/=========================================================================\
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| II.4. The Disc Ring |
0===========================================================================0
\=========================================================================/
One of the more recent discoveries that was made, inspired by reader Matt
McAlister, in better identifying the Vice City discs is what I will call the
Disc Ring.
Take your Vice City disc and flip it over so you are looking at the data
(silver) side.
Near the center hole you should see the PlayStation 2 logos. Beyond that you
should see some bar codes. This is the Disc Ring.
Opposite the barcodes you should see some lettering:
PDSS-004995A1
If you see this then this is a Haitian-Unfriendly (Original) Version.
But if you see this:
PDSS-004998A1
Then this is a Haitian-Friendly Version.
This will make it easy to determine what version you have in conjunction with
the disc banner:
X=======================================================X
| Stand-Alone Discs (Black Disc Banner) |
| ************************************* |
| PDSS-004995A1: Original Version (1.40) |
| PDSS-004998A1: Haitian-Friendly Version (3.00) |
X=======================================================X
X=======================================================X
| Double Pack Discs (Red Disc Banner) |
| *********************************** |
| PDSS-004995A1: Original DP Version (2.01) |
| PDSS-004998A1: Haitian-Friendly DP Version (3.00) |
X=======================================================X
However, these Disc Ring numbers are going to be different for units made
outside of the United States.
Another reader, Stuart Summers (who lives in Europe), had some issues with
his disc and I asked him for the Disc Ring numbers and he responded with:
A0100434781-A511
Based on some of the things he listed from his game he has what I call
OriginalV 1.5. It has about half the changes that would be found in the
Double Pack Version.
Apparently, Rockstar made some changes to Vice City for the European release
then made some more changes for the Double Pack version that came later.
/=========================================================================\
0===========================================================================0
| II.5. Replacement Hints |
0===========================================================================0
\=========================================================================/
All new copies Vice City on the store shelves at all of the major store
chains are of the Haitian-Friendly version (Stand-Alone and Double Pack).
For versions 2.01 and 1.40 you will probably have to go to a used game store
to find. Use the Disc Ring method to determine what version you are holding.
You can replace a Stand-Alone disc with a Double Pack disc (and vice versa)
but only if it is a Haitian-Friendly Version (3.00).
All of the above information should go a long way in helping you tell the
versions apart so you can get the version you need to allow you to continue
using your game saves.
/=========================================================================\
0===========================================================================0
| II.6. PS2 Vice City Version Summary |
0===========================================================================0
\=========================================================================/
X================================X
| Original Version (Stand-Alone) |
| ****************************** |
| Version Number: 1.40 |
| Bar Code Number: 27145 |
| Disc Banner Color: Black |
| Disc Ring: PDSS-004995A1 |
X================================X
X================================X
| (Original) Double Pack |
| ********************** |
| Version Number: 2.01 |
| Bar Code Number: 27300 |
| Disc Banner Color: Red |
| Disc Ring: PDSS-004995A1 |
X================================X
X================================X
| (Haitian-Friendly) Double Pack |
| ****************************** |
| Version Number: 3.00 |
| Bar Code Number: 21383 |
| Disc Banner Color: Red |
| Disc Ring: PDSS-004998A1 |
X================================X
X================================X
| Haitian-Friendly (Stand-Alone) |
| ****************************** |
| Version Number: 3.00 |
| Bar Code Number: 27388 |
| Disc Banner Color: Black |
| Disc Ring: PDSS-004998A1 |
X================================X
/==XX====XX====XX====XX====XX====0##***##0====XX====XX====XX====XX====XX==\
0===XX====XX====XX====XX====XX====0##***##0====XX====XX====XX====XX====XX===0
| III. PlayStation2 Original Version (1.40) |
0===XX====XX====XX====XX====XX====0##***##0====XX====XX====XX====XX====XX===0
\==XX====XX====XX====XX====XX====0##***##0====XX====XX====XX====XX====XX==/
In this section I will go into the major bugs that are in the Original
Version and how you can best avoid them.
/=========================================================================\
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| III.1. Detonator Bug |
0===========================================================================0
\=========================================================================/
0========0
| The Bug \
0==========0
On the southwest part of Viceport (in the big open area just east of the
Airport), you will find 8-Ball's car shop. Here you can set up your car
with a bomb just like you could do in GTA3. Just park the car and detonate
it at your leisure from a safe distance. When you exit the car, you will
see the detonator icon in your weapon slot. Press Circle to blow up the
car. But when you press R2 or L2, you will find that you are stuck on the
detonator - you can't switch to another weapon. This can be quite
distressing.
