PAL vs. NTSC

[Morbinion]

Hi. I'm new to the board and I don't know if this question has come up earlier, but here's the deal.

I'm Swedish and I run the European PAL version of GT3. I recently started competing on a different board and mainly against americans playing the NTSC version. I beat almost every record time set and finally some people started to wonder about this (duh!). Then a couple of racers said that since the PAL version was released later than the NTSC, PD had had done some additional alterations that somehow improved the physical handling of the cars.

Now I wonder if anyone has some hard facts about this or knows anything about these alterations at all. I don't know how you organize your competitions. If you have separated PAL races from NTSC or how it's done.

Any information would be useful. Thanks!

 

[Sage]

Hmmm... that's nothing I've ever heard. For good, solid information on the differences between the NTSC/PAL versions, you'd probably want to ask Famine. AFAIK, there is a very slight difference, but not having to do with the later release of the PAL version... I think it has to do with the whole screen refresh rate difference between the two, but I don't know anything beyond that. It shouldn't make much of a difference at all... maybe hundredths of a second?

BTW, you should try out our various OLR forums.

 

[Kent]

Go do the weekly race.

Follow the rules and start with regestration.

Differences between pal and ntsc... I don't think what your talking about is part of the actual differences, but I could be wrong.

Good luck and enjoy the race.

 

[Morbinion]

I have no intention of starting racing here. Anyway since many races are backed up with replays, I have nothing to give as proof of my times. All I can back my times up with are a shot of the best lap time (using my buddys cellphone). I could get a replay but that would involve a DV camera and that's too much of a hassle.

And since I'm the kind of guy who has to go all out I would either have to compete in all races or in none, and I think I would have serious problems in my studies if I entered in all races =)

 

[Kent]

Right on, oh well... have fun and good luck with your question. Im sure the all knowledgeable famine will have your answers.

Welcome to the gtp... cya around.

 

[Morbinion]

Thanks for the welcome.

I will start racing seriously when GT4 arrives since it will be easier to keep track off times and so on. And there will be no need to upload replays which benefits everyone.

 

[HsV_CoUpE]

Originally posted by Morbinion
Thanks for the welcome.

I will start racing seriously when GT4 arrives since it will be easier to keep track off times and so on. And there will be no need to upload replays which benefits everyone.

yes i can't wait for online play, hoorah for online play

 

[Kent]

Indeed hoorah for online, but... Please don't let it be broadband only.

Im a slave to 56k, so I ask the god above, please, Let it be 56k!

 

[HsV_CoUpE]

I am fellow 56K user and will probably have to go for the cheapest broadband conection in a 128K conection...unfortunetly us 56k users get assed by theese broadband snobs

 

[Morbinion]

I'm happy that the swedish government has prioritized internet access. I sit on a 8 dl/1 ul MBit line =)

 

[HsV_CoUpE]

Originally posted by Morbinion
I'm happy that the swedish government has prioritized internet access. I sit on a 8 dl/1 ul MBit line =)

i have no idea what that is

 

[Morbinion]

well it's a VDSL broadband connection with the capacity of 8 MBits downstream and 1 MBit upstream.

 

[HsV_CoUpE]

Originally posted by Morbinion
well it's a VDSL broadband connection with the capacity of 8 MBits downstream and 1 MBit upstream.

well ladi da for you

 

[Famine]

I'm afraid all I can offer Morbinion is a *shrug*

PAL (Phased Alternating Line) displays show 625 horizontal lines, refreshed 50 times a second. NTSC (National Television Standards Committee) displays show only 525 lines - so a poorer resolution - but refresh 60 times a second - so movement is smoother.

If this were to manifest in a difference between versions in lap times, the advantage would be WITH the Americans, not against them. However, most of the very best GT3 players in the world are German - Flinx, jmr, Honeycar and big p (Spanish, but he lives in Germany).

I don't believe that there are any variations in the way the cars handle at all - possibly the best people to ask are Mr. P and Lotus350, as they both have access to a Japanese/NTSC console, but regularly use an EU/PAL one.

So tell your American friends that they su-diddly-uck and should get some more practice in.

Want to share some of your times here?

 

[Dave A]

Originally posted by Morbinion
I'm happy that the swedish government has prioritized internet access. I sit on a 8 dl/1 ul MBit line =)

What with them getting connections that quick, I might be wrong but a 600k connection is slow or somthing over there.

 

[Morbinion]

Thanks for your time Famine. Now I have more than air to back up my legit times in the competitions =)

Well about my times. I could post some, although I did only run maybe 5-6 laps to beat the records so they're not that good. Any hardcore gamer will beat them easily I think , but here are some:

Tahiti Maze / 450HP Max
Mitsubishi Lancer Evolution VI GSR / 448hp / 1'52.755

Tahiti Circuit / 300HP Max
Rules: Only the rally cars that are selectable in arcade mode. No tuned cars from your own garage.
Lancia Delta HF Integrale Rally Car / 295hp / 1'32.150

Deep Forest Raceway / 280HP Max
Rules: FR cars only, Normal Tires, No race cars, Keep at least two tires on the track @ all times
Toyota Trueno SS / 276hp / 1'18.027

All times were achieved using no shortcuts(grass etc.) and no wall hitting.

 

[Dave A]

There achieveable, not bad times at all though. I'll give it a go tomorrow myself, I don't feel like it at half past 2 in the morning.

 

[Morbinion]

hehe ok, let me know when you've had a go at it =)

 

[Kent]

Well I went ahead and did a run on what I was comfortable with... the fr/280/df run.
(Im horrible with rally.)

So with a trueno at 272hp and normal tires I ran a single hotlap session.

Came down with a 1.18.5?? after about 10 laps. Then ran a few laps with consistant t1 times of -.3?? , but never made good on one of them. I figure that if I took another day or two and had a new trueno to get that 278 mentioned above, I would be able to meet the 1.18.0 goal.
(actually... with it being 2:27 am and myself being a few drinks/puffs into a haze of sleep, I am confident to say that I might have met the goal in one session had I been prepared. )

Nice race though, the car is balanced and the time is good too. Kinda reminded me of a license test more than anything else.

Anyway, catch ya later.

 

[Kelly]

I have played both and plain and in simple terms here are the differences( arcade cars only) ....

NTSC: easier on rally...without a doubt

That's it! I don't see any other differences apart from the obvious they have to use asm/tcs on the time trials, which slows them down a little

Hope this helps

 

[Mr P]

Yep what she said

Rally on NTSC is like driving Ridge Racer Too easy ...

PAL has the advantage in the Licences and TT's with optional assists

 

[Morbinion]

ok, nice guys. thanks for your info. Now I don't have to think about that anymore. Now I can be sure to have legit times =)