Exploring an Undocumented Game Prototype | Tech Rules Bits

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[@TechRules]

Big thanks to Keeps for supporting the channel! Here’s the site if you want to check them out! > keeps.com/techrules Hey everyone! With most videos I make, I usually have a general idea how well it'll perform in terms of views. This is not one of those times. This is just a video I really wanted to make. Okay, corrections! First of all, the weird glitching effect you may see occasionally is NOT the prototype's fault! I tried it out on real hardware later on, and it seems like it's just an emulation issue. You also may have noticed an absurdly obvious cut when I was talking about the revised voice lines near the end of the video. I originally went more into detail about that, with ingame examples and all, but the video felt wordy enough as it was. If that was a mistake and you just HAVE to hear the rest of it, let me know and I'll upload the segment separately. (Probably unlisted, with a link in this comment.) Hope you enjoy!

[@randomchannel9331]

:D

[@randomchannel9331]

pls upload the end i want to hear all of it

[@quppy]

big yoshi here

[@parkernielsen9145]

Parker Kevin here

[@quppy]

@Parker Kevin nice

[@christianhagenswold597]

I really enjoy Tech Rules's intonation and speech pattern. You can tell that he's practiced his lines, but it all rolls off like he's making it up as he goes. Very professional.

[@amanda1271]

Hes apparently spent time doing public speech classes, so it makes a lot of sense

[@RyutaShinohara]

As a non-English speaker myself he makes the matter easier to understand. He knows what he does while talking.

[@Alinanonymous]

crazy how he just showed up last year and immediately his first video is amazing and quality hasn't dropped or dwindled since

[@MISSCHAMPAGNE]

he sounds like a non-insane jerma

[@Alinanonymous]

@@MISSCHAMPAGNE local PSYCHOTIC streamer's MENTALLY STABLE doppelganger found in small youtube channel host

[@plaaaant]

"Oh no! BRO!!"

[@jacktadema1692]

D:

[@jacobrzeszewski6527]

Bruh

[@Salemop]

Bro D:

[@jacobrzeszewski6527]

13:14 for those of you looking for it.

[@funtimefxlet6659]

Oh no! BRO D:

[@jademonass2954]

"his parents think that he is studying, but hes picking his toes" changing to "his parents think that he is studying, but hes actually plotting their demise" was unexpected

[@netux]

> "I don't have the time to make a Cutting Room Floor page about this" > *Makes a whole video about it instead*

[@Whatamadoo]

@Adrian Sigales tcrf page?

[@Sean-D78]

@@Whatamadoo The cutting room floor is a website dedicated to documenting unused data and prototypes for video games Also known as tcrf.net

[@Whatamadoo]

@@Sean-D78 the guy I was replying to deleted his comments. he was saying something about how tech rules wants money so he made a video instead, and I was being sarcastic to him.

[@mvogaiht]

I had another theory for the different voice lines: maybe they are the same files on both versions, just played back at a different speed/pitch?

[@LocalTorchwoodIntern]

Hmm that seems like it could work? That the prototype uses the unedited version of the audio?

[@NickyShadow99]

I thought the only difference I could hear was the pitch. So that'd make sense.

[@NazoCrystal]

that could make sense, maybe some of the minor differences in one of the other files are the different values for the speed/pitch the voice lines are played at

[@yami_yomiel]

[Cracks knuckles] FUN FACT there's. GBA version of the game USES the prototype versions of the voice lines(albeit crunchified)

[@yami_yomiel]

But i wonder why they reused them tol

[@strawberrymatcha6284]

WHAT are the CHANCES- So, the sound at 4:45 is a sound used in final fantasy xiv where another player private messages you. For the first time in months, i hopped on the game and was listening to this in the background when it went off. The odds of this happening are literally *insane*

[@Number_055]

11:32 This is the exact kind of BS you can expect from my python scripts lol.

[@Kapin05]

Yeah, obscure Python tools don't need to look perfect or be user-friendly so long as they get the job done. The guy who made that probably didn't even expect anyone else to use it lmao

[@Steets]

I'm the exact opposite - I write all sorts of error handlers and input sanitizers into my code when I know damn well that I'll be the only person to ever use them.

