Topic: SFC3 Battles .rec files

[LordThomas]

Could someone tell me if it is possible to covert the  recorded battles (.rec.files)to some other format  to watch them outside of the game?    

[SghnDubh]

Let me help you here.

This has been a question that has frequently surfaced.

BattleClinic has done a lot of research and concluded that there is no direct conversion. I've spent close to $2000 US to figure this out. I've tried a staggering variety of creative approaches, including even analog video-out to a VCR. Heh...what a mess that was. Anyway...

To convert the files, you'll need Adobe Premier and a decent screencap program like Camtasia Studio, plus an extremely high-end PC since the load required to run the game + the screencapture program will be enormous. You'll also need several specific codecs which allow directx captures, and you'll need at least a few GB if your game goes over 15 minutes.

I am able to tax my Dell XPS with a P4 3.0ghz / 1.5GB RAM / ATI RADEON 9800 Pro to the limit just to get a decent framerate on captures inside of a direct-x game.

Hope that helps.  

[E_Look]

What about SFC1/OP/EAW .rec files?

[Toasty0]

Quote:
Could someone tell me if it is possible to covert the  recorded battles (.rec.files)to some other format  to watch them outside of the game?      

No, it is not possible at this time...

Now, where did I leave that directx9 tutorial?  

[SghnDubh]

Er....this goes for all of the .rec files. The game engine is essentially the same between EAW/OP and SFC3.

So yeah, pretty much any SFC title would pose a challenge during recording.

--Sghn

 

[SghnDubh]

Quote:
 No, it is not possible at this time...

Now, where did I leave that directx9 tutorial?  

Toasty, dude, the 'Vegas air must be getting to you. And I know, having lived there 10 years and owning 2 homes in Peccole Ranch.    

Yes, it IS possible to capture and play back, but only through screen-grabs, not an actual conversion process.  Savvy?

[Toasty0]

Quote:

Quote:
 No, it is not possible at this time...

Now, where did I leave that directx9 tutorial?  

Toasty, dude, the 'Vegas air must be getting to you. And I know, having lived there 10 years and owning 2 homes in Peccole Ranch.    

Yes, it IS possible to capture and play back, but only through screen-grabs, not an actual conversion process.  Savvy?  

Chris,

Of course I savvy. The question was "could you play the ".rec" file outside the game UI?."  The answer to that is, "No, that is not possible."

Otoh, yes, you are right, with the right setup, and with the right software you can do a video screen capture that does emmulate the game film.

Piccole Ranch? Lucky you, you rich snob. Me, I have to settle for my shack under the stars.

Best,
Jerry  

[nx_adam_1701]

I use Bink and Smacker to see the videos, out side the game, so I guess it is possible



adam out

[Lieutenant_Q]

yeah, but those are the CGI videos for the story lines.  The actual battle recordings are not viewable with those programs.  

[nx_adam_1701]

ohhh I see, sorry


adam out

[Dash Jones]

Quote:
Could someone tell me if it is possible to covert the  recorded battles (.rec.files)to some other format  to watch them outside of the game?      

Contrar to what some are saying...yes it's possible...

First you will need a VCR/TV combo.  Next you will need a TV adapter so you can use a TV screen as the computer monitor.

You then play and use the computer on the TV...the VCR will record anything that is on screen.

Now if you want to convert it back, you'll have to do tape to Computer conversions...

You then can use a movie program (pinnacle for instance) to convert to a DVD format or whatever you desire.

Been there, done it...it's possible...maybe not cheap, but with the right supplies, easy and simple.

I used a laptop by the way, which had a TV adaptor for a TV screen built into it, hooked it right up to the TV.  (and as I noted, this is because the TV is now the monitor, in effect your monitor IS the TV screen which is why this works...I think it might also work if you have a way of connecting to the VCR first which then connects to the TV...though uncertain).  I would expect the same would work with a Desktop, though it might be a little less mobile.  The laptop was easy to place next to the TV and work with in doing these items...plus the stuff showed up on the laptop screen whilst I was doing all this (I actually had to hit a program to start the TV working as the monitor after the laptop was booted when I did this) right up until I started up the TV as the monitor, at which point the laptop screen went blank.

It should be noted, ANYTHING on the screen that is occuring WILL be recorded, so you will want to be careful at which point you start and stop the recording.

[SghnDubh]

Quote:
 First you will need a VCR/TV combo.  Next you will need a TV adapter so you can use a TV screen as the computer monitor.

You then play and use the computer on the TV...the VCR will record anything that is on screen.

 

You still  own a vcr?  
Porting to tape is a low-res way to see your battles, yes.  It's also time consuming because of the dual conversion issue if you want to share those battles online. I looked hard at this but found it suitable only if you are really bored and the adult movie place down the road is out of your favorite "girls gone wild" episode.

At one point BattleClinic was looking very hard at finding a way to quickly and easily convert battles so anyone outside the game could see them. It's clear to me that you'll need to be pretty determined if you want to try this. It's simply SO much easier to just send a fellow SFC player a .rec file if they want to see your game.

---
Oh, and btw Jerry, just kiddin' with ya bud

--Chris

[Toasty0]

Quote:

Quote:
Could someone tell me if it is possible to covert the  recorded battles (.rec.files)to some other format  to watch them outside of the game?      

Contrar to what some are saying...yes it's possible...

First you will need a VCR/TV combo.  Next you will need a TV adapter so you can use a TV screen as the computer monitor.

You then play and use the computer on the TV...the VCR will record anything that is on screen.

Now if you want to convert it back, you'll have to do tape to Computer conversions...

You then can use a movie program (pinnacle for instance) to convert to a DVD format or whatever you desire.

Been there, done it...it's possible...maybe not cheap, but with the right supplies, easy and simple.

I used a laptop by the way, which had a TV adaptor for a TV screen built into it, hooked it right up to the TV.  (and as I noted, this is because the TV is now the monitor, in effect your monitor IS the TV screen which is why this works...I think it might also work if you have a way of connecting to the VCR first which then connects to the TV...though uncertain).  I would expect the same would work with a Desktop, though it might be a little less mobile.  The laptop was easy to place next to the TV and work with in doing these items...plus the stuff showed up on the laptop screen whilst I was doing all this (I actually had to hit a program to start the TV working as the monitor after the laptop was booted when I did this) right up until I started up the TV as the monitor, at which point the laptop screen went blank.

It should be noted, ANYTHING on the screen that is occuring WILL be recorded, so you will want to be careful at which point you start and stop the recording.  

Dash,

That is not a converstion of the ".rec file". I know it is only semantics, but it an important distinction.

What you're suggesting is  a screen capture.

Best,
Jerry  

[Teeth_03]

well,I hate to be the village idiot if I'm wrong,but could ya use a DVD recorder for that? There should be a program that u could record anything that happens on screen into a windows compatible movie,but i dunno too much on the subject

[LordThomas]

Could someone tell me if it is possible to covert the  recorded battles (.rec.files)to some other format  to watch them outside of the game?    

[SghnDubh]

Let me help you here.

This has been a question that has frequently surfaced.

BattleClinic has done a lot of research and concluded that there is no direct conversion. I've spent close to $2000 US to figure this out. I've tried a staggering variety of creative approaches, including even analog video-out to a VCR. Heh...what a mess that was. Anyway...

To convert the files, you'll need Adobe Premier and a decent screencap program like Camtasia Studio, plus an extremely high-end PC since the load required to run the game + the screencapture program will be enormous. You'll also need several specific codecs which allow directx captures, and you'll need at least a few GB if your game goes over 15 minutes.

I am able to tax my Dell XPS with a P4 3.0ghz / 1.5GB RAM / ATI RADEON 9800 Pro to the limit just to get a decent framerate on captures inside of a direct-x game.

Hope that helps.  

[E_Look]

What about SFC1/OP/EAW .rec files?

[Toasty0]

Quote:
Could someone tell me if it is possible to covert the  recorded battles (.rec.files)to some other format  to watch them outside of the game?      

No, it is not possible at this time...

Now, where did I leave that directx9 tutorial?  

[SghnDubh]

Er....this goes for all of the .rec files. The game engine is essentially the same between EAW/OP and SFC3.

So yeah, pretty much any SFC title would pose a challenge during recording.

--Sghn

 

[SghnDubh]

Quote:
 No, it is not possible at this time...

Now, where did I leave that directx9 tutorial?  

Toasty, dude, the 'Vegas air must be getting to you. And I know, having lived there 10 years and owning 2 homes in Peccole Ranch.    

Yes, it IS possible to capture and play back, but only through screen-grabs, not an actual conversion process.  Savvy?