Converting NTSC to PAL replays and vice versa
...just doesn't work.
A replay is a small file (usually 20 to 30 kb for .max saves) which only contains information about the combo :
- the car name
- the car parts and settings
- the track name
and all actions on the pad or wheel controls with their exact timing :
- gas pedal
- brake pedal
- hand brake
- gears
- NOS
No other information is stored in the replay and mainly :
- no car speed
- no car position
Thus, when you load a replay in the replay manager or the data logger, the game has to process all this information to actually build a viewable replay.
The replay is not like a video file !
You could convert a PAL replay (.xps) to NTSC format (.sps), or the other way around. (I had done it a few times in GT3), and the game would then accept to read the file.
But the interpretation of all stored data (gas, brake...) would be done at the wrong framerate (understand 'frequency') and you would actually see the correct car on the correct track, but all actions would be performed at the wrong moment.
For instance the car would brake a few meters too soon, turn before the corner, thus hit the wall, accelerate again while blocked by the wall...
That would be funny, of course, but of no use to see the actual replay you were expecting to see.
The only way for PAL players to watch an NTSC replay (or vice versa) is to convert a replay into a video file with some camera or screen capture device
Hope all this explanation makes sense.
