Dragon's Lair Fans - Arcade Lifestyle
General Chat => Galaxian Theater => Topic started by: petieken on January 20, 2010, 05:52:15 PM
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I have FINALLY bought this game for PS1. It's the Japanese version because it's native 60hz and it's dirt cheap too :)
One word: WOW! :o
This game is really cool, everything just seems right, the intro, music, sounds,.... You can see it's the original LaserDiscs that are converted to PS1, the seam between the two projectors is still there! The only downside is I don't have the official PS1 analog joystick, so I have to play with either the D-pad or mouse :(.
I played it a bit on my Panasonic lcd projector with a big screen like it should be! 8)
Now I really can't wait to experience the real game!!
I made a small video with my ixus i5 camera, so the video quality isn't that great :arrow:
(http://lh4.ggpht.com/_9gqw_UFJfIw/S1cxfdJ_ymI/AAAAAAAABLg/bWjijBkkdQY/s800/youtube.jpg) (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Zc6KQN1u9Fg)
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Argg... this video is set as 'private' on your youtube panel, change it to 'public' ;)
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Argg... this video is set as 'private' on your youtube panel, change it to 'public' ;)
Oops :oops:, fixed now.
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Yeah! Project Dragoon is my favorite mission! :-*
I can't wait to play it inside the real thing ;)
Happy to see you trying this awesome game/experience :)
:spaceace:
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I really like the Japanese voices. I don't know what they're saying but it sounds just right with this game, the 'feeling' is there :).
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I just noticed this, in the video it's like I'm playing on a tv set. In reality the projected image is 2 meters wide 8).
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Cool - I've got Galaxian3 PAL version with english dialogue and JPN version, I have to admit to prefer the PAL version although the JPN version is more authentic I guess. Im playing it on my PSX too with 42" Plasma and full blown 5.1 experience with REL subwoofer. Im lucky enough to have bought a PSX Analogue stick back then and still have it!
I have just got my pride and joy, a Starblade cab (Yellow Seat version). It needs a little work but I am going to restore it no expense spared.
(http://www.jammaplus.co.uk/forum/uploads/mandccars/2010-01-10_130933_lg_DSC06339.jpg)
(http://www.jammaplus.co.uk/forum/uploads/mandccars/2010-01-10_130957_lg_DSC06340.jpg)
(http://www.jammaplus.co.uk/forum/uploads/mandccars/2010-01-10_131024_lg_DSC06341.jpg)
(http://www.jammaplus.co.uk/forum/uploads/mandccars/2010-01-10_131042_lg_DSC06342.jpg)
Now my plan is to find another Starblade cab, I would prefer non-yellow seat version this time though, my plan is to turn it into a Galaxian3 cab. Thanks to the work done by Bruno we should have Galaxian3 emulated soon.
Although the PSX version is great, its just a shame that it is by todays standards quite low resolution. The emulated version will look so much better.
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Quite some time ago I was told (on this forum) that the PAL version wasn't as good because it's converted from 30fps to 25fps (to conform to PAL specs), so there are frames dropped whichcause stuttering. Which is the main reason I got the Japanese version, no editing to the video.
You're right about the resolution, but back in the day it was the best we could get out of the PS1... The best experience will of course be the original LD's.
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I tried the EU version on ePSXe and it is indeed slow. It was nice hearing the English voices, especially in Gourb (the commander sounds so stern) but the dropped frames made it quite choppy.
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Equites, what a beautiful Starblade you've got there. To my knowledge there are three types of cabinets: your yellow seat one in these pictures, then the fully decorated silver-metallic type with larger seat base and more lamps, also this had different side-art if I remember correctly plus its mirror bezel was more detailed, then the third type which seems to be a mix between your yellow seat type and the silver-metallic type. The one I had was this mix. It had the same mirror frame bezel as yours but the seat module was the larger one with the wooden seat. My Starblade was made in the USA but I bought it from JNC I think, it was one of the Blackpool ones I think I was told.
