Sega Retro:Todo/Compliance

Back to: Todo.

this may even count as a "plan"

Ordered on a scale of most interesting -> least interesting. If something doesn't work (e.g. software reset, controllers) that can be classed as bug.

Warnings

• Game Boy Color warning screens for original Game Boy (and Super Game Boy?)
• Warning messages when game discs are used in a CD player

Audio

• Stereo/mono setting respects BIOS

Video

• Dreamcast screensavers and brightness fun
• Important elements respect the screen safe area (e.g. HUD is x and y pixels from the edge)
• Flashing images must conform to NHK broadcasting rules
• Quick changes from black to white and vice versa can mess up old televisions (love to see if any games actually do that)

"Gameplay" (need a better word for this)

• You're not meant to show a Sega logo right after the BIOS of the MCD/Saturn/DC
• Pause must have (PLAYER X) PAUSED text (or a menu maybe, idk)
• PRESS START BUTTON
• Demos need to say DEMO
• Correct ™ and ® symbols on Sega logos (TODO: define "correct")
• Loading message if it takes too long to load
• Company logos must stay on-screen for x seconds

Inputs

• Certain controllers detected(..?)
• Configurable controllers
• Only  START  starts a game
• forward back
• Game stops if lid is opened (I've yet to find single-disc software that doesn't)
• Can't skip credits
• Handling and (or and ) being pressed at the same time. Not sure there were hard and fast rules other than "don't break".

Bonus points

• Dreamcast: does 0GDTEX.PVR exist for the CD player
• Crash handlers - this isn't really "hidden content" since although you weren't meant to see it, it's a legitimate fallback. TCRF documents them, we should too (especially if there's only a subset of crashes they can actually handle... which seems kinda stupid but who knows)
  • if an emulator can let you remove a cartridge/disc without turning off the system (or triggering the lid open command), that would be a way to test this
• Saturn games whose buttons for controlling replays/video/audio actually correspond with the transport controls moulded into the controller shell

Example

Thing	Screenshot(s)	Pass/Fail	Comments
After 300 seconds of inactivity, a screen saver should be displayed (bake this text into the template)		Pass	Screen is dimmed
Controller layouts must be customisable.		Partial	The wheel isn't customisable, but the game pre-dates the wheel's release so fair enough dood.
You must not be able to skip the credits sequence.		Fail	This is a stupid rule
Only  START  should start the game.		Untested, assumed pass

default to "untested, probably fine because Sega QA were meant to do their jobs"

tables might be limiting though - you decide!