This also happens with the Remote Grenade weapon when you throw the grenade
and it switches to the Detonator part of the weapon.
0================0
| Dealing With It \
0==================0
The reason for this, based on several sources, has to do with the Infinite
Ammo Feature that you earn when you get 100%. The Detonator weapon was not
designed to have any ammo and the program gets confused when it has
infinite ammo and it switches to the Detonator.
There are, however, a couple of ways to get rid of the Detonator.....
>>Get wasted or busted.
>>Go through a metal detector at either the Leaf Links Golf Club or
Escobar International Airport to remove your weapons. Then go back and
get all of your weapons except the Detonator.
Of course, you can just not use the weapon at all after getting 100%
completion.
/=========================================================================\
0===========================================================================0
| III.2. Cherry Popper Save Glitch |
0===========================================================================0
\=========================================================================/
0========0
| The Bug \
0==========0
One of the nastier bugs within the PS2 Original Version is the Cherry
Popper Glitch. When you open the property you can save there just like any
other property in the game.
However, on occasion, your game save can become corrupted when you save
there thus forcing you to start your game over again. It doesn't do it
every time but each time you save there you're rolling the dice betting
your game save doesn't frag.
0================0
| Dealing With It \
0==================0
The best way to avoid it is simply NEVER to save there in the first place.
/=========================================================================\
0===========================================================================0
| III.3. Little Havana Glitch |
0===========================================================================0
\=========================================================================/
While perusing the GameFAQs Vice City Message Board I came across a topic
concerning the Little Havana Glitch started by one of the "gods" of Vice
City, robbman. Below is what he had to say on the topic (with a little
embellishment).....
"I think people don't know or don't think about this glitch when
playing. That's why I made this topic."
"Later in the game you will be able to get the Little Havana Outfit.
Though there is a glitch which puts the Little Havana Outfit behind an
invisible wall.
"All you need to do to avoid this glitch is to do the mission "Copland"
(Tommy Vercetti) before you do Avery Carringtons last mission "Two Bit
Hit".
To be honest, I've never encountered this bug regardless of what order I did
the missions (of course, I've rarely use the outfit too). Still, this appears
to be a pretty solid strategy to help avoid this bug.
Glen T. Winstein would later write to me verifying that this bug also happens
in the PC version. Plus this little bit of info from Townranger:
"However, I found out that in the PC version the invisible wall in front
of the Havana outfit icon still exist if you finish Copland before Two
Big Hit. The way I get rid of the glitch is to finish Copland before
Demolition Man."
/==XX====XX====XX====XX====XX====0##***##0====XX====XX====XX====XX====XX==\
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| IV. PlayStation2 (Original) Double Pack Version (2.01) |
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\==XX====XX====XX====XX====XX====0##***##0====XX====XX====XX====XX====XX==/
In this section I will go into the changes made for the (Original) Double
Pack Version.
/=========================================================================\
0===========================================================================0
| IV.1. "Trial By Dirt" Altered |
0===========================================================================0
\=========================================================================/
0=======0
| Change \
0=========0
The "Trial By Dirt" mini-game has been altered.
The rain, Haitians on motorcycles, and barrels won't show up when you do it
the first time. The second time around, the barrels will appear. If you
beat your best time, rain will appear on your next attempt. If you beat
your best time again, the Haitians on motorcycles will appear an your next
attempt.
Also they fixed the stat glitch for "Trial By Dirt". The stat glitch was
that when you played the mini-game, the stats for that mission would not
show up until you played "Test Drive", the mini-game with the Landstalker,
and only with the same time as that mini-game. This was basically a minor
problem since it didn't affect getting 100% completion or cause other
problems in the game.
0======0
| Notes \
0========0
I guess that Rockstar must've felt that they were throwing too much too
soon for those playing the mini-game so they altered it to have a more
gradual difficulty curve.
/=========================================================================\
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| IV.2. Song Removal |
0===========================================================================0
\=========================================================================/
0=======0
| Change \
0=========0
The Lionel Ritchie song "Running With The Night" (Flash-FM) has been
removed from the Double Pack version.
0======0
| Notes \
0========0
Either Mr. Ritchie or his record company wussed out here. His loss.
However, the removal of this song does NOT constitute censorship.
Censorship is when government or a political group forces a change in a
publicly seen work. The "Kill all the Haitians" flap for GTA: Vice City can
be seen as censorship but the removal of this one song was a decision made
by the artist or record company.