It's so nice to see this game gaining popularity lately, together with Galaxian3. They are kind of the same game but with somewhat different feel. Personally, if I must choose I would pick Starblade over Galaxian3, mainly because of the more comfortable and a little more extravagant concept. Ofcourse Galaxian3 is bigger, clearly giving a stronger impression at first sight. But then you need to look at the details like a/ the gunfire: Starblade has two very powerful lasers (unlike the Galaxian3's single laser, reminding me of a pointing stick rather than a deadly weapon) firing with a low frequency sound besides the obvious 'swooshing' sound. To really experience this you need to turn up the rear speaker volume so that you can *feel* the lasers firing (my SB had the rear speakers built into the seat). Then b/ Starblade has all realtime rendered CG which has the advantage of being more flexible giving the player several variable routes from round to round. If you know you Starblade you will notice this. Which is why Starblade, given the fact that it is a shooting gallery, however all but a simple shooting gallery, has the potential to outlast Galaxian3 in the longer run of fun gameplay. Not to mention its image projection consisting of the concave mirror making it a mini-3D holocinema, or like the IMAX display sort of. The Galaxian3, largely is just a multiplayer laser-disc shooter not much different than the old laser games like Galaxy Ranger and Astron Belt. However more like a laser disc game with a Starblade CG-layer ontop, which is really some of the coolest thing imaginable to be honest.
I've not played Galaxian3 much at all, just briefly watched someone play when I was in Paris a few years ago. Does somebody know if the routes are exactly same every time in Galaxian3? Or if the routes vary from round to round, altghough slightly? This is actually the only detail I'd really like to get confirmed regarding Galaxian3.
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Oh, and one other thing, regarding the Playstation version of Starblade and Galaxian3; Although they look super on screenshots for the magazines, these run in 25 or 30 fps, don't they? I remember wanting the Starblade for the PSX when that came, but as I learned that it wasn't running in 60fps I lost interest. The thing about Starblade, and infact all fast moving/panning games is the smooth movement. At least that was what turned me on when I first saw Starblade at Trocadero Funland sometime in '92 och 93.
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Oh, and yet another thing which is kind of funny. Did you ever wonder how Starblade can output four individual speaker sound when the hardware only has two channels?
Think about this. It is very innovative actually.
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First of all, welcome to this board UncleTom (coming from USA I presume ::))
Cool, an other die-hard fan of StarBlade / Galaxan3 :-*
I've not played Galaxian3 much at all, just briefly watched someone play when I was in Paris a few years ago. Does somebody know if the routes are exactly same every time in Galaxian3? Or if the routes vary from round to round, altghough slightly? This is actually the only detail I'd really like to get confirmed regarding Galaxian3.
In the mission 'Project Dragoon', the route is always the same... because the background is directly coming from the laser disk, and it's not real time rendered.
Maybe the enemies may have different patterns, but I really doubt it! I didn't play Galaxian3 recently... but I'm almost sure there's no change at all.
Only 'Zolgear' can let you choose some path...
Regarding the preference between Starblade / Galaxian3... I've the same opinion than you: Starblade is far better... far more difficult... almost impossible to finish with one credit! A real challenge :P
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Thank you very much Nuno. Well, I'm not from the USA.. I wish I was. I am from Sweden where we have got very little arcade games. However because of that also a greater curiosity about them.
And yes, I think you can call me a fan of Starblade and Galaxian3. I always enjoy what is beautiful and well presented, on whatever system or media it may be.
Aha! So Zolgear has selectable routes? Very well. I understand it's not a random selection wether to fly right, down or left, but a player's choice what mission, or route to take. I would very much like to try a few rounds with Zolgear.
And aha! Starblade is harder than Galaxian3? That's news to me, but very pleasant news. I love the challenge that Starblade gives. You know, I can.. , or at least I could finish the game in one credit. But then I also used my special methods like fire-hammering with my right hand on a thumb-button while aiming the cannon with my left. Since you get only like three shots in one sequence, sort of "fof-fof-fof, .. fof-fof-fof.. . ", you never fire enough to do serious damage to the more durable enemies, nor can you eliminate enemies quickly enough when attacked by groups or enemy fire of various kind.
So what I learned pretty early playing the game, was that *every time you press the button a laser is fired*, no matter how quickly you alternate your fingers. The faster you are the more lasers you can fire. Infact, you should have an auto-fire circuit as cheat for this game... haha. This applies especially at the reactor with the power stone chamber. You don't really need to move the cannon alot, what's important here is that you fire as fast as you can at the power stone. I'm sure that you know what I mean. So, when you know the routes well, you know where to aim the cannon in advance. This is your advantage. Then you can focus on hammering the laser button and doing some damage.