[@creepypato3984]

@@Steets Indeed. The worst part isn't people not understanding, but rather you not doing so a few weeks over!

[@milesbarnes6777]

@@Steets Late comment, but same here! Plus I comment the hell out of my source code, so my file sizes are usually bigger than they need to be...

[@JessieEchidna]

This is a great "how to find and document prototype differences" video to get more players on the field. Only a few interesting little prototype tidbits were found in the video itself, of course, but the adequate documentation of the methodology and tools used (and where they came from) is very welcome, and if it inspires more TCRF readers to become TCRF writers, I'll be super glad.

[@amateurprogrammer25]

11:33 "I've never been asked to do that before." Clearly you've never met a lazy Python programmer.

[@absolutewisp]

Well, now he has

[@starnight8819]

Not gonna lie I’m very happy and surprised to see you talk about Space Channel 5… especially at this time!

[@starnight8819]

XZ III because I’m more of a night person and ngl at the time he posted it I was so bored. So anything as interesting as a prototype for SC5 intrigued me because of how uncommon the game is talked about nowadays. That and also because I love Tech Rules!

[@kittyfleaDM]

*lol I begged my mom to buy Space Channel 5 just so I can see Michael Jackson as Space Michael also it's her one of her favorite games*

[@LilRumi]

Same. This is my fave game from my childhood. :') The second one, mainly. I haven't kept tabs on the VR one, so oof..

[@idiotwidowmaker8932]

Game developer (engineer) here: I didn't work on a massively popular game or anything, but the game I worked on is still on steam and still makes money. The earliest prototypes of that game are not only "different" but they are on an entirely different game engine and resemble the final game very little if at all. Before I left that company, we had actually found those early prototypes on one of our file servers, and it was a lot of fun to play with them however horrible and unrefined they were.

[@lev7509]

It is that sweet-sweet feeling of nostalgia to dig up some project/prototype you made years ago and fire it up "uno mas"...

[@idiotwidowmaker8932]

@@lev7509 it's pretty amazing to see what we accomplished with our extreme sleep deprivation on the hardest crunch we ever did, I still remember how completely unrunnable it was before that crunch

[@lev7509]

@@idiotwidowmaker8932 I think you meant crutch. Blaming the autocorrect.

[@redcreamsoda9466]

Do you still have that prototype? Also, what game?

[@KuraakaiGoro]

@@lev7509 crunch means they had to work overtime on the game to get it ready for release asap.

[@sleeplessstudios7626]

Ya know, I'm beginning to think that the aesthetic of Space Channel 5 was inspired by the space age of America in the 1960s. The Go-Go boots and hair styles? Yeah, that seems very 1968.

[@omegasmileyface]

very Atompunk!

[@NefariousBear]

14:17 Did you actually find anything neat when data mining Gitaroo Man? I love that game to bits.

[@TechRules]

Yeah, actually! I distinctly remember finding a couple master mode charts for the enemies. Perhaps Master Mode would've been selectable in 2 player mode at one point?

[@SaplingxAura]

@@TechRules Oh god, what a horrendously unforgiving versus mode that would have been...sounds awesome!

[@SomeNerdyDragon]

"I'll make it up to you later" Dude, I am hyped for ANY Tech Rules content, no need to be apologetic for a great new video

[@RaccoonLaundry]

It's not "Oh no, Bro!" It's "Oh no, the groove!!"

[@duffertonshire]

I have a Klonoa 2 disk that seems to be from an earlier time, it looks similar to a demo disk and says it isn't for retail. I got it by pure accident as I just wanted to get the game and my mother brought it for me. It has no instructions and no official box (it came in a blue CD case). I believe it is a review copy or something like that as the game works 100%. I haven't actually played the official release as I got this disk so I couldn't tell any differences (if there are any). Do you think it's worth looking into or should I just keep it in my collection? I'm pretty sure it doesn't have any beta elements or anything like that (least from what I can tell), nothing stood out as unfinished.

