How does works the replay feature

[jerm138]

Are the replays saved as video files, or data files that recreate what happened in-game?

Microsoft Flight Simulator had an awesome replay feature that recreated it in-game. The result was VERY small replay files (in the order of kb's). Then you could playback the replay and use FRAPS to video your replays from different angles like external view.

[Excelsior82]

Originally Posted by jerm138

Are the replays saved as video files, or data files that recreate what happened in-game?

It's the second one.

But replay is a bit hugier than MSFS. My 45 days patrol fills up approximatively 200 MB.

By pressing Shift+F11, a message shows up asking if you wanna "Save a sequence" but i don't know what it does cause my pc comes laggy as hell. You'd better use FRAPS to shoot a video from 'em (although I think I remember the free version of FRAPS don't allow more than 30s shoots).

[jerm138]

Originally Posted by Excelsior82

It's the second one.

Awesome! I haven't messed with this feature but I'll definitely check it out.

But replay is a bit hugier than MSFS. My 45 days patrol fills up approximatively 200 MB

Well... my MSFS replays were typically no longer than a few minutes. Maybe a little longer if I wanted to record an entire approach. 45 days is a LOT of info, so I wouldn't be surprised at that. I'm thinking more along the lines of starting the recording before battle, not recording the entire patrol. That way, you'd only be recording hours instead of days... it would make for a much more reasonable file size. Although 200MB really isn't that unruly.

[Excelsior82]

You can't do what you want with the replay, it's a thing Ubisoft added like you would put junk in you trash.

You must know the replay is intimely bound to your savegame.
In order to save a replay, you have to tick the "Save replay" check while saving your game.

Worst : You should do it for the entire patrol or won't be able to save replay if you load a game without replay saved. (so, stick with your 45 days replay info including 20 days of traveling east with nothing happens and 20 days of the same but westward )

Also, controls in replays are barely existing :
You can hit F11 to get the free camera back to your sub (like ingame F11)
You can move and rotate the free camera on the three dimensions.
You can shift+click a ship/sub to have the view locked on it.
PERIOD.

And like I said previously in thread, you have to change gameplaysettings.cfg in the savegame to enable external camera, or you won't be able to press F11 and follow units.

I have suddenly an old thought about GTA4 replay editor, that was some serious sh*t. What Ubisoft gave us with SH4 is just what a poo would do if it was able to poop.

[jerm138]

But you can make multiple gamesaves on one patrol. I do this all the time in case one gets corrupted. For instance, let's say I'm playing on a gamesave called Test_1, and I do not have "save replay" checked. 5 days into it, I pick up a convoy on sonar. Then I create another gamesave called Test_2 and check the "save replay" box. Then I duke it out with the convoy for a couple hours. When it's over, I save my game as Test_1 again and uncheck the "save replay" box.

Now the Test_2 gamesave only covers a period of a couple hours and has the replay attached to it, but the rest of the patrol doesn't.

I don't know if this would work, but it seems logical to me. I'll try it out when I get a chance.

[Excelsior82]

I was sure you have to load a game with a replay saved in order to be able to save the replay, but maybe I'm wrong (and couldn't check that in the next few hours).

[tomoose]

I haven't messed around too much with the Replay feature but one thing I can attest to;
When trying to use FRAPS to record during a mission the framerate dropped horrendously (my system is starting to show it's age). However, when using the Replay function it was a lot smoother although a wee bit jerky when the action heats up.

The Replay feature is finicky too in that you have to be careful where you start it and as mentioned the files are HUGE!! LOL.

[commandosolo2009]

Originally Posted by Excelsior82

It's the second one.

But replay is a bit hugier than MSFS. My 45 days patrol fills up approximatively 200 MB.

By pressing Shift+F11, a message shows up asking if you wanna "Save a sequence" but i don't know what it does cause my pc comes laggy as hell. You'd better use FRAPS to shoot a video from 'em (although I think I remember the free version of FRAPS don't allow more than 30s shoots).

You can use this overnight (when you go to sleep) or at school.

It's true it's gonna be laggy, but when you go home, it'll be back to normal..

[dezertflyr]

Originally Posted by Excelsior82

It's the second one.

But replay is a bit hugier than MSFS. My 45 days patrol fills up approximatively 200 MB.

By pressing Shift+F11, a message shows up asking if you wanna "Save a sequence" but i don't know what it does cause my pc comes laggy as hell. You'd better use FRAPS to shoot a video from 'em (although I think I remember the free version of FRAPS don't allow more than 30s shoots).

I believe this commands continuous screen captures. Check your SH4 folder for pics