If this is legitimate, then we might just be able to re-create the official builds... If there's code that comparatively doesn't exist in previously found builds, then we really could be looking at finding more info on X-Treme than before. I hope someone helps him out. The community of X-Treme fanatics should have a few coders who can help in code.
Aggravatingly, my brother doesn't have any cables for his Saturn, nor does he have a modchip yet, so getting a burn and testing it won't happen anytime soon.
Most interestingly is the implication of the PC port not as a standard SEGA PC title, but as a release intended for the NV1 video card, the one used to render the quads of 3D models in Saturn games. This was known for not having a large lifespan, but if LGR and the other NV1 owners lent a hand, we'd see more video about it than before.
Not only that but there is mention of the possibility of an OGL/D3D port of the PC version if this is all confirmed. Since it's source code, we could see a new graphical interpreter to run the data. The issue, I see, is changing the models to work under those circumstances. Don't we still have some form of triangular rendering even now? Despite the advancements, I hardly think making an NV1 title work under the changed graphical limitations will be all that possible. I never saw the improvements of any of the launch NV1 titles, however. LGR said there was a patch to the NASCAR release, but he only played the disc version, and I didn't find anything about the patch.
Though, more curiously is this
forum post I found on VOGONS about unreleased titles that would've had APIs to support the NV1 among other cards. It lists games like MechWarrior and Daytona USA, and was, of course, made by Vetz, an owner of an NV1 card who's mentioned in the ASSEMBLER thread.
I do wonder if the failure of the NV1 maybe contributed a little to the failure of X-Treme during the PC development...
In my opinion, from what I have seen so far of the Sonic material, the chances are that we will realistically be able to compose the following, over time:
1) Sonic PC demo with some levels and textures never released before, which should be somewhat similar to what the fan community has produced with the leaked material; this requires a NV1 card to run
2) Sonic PC level editor, which also requires a NV1 card to run
3) Sonic Saturn version of the PC demo, basically a basic form of port of the PC demo
4) Sonic POV Saturn tech demo, based on the POV Saturn technology
5) Given enough time we should be able to decouple the PC demo from the NV1 rendering backend and produce a OpenGL/DirectX version of the PC demo and the editor
Jollyroger
1 and 2 obviously offer the NV1 style, would call for one of the owners. 3 and 4 give more open terrain to the public at large to test it on official hardware. SSF and Yabayuse obviously would be 'options,' but if we're dealing with alpha software, we might need to look into development kits as another limiting factor. I'm unaware if the Saturn had such limitations that slated it for an equivalent of the Playstation's Net Yaroze or not.
5 is where my mention of the graphical interpreter and the possible conflict of model rendering. I won't say it's impossible, but I suppose I'm missing something about these APIs.
