Step 2: Now you need to be able to record your video gameplay directly onto the video tape. To do this, you will need to grab the composite A/V cables that come packaged with your console. You might already be using these for your console hooked directly into your TV set. If such is the case, disconnect them from your TV set. You'll notice they have color codes. Yellow for video, Red for the right sound channel, and White for the left sound channel. It is very important that you do not mix the colors up when you go to connect the cables! In any case, make sure the other end of the cable is firmly connected to your video game console.

Step 3: Next, we are going to connect the cables to the VCR. Locate the composite input jacks on your VCR. Older models usually have these jacks located on the back, while newer models have them on the front. Wherever they are, make sure they are labeled as "Input". You'll notice each jack is color-coded to match the same colors as the A/V cables. Simply connect each cable to the corresponding color on the input jacks. If you happen to have a really old or dirt-cheap VCR, it may only have the Yellow and Red input jacks. Simply leave the White cable unhooked if such is the case.

Final step: Now that your cables are hooked up to the VCR, you must change the input mode on the VCR. This is usually done using your remote, though some really old models may have a manual switch on the VCR itself. In any case, set the input mode on the VCR to "Line-In". Some VCR's will call it "Line-Input" or just simply "Line". My VCR has a button the remote that allows me to switch to line-in, but other models may have you do this though an onscreen menu. Consult your VCR's instruction booklet for details.

So now it's all hooked up and ready to record your gameplay. Pop a blank tape into the VCR and press record with the power to your gaming console off. Record about 10 seconds of "dead air," then, while the recorder is taping, turn on your gaming console, and get that new world record! That's all there is to it. If your tape runs out of room, you can just rewind and start recording again. Just be sure to turn off the console first and then start recording before you turn it on again. Also, if you set a good record but want to try for a better one, you can eject the tape and put another blank one in to start fresh. That way, you never have to worry about recording over your best run.

How do I record an Arcade Game?
Twin Galaxies Arcade Platform Video Taping Guidelines [March 6th, 2007]

Purpose:
While some of these guidelines may seem to be a little overboard, there is no telling what will be needed in the future. Having more detail and information available is always better than having too little. Please keep this in mind when making preparations for a recorded record run.

Equipment:
Analog Tape Submissions

The typical method for an analog recording is through the use of a video camera (which provides the video feed) and a VCR (many find use of a TV/VCR more useful as the TV shows exactly what is being seen on the recoding). The VCR method also allows the use of longer tapes for lengthier games (VHS tapes can record upwards of 8 hours in SLP mode). If your game will not require 8 hours of taping, then smaller tapes can be used, which will also provide a higher quality of recording. 8 mm, Hi-8, VHS-C, and other types of analog tape may also satisfy the requirements without the need of a separate VCR.

DVD Submissions

Twin Galaxies also accepts arcade submissions on DVD. Essentially, the recording requirements are the same as for recordings made on VHS media with only a few exceptions:

• DVD region encoding should match one of the following circumstances:
1) be region free
2) be the region of the game and system being submitted for
3) be a region compatible with the location of the performance

It is preferable the region encoding be region free but a list of region encodings is:
o 0 No Region Coding
o 1 United States of America, Canada
o 2 Europe, including France, Greece, Turkey, Egypt, Arabia, Japan and South Africa
o 3 Korea, Thailand, Vietnam, Borneo and Indonesia
o 4 Australia and New Zealand, Mexico, the Caribbean, and South America
o 5 India, Africa, Russia and former USSR countries
o 6 Peoples Republic of China
o 7 Unused
o 8 Airlines/Cruise Ships
o 9 Expansion (often used as region free)

• For US Standard DVD recordings, SVHS is preferable for video input and RCA audio input is preferred. SVHS produces 420 lines of horizontal resolution, which produces a much higher picture quality than standard RCA cable input, which produces 240 lines of resolution. This makes the quality of the recording much clearer and brighter, both of which are benefits when you are sending in a video to a referee as proof of your arcade score. Videos produced with RCA or even RG6 (cable TV style connectors) are also acceptable.

For The UK, generic RF/SCART connections are usually available as inputs. Most systems come with a Component<->SCART or SVideo+RCA<->SCART connector & the frame size is 576 lines.