[@canttellyousorryaboutthat716]

It's your choice, although I personally recommend making a dump of the ROM online anonymously purely for preservations sake, as there is a chance this disk may be lost to time otherwise

[@grimtin10]

yes please do what this guy said

[@duffertonshire]

I'll see what I can do! :D

[@sarkerabrarlabib2342]

Dump it just in case, on archive.org

[@dizzydaisy909]

Dump it! I have a retail copy of Klonoa 2, so I might be able to pick apart the differences between the two if you dump it.

[@mweee4821]

space channel 5 is one of my favorite games of all time seeing this made me go insane

[@acdgamer7292]

I remember when this guy never posted, now he's becoming a real KZbinr.

[@YuyuHakurei]

He needs more shit. I like his stuff, but he just needs more content out. xD

[@JEST3R_]

@@YuyuHakurei give it time homie :D it'll come soon enough

[@willtheprodigy3819]

Not really, his channel died as quickly as it blew up. Look at his numbers now.

[@acdgamer7292]

@@willtheprodigy3819 I wouldn't say getting 800k on his last video is dying. Sure, he's not getting 4 million, but he's doing exceptionally well for the amount of content he has.

[@Karmy.]

I forgot who he was

[@Lemieux_channel]

Me: (sees the dance in the intro) Also me: So that’s where the Project Diva edit mode dances came from! Darn you, Sega and your re-used motions-

[@syrupfreak6655]

Day ???: I still constantly am thinking of this game. I want a tattoo to match my mom’s for this game. I have an Ulala model in vrchat now . I am slowly becoming more consumed.

[@CoolBleach]

PleAse tell me where you found that ulala model in vrchat, it'd be really great

[@thatanimeweirdo]

I am always amazed at the games I've never seen. This is the first time I've seen this game and it looks super odd/stylish/2000ish...

[@SUSanne678]

Same, when he said he looked at the prototype of that game i was like "oof i guess they can be really different from the finished version" Turns out there were very little differences after all lol

[@Apotheosister]

I've played Rhythm Thief on the 3DS and after seeing footage of this game, I so badly want to play it now.

[@mattybrunolucaszeneresalas9072]

What do you 2 mean?

[@porgzm33p2]

God, I remember watching his DS hacking history vids not too long ago, and hoping he would upload again, and he did! Keep up the great work, I love your vids!

[@liesdamnlies3372]

Having to edit that script with the file you want it to work on is just...a sin. A crime against humanity.

[@Wileybot2004]

It’s not that hard for the script to just ask for the file. Making the user edit the script should be against the Genova convention.

[@Kapin05]

Welcome to the world of bootleg thrown-together Python tools. They aren't pretty, and they're usually more difficult to operate than they have any right to be, but they do the thing you need them to do so we put up with them.

[@sabrinnnaaaaaaa]

@@Kapin05 but all they had to do was replace the empty string with raw_input("Filename: ") clearly they knew python or they wouldn't have been able to write the script and it's way less effort, even for the programmer, when the program gets used

[@r.u.s.e3586]

@@sabrinnnaaaaaaa Coders. We're insane :P

[@mineplaymod9000]

I agree, my python based OS used to make you edit the file to add programs for it, then I added a decent gui

[@Aroesena]

Someone's actually talking about SC5? Holy fuck. I just fell over.

[@L_A_R_G]

"This disc has the timestamp of *April 20th, 2000* "

[@BBHood217]

Inhale leaves on a daily basis.

[@tralphstreet]

April 20th is Hitler's birthday. Also my mum's.

[@plaaaant]

NAISU!

[@Tom2404]

@@tralphstreet it was Hitlers 111th birthday

[@Junedude433]

@@Tom2404 it was also the one-year anniversary of the Columbine shooting.

[@IkaraPopsicle]

I played through this, I just found out that not only Ulala has her GBA voice, Evila does too. I know you guys might say "BUT IS SAME" but hear me out: Evila's English samples are deep and shorter, GBA on the other hand, is a lil longer and more robotic and wavy-ish sound *Another thing, the final "LET'S DANCE" before you blew Blank up is slightly different, that's all

[@LocalTorchwoodIntern]

That was a pretty interesting prototype! Space channel 5 doesnt get enough love

[@TheLittlekuribohfan]

Wow. I remember ulala. I remember she was in Sega superstars tennis on the Wii. That's cool I found something out so many years later.

