I've been doing some tampering on the Alone in the Dark 4 game for the Sega Dreamcast and I thought I should share some extra info I found regarding the 4XM video format. But, first, I'm pasting what TuxTheWise had to say about it (On the DCRES full package): Here's my two cents: - Don't use the v4.0 version of the encoder. Seems like it's not outputting 100% equal files. You'll need to use the v4.5 version. - The maximum bitrate for a 4XM video located at the innermost area of the disc is of 175000bps. A higher value will freeze the video, game and console. - You can still put max quality videos at the outer area, as they have around 600000bps. - The approximate quality that you can use on a video located at the inner part of the 45000 LBA area is of 350000bps. - The best input format you can use on the 4XM compiler, in Windows 7, is .JPEG stillimages. .BMPs or .AVI files (Using LAV or FFDShow) will freeze the encoding halfway in longer videos. (Note: I couldn't find a goddamned way to output 100% or lossless JPEGs with ffmpeg. Had to dump to .BMP, then use mozjpeg). - Obvious fact: Don't put a WAV file with metadata at the bottom of the file as an input audio file. - 4XM_SOUND does not always output a video file that will play on real hardware. I had freezing cases (So far the only success I had was replicating the folder structure hidden at the movie header). - I don't know about Headhunter or any other game that uses 4XM format, but AITD will ALWAYS start generating sound cracking with videos that are longer than approximately a minute. Tried placing the original videos on a CD, at the outer part, and playing them. - The bitrate is specially relevant with bright flashes. Stuff like lightning bolts or muzzleflashes will show macroblock/compression artifacts at lower bitrates. Strangely enough, I had some cases where the same bitrate, at a higher resolution, showed better results in console (Mostly color-banding issues). And, as for the AITD game itself, seems like it has a lot of unused resources in disc 1, specially videos (And not the "Cutscene not done" ones). Disc 2 has no unused material.