But one of my readers, Josh Lupo, suggested that this change may have
occurred shortly after releasing some of the early copies of the DP Version
overseas.....
"Hey. I would just like to report something about my Double Pack
Version. I'm from Australia and I got my DP at Christmas. The things
is, my Flash FM has that Lionel Ritchie Song "Running With the Night".
I don't know why, so I thought you may be able to tell me why."
Any clues?
/=========================================================================\
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| IV.3. Weapons Renamed |
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\=========================================================================/
0=======0
| Change \
0=========0
Many weapons have been renamed.
Colt .45 = Pistol
Python = .357
Spaz Shotgun = S.P.A.S. 12
Ingram Mac 10 = Mac
Uzi 9mm = Uz-I
MP5 = MP
Ruger = Kruger
PSG-1 = .308 Sniper
Also some graphical changes were made to some of the weapons which can be
seen when at the Ammu-Nation.
0======0
| Notes \
0========0
Although the graphical changes are OK I felt that changing the names of the
weapons was unnecessary. However, I did get an e-mail from a gentleman
named "ejperlock" that gives a possible reason for changing the name of one
of the weapons.....
"i think i know why the name for the ruger has been changed. In real
life their is actually a gun comapany named ruger and I guess seeing
thier name on vice city they didn't really think that was a good thing
for thier company since thier moto is 'arms makers for reasponsible
citizens'. I guess they don't think tommy is responsible lol. I wasn't
sure if u knew that or not."
Another gentleman, named "Keffa", gave me a more detailed explanation on
the name changes.....
"The most likely reason for them changing the name is simply economics.
The words Uzi, Ruger, Ingram, MP5, Spaz, Python and Colt are all
trademarks in the same way that Coca Cola and Pepsi and Adidas and so
on are trademarks. If you wish to use the names you have to obtain
permission from the trademark owner and pay any licensing fees they
wish to impose. They are referred to as "licensed" guns when used in
games and the developers often have to pay them a royalty to use the
name. Rockstar probably wanted to avoid having to pay any more royalty
fees to the individual gun manufacturers. It's exactly the same reason
why they do not use real car names with the vehicles even though we can
clearly see they are intended to be famous brand cars and other
vehicles.
If they have done it with the double pack edition of the two current
GTA titles then I am guessing they are probably going to adopt the
policy for future versions of the game. However as with the cars, I
think this would be somewhat advantageous. After all, I'm pretty
certain I read somewhere the other day that the car names in the GTA
games have almost as much brand awareness as the cars they are
pretending to be."
And another reader, "Gamefaqs Info", offered a more interesting reason for
the name changes.....
"I read on a website that the gun name changes were due to soccer moms
speaking out about some random crap. I'm not sure why, but that's what
I read. Meh."
/=========================================================================\
0===========================================================================0
| IV.4. Easier To Get Cop Uniform |
0===========================================================================0
\=========================================================================/
0=======0
| Change \
0=========0
The number of cops wandering around on the first floor or the locker room
in the Washington Beach Police Station have been reduced.
When you earn the Cop Uniform, it will be inside the locker room. However,
when you enter the room to get the uniform, you will get a 2-Star rating
which will go away when you get the uniform.
Unfortunately, there always seems to be a cop inside the locker room who
will shoot at you, taking off armor or health, while trying to get the
uniform. So Rockstar tweaked it so that there are fewer cops to hurt you
while getting the Cop Uniform.
0======0
| Notes \
0========0
A welcomed change. It wasn't fair losing chunks of your armor while trying
to get the uniform while a cop was inside the locker room (which was most
of the time in the Original version). While there is the occasional cop
wondering on the first floor in the DP version, most of the time he won't
be in the locker room so you will have a much easier time getting the
uniform.
/=========================================================================\
0===========================================================================0
| IV.5. Detonator Bug Fix |
0===========================================================================0
\=========================================================================/
0=======0
| Change \
0=========0
The Detonator Bug has been fixed for the DP version.
The Detonator Bug (Original Version) occurs when using a car bomb or Remote
Grenades in conjunction with Infinite Ammo (either with cheats or by
getting 100% completion). After using the car bomb or Remote Grenades, you
are stuck on the detonator because the detonator wasn't meant to have any
ammo and the game gets confused when using the remote with Infinite Ammo
on.
0======0
| Notes \
0========0
Another welcomed change. Although these weapons weren't used much it is
good to have this particular bug fixed.