[@jeremyabbott4537]

she also has a sequel game "Space Channel 5 Part 2" That's on PC, PS2 and at least the 360

[@tj2087]

To me, Ulala's voice lines actually sound higher quality in the prototype (most likely due to a higher sampling rate). There also seems to be less ADPCM induced crackle as well (for the same reasons as stated before).

[@vixrse]

“His pain was retconned I guess, good for him” LMAO

[@PrincessSpookyBooky]

I feel so happy hearing the love for this game

[@katieg1071]

I could literally watch you pick apart game files for hours. Also, GITAROO MAN!!!! YES!

[@sitodev]

This format of you going through a game prototype was super interesting, I’d love to see more of it.

[@EvelynnEleonore]

i would ADORE more content like this video from you, specifically, because you, specifically, make this sort of thing VERY entertaining to watch!!!

[@itzelaparicio8367]

The amount of love and care you put into these vids! I enjoy them so much

[@autumnmycat123]

oh yeah i recognize ADX files, they were a specific way of audio storage/compression/audio codec during the saturn/dreamcast/ps2/gamecube/wii eras, usually rpg titles (just off the top of my head i know xenosaga and .hack//GU) they're now referred to as CRI Middlewear or simply criwear and they do a bunch of stuff now (but still mostly Japanese since that's where they're based out of)

[@evanblough7242]

I like how these episodes are called "Tech Rules Bits" but they're either just as long or longer than the regular episodes

[@DudeLetsWatch]

I love both your channel and Space Channel 5, so this was really cool! Keep it up!!

[@jacque6583]

honestly, this might be one of my favorite videos of yours. it reminded me very much of a competition i did in high school that taught you basic hacking/investigation skills (for cybersecurity reasons obvs), and it pleased me that i could follow along with your strategies of finding version differences, especially the bit with the strange python script lol. keep up the good stuff!

[@DrGold-ks1mp]

Any day with a new Tech Rules video is a good one

[@DJHunn39]

Straight up your videos are pretty much the best, most in-depth, yet clearly explained vids about a topic I think I’ve ever seen. I can’t say I’m one of the 3 people who’s gonna get stuck into data-mining after this but yeah, keep on at it man, it's a pleasure yo see your stuff drop into my subscriptions feed.

[@sillyface1]

I really liked this! I enjoy finding out information about earlier/unreleased versions of games, it's very interesting to me! Thank you !!

[@ouroboser]

This video fills me with nostalgia. I miss space channel 5 so much

[@randomchannel9331]

i like how i just refreshed youtube and this shows up with 1 view

[@Cryptic_Squid]

Same

[@seijinakaki1860]

Holy shit. You mentioning that thing about the lines threw me for a loop! I remember playing Space Channel 5 on two different discs as a kid; the main one I remember was a disc that compiled demos of a bunch of different Dreamcast games. I remember having such a hard time with the timing specifically because Ulala's call outs sounded like the "scrapped" version. But when I went back to play it on the full version of the game and I think it felt a little easier to play because the callouts sounded just slightly different. Wow. Thank you for bringing that up, that just illuminated an oddly specific part of my childhood!

[@teapotcutie]

I might be wrong, but the "Oh no, bro" kinda sounds like "Oh no, the groove!" which kinda makes more sense with the whole forcing people to dance thing. Either way, this is a really interesting vid.

[@wumbology72]

Ngl clicked for cute girl on thumbnail, stayed for informative video about datamining.

[@turtle2421]

thank you so much for this video!!!!! ive always been interested in datamining, and this is such an interesting, simple, easy-to-follow means of figuring out how to get into that myself... your humor is excellent!!!!

[@buttonsduckman8904]

I really like your technical dives into games, and I hope to see more content like this.

[@Alkxa71ne]

I SAW THIS AND AUDIBLY GASPED I LOVE THIS FRANCHISE (NOT KINDA FUNKY NEWS FLASH OR ULALAS COSMIC ATTACK THOUGH) I WISH IT WAS MORE POPULAR

[@MudkipTheGodly]

Wow, a Space Channel 5 video! And right around the time I started thinking of playing this game!