*Note: these are suggestions for recording DVDs. Players are welcome to record them in any resolution that is available to them, but remember that the final video should show be of sufficient quality to show the gameplay and screen details clearly. If you have any questions, please contact the referee for your regions and they will be glad to help.

• For HD-DVD and Blu-Ray recordings, progressive scan recordings are preferable to interlaced recordings. Progressive scan recordings (commonly referred to by such terms as 720p and 1080p) are of higher video quality than interlaced recordings (commonly referred to as 720i and 1080i). Again, this makes the quality of the recording much clearer and brighter, both of which are benefits when you are sending in a video to a referee as proof of your arcade score. Of course, you can record your HD-DVD or Blu-Ray disc with a standard video cable, but you’ll be losing the benefit of the high-definition signal input and your disc is not likely to look any better than a standard DVD. Also, please understand that few referees have access to HD-DVD or Blu-Ray at this point, so please contact the referee you intend to send your recording to prior to recording the DVD so that you’ll know whether or not the referee can view the high-definition disc.

Computer File Submissions

Twin Galaxies also accepts computer files recorded to CD and DVD as a means of submitting arcade game video recordings. There are certain parameters that must be met, and they are:

• Only the following types of videos can be accepted: Quicktime .mov and .mp4 files, Microsoft Windows Media Video .wmv files, Audio Video Interleave .avi files and Moving Picture Experts Group .mpeg files. These types of files are generally easily played on any modern PC and the necessary players can be downloaded free of charge.
• Minimum video resolution must be 640x480 – no exceptions.
• Frame rate should match the native frame rate for the type of video source you are recording from/to. What this means is that frames should be allowed to naturally record to the video and no frames should be digitally removed or edited.
• Minimum audio rate must be 44.1kHz (CD Quality) – no exceptions. The audio can, however, be produced in surround, stereo or monaural quality at the discretion of the gamer.
• You must explain to the referee you send the file to what codec you used to make the video. It would also be advisable to send them the codec that you used to create the video. Please consider that it is the responsibility of the gamer/producer of the video to create a video that a referee can watch on their computer. It is highly recommended that you create your video in a format that is PC friendly and can easily be viewed in either Windows Media Player or the Quicktime Viewer.

Digital Camcorder Submissions

Twin Galaxies now accepts digital camcorder submissions from both hard disk drive (HDD) based recorders and DVD-based camcorders. Here are some important points to consider:

• Hard disk drive camcorders typically record video/audio in a proprietary file format that cannot be read on a PC without being converted first. If you send the raw video/audio file to a referee without first converting it, it is unlikely that they will be able to view it. Please consider converting raw camcorder files into one of the user-friendly file formats above so that they can be readily viewed on any PC. You can also record the camcorder file to DVD/HD-DVD/Blu-Ray so that it can readily be viewed on a TV or computer with DVD capabilities. Again, SVHS is preferred unless you are recording to a high-definition format.

A special note about digital video submissions: Twin Galaxies employs referees with many years of experience with both video gaming and technology. Among the many resources we have at our disposal is the ability to analyze video submissions on a frame-by-frame basis. Digital video submissions that are fraudulently altered for the purpose of cheating will easily be detected, the score disqualified and the gamer banned from making further submissions. That having been said, we encourage all gamers to submit their scores and welcome these modern technologies as means of finding the newest champions in the arcade arena!

Location:
There are a few different types of locations that you may be making recordings. Some players are fortunate to have home arcades or have friends with arcade machines. Public arcades may be available to you but please contact the arcade management first to be sure they are willing to let you record at their location. Also be sure that the arcade would be willing to open the machine to show the machine settings, board sets, and any other details that may be needed in your recording. Tournaments may also be a fine place for record attempts as you also allow the public to witness your achievement. Locations where a TG referee can be present during the recording may also lend even more credibility to your achievement.