The only thing I must admit is missing in Starblade is some type of sequence where I must avoid objects, or steer within some narrow trenches like in Star Wars. Starblade is a shooting gallery only game which offers limited control over the travel path, but I keep imagining that I'm the gunner in a starfighter operating the lasers, and there's a pilot with me steering the ship. Actually something which would make Starblade the ultimate space action adventure would be if there was a two player option where you can play as pilot *and* the other player *the gunner*. I know that Sega's Star Wars Arcade was exactly that, but somehow that game didn't make as great impression on me.
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Speaking of Playstation ports, I just found out that there's something called "The Rising of Gourb" http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Galaxian_3 which is weird because it seems that you can connect a LD-player to your Playstation and have is show the CG as overlay ontop of the LD movie.
Anybody konws anything about this?
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Equites, what a beautiful Starblade you've got there.
Thanks dude - it's my pride and joy. Some day, once Galaxian3 is emulated I really want to build a custom cab for it, I would of course need a spare Starblade controller for this task. Nice to see other Starblade/Galaxian3 fans out there.
Are you in the UK? Im am in Cheshire/England.
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I'm in Sweden, a cold and dark place up in the north.
Alright, a custom cab? Please explain more. You do woodworking? I did some in the past. You know, to play Starblade you really need either the original cannon, but preferably the Atari pilot yoke. Ofcourse we have all been used to play Starblade with the cannon, but think about it, the old Star Wars controller or a modified STUN Runner controller would be far better and faster to manouver than the original cannon. That is why I allowed myself to tear down my Starblade and giving away the cannon, mirror, saving the boards and wiring. Actually, Starblade is also very playable with an analog joystick. However firing with the index finger and thumb isn't as effective as having four fire buttons unless you use an autofire circuit or implement extra fire buttons on the panel next to your joystick (total of 4 fire buttons). So the optimal choice is really a four-button Atari yoke. You can add two more buttons to the STUN Runner yoke if you drill a hole for each thumb on the inner handle. Any 12mm round buttons work, but select some that are soft to press. If you were any good at Star Wars (from '83) you will enjoy Starblade as much if not more with the same yoke.
About a custom cab for Starblade, it is infact the choice for home or small arcade. Sure, the larger mirror cabinet gives a fantastic appearance with its lens like image and vibrating seat, strobes and cannon. But look at the facts: Starblade screen flashes white when taking damage, thus in a dark room eliminating the strobes. Then the mirror, which by the way is not at all a mirror but a glossy plastic bowl reflecting only some of the image intensity of the monitor which makes darker areas in the game fade away unless you tweak the brightness to higher levels, burning the phosohors of the CRT faster. Then ofcourse the seat rumble, that's something which is a luxury only larger cabinets can use, so that would really be missed in a smaller version. However, Starblade can be played just as well, if not better, in a upright or sitting cabinet with the Atari yoke and a 29" monitor, leaving out the vibration and strobe flashes.
Just like Afterburner, that game used several cabinets. The big Commander type, a simpler sit-down, and an upright which still had the lock-on and warning lights implemented.
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I have a question about this game. How to unlock the "super" blaster and how to get Commander from Starblade in the game like in this video?
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=28Eu_MWE0kE (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=28Eu_MWE0kE)
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??? something still in mind. how do you play Galaxian3 psx, with the "two" flightstick configuration ? does only one serves ? or the 2 ? or for 2 players ?!
(cannot find the flightstick to real galaxian setup chair hacking url. if someone had idea about a galaxian chair equipment reproduction, that would be fun to see and play :o
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Found a review of the PSX port ...in Slovakia I believe? ::) :arrow:
(https://www.dragonslairfans.com/G3/various/galaxian3-psx.jpg)
Who can translate? ;D
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Man are you in luck, nuno! I can translate that for you!
It's actually czech. As it happens, my mom is from a small village east of Prague and I've been successfully brainwashed to speak, and read the language from the time I was born. Infact, I knew czech even before I knew swedish!
Is this a coinsidence or what??
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Head and column 1 (the obvious english omitted)
Ready! Starblade take two! Action!
Well well, Jani! Where are you again? This is already the third take you've spoild for us. I know that dealing out snacks is important, but do not get infront of the camera.. ok, little ass? Actually, what are you doing tonight? I'll be quick finishing this film and then I'll buy you dinner, how about it? In that new restaurant Planet "HloupyWud" (translated "SillyWood" - he's trying to be funny here), or what's its name? Are you blushing?