[@Goldy-py2rd]

Found a new game series that I love. Thanks bro!

[@Charispost]

The most underrated video from Tech Rules, but a great one!

[@spinningpeanut]

Yesss new tech rules. I love these pleasant surprises in these hard times.

[@lowhp_comic]

Love how I decide to continue making this review Im making for Space Channel 5 and this video comes up, even more motivation now haha

[@java_finch]

I never expected to see a video like this, but thank you so much! I'm kind of obsessed with everything Jet Set Radio (and Space Channel 5, but to a lesser extent), and i found a lot of fun things in different versions of that game using some tools you listed here and some others as well (i agree, the Shenmue AFS Explorer is awesome for browsing and mass extracting stuff!) Unfortunately, i only have a casual understanding of how all these computer things work, so a lot of the time i do things manually and it's tedious or outright impossible work, that probably could be done with a simple script or some other solution i was too dumb to think of. And i know there's a lot left for me to discover, but life got in the way and i didn't find the time and energy to dive into it again yet. I did pick up some useful stuff from your video, and also it's just very surprising and nice to see someone bigger and smarter have the same obscure interest as me, so thank you a ton!!! This is much appreciated

[@jenetikitty]

This was *really* facinating and I'd love to see more like this.

[@naota3k]

I just realized your voice sounds almost exactly like Drew Gooden.

[@itspaafekuto]

Nice, I watched the Game Center CX episode the other day! Great to see.

[@TheGeneReyva]

4:45 DAMMIT I actually checked if FFXIV was open and I'm NOT even subbed!

[@Zomby_Goast]

I was playing XIV while watching and got really confused for a moment, too.

[@PiggyPorkchop]

This is the first thing I've ever watched about Space Channel Five and I'm glad it's from Tech Rules.

[@Shadrake]

Thus was an incredibly insightful video on the process of datamining, thank you!

[@hydrocityharry977]

Space Channel 5 is such a great game, glad you did this on Space Channel 5

[@BananaHace]

This is a great video! Btw I would love to know your findings on Gitaroo Man, that's one of my favorite games!

[@yami_yomiel]

As a space channel 5 nerd i am SUPER HAPPY to see you talking abt it!!

[@mr_inconspicuous]

I've always liked seeing scrapped and cut things in video games but I've never really seen the process of breaking the game down, this was really cool

[@wackantheduck6883]

I have the FFXIV /tell sound as my notification and this video is giving me an aneurysm

[@jaqand7280]

I thought it was just a sound from X-2 but if it's in 14 that makes more sense

[@Yeoshu]

i was playing ffxiv while listening to this video and the sound at 10:49 made me think I got a PM. great video as always, tech rules. keep up the good work.

[@jimworld7070]

Amazing video, man! I tried to dig through the MLT files before with my limited file digging knowledge but had no luck. Thank you for inadvertently showing me how to open them up successfully lol (maybe i can finally get the full soundtrack and put it up somewhere) One note I'm not too sure if someone else has pointed out though, and I'm not 100% sure on this, but the changed sound effects _might be in the MLT files?_ I swear I remember hearing they held both the soundfonts AND sound effects, but I really have no proof to this, other than hazy memories of seeing a Sonic Adventure MLT player that was only for sound effects on twitter one time. I hope that helps at all!

[@xdloco4793]

Please do, I've once tried finding the whole soundtrack and was frustrated the official one did not include the songs during the fights (Also If anyone could dump/teach how to get the sound files, I really want to get the sound that plays when it's your turn to repeat the cues and turn it into a notification tone)

[@juanignacio96161]

PLS, POST THE FILES

[@lunarlicorice]

space channel 5 was great to grow up with... thanks for including it!