/=========================================================================\
0===========================================================================0
| IV.6. Blurriness For "Boomshine Saigon" Reduced |
0===========================================================================0
\=========================================================================/
0=======0
| Change \
0=========0
The blurry vision in "Boomshine Saigon" is far less in the DP version
although the screen will still swerve around.
0======0
| Notes \
0========0
At first I thought this was to make it easier for beginning players but a
gentleman by the name of "christopher greeson" offered this
observation.....
"In your guide on gamefaqs to the differences between GTA3 and Vice City
in respect to the Double Pack versions you mention that in GTA: VC the
boomshine mission's motion blurring has been lessened. You also
mentioned that it may be due to the fact that they wanted to make the
mission a bit easier. The actual reason is that when they ported over
Vice City to the XBox they got a little lazy. Motion blurring requires
programmers to create complex algorithms that are very specific to the
hardware. Thus you might say, because they didn't recreate the
algorithm specifically for the XBox, that the XBox emulates the effect.
Because they fixed a whole bunch of bugs when developing Double Pack
for the XBox, when creating the PS2 Double Pack they translated the
XBox's code back over to save time and money. That's why this
alteration appears in the PS2 version as well. A similar circumstance
can be seen in Metal Gear Solid 2: Substance with its weather effects
and its stylistic motion blurring."
/=========================================================================\
0===========================================================================0
| IV.7. Cover-Up For "Recruitment Drive" |
0===========================================================================0
\=========================================================================/
0=======0
| Change \
0=========0
In the opening cutscene for "Recruitment Drive" (Interglobal Films Asset),
the big breasted woman with the pasties (?) is now wearing a halter top
instead.
0======0
| Notes \
0========0
This was probably not a bad idea. In the Original version she was wearing
pasties (who wears pasties in a porno film anyway?) or she had some weird
looking nipples. Giving her a halter top makes things look a little more
natural (unlike her breasts.....).
/=========================================================================\
0===========================================================================0
| IV.8. Cherry Popper Save Fix (?) |
0===========================================================================0
\=========================================================================/
0=======0
| Change \
0=========0
Recently, I had a reader, roothorick, suggest to me that Rockstar may have
fixed one of the more annoying bugs in Vice City.....
"I have the double pack version of Vice City, and every save I make at
the Cherry Popper ice cream factory appears to load and start just
fine. Is there a known sure-fire way of triggering the bug or is it
purely by chance? Because as far as I can tell, in the Double Pack
version the bug has been fixed. This might also account for the
incompatible saves issue..."
0======0
| Notes \
0========0
I have never had a problem with the Cherry Poppers glitch since I learned
from others not to save there in the first place. So therefore I have no
direct verification of the fix hence the question mark.
/=========================================================================\
0===========================================================================0
| IV.9. Rain And Blood Droplets Toggable |
0===========================================================================0
\=========================================================================/
One of the letters from the now removed e-mail section, written by Kevin
Frushour with additional comments from another reader, he mentioned the lack
of splatters from rain or blood:
"I've noticed that in Vice City when you drive in the rain and when you
use the chainsaw there are no longer spatters or droplets of water or
blood on the screen. I'm playing with the display setting "trails:off"
though -- I don't know if that affects it."
"I'm also having some trouble with the Sparrow helicopter (and
checkpoint mission) that was in the fenced in yards near the Pay &
Spray and Mercedes' house (and save point). When I played the single
pack there was a helicopter there, but now it's gone AWOL. Don't know
if I've just not hit the trigger in the game that allows it though -- I
just opened up the west island ("mainland"). I last did The Avery
Carrington Hatian crime lord mission, and it's still not there."
"The double-pack VC is much cleaner looking, IMHO. I thought that the
single edition looked way to grainy."
With additional comments from "Janken Master".....
"In your vice city double pack changes guide on gamefaqs, Kevin Frushour
said that the blood and rain on screen effects disappeared, this
probably was the trails off thing, I have the double pack and when I
mangle unsuspecting bystanders there is still blood on the screen and
the rain still hits the screen too."
After playing around a bit on both the DP and HF versions, I've found that
you can toggle the splatters on or off by using the Trails option in the
Display section. You turn on the splatters by turning the Trails on and turn
off the Trails to turn off the splatters.
You can do this in the Original Version also. If you turn off the Trails at
the beginning of the game you will get rain and blood splatters. To turn them
off, you turn on Trails then turn them off again.
I should also note that the Chopper Checkpoint Mission that Kevin had
problems getting to activate can only be turned on by completing "Rubout"
(Ricardo Diaz).
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