Ok, ok, let's stop making fun and get on with this new film. What did we pay for it? Let's have it done by three o'clock. "Scenarista"?! (like "scene assistant" maybe?) Tell me, what have you got for us? "Well, ehm, he, last night I was drinking a little... just a little.., so yesterday I haven't managed anything, and today my head hurts horribly. I really tried, but on the second page I said to myself, what has been aproved, is good, so I used the idea from our last film Starblade and only improved it in a couple of places. And also stretched it, so that it is twice as long. Otherwise it all remains the same, just like the action films. The plot and pictures are different, but the story is the same. Shooting and shooting. And at time also shooting..." Stop it! You can't be serious! This year I wanted an Oscar! How can I get that with a film ..
(Second column)
.. that has already been? Come up with something else. "What if I would add the option of multi-shooting, the game would be sligtly more interesting. Because instead of one main hero there would be several heroes. Perhaps two, three, or four. Will that be better?" Surely slightly better. But it needs something more... Soundguy? Where's that turbo-ass again, SOUND GUY!" - "Y-y-y-yes, I am here. What can I do for you?" How's your sound editing and music? - "W-w-well, I'm almost ready. Z-z-z-z-z." I know the alphabet, how's the sound coming along? "S-s-s-sound is classic, I used a few sounds from our previous film and some sounds I just resampled, sort of. S-s-s... Hu! Lucky I didn't delete them. They come in handy now. The music I composed almost two days, so I hope I'll get an Oscar for that. Or at least a bonus." Well forget about the Oscar, it's mine. Where's that story guy at! How can I work with the likes of you, I don't understand. Well dammit, where is he! Call him!"
Half an hour search for the person above mentioned follows, who is finally found sleeping in the elevator shaft. He's brutally ra... no, awakened and cleaned up for the director.
"Who do you think you are?" "Jesus Christ ... I like you all so much..." "You have been smoking again, haven't you? No bullshit, you've got eyes like Belzebub. How many times have I told you to come to work with a clean head, you little moron! Do you know how the set looks when you've prepared it being in the state you're in?" "Everything with feathers will fly ..." "I won't waste ...
(third column)
...anymore time with him, take him away, I'll go see what he has done. Hmm, it's not bad. The first scenes are somewhat bare, but the second part is better already. His imagination must have gotten refreshed. Wow, even I would never have though of it. What a great imagination. The man has never been inside a space cruiser yet he comes up with something like this. I guess I'll have to give it to him. Well then, are you all ready? Camera, ready, and action!"
Two days later, newspaper headlines. The film frantically progresses, action after action, cutscene cuts cutscene, F16 cuts Mig... Into that sounds explosions, the environment is variable, alternating open space and planet surfaces, underground complexes, or flight-throughs between cosmic ships... Mixing into all of this are hordes of enemies, everything is moving and shooting, and shooting... For the first ten minutes reporters are pleasantly surprised, however, after that boredom. After half an hour, out of ten reporters, about half are asleep. The film ends, but no one is applauding. The end credits have no one to read them.
(signed by) Lachtan
(Fat brown text to the lower right)
Lachtan: What can I tell you? Galaxian3 is a countinuation of Starblade, and besides the four player option it differs in no way. It's an hours fun, when played then boring. It's good enough for quick fun, but to buy? Depends on your wallet.
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Wow, it was fast, thanks for the translation Uncletom :-*
Like many reviews, too much 'journalist' stuff in this ... not enough about the content, or deep analysis... :-X
But I can't blame them on this, Galaxian3 is just a (too) short rail shooter after all...
Anyway, the replay value is great : This game is a fantastic 'time attack' challenge, and my main objective will be to beat the high score done by the furious Japanese UGSF team!
(https://www.dragonslairfans.com/smfor/Themes/default/images/post/G3.gif)(https://www.dragonslairfans.com/smfor/Themes/default/images/post/G3.gif)(https://www.dragonslairfans.com/smfor/Themes/default/images/post/G3.gif)
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I noticed something when I played G^3 PSX...you can select AI pilots to compete against for score, and I guess beating one gives access to another. I can't remember their names entirely but in one video I saw there was one named "Shark" and I'm sure Namco probably threw in some Tekken name shoutouts too like Paul or Heihachi...maybe.
Weirder still, you know how you can choose from different laser types? There's a secret "Super" laser that acts like all of them combined and I'm not sure how to access that. Maybe you beat all the AI pilots to get it? There's also a debug mode code too, so maybe it's unlocked there? Mysterious...
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See the TV commercial done for the Japanese market :
(https://www.dragonslairfans.com/forforum3/Galaxian3_PSX_commercial.jpg) (http://youtu.be/t7gALoZ06MQ)
8)
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2nd Update: I finally figured it out. I tried it on both versions (Europe and Japan). Updated with accurate information now.
