Forum: Archive (News)
Topic: Sega Arcade goodness finally makes its way onto Playstation 2 Online
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I apologize for the late news post. This should have been posted a few days ago when I first found out, however was swamped with work. Sometimes I must make a post that relates to the overall history of OnlineConsoles, rather than just one specific section. While the news is related to the Playstation 2 at its core, it relates in everyway to OC’s origins and Dreamcast Online gaming. The Dreamcast used to have many online Sega games that originated in Arcades. Games such as Outtrigger, F355 Challenge, Alien Front Online, Virtual On Oratorio Tangram, Sega Rally 2, Sega Tetris Online, and Virtua Tennis. Almost all of these are no longer online, with only Sega AM2’s F355 Challenge and its ghost race online versus mode still functioning.
At the time of this posting, the Playstation 2 has 135 titles online in the US, roughly 100+ in PAL Regions, and around 60-70 in Asia. None of these titles were developed by first party Sega arcade developers. Even worse no games were developed by Sega first party developers at all! One could argue that Visual Concepts was a first party developer. But, they were more or less a division roped in by Sega of America, and not a part of the famous Japanese arcade R&D’s such as AM2, Amusement Vision, Sega Rosso, OverWorks (SegaWoW), Hitmaker, etc etc. ---
When OnlineConsoles first started, the Playstation 2 had less online games available than the Dreamcast in April of 2003. As games started going offline for the Dreamcast, many had bright visions of the future with the PS2. Many hoped Sega would release a legion of online arcade games for the platform. Sadly Sega stayed far away from online gaming on other consoles. They released a grand total of 5 network titles spanning the GameCube and Xbox. The GameCube’s barrage of PSO releases was the most successful; with the Xbox receiving the console derived Sega GT Online, as well as the online functional arcade ports of Outrun 2 and Spikeout Battlestreet. Overall, this was quite saddening to see so few online Sega games in a post Dreamcast era. More importantly, as far as this website is concerned, it was horrible to see the Playstation 2 go this long without an online Sega Arcade game. In Japan getting PS2 games online can be tricky due to the trend of temporary life spans. Games are often put up then taken down a few months later as traffic starts to trail off. How online games are released in Asia versus Europe/North America is completely different. ---
Miraculiously the Playstation 2 is finally getting an Online Sega Arcade game! Outrun 2 and Outrun 2 SP are arcade games both developed by Sega AM2, the famed studio responsible for Virtua Fighter, Virtua Racing, Virtua Cop, F355 Challenge, Outtrigger, 18 Wheeler Pro Trucker, The King of Route 66, and others. So this game coming to Playstation 2 is a Sega gamers dream come true. Outrun 2006, the port of Outrun 2 SP aka Outrun 2 Special Tours is coming to the Playstation 2, PSP, and PC! The game will be online for all 3 platforms! It is great that this game is coming to the PC. For one, this lightens the burden of having to worry about LAN in the Playstation 2 version. I’d nearly chop my arm off to have Outtrigger for the Dreamcast available on the PC to still play online. Plus, if there are any frame rate issues with any of the versions, as graphics cards progress for the PC, the frame rate always smoothes out over time. Outrun 2006 is being ported by Sumo Digital. The same company whom originally ported Outrun 2 to the Xbox. One might wonder why this game is not coming to the Xbox, seeing as how it received the original Outrun 2. Well, the answer to this is pretty obvious. Microsoft is starting to drop support for new releases on the platform in the US. Plus, the original Xbox has had horrific market support in Japan. With the Xbox 360 having questionable backwards compatibility, and Xbox Live using a proprietary network kit, this can make it difficult to bring the game online for multiple platforms. The PC, PS2 and PSP all have an “open” network. Developers are free to choose 1 network kit to integrate into every platform. Outrun 2006: Coast to Coast - Features -all the stages featured in both OutRun2 and OutRun2 SP -courses drivable in the opposite direction -unlockable surprises later in the game -less linear mission structure -'OutRun miles' earned during gameplay can be exchanged in a shop for items -unique unlockables only available on the specific platforms, however they can be purchased on one platform and transferred to the other (PSP / PS2) -Online racing will be available on all platforms and there will be a ranking system -handling control options from both Outrun 2 and Outrun 2 SP are included! -ensuring the quality of the arcade originals transfers across to the new platforms as faithfully as possible I must stress to gamers that the Playstation 2 has a very mixed online network. Some games are cross-region compatible, and others are not. So if you are a PAL gamer looking to jump into Outrun 2006 on the PS2, expecting to play against North Americans, this may or may not be possible. I am hoping Sumo Digital decides to use a GameSpy network kit, and allow 50hz and 60hz on PAL versions so gamers can play online internationally. So far the estimate is that Outrun 2006 will be released sometime in mid-2006. ---
Author Comments: I am very excited about this release, and have been waiting for a long time for this to happen. It is weird that the game is getting released right on the cusp of a new generation of console technology. None-the less I feel this is long overdue. Sometimes good things CAN come to those who wait. (Wow that was so cliché) Note: Replies should be focused on Playstation 2, Dreamcast Online’s arcade history, the Outrun series, and PSP to PS2 connectivity. The Xbox can only be discussed in relation to its original Outrun 2 release. If you are a lurker from the old days of Off-topic looking for another thread to hi-jack for your own agenda, then please look somewhere else. The PSP can only be discussed in relation to its content unlockables via a USB connection to the Playstation 2. (Source Links) Interview at Eurogamer.com http://www.eurogamer.net/article.php?article_id=62337 Last edited by lordnikon on Thu Jan 19, 2006 4:48 pm; edited 1 time in total |
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| _________________ The most effective, in this war? The Bydo have it... and they control it. |
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The PS2-to-PSP connectivity is a load of crap. If Sumo doesn't allow you to somehow get these unlockables by just playing on the PS2 (either make them a large number of 'OutRun miles' or you have to do a difficult task), it could be a situation where using a GameShark or Action Replay may not be frowned upon (provided that the unlockable is buried in PS2 build). I personally have no interest in a PSP nor would I want to buy two copies of the same game, and I know there are others at this site that have adopted the same stance.
