Review of Retro Gamer's 32X "Retroinspection"

[evilevoix]

The 32X's theoretical limit is 50,000 polygons per second, in game it can probably do 20 thousand to 30 thousand. The Jaguar could do 10,000 but in theory could get to 20,000 and the 3DO could do 20 thousand to 25 thousand polygons per second. 1995 PS1 and Saturn games were pushing 60 to 80 thousand texture mapped gouraud shaded polygons. I am pretty sure Nights maxed out the Saturn at 180k and Iron and Blood maxed out the PS1 at 200k (you wouldn't know by looking at it). This is fundamentally why any theory that the 32X was ever meant to replace the Saturn is impossible and anybody who persists that was what the add-on was for is a stark raving idiot.

Any 3D 32X game was going to suffer in comparison to the 3DO, Saturn or PS1 by virtue of its limited RAM. Having less than one fourth the workable RAM would severely limit the amount of texture mapping on screen. If the 32X tried to do Ridge Racer or Daytona it would look like a blend of Virtua Racing with sparse use of textures for landmarks and the main car.

Just look at the stock car in Virtua Racing Deluxe and imagine the sky texture on the window and 2D road size objects to make it look more like Daytona. I would have loved to see the attempt by a capable developer like AM2. Nobody thought a system like the 32X or Jaguar could handle Virtua Fighter until it happened anyway.

As for Metal Gear, its essentially a 2D game with 3D cutscenes. Imagine an engine like Loaded with FMV cutscenes on the 32X CD. I would rather see a fully 2D game with hand drawn cutscenes though, even the sniper scenes can be done in 2D.

Thanks, any nice 32X Home Brews I can try out? I only have the average mess of games.

FWIW I think that the 32X version of VF was better than the Saturns, better load times true arcade experiance. What could the 32X do that the PS1/Saturn could not?

[sheath]

It could make your Genesis look like it had a black nuclear 'splosion coming out of the cart port.

Check out Chilly Willy's Wolf 3D, Spear 3D and Yeti 3D projects.

[sheath]

By the way, here is the dinosaur demo running on an actual PS1.



And here is a best case scenario for how the T-Rex would look on a high end PC from the time.

[Da_Shocker]

Was there something wrong with demo one that I posted? It was running on actual hardware too you know. I'm still waiting on that list of successful gaming addons that costed over 150.

[sheath]

Was there something wrong with demo one that I posted? It was running on actual hardware too you know. I'm still waiting on that list of successful gaming addons that costed over 150.

Your still dissembling is what you are actually doing. Kinect costs $150 and it is wildly successful. Also, the Wii is essentially a Gamecube with motion controls and more RAM. Oh, but your construct doesn't count upgrades that don't plug into previous hardware, just like your view doesn't allow for other divisions of the electronics industry.

Who knew that the gaming industry was governed by Da Shocker's view of the world but every other industry can upgrade everything constantly without any trouble. You should contact Apple, Microsoft and Sony and tell them they have to only release one product at a time.

[Da_Shocker]

Your still dissembling is what you are actually doing. Kinect costs $150 and it is wildly successful. Also, the Wii is essentially a Gamecube with motion controls and more RAM. Oh, but your construct doesn't count upgrades that don't plug into previous hardware, just like your view doesn't allow for other divisions of the electronics industry.

Who knew that the gaming industry was governed by Da Shocker's view of the world but every other industry can upgrade everything constantly without any trouble. You should contact Apple, Microsoft and Sony and tell them they have to only release one product at a time.

I am fully aware of Kinnect and it is the FIRST successful addon that cost over 150 dollars. Of course M$ spent 500 million dollars on marketing so the damn thing had better been a succes. http://www.gamespot.com/news/microso...report-6282208 And the Wii was sold as a standalone system not an upgrade. IDC about every other industry just the gaming industry.

[sheath]

I just find it a but fuzzy that you don't consider an upgrade if the manufacturer abandons its userbase. That seems off to me. So I will ask again, if Sega had just abandoned the stand alone Genesis and launched the Neptune instead of the 32X it wouldn't be an upgrade right? Also, whoever mentioned the PCE CD-ROM was right, that was a very expensive but successful add-on that predated the Sega CD and 32X. Also, the Sega CD is considered a success as an add-on, it's only morons who think every format has to sell 10+million units that think it is a failure.

Also, your dinosaur demo didn't have Brak narrating for the T-Rex, mine is objectively better.

[Team Andromeda]

So if Sega had just released a DUO and then TRIO console, giving previous owners no options whatsoever, it isn't an upgrade?

You changing your tune. If you was a CRT TV owner you had to buy a new set to experience HDTV, just like you had to buy a new set if you wanted Stereo TV or Teletext if you TV didn't support it- They were no upgrades , very much the same goes for Mobiles you don't buy an add-on for your mobile that boasts it power and enables its to do new effects you have to buy a new phone . 32X was an add-on too far and one that wasn't needed given the time it shipped.

Not before launch it couldn't

Oh it could and most machines before launch will always boats hundreds of developers with kits , but there is vast difference to developers just signed up on paper, to developers actually paying money for development/license rights on the 'said' console make games.

