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[Tain]

I bought a second Xbox in 2013 due to my original having one of those bad power supplies that MS sent a replacement AC adapter out for. My original console had Ninja Gaiden Black saves, and I want to keep playing that game but the saves are copy-protected.

Is there anything I can do to play with my old saves on my newer console? Would I need to do something like re-signing the saves? And is that a big process? I still have access to the original console but don't want to use it for long periods of time. Both consoles are softmodded.

Starting on the hardest difficulty level is my main goal here, so if I could get some hacked saves or something that aren't my own I'd be fine with that.

 

[Borman]

Less than two hours until MA2 on Xlink!

 

[Raldoh]

I bought a second Xbox in 2013 due to my original having one of those bad power supplies that MS sent a replacement AC adapter out for. My original console had Ninja Gaiden Black saves, and I want to keep playing that game but the saves are copy-protected.

Is there anything I can do to play with my old saves on my newer console? Would I need to do something like re-signing the saves? And is that a big process? I still have access to the original console but don't want to use it for long periods of time. Both consoles are softmodded.

Starting on the hardest difficulty level is my main goal here, so if I could get some hacked saves or something that aren't my own I'd be fine with that.

If your two consoles share the same motherboard revision I guess you could try swapping PSUs.

EDIT: after digging around 1.0-1.1 PSU are compatible, as well as 1.2-1.5. 1.6 psu only work with 1.6 systems.

 

[dubc35]

I just bought an OG Xbox on ebay. I'm looking around for component cables. There are a ton on ebay. Any of them good?

 

[Timu]

I just bought an OG Xbox on ebay. I'm looking around for component cables. There are a ton on ebay. Any of them good?

Go for Microsoft or Monster ones.

 

[Shaneus]

I just bought an OG Xbox on ebay. I'm looking around for component cables. There are a ton on ebay. Any of them good?

From what I've read/experienced, only the original Xbox-branded/released ones are any good. Not sure how you'll go finding them, though

 

[Timu]

From what I've read/experienced, only the original Xbox-branded/released ones are any good. Not sure how you'll go finding them, though

Amazon and ebay have some, plus Monster is good.

 

[dubc35]

Awesome, thank you! Now to watch videos on the capacitor removal until it arrives!

 

[Teknoman]

There is going to be some MechAssault 2 action on Xlink Kai at 10PM EST tonight. Going to stream it

How does that work again?

 

[hooijdonk17]

This capacitor removal thing is strange, but not unheard of. A similar problem haunts Amiga 500 units with RTCs.. I really don't want to bother with that crap though, keeping my fingers crossed and hoping it won't leak.

 

[blast processed]

This capacitor removal thing is strange, but not unheard of. A similar problem haunts Amiga 500 units with RTCs.. I really don't want to bother with that crap though, keeping my fingers crossed and hoping it won't leak.

It's inevitable, it's going to leak. I removed capacitors from 2 Xboxes in about 20 min, there is really nothing to it. Just research the model and board you have and make sure you're popping the correct one off.

 

[Khaz]

Isn't it possible to replace the capacitor with a regular battery, like a CR2032? It would be cool to keep the time feature.

 

[Raldoh]

Been thinking about making VGA output possible. Anyone with any experience of it? From what I understand it's not possible on a 1.6 console, which means I have to buy an earlier revision. I do have an official component video cable so it might not be worth all the hassle, but at the same time it could be a fun project in itself.

It would be nice to have option of RGB output in progressive mode, plus the fact that it gives you more flexibility in getting lower latency displays without having to look for big and expensive PVMs/CRTs.

 

[Borman]

How does that work again?

Basically your PC tunnels the system link connection through the Internet.

If anyone missed it, I covered the cancelled 100 Bullets games, all Xbox footage:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=x7oy43nYs1g

 

[AmyS]

Hey guys, I think this is the first Xbox article by NextGen.

Next Generation relaunched themselves in late '99. At the time Microsoft's console was nothing more than an unconfirmed rumor, this was about 5-6 months before they officially announced Xbox at GDC,

 

[blast processed]

Good thing they didn't go with 3DFX Voodoo 3, it was only 16-bit and smaller textures.and big AF. They had other options such as the TNT and ATI all which did 32-bit .At the time Nvidia was the better card, so maybe they were trying keep the price down.