Before You Play:
If you plan to attempt an arcade record attempt it is highly suggested that you contact the appropriate Twin Galaxies referee well in advance of your attempt to ensure you understand exactly what is expected of you in order to have your achievement recognized by Twin Galaxies. While every effort will be made by Twin Galaxies personal to give you the proper information it is possible that some unexpected detail may arise which would nullify your performance. These may include detection of an illegally modified board, a ROM set version that is different than that of the one Twin Galaxies tracks scores for, use of illegal game play tactics such as point scabbing (or leeching) which may have already been identified as illegal (or maybe be determined to be against the spirit of the game). When in doubt about tactics it's always better to describe the tactic before hand and get a ruling before you actually take the time to play to avoid wasting your time.

Setup:
First the video arcade machine should be powered off for the start of recording. The camera should be pointed at the machines monitor and record the game as the power is applied. A rug pattern is usually displayed during game startup. This rug pattern should be clearly seen. Some older arcade machines have capacitors which can dry out and take more time to fully charge before the screen image is displayed. If you find a machine where you feel the rug pattern was not shown well in the recording you may wish to turn the machine back off and back on again as the capacitor will likely charge quickly if power is reapplied shortly after power was removed. Record all the way until the game attract screen is seen.

At this time, without stopping the recording, my may wish to show the machine settings or the board sets. This is fine but it requires the machine to be opened which may not be easy to do. It may be easier to do that recording after you have completed a game you wish to submit (but before you stop recording). Unfortunate events such as power outages or malicious behavior by other gamers may end your games before you can record the required elements that would help ensure your achievement being recognized. Waiting to record such elements at the end of the game is something you will need to decide for yourself if your willing to take the risk. Details of what is needed from inside the game cabinet will be listed later in this document. But can be done at this point (or both points) if you wish.

The camera should be positioned in such a manner to show the complete screen (in focus). It is desirable to clearly see the score. It would also be good to clearly show any level indicators but the score is more important if both can not be shown clearly (such as if they are on opposite corners of the screen). It is also desirable to show some portion of the control panel such that the players movements can be seen to correspond to the game play. In some cases certain games may absolutely require that some or all of the control panel be shown during the entire performance (as your Twin Galaxies referee what is required for your recording).

The recording should not be a direct feed of the video being fed to the arcade monitor. While this sort of recording may be desired for presentation purposes, it does not meet the minimum requirements needed for video taped submissions. But there is no reason why this type of recording can't be done in addition to the remote recording being requested in this document.

You should try to show yourself on the film and state the date and time as well as your name. This helps preserve the performance for posterity reasons. If you camera allows you to constantly show a time stamp it should be turned on for the entire performance and positioned in where it will not cover up important portions of the game play or scoring. Some newer cameras try to save this detail outside of the video footage and you might be unable to provide the time stamp. Some camcorders will turn off automatically after a certain period of time if they are not in recording mode. If you are using your camcorder to feed a video footage to a VCR you may find that removing the tape from the camcorder may allow your camcorder to provide a video feed without turning off. It is the players responsibility to figure out the logistics of the recording process.

The video recording should not stop for any reason from the recording of the rug pattern through the end of the game and recording of all necessary details. When you are prepared to start your game make sure that the coin drop (credit appears on the screen) is captured and that only one credit is shown (some games may require more than one credit to start the game but only the required credits should be present to start a single game. Free Play or additional credits may nullify your performance as they can sometimes effect game play behavior.

It is helpful is you make verbal references from time to time that will be captured on the audio of the recording such as score, level, etc.

It is also helpful is you can provide evidence in some manner that you yourself were the only player during the recording. It has sometimes been suggested that a small mirror might be place in such a manner that a portion of the reflection of the player may be seen. Some game monitor bezels have mirror like qualities that show a portion of the player in recordings. Others have also suggested that having an analog clock or watch in the picture lends to more credibility that the video has not been edited. While some of these extreme measures may not be required they may go a long ways to making your submission “rock solid” and will likely be recognized by the referee as going above and beyond the call of duty.

If for some reason you leave the machine for any amount of time during the recording it is important to ensure that nobody besides you may touch the controls of the game during your recording. Control panel contact by someone other than the player may void the submission.

Game Over:
When your game is completed you will want to restate your name, score, date, location, game title, level number if known, and any other useful information. The video should zoom in on the score to ensure it can clearly be seen and then zoom back out. You may also wish to capture level number or other information visible on the screen in the same manner.