As for Metal Gear, its essentially a 2D game with 3D cutscenes

lets be real here , if was 3D and there is no way the 32X could have handle it, I doubt the Saturn would have been able to pull of a decent port

1995 PS1 and Saturn games were pushing 60 to 80 thousand texture mapped gouraud shaded polygons

N AM#2 confirmed to the Japanese press that they were pushing 90,000 polygons in Viruta Fighter on the Saturn and that the final game would be pushing over 100,000. And I'm pretty sure SONY's Total NBA is pushing more polygons than's Iron and Blood.

I think that the 32X version of VF was better than the Saturns, better load times true arcade experiance

That is just being silly , its like saying the DC didn't offer a true Arcade experience due to loading times . When it came to screen res, sound not just the CD music but sound effect (where the Saturn truly pisses on the 32X version) and polygons the Saturn was so much closer to the Arcade than the 32X version .





I know which version I rather play anyday of the week

[sheath]

The 32X version doesn't have any of the polygon flicker and floor drop out that the Saturn game has. I would rather play it than the sloppy Saturn port. The Saturn should have been able to handle a near perfect Arcade port but they rushed it and didn't even bother to fix it for the Western release.

[Cornholio857]

The Saturn should have been able to handle a near perfect Arcade port but they rushed it and didn't even bother to fix it for the Western release.

And that's how VF Remix came about. Not to mention Sega mailed free copies to pissed off Saturn owners who sent in the UPC from the Saturn to get the "fixed" version of the game. Sega knew they messed up with VF Saturn. And it cost them.

[Da_Shocker]

I just find it a but fuzzy that you don't consider an upgrade if the manufacturer abandons its userbase. That seems off to me. So I will ask again, if Sega had just abandoned the stand alone Genesis and launched the Neptune instead of the 32X it wouldn't be an upgrade right? Also, whoever mentioned the PCE CD-ROM was right, that was a very expensive but successful add-on that predated the Sega CD and 32X. Also, the Sega CD is considered a success as an add-on, it's only morons who think every format has to sell 10+million units that think it is a failure.

Also, your dinosaur demo didn't have Brak narrating for the T-Rex, mine is objectively better.

There was a reason why Sega canned the Neptune you know. In Japan they don't give a rat's ass about price like they do here and in Europe. The Saturn cost 450 us dollars when it was first released in Japan and they sold 200K units in a week. You can't pull that shit elsewhere that is one reason why the Turbo CD failed in the US but was wildly successful in Japan. The Famicom Disk System sold 4.4 million units in Japan yet Nintendo didn't bring it out here. The Sega CD had limited success but was littered with a bunch of Genesis shovelware and sum FMV games. Sega wasn't even that committed to that system. They put Sonic Drift on the GG and put AB and SH on the 32X, both would've been better served on the SCD.

[TrekkiesUnite118]

Yeah, I wouldn't use the Saturn port of Virtua Fighter to defend the system. I'd say the 32X version is more impressive given the hardware it's running on than the Saturn port. The Saturn port is just a messy disappointment. Now Virtua Fighter Remix, that's a game to be proud of as a Saturn owner.

[sheath]

There was a reason why Sega canned the Neptune you know. In Japan they don't give a rat's ass about price like they do here and in Europe. The Saturn cost 450 us dollars when it was first released in Japan and they sold 200K units in a week. You can't pull that shit elsewhere that is one reason why the Turbo CD failed in the US but was wildly successful in Japan. The Famicom Disk System sold 4.4 million units in Japan yet Nintendo didn't bring it out here. The Sega CD had limited success but was littered with a bunch of Genesis shovelware and sum FMV games. Sega wasn't even that committed to that system. They put Sonic Drift on the GG and put AB and SH on the 32X, both would've been better served on the SCD.

So the Sega CD was a moderate success but doesn't count because you don't like all of the games and the PCE CD doesn't count because it was only big in Japan. Oh and, Kinect doesn't count because you don't like it and Microsoft treated it like a new system launch. Hula Hoops. Truly you have a dizzying intellect.

[Da_Shocker]

So the Sega CD was a moderate success but doesn't count because you don't like all of the games and the PCE CD doesn't count because it was only big in Japan. Hula Hoops. Truly you have a dizzying intellect.

I own a SCD and of all the 180 games or so that were released only 20 or so are worth anything. Given the fact that the PCECD did well of course Sega would try and copy it limited success but at least it has a good reason to exist which is more than I can say about the 32X. Being successful in 1 of 3 regions isn't anything to brag about though unless your the N64 or Xbox. The FDS sold 4.4 million units in Japan but it wasn't released here. It was somewhat successful in Japan but has no relevance outside of Japan. The only addons that Nintendo released here was the Super Gameboy, GBP, and expansion ram cart. Everything else was left in Japan, Nintendo still makes hardware and Sega doesn't. So who was making the better business choices?

[sheath]

Nintendo incrementally upgraded the Gameboy, Gameboy Color, Gameboy Advance, and DS and they are still a major player in that electronics sub sector. Here is where your logic is absolutely flawed. Releasing an incremental upgrade is no different if it is created as an attachment or a new device. The function is the same, to bolster sales while maximizing profitability on older hardware. You have been play acting so much I honestly don't know if your playing dumb or you really can't see the forest from the trees in this discussion.

I just wanted to confirm that you actually do mean to say that Add-on upgrades that succeeded in Japan are irrelevant to the discussion of incremental upgrades in the Video game industry. Does that include all hardware that only succeeded in one market?