Searching For Evidence of Hidden Things

  • Thread starter HACKr
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Funny thing: I've bought it recently aswell.. Very nice book indeed, loved the typos like "Ecripse, Cerica, Punt, ecc".

There are at least 2-3 other books (The World of Gran Turismo 2, GT2 the bible book and GT2 X100 Stage Book) that are worth to look at, plus the "Electronic Gaming June 1999 Issue #119", which I couldn't find anywhere if not Ebay.

Ah, and about the price of the Prima's Official Strategy Book: nah, I actually spent around 45€ for both books + Prima Gran Turismo 4 Official Guide Book (still need to arrive)
 
SuperFrizzio
Funny thing: I've bought it recently aswell.. Very nice book indeed, loved the typos like "Ecripse, Cerica, Punt, ecc".

There are at least 2-3 other books (The World of Gran Turismo 2, GT2 the bible book and GT2 X100 Stage Book) that are worth to look at, plus the "Electronic Gaming June 1999 Issue #119", which I couldn't find anywhere if not Ebay.

Ah, and about the price of the Prima's Official Strategy Book: nah, I actually spent around 45€ for both books + Prima Gran Turismo 4 Official Guide Book (still need to arrive)
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Yes the jdm book is awesome in many ways including the engrish, lol. And yes the gt2 x100 stage book is my next gt2 book purches.

That retro game mag is in good condition. And lol Im also looking for that issue of EGM #119 aswell, among many others! Lol.

And I spent $11us (I think.... also including shipping) on the gt2 prima guide. And it was in almost brand new condition!
 
This is the current magazines/books list I wish to have:

Gran Turismo 2 X100 Stage Book
GRAN TURISMO 2 Bible Game Guide Book
Gran Turismo 2 Guía Playmanía para el comprador de coches
GUIA SUPER TRUCOS 23
The Ultimate Guide (GRAN TURISMO 2)
The World of Gran Turismo 2
Electronic Gaming Monthly June 1999 #119
Official U.S. Playstation Magazine Volume 3 Issue 4 (January 2000)
Official U.S. Playstation Magazine Volume 3 Issue 6 (March 2000)

The books themself are not costing much, but the shipping cost is high as hell, so I might wait a bit before buying another book. My next one would be probably the "The World of Gran Turismo 2" Book:

s-l1600.jpg
 
B_rad88!
so ok maybe the mods should have gone into they'er own thread
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Yes.
B_rad88!
(except it wouldn't have stayed on the forum, as admins kept deleting my titlescreen mod thread.......)
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No. We deleted your thread, once, for discussion of emulation. You then posted a new thread containing a tirade against the site staff for deleting the thread without your permission (which we don't need) because it was your opinion that everything in it was legal - which wasn't relevant.

Deleting your title screen mod thread once is hardly "admins kept deleting".

Both threads are still there, just so you know. You can't see them, but we can:

nothingiseverytrulydeleted.jpg

It makes it terribly easy to refer to when people start making claims about what the staff have and haven't done.

But what was patiently explained to you at the time remains true. We are not going to host threads that discuss how to circumvent the copy protection of any media. By all means show the results if you like (and yes, it's far better to do so in a thread dedicated to do that than one intended to find hidden things), but posting a guide on how to do it can - and almost always will - cross the line unless you are extremely careful.
 
@Famine Pardon me asking, but could you explain exactly what can and can't talk about? Because right now, I don't understand why we would be allowed to talk about changing a game's data (modding) but not emulation?
I mean, we're not telling how to emulate a game or what settings to use as far as I know, and I (think I) understand we can't provide links to download games or emulators (which is perfectly understandable). At least I try not to, because I understand emulation is a taboo here, but wouldn't modding also be circumventing the protection of that media? I mean, let's be honest here, we all know 99% of us are using them, we just don't say it.
We're also analyzing games that are 10 to 20 years old that are on hardware that isn't sold anymore, and that are not supported by the developers apart from them having rights to the name, nor are we selling anything (and shame on those who would try to do that).
I mean no disrespect, but I find the limit of what's authorized and unauthorized a bit blurry.

Especially when I see articles that were on GTP's front page such as this one: https://www.gtplanet.net/bleem-made-gran-turismo-2-better-driving-simulator/
This one (which is only possible on emulators, as GT3 didn't support 1080i like GT4 did): https://www.gtplanet.net/cant-wait-for-gt-sport-in-4k-heres-gran-turismo-3-instead/
Or this one: https://www.gtplanet.net/jump-behind-the-wheel-in-this-gt4-cockpit-view-video/
Or this one: https://www.gtplanet.net/gran-turismo-concept-secret-tracks-tsukuba-motegi-suzuka-gymkhana/
All of those which were only made possible because people using emulators and other software were able to look into and hack the game's code for what they showed on video to happen.