Whats Inside:
Once this portion of the recording is completed you will want to ensure that the required information from inside the game cabinet has been captured. This could have been done before the start of the game but you may find it's easier to have someone open the cabinet for you only after you are sure you were able to reach a score that you had hoped for.

The camera, without being turned off, should be used to record needed information from inside the game cabinet. It might be possible on some machines to gather the needed information through the front of the machine. In other cases you may need to move the camera around to the back side of the machine. If you move the camera you should attempt to keep the machine in the recording at all times.

The back door (or front door/panel) should be opened in sight of the camera. Beware that it is typical for doors on arcade machines to be equipped with interlock switches that remove power when the door is opened. Once the machine is opened, the power can sometimes be turned back on by pulling the interlock switch into the outward position. Please beware that a shock hazard maybe present inside an arcade machine. The interlock switch is there for safety reasons but even with the machine being turned off there is electric charges present that can injury or kill you under the right circumstances. Twin Galaxies is not responsible for any injury sustained while trying to obtain the needed information for a submission.

The external doors to the machine should not be removed during the game play recording portion and should only be opened at such time as needed to obtain the needed internal information.

What Should I Show?:
It's very important to show the entire board set. Some games require multiple boards and others only have one. It's not necessary to remove the board(s) from the cabinet in most cases. Show as much detail as possible. Zoom in on important parts such as dip switch blocks and ROM chips and labels. Game board serial numbers would also be an important thing to show. Once the board(s) are shown in detail, show a general view of the entire inside of the cabinet. Include showing all the wiring by following it around inside the cabinet to show that no external wires or cables enter or exit the cabinet. One notable exception may be that of an external wire used to record a direct feed from the video monitor as described earlier in this document (although direct feed video is not sufficient evidence for Twin Galaxies recognition it maybe recorded for presentation purposes only). If external wires do exist footage should show exactly what they go to and what they are used for. It is also important to show all the wiring running to the monitor and control panel and where it comes from.

The inside of the game cabinet may be somewhat dark and may require you to provide some additional lighting to properly show the information requested above. If you do so you should be aware that game board sets sometimes contain EPROMS which can be erased when exposed to ultra violet light. It is possible to partially erase one of these chips in such a way that makes the game no longer work. EPROMS usually have a small glass window which should be covered by a small sticker designed to prevent light from entering and erasing data. Some game manufacturers neglected to cover these windows (Nintendo has been known to leave windows uncovered in Donkey Kong, DK Jr., and other titles). Using a high powered spot light or something producing UV light may cause damage so please be careful and limit the direct light exposure to as little as possible.

Some games can show dip switch settings through a menu available when the game is placed in service mode through switches inside the coin door. These dip switch settings often override those of the dip switches present on the game boards (which are used only as defaults should the menu dip switch settings not be properly backed up by the on board battery. Both sets of dip switches should be shown if present.

When the internal recording is completed the camera should be moved back to the front of the machine to show the monitor again. If the game did not lose power show your final score again if possible. If the game did lose power from opening the door please note that on the recording. At this point remove game power and power it back on again to show the start up rug pattern one last time.

What If I Need More Than One Tape?:
If your game will last longer than your available tape, you should attempt to minimize what goes on during tape changes. In general it should be a quick swap with little or no scoring changes. It would be best to have an additional camera record a few moments of game play before the swap and then zoom out to show you and the whole machine while you swap tapes to show nobody else touches the machine during the swap. Then when you return to play the extra camera should show another minute or two of game play. Extra footage should be added at the end of the normal recording on the last tape. Please advise the referee to the presence of the extra footage at the end of the last tape. Please make a backup copy of all tapes in case they are lost and send a copy to your friendly Twin Galaxies referee for record consideration.

Good Luck!

What should I be recording? [Consoles]
You need to record your entire game, from before you power on your console to the point where you enter your name in (if appropriate). It is very important to record this to prevent the delay of verifying your record attempt.

What should I do if I am going to record a Marathon score?
If you suspect in advance that a single gameplay attempt will exceed 2 hours in duration, the standard for most VHS videotapes at 2-hour (fast) speed, please change the VCR recording speed in advance to the 6-hour mode, which is typically referred to as "EP" or "SLP" on most VCRs.

In the event that such a game attempt, or a game in progress, is going to exceed the capacity of the videotape, you have two (2) options...

