mode and 480p does stretch it out sideways. I can see how it can be annoying for someone who is passionate about the game. I personally would rather play it in progressive than interlaced and put up with the slight stretching. A fix would be nice though.

The stretching isn't slight at all.  The extent to which it is stretched with the glitch makes the game strategically unplayable at high levels.  You HAVE to be able to see the chibi-version characters in the upper-left and right hand corners in order to block some patterns (when there is too much on the screen, or when something covers up the character on the main screen).  Additionally, attacking and blocking in the corner becomes totally different because it is much more difficult to even see what moves the cornered opponent is doing.  Finally, the distortion makes distancing and zoning impossible to a veteran of the game.  For those of us who want to take the game seriously, there must be a fix before 480p can be used at all.

Title: Ggx2: Reload, Major 480p Glitch! Workaround?
Post by: Jimi_84 on November 29, 2004, 12:02:00 PM

Have the same problem as well but with my x2vga it looks like it's using x2vga's "screen stretch" function, so I thought the game is interlanced