 

[AmyS]

Good thing they didn't go with 3DFX Voodoo 3, it was only 16-bit and smaller textures.and big AF. They had other options such as the TNT and ATI all which did 32-bit .At the time Nvidia was the better card, so maybe they were trying keep the price down.

Point is, the early speculation could not have taken into account Microsoft launching in late 2001, using a GPU that was several generations ahead of NV-10 and even NV-15.

The NV2A was right in between NV-20 (GF3) and NV-25 (GF4Ti).

 

[Teknoman]

i would've liked the proto xbox form more than what we got.

 

[hooijdonk17]

Point is, the early speculation could not have taken into account Microsoft launching in late 2001, using a GPU that was several generations ahead of NV-10 and even NV-15.

The NV2A was right in between NV-20 (GF3) and NV-25 (GF4Ti).

Yep, the Voodoo 3 is generations behind what ended up in the OG XBOX. The NV2A is about as miraculous a GPU as the R500. Which makes the Xbone GPU choice even more painful to accept. Fuck shoein Kinect.

 

[Khaz]

I love the fake design, but I'm glad we didn't get the Sidewinder. These controllers were terrible.

 

[AmyS]

Can someone explain the rendering resolution difference (assuming there is one) between Soul Calibur II on OG Xbox that can run in 720p with black boarders on all sides (in a 'window') and Soul Calibur II on Xbox 360 XBLA / PS3 PSN which runs in normal widescreen 720p

OG Xbox (60fps) https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JXDL87J1fJQ

Xbox 360 (60fps) https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5DSbm1JD3tM

 

[REDSLATE]

Point is, the early speculation could not have taken into account Microsoft launching in late 2001, using a GPU that was several generations ahead of NV-10 and even NV-15.

The NV2A was right in between NV-20 (GF3) and NV-25 (GF4Ti).

Yep, looking back now, it's still amazing how far ahead of the competition the Xbox was (High Definition, Broadband network play, HDD).

i would've liked the proto xbox form more than what we got.

Heresy!
I love my Black Box!

 

[Ivan Amiibo]

I like the sound of xbox games running on PCs, but the further they strayed from a typical console, the less chance of success imo.

 

[blast processed]

i would've liked the proto xbox form more than what we got.

It looks like a Saturn/PS1/Jaguar hybrid. I like what got.

 

[sixteen-bit]

It looks like a Saturn/PS1/Jaguar hybrid.

there's a dangan ronpa figure with one of those
http://ecx.images-amazon.com/images/I/71-PHGTN5+L._SL1020_.jpg

 

[Borman]

If you read into the early rumors you start to see the WebTV teams work blend in with the Xbox team. Its fun.

 

[Raldoh]

Weren't the WebTV team made up of ex 3DO people?

 

[dubc35]

My big black box of doom arrived on Friday! I was able to reacquaint myself with RalliSport Challenge 2 over the weekend, so so good! I got one of the official component cables with the digital optical audio out. The system sounds and looks amazing (even on my plasma)! It's shocking this is three generations ago.

I went to local retro game store to get a controller (xbox came with a 3rd party one) and picked up some games as well. They were priced about what I saw on ebay or even cheaper. All CIB with good boxes: Sega GT/JSRF and PGR2 were $5 each and Halo CE was $10. A refreshing change of pace from NES and SNES/Genesis prices.

I need to do some further research on the capacitor issue. I think I have one of the newer ones. June 2004 mfg date and 06 as the FF at the end of the serial number, need to research some more on it.

 

[AmyS]

If you read into the early rumors you start to see the WebTV teams work blend in with the Xbox team. Its fun.

Yep.

Weren't the WebTV team made up of ex 3DO people?

Yes. Microsoft bought the former 3DO Systems team (renamed "CagEnt") from Samsung in 1998. They had been working on a follow-up to the M2, called MX. Microsoft had these guys working at the WebTV division.

It gets even more complicated.