1st - for most modern home console platforms, a "pause" feature exists. In this order, pause your game before the tape runs out, keep recording for a good 10-15 seconds or longer while in pause mode, stop recording and swap to a new videotape, start recording while your game is still paused for a good 10-15 seconds or longer, then unpause and resume gameplay.

2nd - for less than modern home consoles, pause features are not accessible via the controller. If you know in advance that a record attempt will exceed the 6-hour capacity of a standard 2 hour tape at slow-record mode, contact the platform referee in advance of your game attempt and discuss the situation, and they will advise you with their decision on how to proceed.

What video formats can I submit?
At this time, Twin Galaxies and it's board of referees can accept the following formats for home console submission.

1st - VHS videotapes are acceptable. Currently we cannot review BETA format. We discourage "BETA" as this format is obsolete, and the equipment to view it may not remain in working condition for much longer. Still, if this is your only means of submitting a record, then you may do so as long as Mike's "BETA" VCR continues to function. Click on the "Mike's Main Page" link on the left of this page to contact Mike if you must use "BETA" for your submission.

2nd - All VHS videocassette submissions must be one of the following formats in either 50hz or 60hz depending on the format...NTSC, which is the standard in the United States, PAL which is available in many international communities, PAL-M which is a derivative of PAL, and M-SECAM which is a derivative of SECAM. Unfortunately, we cannot accept SECAM formats due to not having the equipment to accept the format.

3rd - The other acceptable submission involves hooking up your platform to your PC via a TV card, and recording your gameplay in MS Media Player format...but before that, please inform the assigned platform referee of your intent to do so AND the "CODEC" you plan to utilize...it must be one that is widely and freely available. This is a relatively new format to Twin Galaxies, and is not without logistical consideration, but we at Twin Galaxies are pro-active with the growing advances in technology, and wish to embrace this new means of electronic submission for the purposes of contest and world record submissions.

Note: If you are using TV out to record your game you must show in the recording the entire boot up process of the program and the menu selections necessary to begin playing. This is necessary due to emulators and save state recordings that can be edited as many times as a player wishes, thus resulting in super human results.

4th - The last means of submission is setting up a stationary video camcorder and capturing your gameplay screen in it's entirety. Players are encouraged to make every attempt to position the stationary camera in such a way that the gameplay, screen, and most importantly the score portion, are unobstructed as much as physically possible. If you have specific questions regarding the logistics of your planned cam-cording submission, please contact the assigned platform referee in advance before attempting such submissions.

Do you accept scores in formats other than NTSC?
Yes, we accecpt scores in other formats other than NTSC, however, please check with the referee you are submitting a score to prior to sending the tape as not all referee's have the ability to view your tapes. Special arrangements may be necessary.

IMPORTANT - When recording in PAL, PAL-M or M-SECAM formats, be aware that when the Twin Galaxies referees watch and authenticate your performance, it is very difficult to do so when recorded in slow-play (6-hour speed, "SLP", "EP") due to the change in hertz rates, and that's even when viewed through a converter. Therefore, gamers submitting in one of these formats are politely requested to record in slow-play, or 2-hour speed, commonly referred to as "SP" mode on most videocassette recorders.

How do I record games for my GameBoy, GameBoy Color, GameBoy Adanced?
There are basically two ways to do it. The first way is you use a Camcorder. However, that doesn't work very well since you will likely be moving the Hand Held around alot. The second way is to use a GBA Player for the GameCube. This allows you to play your GB, GBC, and GBA games through your GameCube using your GameCube Controller.

You would hook your GameCube up to a VCR, or use a Camcorder to video tape your TV. From there, it's easy.

How do I record games for my Nintendo DS?
Until the day someone comes out with a TV tuner (or if the Wii will play DS games on the TV in the future) you do need a video camera for this system. Unless the rules state otherwise you must record both screens, but there are games/variations in wich you only need to record either the top or bottom screen.

1. Start recording.
2. Power up the DS. You must have the DS set to the Manual Mode start-up. This can be set up in the DS options.
3. Choose the DS game.
4. Play till you've set that record.