Only speaking for myself, and I really only want to know where we stand with our group of people active here, is all.

Right now, what I've been doing myself is only showing modding results or sending small individual files that are unusable without the right tools, and I think it's not allowed to (and won't) send fully modded main game files. All in the hopes that i'm not crossing the line. So I would always appreciate a clarification. :>
 
submaniac93
Pardon me asking, but could you explain exactly what can and can't talk about? Because right now, I don't understand why we would be allowed to talk about changing a game's data (modding) but not emulation?
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Famine
We are not going to host threads that discuss how to circumvent the copy protection of any media.
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None of the articles you refer to give any instructions on how to circumvent the copy protection of any media.

That's the line.
 
Gerarghini
So what you need to pull it off is basically parts of my logo editing tutorial and the usage of Tim2View and TimViewer. I'm still somewhat skeptical of the whole thing since it always seems to change the size of the crstims.tsd.gz file and I'm not sure what the long term damage would be. Anyways, still, I'm gonna probably mod this game until it crashes so without further ado...

  • You're gonna be messing with the crstim.tsd file within the "decomp" folder. It should be the only file there. You're gonna use Tim2View and scan that file. You should be greeted with a menu that has about 95 entries.
  • Select any of the files you want to edit. Say you're confused as to how in the world Lister has enough money to sponsor a giant billboard on the discount Twin Ring Motegi. From there, you're simply going to export the file as a .tim file.
(this is where you'll go ahead and use my logo editing tutorial since it is *kinda* self-explanatory from there, although you'll select 8 colors instead of 16. Also, you'll wanna avoid using the #000000 color since pure black ends up being transparent.)

However, when your logo is ready, you'll wanna pay attention to the following details:
  • You're gonna import the new billboard into the decompressed crstims.tsd file, so open up the file using Tim2View. Once there, locate the file/billboard you chose to edit and take note of the IMAGE and CLUT coordinates. Keep the program running as you open up TimViewer.
  • In TimViewer, you'll now open up your new billboard .bmp file. Please note, if you receive a prompt for IMAGE and CLUT coordinates, just hit OK as you won't use them yet. Additionally, I recommend you delete the .tim you got from Tim2View as I cannot guarantee that the CLUT and IMAGE coordinates will transfer to your new exported .tim when you overwrite.
  • In any case, if you do indeed delete the .tim you got from Tim2View, export your edited .bmp as a .tim and this is where the program will ask for the CLUT and IMAGE coordinates that are listed on Tim2View. Simply copy these coordinates over and you should be ready to import.
  • When you're done editing, open up the compressed crstims.tsd.gz and simply copy over the crstims.tsd in that folder with your edited one.
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After the "Warning/license" and "Sony Interactive/computer" screen, nothing happens. I think i have made a mistake in the editing.
 
SuperFrizzio
So, we all know about the hidden Ford Escort 1.8 GTi's car description, aswell as the ones of the Acura Integras and the Volkswagen Polo.. Well, within the files of the NTSC 1.0 version there is an unused Peugeot 406 Touring Car description:

701.png


702.png


P.S. Sorry for double-post
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Where are you finding these if I may ask?
 
Well, after a some bad times recently, I think I can pick back up with finishing the neon 4door rm texture......

what makes this mod so difficult is making sure all the decals still work and shrinking the windows down from the 4door to the modded rm as they are different sizes......

basically made a rough sketch/draft with gimp and using the coordinate graph to get the hex locations. Then going threw pixel by pixel. Its a tedious task....

I'll post some pics later, look for the modded post.

Edit: sorry for the delay, been busy with family stuff. But any who here are some pics......

neon4.PNG


That is the rough sketch I did that I working from to make the 4door neon race mod. I use the coordinates graph to get the locations of select points to use in the hex coding. Its tedious task of modding, but totally do-able.

And don't worry, the decals on the lower part of the side body will still be there, just slightly adjusted its location to make room for the door line.

neon5.PNG



Here is the 4door neon with spoiler. This mod actually is a 2door texture and mesh but modded with 4door sides and windows and trunk/boot area too so we can have a 4door neon with a spoiler. Also all stripes have been deleted.

Screenshot_2018-01-06-14-50-53.png


Below is the mod files for the 4door neon with spoiler. And also mod files for the decal delete honda nsx. Below! Enjoy!






Edit again: here is a couple of bonus music mods!

Here is ntsc/u usa gt2 inrace music mod with ntsc/u usa gt1 music!

https://mega.nz/#!awUUwBgb!VuOPNyqEV7ETHOho1yalbY5p2VIdao28ShYBxvBxcu4


Here is ntsc/j japan gt2 inrace music mod with ntsc/u usa gt1 music

https://mega.nz/#!f08wEBiK!CF5e59w9QPH6ai0i8-H3EiOmqycYmvoI6F4kGZ2Pi0M

Enjoy!