Somewhere during 1999 / early 2000, a graphics start-up called GigaPixel was competing to get the Xbox GPU contract. Nvidia got it instead at the last minute. The GigaPixel team was working out of MS's WebTV office. Does that mean GigaPixel was working with ex-3DO people? I don't know. Microsoft did not own GigaPixel AFAIK.

What is known, when Nvidia officially won the Xbox GPU deal, GigaPixel sold themselves to 3DFX. (3DFX themselves had not been bought by Nvidia, yet). The assumption was, even though Nvidia won the Xbox contract, 3DFX (with GigaPixel) still had a chance to gain the spot in Xbox for the GPU. Nothing ever came of that however.

IIRC it was early 2001 that Nvidia bought 3DFX's assets, and thus, those of GigaPixel as well.

Unofficially, Nvidia would provide Microsoft an NV25 GPU for Xbox, and GigaPixel was promising their GP4 GPU, based on what Microsoft wanted. GP4 was never completed, and I'm not sure about GP3. I think the most that GigaPixel had working in terms of silicon was GP1 and maybe GP2. I could be totally wrong. I'm just basing this on my own memory of rumors and reports about the whole Xbox thing.

With that said, here is NextGen's update on Xbox, GeForce 256, and AMD, who were trying to get the Xbox CPU contract before Intel had it officially locked.

 

[Havoc2049]

I just got this in the mail. One of the Xbox Holy Grails, brand new and still in the shipping box.

 

[Coda]

I just got this in the mail. One of the Xbox Holy Grails, brand new and still in the shipping box.

Damnn dude, enjoy!

 

[Riesenfass]

Very nice pickup there with Steel Battalion.

 

[REDSLATE]

I just got this in the mail. One of the Xbox Holy Grails, brand new and still in the shipping box.

Love that game. Easily in my top five.

 

[Tain]

good-ass pickup, enjoy!

 

[Raldoh]

Would be really cool to own a Steel Battalion set. They are quite hard to find in EU without having to pay high shipping rates. From what I've heard there were roughly 50 units imported to Sweden.

The closest experience I can get is probably that awful Kinect sequel, haha.

 

[REDSLATE]

Would be really cool to own a Steel Battalion set. They are quite hard to find in EU without having to pay high shipping rates. From what I've heard there were roughly 50 units imported to Sweden.

The closest experience I can get is probably that awful Kinect sequel, haha.

Dude... we don't talk about that game.

 

[AmyS]

X-Box update, probably the last one in NextGen before the official announcement at GDC 2000. State of PC & console industry.

Different GPU provider (GigaPixel) for X-Box mentioned (as I mentioned in previous post).

 

[dubc35]

Thanks for sharing! I was PlayStation only back in the day so I didn't follow Xbox much. I was probably only reading PSM at the time.

A nice 'who is it?' sidebar too!

 

[AmyS]

Thanks for sharing! I was PlayStation only back in the day so I didn't follow Xbox much. I was probably only reading PSM at the time.

A nice 'who is it?' sidebar too!

Glad to be able to read and share these articles!

Opps, there's one more NextGen X-Box update article published before they could print what happened at GDC 2000.

NextGen April 2000.

Again, I recall some talk online that the X-Chip (GPU) would be GP-4 (a paper spec) given that upto GP-3 technology existed at the time. With Microsoft shooting for the moon, it was unofficially down to a GP-4 or NV-25.

I am totally speculating but I'd guess that GigaPixel's GP-3 was their equivalent to NV-20 / GeForce 3 and the paper spec GP-4 would be the equivalent of NV-25 / GeForce4 Ti.

While the final NV2A wasn't quite NV-25 (or whatever GP-4 was on paper) it was certainly beefier than NV-20 and most likely GP-3 as well. I wish there was more info on the GPUs GigaPixel was working on.

Edit:

http://www.theregister.co.uk/1999/10/06/gigapixel_takes_on_3dfx_s3/

GigaPixel takes on 3dfx, S3, Nvidia with… tiles
Tile-based rendering faster, better looking than polygons claims company

6 Oct 1999

US 3D graphics specialist GigaPixel this week issued a challenge to the likes of 3dfx, Nvidia, S3 and ATI -- the company claims its GP-1 chip, based on its Giga3D architecture, has rival products well and truly licked on both image quality and performance. What makes GP-1 interesting is its use of a tile-based rendering scheme instead of the traditional polygon approached used by every other mainstream graphics accelerator.