How do I record games for my Sony PSP?
Several companies released a TV adapter for the PSP. The "Nyko" and "Innovation" are the better made ones. They work fine and are the recommended way to record your game. A video camera can be used to record your PSP screen, but your hands may move the screen off camera, so it's not recommended. If you choose to use a video camera, you'll need to convert the game footage to either a dvd or video tape. (No 8mm tapes)

1.With the PSP turned off, start recording. (5-10 seconds)
2.Power up the PSP without a game in the drive.
3.Navigate to the Game Menu before inserting the game.
4.The game must be inserted while the Game Menu is displayed.

* Banned glitches/tactics are not allowed. If you're unsure about a method you're using, please ask the PSP referee.

* Strict TG policy is, NO pausing. Accidental pausing is determined at the discretion of the TG referee. Over 5 seconds is not an accident. There are exceptions, such as where the Start Button brings up menus, or is needed to access certain items.

* When you're ready to submit your recordings for verification, don't forget to submit a hardcopy of the Twin Galaxies submission form along with it. If you have a wide variety of submissions, you may submit just the main submission form (The one that requires your signature) and a piece of paper detailing all your records, or you may submit online and send the printed submission form.
Twin Galaxies Submission Form

How do I record games for my Vectrex?

***ONLY the original Vectrex controller is allowed.***
***Check game rules for any banned tactics.***

Your gameplay must be recorded using a video camera. Follow the recording process listed below, to ensure your score isn't disqualified.

RECORDING PROCESS:
* Turn on your video camera and clearly record your Vectrex system, showing the ENTIRE cabinet and attached controller. You can insert the game cartridge at this point as well.
* Set your video camera in the position it'll be in for recording gameplay. The FULL game screen, from top to bottom, must be visible at all times.
* Turn on your Vectrex. Sit in a position so that you're not blocking the game screen in any way.
* Play your game. If you achieve a score you would like to submit, zoom your camera in for a close-up of the score. You can also state your score verbally. The recording process is complete.

* Copy the game footage from your video camera to either a DVD or video tape. (No 8mm tapes)

* When you're ready to submit your recordings for verification, don't forget to submit a hardcopy of the Twin Galaxies submission form along with it. If you have a wide variety of submissions, you may submit just the main submission form (The one that requires your signature) and a piece of paper detailing all your records, or you may submit online and send the printed submission form.
Twin Galaxies Submission Form

How do I record games using MAME?
For MAME, a VCR is not necessary as MAME has its own recording function that produces an INP [Input File] that records all the pertinent information required. BUT! There are some necessary guidelines that need to be followed despite this. For more information, please kindly consult the current Guidelines at the following link; Mame Submission Guidelines

How do I record games using the C64 Vice Emulator?
VICE is the official Twin Galaxies approved Commodore 64 emulator. Submissions must be made using the current version: VICE Homepage Your VICE emulator must be running in NTSC-M Video Standard - The default is PAL. To change it, click: Options>>Video Standard

RECORDING YOUR GAME:
Always use the Disk (or Tape) image of the game you wish to submit for - No Cartridges. Recording an event history will create two files for a snapshot. First, create an empty directory in which these files are to be saved, then select this directory and the name of the snapshot files via 'Snapshot//Select History files/directory'. Next, attach the disk image of the game you want to record, then load and run the game. Recording MUST begin at the "game intro" screen. If you start recording after the game intro screen, your score WILL be disqualified! Start recording via 'Snapshot//Start/Stop Recording History'. Play the game. All actions will be recorded. After the game is finished, stop recording via 'Snapshot//Start/Stop Recording History'. The selected directory should now contain the two snapshot files, "start.vsf" and "end.vsf". NOTE: Don't record over VSF files that already contain a recorded game, as you run the risk of improper recording.

RECOMMENDED SETTINGS:
When using the event history feature it is possible that the playback session differs from what was done at recording time. This might arise due to a problem in the initial snapshot or settings. Here are some suggestions to minimize the chance of failures in the session:
* Reset to default settings.
* Choose refresh rate 1/1.
* Choose joystick and Video/Doublesize settings as desired or needed.
* SID engine must be reSID (which is the default).
* Choose Drive settings/Idle method: None
* Do not change any settings during recording or playback!

