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DCVCD

OK - I've had some limited success converting VCDs to play smoothly on the Dreamcast using the bootdisk and Windows CE. At the moment I recommend that you stick to Animated movies - although it is fairly successful with 'normal' movies I am not happy with the results, so I would ask that you do not use my method for this - as it devalues the standards I am trying to acheive. Thanks..

This is A standard - not THE standard - however - you never know!

You need to download the moviepack, extract it to an empty folder and check the contents:-

Wince\ ---- the folder that contains Windows CE
ogdtex.pvr ---- the startup splash screen (how to make your own later)
1st_read.bin ---- Dreamcast boot file
ip.bin ---- Another Dreamcast system file
midway_1.exe ---- The movie player (based on the Midway Arcade game)

OK - Only one thing missing - video.mpg - the movie

I tried using a VCD quality mpeg, but the frame drop was unacceptable so here's what I did to it:

Using VCDGear2.0 I converted the .dat file to mpg
open VCDGear,
in Extraction/Conversion select dat -> mpg
check the 'fix MPEG errors' box - uncheck the rest
Click 'load' and select the VCD .dat file and the position and name for the resulting .mpeg file
Set the priority you want (I use 'critical' fot speed)
Now click 'Start' in about 10mins you will have a .mpg file on your HDD :o)

Now you need to downsample the mpeg to run on the DC :o(
(Downsampling will reduce quality - this is why I do NOT want it used for anything but animation)
Launch FlasKMPEG with the Panasonic encoder plugin
Select 'File / Open File' and open the .mpg you just made
Select 'Options / Select Output Format' and select 'Panasonic MPEG1'
Now select 'Options / Output Format Options' and use these settings:-

Data Rate:
Stream Format:- MPEG1
Video:- 656
Audio:- 96

Colour Tone Correction:- TV

Uncheck 'Display paramaters before encoding'
Click OK

Now select 'Options / Global Project Options' and use these settings:-

Video:
Width: 320
Height: 240
Timebase (fps): 24

Audio:
Select - Decode Audio
Sampling Frequency: 44100

Files:
Output Video File:- select the path to the moviepack files and the filename "video.mpg"

All other settings are default

Now select 'Run... / Start Conversion'

It will take some hours to complete the resampling - depending on the movie length.

At these settings I think it should be possible to fit arourd 1hr 45mins on a CD. I use Nero to burn the CD:

Select CDROM(ISO)
multisession = no multisession
file options = ISO Level 2; Mode 1; ISO 9660

The rest of the settings are up to you, if you are using another software use whatever settings you need for a Mode 1, level 2 single session CD
Now drag all the files in your folder: wince folder, ogdtex.pvr, 1st_read.bin, ip.bin, midway_1.exe, video.mpg into the root of the CD template and burn :o)

EASY (ish)

OK, when you play the movie it starts with the splash screen I gave you, there is a plugin for Photoshop to make you own - but that's a story for another day. Enjoy - and remember - animations only with this method, And don't sell these - I did this so you could watch 'Cinderella' on the TV and use the PC for better things, not so you could make a quick buck!