I finally found someone selling Area 51 for PS1 locally, disc only without packaging but my copy of Maximum Force is also missing it's disc insert. I think I'm gonna photoshop up a dual disc DVD case based on the 'Area 51 duo Maximim Force' flyers that looks like an authentic PS2 case and use that instead.
Anyway... BEFORE this, I used Area 51 as a burned ISO on my PS1. What I've noticed however is that these versions of the game are different. Both are identified as 'SLUS 00064' internally but they are clearly different so I thought someone would try to help me identify which is which.
The offical disc I have has a black and white disc lable that looks poorly printed, it almost looks pirated but it seems to be ligit and runs in my unmodded PS2. When the game is in 'attract mode' you press start to exit, you are greated with a simple splash screen that says 'Area 51' and the 'Press Start' bars flash at the bottom still. If you press start agian, you get to the menu, if not you are returned to the attract after a few moments. This version also seems to quickly return to attract even if you don't make any commands anywhere in the game.
The downloaded ISO I burned is slightly different. The splash screen after you press start to exit the attract has the same 'Area 51' logo but is covered with copyright text, top and bottom. Also there are no 'Press Start' bars flashing, even if the requirement to press start is still there. Leaving some first time players not knowing they have to press start a second time or it will return to attract. It also seems to take longer to return to attract when you are in the menus.
I read on the Wikipedia entery that the game was rereleased in 2001 for PS1 as part of the Midway Classics range. I assume one of these is the Midway Classics, but in that case it's strange for both versions to have the same SLUS number. (And also, if there is a 2001 version, why the hell does it NOT have Guncon support and only Justifier?
So I was wondering if someone with more experience or knowledge could help me tell what is what here.
On a side note, Area 51 doesn't support any memory card features so you lose all high scores on power down. Damn the bastard that was too lazy to let it use a few bytes of data to keep scores!