PLAYING BACK YOUR RECORDING:
Before submitting your recording, please check it to ensure it plays back to the correct score. To play back an event history, select the directory with the history files "start.vsf" and "end.vsf" via 'Snapshot//Select History directory' and start the playback with 'Snapshot//Start/Stop Playback History'. During playback any user interaction is disabled. The playback stops when the end of the session is reached or if 'Snapshot//Select History directory' is selected again. NOTE: Some games require you to load the disk image first, before starting the playback.

RULES:
* Game Speed must be at 100%.
* The FPS must be at 60.
* Autofire is not allowed!
* Keyboard and joystick settings must be done before you start recording. (VICE will save your settings if you check "save settings on exit")

SUBMITTING YOUR GAME:
Take both the "start" and "end" .VSF files and zip them together. You can then submit via the online submission process from the Twin Galaxies homepage. The zipped file shouldn't be larger than 10 MB to use the online submission. If your file is larger than 10 MB, you can copy it to a CDR or DVD, fill out a submission form Twin Galaxies Submission Form and send both items to the C64 referee by regular mail.

How do I record games using the ZX Spectrum Spectaculator Emulator?
The official emulator of choice is that of Spectaculator (Windows 32-bit), but the format of submission (RZX files) is supported by multiple emulators, including RealSpectrum for DOS and FUSE for the *nix & Mac OS X platforms. The RZX format was designed from the ground-up to be cross-platform compatible (providing the emulator has correctly implemented the format & emulation directives of the format).

Rules for submission

* The recording must start from the rebooted screen of the ZX Spectrum.
* The recording must show the entirety of the loading of the tape/disc/microdrive, etc.
* Tournament mode must be used.
* Rollback RZX performances (popularised by the SPIN emulator) are not acceptable (verification will occur in an emulator without rewind support).
* To be submitted, the RZX file must be Zipped (a requirement of the web site, not the RZX rules).
* Multiple performances within a single RZX are acceptable as with normal submission processes, but the submission must fit the current 10MB submission limit (a requirement of the web site, not the RZX rules).
* If a performance exceeds the 10MB limit, even zipped (which won't be much different anyway as RZX files are compressed), please contact the referee for an alternative submission transport or follow the 3 alternative methods for the C64 platform.

Guide to setting up Spectaculator: Once opened, use the Tools menu's Options to begin setting up Spectaculator. On the Hardware tab, use a model of "48K ZX Spectrum" for most games and ensure the CPU Speed is 3.5MHz. On the Cassette Recorder tab, disable the following options: "Enable auto loading"; "Stop at end of tape"; "Flashloading"; "Edge detection". Still on the Cassette Recorder tab, enable the followng options: "Auto play / stop"; "Enable Fast loading". For your own sanity, you may wish to disable the "Generate loading noise" option.

Guide to recording Spectaculator: Use the File menu's Open option and locate the tape/disc image of the game - open it. From the Control menu's Action Replay (RZX) option, choose Record. In the new window, click on the Action Replay (RZX) option; enter a name into the File Name; and set the Location it will be recorded into; click OK. In the next window, ensure "Current position" and "Tournament mode" are selected; enter a numeric sequence into the week code and click OK. You are now recording.

In the 48K Spectrum mode, press the J key to enter the word "LOAD" and then hold the right-shift key down and press P twice for the "" characters. In any of the 128K Spectrum modes, use the cursor keys to highlight the Tape Loader option (note that for some games, the 48K Spectrum mode is required). Finally, press enter or return to begin loading. With the "Enable Fast loading" option enabled from the Cassette Recorder tab above, the game should load fairly rapidly and you can begin playing. To stop the RZX recording, click on any of the menu options of Spectaculator. Optional extra: take a snapshot of your score using the File menu's Save As option - set the "Save As Type" field to "Spectrum Screenshot (.bmp)" before click Save.

Submission process of your RZX file: Please ensure your recording plays back for yourself before submitting. The original tape/disc image is not required for this to work as the input is embedded in the RZX file. Locate your RZX file from the location you set up previously. For the purposes of the Twin Galaxies web site, compress the RZX file into PKZip-compatible format and submit the zipped version.

Still having trouble? Try reviewing the Twin Galaxies' Guide to Spectaculator - a visual guide through the necessary steps.