GT4 - differences between US and PAL?

[ThoseOfTheUnlight]

Hey guys,

Just wondering - now that the US version is out and the PAL version is just around the corner, which is the definitive version of the game?

Really tempted to pick up the US copy now, rather than wait an extra few days for the PAL version..

Anyone know what the differences are?

[VR46]

who said there were any ? really thought USA & PAL were the same

EDIT: prehaps display options differ ?

[ThoseOfTheUnlight]

Well I know the US version has progressive scan, but the TV i'll be playing the majority of it on doesnt have that anyway, so thats not an issue.

I remember reading how the PAL version was going to have extra stuff, maybe it got included in the US version anyway?

[talizker]

Traditionally the hi-def options are removed on PAL games so it's unlikely we'll get 480p or 1080i on the PAL version. If you have a hi-def display then the US version is the one to get, if not whichever you can get quickest / cheapest!

[Darwock]

PAL doesn't have 1080i :-(

However the theory is, being optimised for 50hz should sort out some of the other frame-rate/shearing problems that can pop up (according to one of our resident developers)

PAL version has some cars not in the other versions as well.

Personally I can't decide either. It's going to be played exclusively on my PJ so hi-def is very appealing, but then again it's not TRUE hi-def anyway. Can anyone with the NTSC-J version tell us if it's worth it?

[ThoseOfTheUnlight]

You'd probably be better getting the US version anyway, since it does do 480p at least!!

I thought there were extra cars in the PAL version... guess I'd better wait a little longer!

[Darwock]

480p is pretty irrelevant with a PJ as all projectors de-interlace anyway. There's no noticable difference between Metroid Prime/Halo in 480p or 480i at least.

I'm definitely leaning more towards PAL.

[talizker]

On my Projector (only a Sanyo Z1 so also no native hi-def resolution) both 480p and 720p look noticably better than 480i on any source (Xbox, Cube, DVD etc) so for me it's definately the US version (which may just be here tomorrow!).

[wod]

well i've got the usa version coming from tronix web as i dont want to get the pal version as it wont be in 60hz

[ThoseOfTheUnlight]

well i've got the usa version coming from tronix web as i dont want to get the pal version as it wont be in 60hz

But it will be optimized for 50hz, which means a great conversion like GT3

[Kron]

Just how optimised can 50hz be? A flickery display really doesn't help the standard alising issues.

PS2 games in 50hz tend to look absolutely awful and cheap.

[wod]

thats why i bought the usa version to play on my new slimeline ps2 from vg+

[Crossed fingers]

The game will apparently be optimised for Pal, whatever that actually means. Why not just stick 60hz option. The Pal version will have a few more cars, a few new music tracks (nothing taken away) and some other technical stuff which was mentioned in first play and which i can't remember.

[TreeFrog]

The game will apparently be optimised for Pal, whatever that actually means.

I think they actually just mean it's a 'proper' PAL version with the code changed to accomadate the 50Hz update (i.e. not run 20% slower) and with enough lines of resolution to not get black borders.
In other words, the same as any decently written/ported game in the last 5 years...
I suppose in theory it could do slightly more fancy stuff, as it'll have an extra 3.3ms/frame to play with, but I really can't see them bothering to do much with that

[Salsa Party Animal]

US version got nicer DVD cover as well

I would get the US version.