[@makeitsweetsweetsweet]

As a huge Space Channel 5 fan and a big fan of lost or unused content discoveries- this video filled me with joy. Space Channel 5 is a game that is rarely talked about, this might be the only video I know of going over it’s prototypes and the differences. (Now go over the PS2 Version of Space Channel 5 and the Dreamcast and 360 versions of Space Channel 5 Part 2 /joking)

[@pavfeira]

Was watching this video while doing some crafting on FFXIV. Thus, I was *very confused* when I started hearing FFXIV alert sounds, only to realize they were coming from your video instead! :D (Keep up the good work)

[@lilacKurage]

This video is inspiring, I'm amazed by the amount of tools we have!

[@AizakkuAnalysis]

Nice work, I love space channel 5. It's awesome we can still find these prototypes.

[@mineplaymod9000]

Now I really crave that prototype, good work dude!

[@rasmusdegn9690]

Finally someone else who's heard of the underappreciated classic that is Gitaroo Man.

[@longforari]

I never expected this much passion for non-dance from a video about Space Channel 5. But, uh, cool, I'll look for prototypes now.

[@longforari]

Btw I've played this game 1,000 times don't worry

[@kuraiwolf4047]

The voice lines might be sped up slightly in-code and thus have no different files.

[@Jetman123]

Man. This video is criminally underviewed and underrated. You need to start reminding people to subscribe and turn notifications on, it's breaking my heart to see this one not getting nearly as much attention.

[@jamdeluxe7456]

this is the first time ive seen this game and probably the most detail ill see it discussed in again, so thanks for that??

[@gudenau]

I'd think step 1 would be "diff all the extracted files".

[@astrrra]

Btw, please do more bald Baldi jokes, they're gold!

[@idontrlyhaveanamebutihavec9918]

I see Ulala, I click

[@lProjectZerol]

This saga is so ICONIC. I wish they continued it someday t__t

[@Aoogong]

Omg I love space channel 5 so so so much i am so pumped for this video!! 🥺🙏🙏

[@Yuuri066]

I know this is way late, but this process is actually very similar to the process I went through in modding some ported Vita games I got from steam. This will even help people who want to try modding.

[@Jacket430]

Great video. Interesting to see the roadblocks.

[@cringebucket1945]

This is the video that has sent me into space channel 5 hell, help me I can’t get out. These funky tunes are too powerful

[@TunaScroll]

Been looking forward to a SC5-related video regarding its development. Seeing a track in the new SC5 ost called ‘Making of S.C.5 Mix’ that utilized a fast medley of SC5 Part 2 and 1’s menu music, as well as bloopers of the Japanese voices of Ulala, Fuse, and Purge only made me want to see just a shred of behind-the-scenes footage even more. I’ve seen the old proof-of-concept footage but nothing beyond that.

[@syrupfreak6655]

thanks to this video I dug up the old Dreamcast and found the game instantly and beat it at least 5 times and play it like every day I cANNOT STOP THINKING ABOUT IT thank u Also my mom has a space channel 5 tattoo and she is very proud of me

[@DrNR-jp6lz]

I'll be Frank I loved this episode of the rule searching the file and explaining how it works is truly interesting seriously if possible I would like to see more of it and thanks again for this impressive episode ! ;3

[@gamerfellow]

YOOOOOOOOOOOO! SOMEONE ELSE WHO LOVES GITAROO MAN! I think you've mentioned it before but I gotta shout it out every single time I see someone else who shares the gitaroo love.

[@Lihiro]

There's dozens of us! Dozens!

[@citrineleaf1815]

Me, unable to remember tech rule’s name: Me, spotting it under a Mario maker video: hey that’s fam- YOU

[@escucharbog2118]

Last time I was this early the prototype of space channel 5 was barely released

[@joepaddock3790]

can we get more of these? these are so cool!!!

[@froqpond]

Tech Rules at 12am pog

[@UnknownFlyingPancake]

Gitaroo man is one of my most favorite games of all time. I also love Space Channel 5, so this was pretty interesting.

[@syrupfreak6655]

I loved this game omg, it was my mom’s favorite on the dreamcast

[@Mushroomhead671]

Check the minidsf files for the altered callouts. Yes, I know this sounds weird, but some older games will use sound banks to store voice clips, a well known example being Super Mario 64. There’s several possibilities I can think of as to why it’s stored in the game this way, so it’s at least worth checking.