The "R1, L2, L1, R2, △, □, L2, select, ×" is the 2nd part of the "SUPER" blaster (or rather, the debug menu A.K.A TEST OPTION MENU, because in there you can unlock the super blaster) code input (you have to do it on the main menu). the 1st input is pressing the start button when the galaxian3 logo sequence starts, during the galaxian3 logo sequence, or before it ends (pressing the start button on the main menu doesn't count unfortunately). Once you successfully input the code, press the ○ button (○ button if europe version. × button if japan version) to access the test option menu.
(http://puu.sh/dAgy9/7d86d5ffe3.png)
What the TEST OPTIONMENU is like.
Unfortunately, the changes wont apply if you just press the × (europe) or ○ (Japan) button on the "EXIT" after making changes, in which you'll have to go back to make changes again. To apply changes, you press the buttons on any of these options, except for "EXIT" (unless you already applied your changes). However, you can only apply the change of a option that you select, so look out for that one.
Now as for the SUPER BLS, after you apply the changes, go to the regular option menu and then configure the blaster's fire rate.
TEST OPTIONMENU:
__________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________
CLR LEVEL: NONE / EASY / NORMAL / HARD / EXPERT SUCCESS: ON / OFF
ENTRY: NORMAL / 1 P / 2 P / 3 P / 4 P SUPER BLS: ON / OFF
CLR GUN: NOBODY / FRANK / REIKO / JOHNSON / SHARK TUNE LVL: NORMAL / PLUS
DSP PAUSE: ON / OFF
IMMORTAL: ON / OFF
EXIT
__________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________
that commercial seemed awesome. as the commander from starblade, i think you have to destroy that giant red ship to encounter the commander. as for super blaster, i'm not positive, but i think you have to get the most score than all pilots.
Edit: I got a response from the uploader of the Rising of Gourb (COMMANDER encountered).
"COMMANDER encountered shield if there remains more than 90% when you break through the gate of GOURB.
It's at 5:41 in the video.
SUPER BLASTER can be set in TEST OPTIONMENU.
On the Main Menu screen, "TEST OPTIONMENU" appears and press "R1, L2, L1, R2, △, □, L2, select, ×" in the order.
You can be set there.
However, it does not follow that it is set to not press the "○" after changing."
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Taken from this website: http://kingpottergame.ucoz.com/ps1c/shoot.htm
(http://kingpottergame.ucoz.com/ps1c/shoot2/ps1c2916.jpg)
Seeing that cover on that website, I'm not positive if it's real or not.
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Hmm...
Almost looks like a speculative cover, likely published by a magazine when Namco announced they may release it overseas.
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These 4 Japanese girls are playing Galaxian3 on PSX (see the multi tap)... I'm curious to know what they are saying here? :P :arrow:
(https://www.dragonslairfans.com/G3/various/psx_galaxian3.jpg)
???
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I added toykyle's info about the debug menu to TCRF (a great website that catalogs unused stuff in games as well as things like debug menus): https://tcrf.net/Galaxian_3_(PlayStation)
I'm not sure what the Tune LVL, Success and Entry options do. I thought Success would affect something related to the Cannon Seed destruction but it doesn't. The Super blaster though is amazing and makes the game a lot easier (almost too easy, I blew up the spark bits in Project Dragoon before the camera began to focus on them)
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I have no idea about tune LVL. I assume the entry refers to the four player color selection. As for the success option, it gives you a win on all but the cannon seed (ex: even of you don't destroy the power core, it blows up anyway). Success doesn't apply to the cannon seed, however.
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Hey, did ya' know this month is the 20th anniversary of the Galaxian3 release for playstation?
Very nice port of the game, and cheap as chips on ebay... a must have for PSX! :)
(https://www.dragonslairfans.com/forforum4/psxtogt6.jpg)
:spaceace:
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Closest I'll get to a Galaxian 3 Theater! Picked up a rental version from ebay, looking forward to giving it a blast.
(https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/48453970677_3f77826523_z.jpg) (https://flic.kr/p/2gPHgnx) (https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/48453815261_649d5f78b1_z.jpg) (https://flic.kr/p/2gPGtaX) (https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/48456505361_ed78843628_z.jpg) (https://flic.kr/p/2gPWfQZ)
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Nice :)
But try to grab the NTSC (US or JAP) version of the game, the video will be more pleasant to eyes ;)