According to GigaPixel CEO George Haber, GP-1 breaks a scene into a series of small tiles and renders each individually. That, he said, allows the chip to render a fully anti-aliased image -- which is where GP-1 gets its superior image quality from -- without the massive processing overhead it usually requires. Tiling the image also considerably reduces the card's bandwidth requirements by a factor of ten, he added, which also increases performance. GP-1 is fully compatible with the Direct3D and OpenGL APIs, Haber said.

The chip takes the polygon-based description of the scene and converts it into the sequence of tiles. Each tile is rendered and shaded as required then sent to the frame buffer. Haber demonstrated Quake II running on a GP-1 reference board and a Matrox 3D card, and while the frame rate appeared comparable, with its anti-aliasing, the GP-1's output certainly looked better. Of course, 3dfx's upcoming Napalm board will offer anti-aliasing -- though not full-scene anti-aliasing -- when it ships in Q1 2000. Haber dismissed the Napalm's T-buffer technology on a technical level since the board has to render each scene four times to make anti-aliasing work, but what does that matter if 3dfx can make it work cost-effectively and retain high frame rates? 3dfx's system will also offer other effects, such as motion blur and smooth shadows, which as yet the GP-1 does not. That said, the company's approach should give it the processing headroom to add more advanced features to later versions of the chip.

 

[Borman]

I think the issue with GigaPixel's chips were that they just weren't doing what they wanted to do at the level they wanted to do it at.

The 600mhz bit is more interesting though, as that was the speed of the Alpha I, or at least one of them, mainly mine hah.

 

[JohnDoe8865]

Thanks for posting these. Great reads and great memories.

 

[AmyS]

GP-3 PDF

 

[Borman]

It always amazes me at how forward thinking the original Xbox was. These are pre-launch documents.

 

[AmyS]

Thanks for posting these. Great reads and great memories.

You're welcome. I remember bits and pieces of these articles, as well as some of the stuff posted online back then. It's nice for me to read them again, knowing that the things I partly remember were indeed printed in NextGen.

 

[televator]

Whoo! An eBay seller just accepted my offer for Pro Skater 2x. 6 bucks, free shipping.

I can't believe this game was so under my radar. It's got THPS 1&2 career modes, looking smooth with Xbox's added power. Sounds like the definitive version of those games.

 

[Timu]

Whoo! An eBay seller just accepted my offer for Pro Skater 2x. 6 bucks, free shipping.

I can't believe this game was so under my radar. It's got THPS 1&2 career modes, looking smooth with Xbox's added power. Sounds like the definitive version of those games.

I need this version!

 

[Raldoh]

Whoo! An eBay seller just accepted my offer for Pro Skater 2x. 6 bucks, free shipping.

I can't believe this game was so under my radar. It's got THPS 1&2 career modes, looking smooth with Xbox's added power. Sounds like the definitive version of those games.

Oh yes, 60 fps goes a long way in how it plays.

 

[sixteen-bit]

Whoo! An eBay seller just accepted my offer for Pro Skater 2x. 6 bucks, free shipping.

I can't believe this game was so under my radar. It's got THPS 1&2 career modes, looking smooth with Xbox's added power. Sounds like the definitive version of those games.

Oh yes, 60 fps goes a long way in how it plays.

Yep, and I think it's the only version of THPS2 that allows women in the Create-A-Skater editor. I liked the Dreamcast release a lot back in the day, but Xbox is definitely the definite version.

 

[Peagles]

Whoo! An eBay seller just accepted my offer for Pro Skater 2x. 6 bucks, free shipping.

I can't believe this game was so under my radar. It's got THPS 1&2 career modes, looking smooth with Xbox's added power. Sounds like the definitive version of those games.

It's my favourite way to play Tony Hawk!

I just need to figure out how to put my own music in now.

 

[televator]

It's my favourite way to play Tony Hawk!

I just need to figure out how to put my own music in now.

The Xbox sure is paying off. I realized last year that my dislike of the system was stupid. Now I'm in the hunt for the best ports that Xbox got. Living it up with high res graphics now like: