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Hi,

I want to do a runthrough of X-COM: UFO Defence, but I'm having trouble record the run. I tried using Camtasia but it doesn't work when i go into the game.

Any recommended programs i can try or do i have to hook it up to a VCR to record?

Thanks!
Thread title:  
I love YaBB 1G - SP1!
(im new to the forum...just registered)
You got a deletion wish?
From the FAQ page:
Quote:
Unfortunately, for older DOS-based games there's no reliable way to record them yet unless you can output to a VCR.
Your best bet is probably DOSBox.  It has a builtin capture feature, or you can use a screen capture program.  (Disclaimer: I haven't tried it.)

(a VCR/DVD recorder is also an option if your video card has a TV-Out).
Obey the Daleks or be Exterminated! Riiiiiiight...
Unfortunately DOSBox is counted as an emulator, and even then, getting the game to run at normal speed with it is a challenge itself.

Best bet is to record to DVD Recorder or VCR through a possible S-Video or Composite out port on the graphics card, if they are available.
Edit history:
dex: 2006-09-12 12:25:46 am
Invisible avatar
Quote:
Your best bet is probably DOSBox.  It has a builtin capture feature, or you can use a screen capture program.  (Disclaimer: I haven't tried it.)

(a VCR/DVD recorder is also an option if your video card has a TV-Out).

DOSBox videos are unacceptable on the SDA, as it is an emulator which can employ slowdown function.
Sorry.

EDIT: All right...you beat me this time....but i'll HAVE MY VENGEANCE!!11211eleven!
Oh... so then TV-out is the only way.  I mean, there's no way you could get a video capture program working on DOS.

BTW, does Windows XP get some sort of special status as an official MS-DOS emulator?
Edit history:
Lag.Com: 2006-09-12 09:28:13 am
sda loyalist
Yes.

Edit: Long answer. Nintendo Gameboy Player is an official emulator because it doesn't have slowdown and stuff. Same for XP's DOS-a-like shell.
I love YaBB 1G - SP1!
I do have one idea though, since slowdown/speedup is completely useless for XCom & TFTD, since the only actual time critical part is the globe-view, and that has it's own speed-up method, and the slowdown has no use whatsoever in the combat part (since you can tell the game to make shots/walking go extra slow anyway!), maybe you could ask Radix for an exception to the rule?
Invisible avatar
Quote:
I do have one idea though, since slowdown/speedup is completely useless for XCom & TFTD, since the only actual time critical part is the globe-view, and that has it's own speed-up method, and the slowdown has no use whatsoever in the combat part (since you can tell the game to make shots/walking go extra slow anyway!), maybe you could ask Radix for an exception to the rule?

But, see, slowing down the game improves your reaction time, so you make the moves extra fast, like giving five orders within 1 second. You can then replay the video in normal speed and that would be cheating.
sda loyalist
Alternatively, you could say your goal is to have "lowest ingame time" for completion. Then it really doesn't matter if you use DOXBox speed changing features. That might be a more compelling argument.
I love YaBB 1G - SP1!
Quote:
Alternatively, you could say your goal is to have "lowest ingame time" for completion. Then it really doesn't matter if you use DOXBox speed changing features. That might be a more compelling argument.


Yah, lowest ingame time is what i meant....since X-COM is a turn based game, the actual runtime would be meaningless?

(BTW for those familiar with X-COM, i think UFO Defence can be finished by "May or June" in-game time, depends a bit on luck...while TFTD would take a longer time since you have to wait for lobstermen to appear...)
There's no Canada like French Canada.
You can also buy a VGA to tv converter thingy and use that. They should be rather cheap.
Edit history:
Sorcerer88: 2006-09-13 08:36:24 pm
I have no solution, but i admire the problem.
Hey, dude, i'd offer my soul to watch a run of UFO!

2 ways to record this:

1. Use Windows shell + recording program ( Although Windows probably can't be fast enough for recording while being slow enough to let you play UFO properly )
2. Take the S-Video In/Out ( the only circle-like plug of your graphics card ), get a proper cable to connect it to a 4-pin S-Video plug of a DVD recorder ( graphics cards mostly have 9-pin-S-Video-plugs ).
If your graphics card already has a 4-pin-plug, it's your luck! That means it can only send, but not receive a signal, and then you can use a standard 3$ S-Video to S-Video cable.

Let's hope you have a DVD recorder.. otherwise buy one, i NEED to watch that run it's really worth the money if you want to become a runner, especially for console games. And you can record your tv shows, btw.

For a list of good DVD recorders look here:
http://speeddemosarchive.com/yabb/YaBB.pl?board=other;action=display;num=1139455228

If you don't have that special plug for your graphics card, which can have been delivered with your retail graphics card, look for that thing on ebay or google.


Last, desperate method: Share your ideas with me and i'll do that run, i have the proper equipment. Of course that sounds selfish, even if i'd give half of the credits to you, but i'd rather let anyone else do my favourite-game-run than see it never done.
it might be a silly question, but do i need a TV or is it possible to record directly to DVD recorder from PC?
reallife speedrunner
it sure is possible to do without a TV.
ah ok, thx Smiley
Lurkin' and watching!
Gox, X-Com: Ufo Defense Gold Edition runs under Windows, maybe you should give that a shot.

-c2
I love YaBB 1G - SP1!
Quote:
Hi,

I want to do a runthrough of X-COM: UFO Defence, but I'm having trouble record the run. I tried using Camtasia but it doesn't work when i go into the game.

Any recommended programs i can try or do i have to hook it up to a VCR to record?

Thanks!

Hypercam is probably the best for games like that. use "select region"and you can record anything, except for the fact that if you're not registered to hypercam it has a banner in the corner.
DOSBox <3
Quote:
Hypercam is probably the best for games like that. use "select region"and you can record anything, except for the fact that if you're not registered to hypercam it has a banner in the corner.

I don't think it can record full-screen non-window (DOS) games.
Quote from Sorcerer88:
Use Windows shell + recording program ( Although Windows probably can't be fast enough for recording while being slow enough to let you play UFO properly )

I was wondered about this problem recently.
The thing is how to make screen saver in Volcov Commander from the video captured in Windows shell. As far I remember there is special  specific format of the file that common win videorecorders don't match...
Everyday is puppies and sunshine...
Holy resurrected post, Batman.  This was from 2006!  Eleven years later...  lol

If there's an official release on GOG or something, pretty much anything can grab DOSBox games anymore.  xSplit, OBS, Fraps, Windows Game DVR... anything works anymore.
It lives!

I don't personally understand what's wrong with "necroing"... except that the info in thread might be old. But people will look at the most recent posts anyway, I hope.

Sadly, I'm not sure what you're trying to do. If it helps, DOSBox itself also has a native recording function, surely the most efficient thing to try, and it's totally independent of how fast or slow the game itself is being emulated.