Edit 3rd time: (feb 21 2018, 2:57pm est) I think I figured out how to eliminate that ufo sound when hybriding cars....... but requires ability to mod the game files. Example trying to make the 1983 mazda RX7 gt turbo into a naturally aspirated car (no turbo) it would result in ufo sounds, but not anymore! Still testing before I leak info and method of mod.
 

Attachments

  • NEON 4door with spoiler.zip
    37.7 KB · Views: 18
  • NSX MOD.zip
    33.9 KB · Views: 14
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Just found a bug that seems to have gone fairly unnoticed for 18 years. All roadcars use the same one stock Brake Balance Controller part with no adjustability, and all racecars use a second stock part with full adjustability ranges. However, because it's marked as the stock part ('N/A' in the pre-race menu) it can't actually be adjusted.

By fixing the bug and marking the standard racecar part as the upgraded part ('Controller' in the pre-race menu), all racecars can correctly have their brake balance adjusted like upgraded roadcars can, which suggests to me that this was an oversight from PD.

edit: Another little gem I've just found - I was wondering how the D-Rights Silvia and MX5 work in licenses if the cars are body-only. It turns out that the licenses have their own independent list of cars and parts, and both cars are fully implemented in there!
 
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Its been a while since I've stopped by. Thought for sure this GT2 Forum topic was dead because I strangely wasn't getting notifications for it. Never bothered to take a look 'til now... Boy was I wrong. :lol: Interesting findings, guys.
 
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Ok, after alot of work in gt files,...

-I figured out where the menu sounds are (kinda obvious) and which one is to which part. Like spu_02.seq is main city map menu sound, spu_08.seq is home menu sound, ect.

- gt1 menu music can work in gt2, but so far its only half the sounds (thats after alot of deep digging into gt1 to stumble upon a .txt style file after all the files are in .dat format)

-can anyone please help with .seq audio format coding? (I also have the sounds in .psf {portable sound format aka playstation sound format} format as well)

- car texture mods have slowed, but are still in the works.

- I've also noticed minor things in gt2 that are questionable.

And hey Pez2k have you can across any info in any of the menu files or anything that specify to the menu sounds?
 
A comparison between all builds of Smokey Mountain North I could get my hands on. The Skybox in the first build is more cloudy than the later builds. The hills and layout have been altered quite a bit aswell, it was originally more enclosed.
 
I did a comparison between the builds of Tahiti Maze. One difference I didn't notice before was how the 3rd and Test Drive builds had those big buildings when doing down into the last harpins of the track. The final game has small houses in place.
 
If you race modify '98 Mustang SVT Cobra and then when viewing replay, if select to see rear wheel, you can see a see-through texture on the car :)

(US v 1.00)
 
I want to discuss something. In the GT2 demos, data indicating a Mclaren F1 GTR, a couple of Porsche 911 race cars, Ferrari F355 JGTC race cars, and Lamborghini Diablo race cars were found. However, PD never finished the cars. What do you guys think lead to them not finishing the models?

I personally thought of a theory of EA having a timed exclusive on those manufactures in 1999 for NFS High Stakes and Sports Car GT. However, that could easily be wrong.
 
Your guess is as good as mine. My first thought is that PD tried to include the cars through a workaround since they didn't have the brands' licenses. Much like they managed to include the Diablo in GT3 at first. Now it's true that at the time i's very possible that EA was hoarding licenses for NFS, and that might've been where the problem came from in the first place, but then you have companies which really are a pain in the butt when it comes to licensing their cars, so that might be reason #2...

Personally, the more JGTC cars, the better. Best racing series imo (at least until they merged with the DTM rules, because GT"300" and GT"500" are no more than just names anymore. Still, the cars look nice.
 
So, i was playing Gran Turismo 2 (NTSC v1.00 original copy) on my debugging fat PS3, then i tried to change the region to EUROPE in the PS3 and this happened to menu music.


And this is race (NTSC v1.00 original copy)
Notice the game runs slower (laggy) and the music skips. These bugs were however solved on my unoriginal NTSC copy with PAL/NTSC region selector. (will show shortly)
Graphics are horribly jaggy.



Region selected to JAPAN makes menu music play OK and the racing is also much smoother.


Region selected to North America makes menu music play OK and the racing is also much smoother.
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This is what happens when you ran a NTSC game on PAL speed (read: slow it down by 16%)
I did like the slower rendition of North city's theme though.
 
For quite some time (over 15 years) i thought that this was the intended speed of music in menus. Then i heard the original speed and was shocked :)

Its a shame i threw out and old CRT TV with selectable 50/60Hz. Maybe i would get different results then
 

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