In previous version of Gran Turismo, GT1, GT2 and GT3, hybrid can be done relatively easy by editing the gamesave with available gamesave editor. The other thing needed is an application to transfer from console to PC and vice versa. After the emulator for Play Station 1 and cheat device become mature, people can also make hybrid through cheat device like gameshark or PEC (for the emulator) as well for GT1 and GT2.

In GT4, it’s a different story. Even when GT4 gamesave can be transferred to computer, there is no application available to edit the gamesave. The effort to make an application for this purpose got stopped because unlike the previous versions, the gamesave in GT4 is encrypted. Because of this, GT4’s fans can only dream about hybrid in GT4.

Thankfully, there is some progress that can help achieve hybrid in GT4. The first one, PS2 emulator. PS2 emulator, PCSX2, now get mature enough to be able to play GT4 to actually enter the race. Even though the frame rate of the emulation make it unplayable (can be as slow as 1 frame per second!), this is enough to use it to do some experiments on GT4 hybrid.

Second, the success on decrypting GT4 file encryption. This is mostly done by the people who try to make a backup of their precious GT4. Even though the gamesave encryption is not decrypted yet, the information from GT4 disc proof to be very valuable to aid the process of creating GT4 hybrid.

Two things above made it possible to create hybrid in GT4. The process of creating GT4 hybrid can be done in two ways:

1. Using PCSX2.

This require you to play GT4 in PC with PCSX2 PS2 emulator. We then create the hybrid in here by modifying the game with special PCSX2 cheater, Phaste, or many available PC game cheater. Currently, it is possible to transfer your console game save from or to PCSX2 internal memory card. If you are able to do this method, you can make GT4 hybrid faster.

2. Using cheat device, like Action Replay Max, Code Breaker, Game Shark, etc.

This method still untested yet, but should be possible. Its proccess takes more time and passion since it takes a lot of time to just enter single line of code.

Both method need a lot of work, but the best thing is, it works. In the future when GT4 gamesave encryption successfully decoded, we can hope that the application to make hybrid in GT4 easier will be available.

I would like to thanks anyone who helps me either directly or indirectly making GT4 hybrid. And I hope Polyphony Digital would welcome this change since this will make an already loved GT4 would be more loved by it’s fan.

You can find the example of GT4 hybrid gamesave here and here. Currently only available for PAL version of GT4.

About the author:

Sucahyo is a Grand Turismo enthusiasts who spend much time tuning and testing GT2 and GT4 cars. He is an active member of gtplanet’s GT2 and GT4 forum. You can check out his experiments in his Gran Turismo site.

Celebrate the 10th Anniversary of Metal Slug by joining the Metal Slug team on 7 separate adventures that span across the life of the franchise in this definitive collection.

Metal Slug Anthology is a video game compilation for PlayStation 2, PlayStation Portable and Wii. For Wii it will have unique controller functionality and online capabilities. It also marks the return of SNK Playmore as a third-party developer for a Nintendo console for the first time since the Super NES era. It is currently in development by Terminal Reality in Lewisville, Texas.

SNK Playmore is putting a lot of thought into what extras to include as unlockables and bonuses. Art and music collections seem a lock, at least. How you’ll go about unlocking these is a mystery, though. SNK is toying with several ideas, such as awarding spendable tokens for various in-game achievements. Done right, that could be kind of fun, so long as the prices aren’t exorbitant and no essential content, such as the games themselves, need to be unlocked.

In contrast, Metal Slug Anthology for the PSP is coming together into a polished-looking product. The game-selection screen is in and looks quite nice, and the first level of each game is fully playable. Based on my limited playtime, the quality of the porting looks fantastically accurate, with the games playing just like I remembered them playing. Of special note are the multiple screen mode options; you can choose from a blurry widescreen, a less noticeably blurry fit-to-vertical, and the original 1:1 pixel mode. The fit-to-vertical makes a nice compromise between detail and screen size, and both it and the original resolution mode look fantastic on the PSP’s sharp screen.

PSP version features Wi-Fi (ad hoc) support for intense 2-player action Arcade perfect port of each title Pick-up-and-play, non-stop action.

