Project for high-resolution emulation of Initial D Special Stage
Project for high-resolution emulation of Initial D Special Stage
Recently the PS2 emulator gained the capability to load custom textures, so I began working on Initial D: Special Stage as my initial project. I’ve been experimenting with upscaling techniques to create higher quality textures. The project is still in progress—especially with the Myogi map, where not all textures are yet upscaled and manual editing is required. I’ve managed to complete a significant portion for the first map and wanted to share the results. There’s still much work ahead, and much of this has been a learning experience since I haven’t tackled this before. Overall, here’s where the project stands right now. The images are all in native 4K resolution (assuming Imgur didn’t compress them...). If you’re interested, you can check them out.
This project sounds excellent. Adding PC wheel support would be a nice touch. I struggled to play Initial D: Special Stage on my own due to lacking an NTSC-J PS2 console. I almost bought it just for the cover art, but ended up playing the Japanese arcade version instead, which felt quite different.
Back in the day I owned a modified PS2, the emulator I use works well, but I'm unsure if a modern version can handle a classic game with FFB. For those interested in ID arcade titles, you can find most of them (except possibly the newest ones) after checking online. Consider setting it up on Windows using some creative methods and upgrade to modern wheels.
I also owned a modified PS2, but it stopped working and at that time I wasn't familiar with other region titles. Generally, modern systems can be customized for compatibility, though setting them up often proves tricky. I doubt FFB would perform well, as many of the games I've emulated had similar issues. I enjoy playing Initial D in arcade settings, having gone through all stages up to Stage Zero. Unfortunately, none are available nearby, so I only play them during holidays in Asia. The arcade version offers a superior experience compared to the home setup, but it's rewarding to practice without spending much. So far, I've only used official releases like Stage 4 on PS3 and Street Stage on PSP. Thanks for the tip—I'm aware of teknoparrot but haven't tried it yet. Back then, I was hesitant because I read it might carry viruses. I plan to turn my PC into a home arcade once I have enough games set up, so far I've relied on other emulators.
I tried it and it worked fine, though AV sometimes behaves strangely with it. It’s normal for it to produce false positives because it tries to mimic a Windows Enterprise edition to trick the game. I’ve also heard problems with certain games if they’re modified, but that’s not guaranteed. You won’t have issues using your own software from the cabinet. *cough*