Hoping for some improved online play, since the original Xbox release suffered from some framerate issues and choppiness over Xbox Live while playing in a full game. The PC version would probably alleviate all these issues, but I prefer to play over a console whenever possible. Your assessment of the current Xbox situation is pretty spot-on, but I still see releases by third-parties coming this year (Black, Driver: Parallel Lines, Painkiller: Hell Wars), so it's not like Microsoft would of shot Sumo Digital down or forced OutRun 2006 into a 360 release. Just another situation that illustrates the old addage beggers can't be choosers, eh? -Mytho |
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I am not too happy about the PSP-PS2 unlockable content either. I hope it is only superficial material. If entire courses are unlockable then I will be extremely irritated. I shouldn't have to spend 400.00 just to get 100% content out of a video game.
What they should have done is made some ultra mundain taks that you have to do to unlock the special content, and then if you connect the systems, you can unlock it automatically. So basically by owning both systems you get convenience, but nobody is locked out of getting the secret content. I can tell you one thing. I am not succumbing to this and buying a PSP. I won't fall victim to this type of a scam. |
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| _________________ The most effective, in this war? The Bydo have it... and they control it. |
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Hmm... is this LAN support I see? 
DarthS0L wrote:
...Yep, as well as online play, there is the option to play on a local LAN. You've got to really, be silly if you could play the guy next to you over the web, but not locally..." DarthS0L is a employee of Sumo Digitial who has been part of the GameFAQs community since the release of Outrun 2 on the Xbox. He is a regular poster and is credible. -Mytho |
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Where was that posted? And did he confirm LAN before the DNAS screen? and the Playstation 2 version?
Sumo Digital have high standards, atleast thats what I gleaned from that eurogamer article. However now I am posed with a huge new dilemma if this is true. Sega Arcade game? Online? LAN? ..................... new feature forum? I am going to have to figure something out if that is the case, because the forum list is getting slightly out of control. I know I said there would be no need to expand, but this game is the ultimate exception that I never expected to come along. |
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| _________________ The most effective, in this war? The Bydo have it... and they control it. |
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It is a good game. I played Outrun2 on X-Box and Live, and SP in the arcade.
Hope you enjoy the game when it comes out on Ps2. Online is a blast (except for the blasted lag). It's more about cruising and talking, as opposed to racing. |
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| _________________ PM me if you're interested in playing any of the games I currently own! |
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I really pray the game ends up having lobby's with keyboard chat, and then cross region support. That would be the icing on the cake. | |||
| _________________ The most effective, in this war? The Bydo have it... and they control it. |
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Just out of curiosity, how well do you guys think this will run on a PS2/PSP? From my what i know the original arcade release of this was on chihiro arcade hardware (wich was based on the xbox). So will it or wont it be arcade perfect? | |||
| _________________ Pretty music wot i has made: http://grandcanonicalensemble.bandcamp.com/album/two |
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Virtua Fighter 4 EVO, and King of Route 66 were NAOMI 2, and they made it over to the PS2 just fine. Virtua Fighter 4 originally had some serious jaggies. However with the release of EVO, AM2 managed to clear them up considerably. VF4 EVO looks amazing in my opinion.
The thing to remember here, the developer skills that are most important. A game ported from native hardware does have the ability to look near perfect. There is less margin for error because there are very few changes that need to be made in transition. F355 Challenge I have read, runs superb on the Playstation 2. The only major difference being that the PS2 version looks a bit more pixelated because it doesn't have FSA like the Dreamcast does. That being said, developers have managed to "work around" this and smooth out PS2 games considerably. Just look at VF4 vs VF4 EVO as a perfect example. Sumo Digital is a company that clearly has standards for quality. They seem to respect the game and little things that make arcade games so great. At the moment I am confident that the game will reach the Playstation 2 in superb fashion. I am a little nervious about the network code though, seeing as how the xbox version had reported issues with lag. |
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| _________________ The most effective, in this war? The Bydo have it... and they control it. |
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| The only thing I can see being cut is the awesome reflection animations. But otherwise, Outrun2 could run on the Ps2 at an excellent 60 fps with some minor slowdown and jaggies. | ||||
| _________________ PM me if you're interested in playing any of the games I currently own! |
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I am incredibly disappointed that OutRun 2006 will not support USB steering wheels on the PS2. 
How can they makes claims about its arcade feel and authenticity when you can't even use a steering wheel!  |
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Yes it is a shame they arn't supporting the steering wheel. A big oversight.
However, at this stage of the game, I consider us lucky to even get this game released. Lets hope sumo digital adds steering wheel support for the PC version, so atleast that release would be compatible with a wheel. |
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| _________________ The most effective, in this war? The Bydo have it... and they control it. |
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The reason that steering wheel support was nixed is due to a lack of memory. It's not that big of a deal to me, since I play better with the controler nor do I have room for a wheel.
-Mytho |
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Well, I don't know what percent of people play driving games with a gamepad vs steering wheel, but if there is no PS2 steering wheel support...
No steering wheel support = No $$Sale$$ |
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I don't know about you, but I've never seen anyone not buy a racing game because there was no wheel support.
To be honest, I don't know anyone who even cared for a wheel. It'll do good without. |
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| _________________ PM me if you're interested in playing any of the games I currently own! |
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