Metal Slug Anthology Features:

Seven incredible Metal Slug games on one UMD – Metal Slug 1, Metal Slug 2, Metal Slug X, Metal Slug 3, Metal Slug 4, Metal Slug 5, Metal Slug 6

Developer : Terminal Reality
Publisher : SNK Playmore
Genre : Action
ESRB : TEEN
PLatform : PSP, PS2, Wii
Release date : PSP AU November 17, 2006 JP December 2006 US December 19, 2006 Wii EN March 30, 2007 US December 14, 2006 PS2 US December 19, 2006

SCE is celebrating the tenth year anniversary of “Wild Arms” series with the fifth title in the series, “The Vth Vanguard”. “Wild Arms The Vth Vanguard” continues the tradition of three main characters.

Every work in the Wild Arms series is an independent story, but all of them revolve around the same theme – Vanguard. This time, the stage is an alternative world melding fantasy and the frontier of the West. The three main characters embark on a journey into the wilderness to rescue the world from a crisis. The character images are so attractive with true-to-life facial expressions and dramatic performances of the small movements in the limbs enhance the charms of the characters.

Story

The male main character is Dean, a 16 years old boy, who dreams of being a Golem Hunter. Dean takes his first steps towards realizing that dream when he meets one of the two female main characters, Avril, a twenty years old girl, who fell from the sky in the arm of a Golem and remembers only one thing, the mysterious phrase “Johnny Appleseed”. Also joining the main character is a 16 years old Rebecca. You are started off with all three characters together. And the game takes place in the world of “Filgaia”.

Combat System

The Hex system from Wild Arms 4 returns in Wild Arms 5. During combat, the field is split into 5 hexagonal sections, some of which may have special properties. The player and enemies can move to different hexagons during their turn. This time around, the party count is three instead of four. (This change may be a deliberate throwback to the original Wild Arms.)

Exploration

Wild Arms 5 is a third-person console RPG. There is no world map in this game. Intead, the player traverses a world that is scaled like those of Final Fantasy XII and Dragon Quest VIII. Besides walking, the player can travel across Filgaia by employing various vehicles, including a train and monowheel. The field avatar cannot be changed; Dean is always the leader.

Dungeon exploration has two modes:

ACT Mode

The player can jump, slide, and interact with objects. Similar to controlling Jude in Wild Arms 4.

SHT (Shooting) Mode

Dean draws both of his ARMs and can fire them freely. By employing various cartridges, the player can interact with the environment in a number of ways. Some examples include activating distant switches, breaking down obstacles, lighting torches, freezing objects, and grappling up to higher places.

Developer : Media, Vision
Publisher : SCE
Genre : RPG
Platform : Playstation 2
Release Date : JP 14 December 2006, US TBA, NA TBA
ESRB : RP

The next-gen edition of Winning Eleven (aka Pro Evolution Soccer). The Xbox 360 boasts significantly improved visuals and animation over the original version while keeping all of the intense action and features for play on the pitch. Player AI has been upgraded, with players working to turn defenders, and defenders themselves now smart enough to back off slightly to prevent such moves.

Evolution Soccer 2007 expands upon the series’ realism with faster gameplay, more responsive control and improved artificial intelligence. Players will now make intelligent runs without the ball, identifying opportunities and pointing to where they would like the ball to be delivered. Similarly, the game is now more physical, with defenders jockeying for position and strikers working to turn their opponent as they receive the ball. The game’s shooting system has also been refined, letting players take more snap shots, while volleys have been updated for more player control.

Players can also enjoy the Beautiful Game in more ways than ever before with new play modes. International Challenge mode lets players compete through four continents of opposition to become a champion, while Random Selection Match lets gamers take the field with a group of players selected at random from a predetermined league or geographic area. The Master League mode returns with more options, allowing players to take complete control of their favorite team and control its destiny for an extended period of time. The game’s roster of teams is also expanded with new, fully-licensed international teams for players to use including Argentina, Italy, the Netherlands, Spain and Sweden, as well as additional club teams.

Developer : Konami
Publisher : Konami
Platform : Nintendo DS, Xbox360,PSP,Playstation2
Release date : February 2007
Genre : Sports
ESRB : E

Includes: T-elos vs KOS-MOS and Shion’s special scenes.

Enjoy.

Enjoy.