Current Events > It's really disappointing how hard it is to make old games work

(+) Yeah! (+)

Some of the greatest and most important games ever released are nearly impossible to play without a hitch. Modern aspect ratios stretch, dont work, or straight up just dont exist, a vast and seemingly random-per-title array of graphical settings can just magically make games eat shit unless turned off completely (Game crashes unless AA is turned off? is an insanely common sight on steam forums), and general bugs abound. For many pre-3D titles, sourceports exist that alleviate these issues, but once you enter the era of true 3D, things exist in a grey area where the only solutions are often half-functional workarounds and shady fan patches.

Right now, for example, Im trying to get Max Payne to work. For most people, the game doesnt even seem to launch; for me, I managed to load up a level, everything works. There are, however, graphical issues; in a modern, widescreen resolution, the game is stretched to an unplayable and comical degree. The solution is a fan patch, which apparently does not fix the HUD or graphic novel panels. I havent even played enough of the game to know if I have any of the reported audio or anti-aliasing issues.

Its frustrating that so many historic games are this difficult to experience. Many of them, while dated in one way or another, still hold up brilliantly if you can make them work, but by the time you do so youll likely have spent so much time fiddling with config files and patches that youll just want to go do something else. It would be amazing if there was a better way, but for most companies its just not profitable to give any attention to these games.

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brump

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I softmodded a PS2 slim to play my old games without wearing out the laser, only to find out it can't show up on my 4K TV in color for some reason, only B&W.

Still depressed over that

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yeah, even emulation isn't always 100% exact

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AvantgardeAClue posted...

I softmodded a PS2 slim to play my old games without wearing out the laser, only to find out it can't show up on my 4K TV in color for some reason, only B&W.

Still depressed over that

I think that has something to do with the input cables you're using. It's a common issue, you could solve it if you googled around I bet

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HylianFox posted...

yeah, even emulation isn't always 100% exact

It's rarely ever 100% authentic, if we want to get pedantic about it. The SNES, for example, had an analogue band pass filter on the sound output that you cannot truly exactly replicate digitally, only get ever closer and closer. But the vast majority of it is good enough.

All I need to see is "M2" and I'll know it's good enough.
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