thebpg13

Sorry for the delay of starting this topic, but I sadly had many other priorities.

First, due to thebpg13 last opened topic "Don't appreciate being called a cheater", please note again (3rd time) that this Cheater's topic is made for potential cheats (that's why there is "?" at the end).
We will decide if it is a cheat or not, after his answers (or a delay of 15 days without answer).
But note that he played emulator in the past, in 2 car games Driver and Driver 2: he told us the truth in 2019, before the new ban levels were applied, so with only deletion of this scores and no ban. 

So, now there is a problem with thebpg13 in the game V-Rally 2 Championship Edition.

There is a suspicion that he didn’t played the right and unique version in VGR for this game, so that he didn’t respected the specific Game Rule: “Please take care and respect exactly the system of this game (Playstation).

Every type of car can be used for this game, there is no restriction.”

 thebpg13 has a YouTube and Twitch accounts. Links from his VGR profile are actually not working, so here they are:
YouTube account (Viper Racing)
Twitch account (Viper Races)

You can check this video, made for speedrun, where he first take screenshots for proving on VGR:

"V-Rally 2 (PS1) - 100% Speedrun in 4:42:11"

In his profile scores history, you can see that he started to beat records in this game, last 13^th September, 2023.
He first sent records only in Total times in different modes (European, World or Expert Trophees, and European, World or Expert Championship), why not.
His first pictures for proving were screenshots where he clearly use a software for streaming, so with PC device.

Problem 1:
With his video, thebpg13 seems to stream, but also play on a PC version.
 

At the very beginning of the video, but also during all this "speedrun", you can clearly see at the top right corner, the logo and name of the game: V-Rally 2 Expert Edition, which is the game version for PC, or Dreamcast.🤔
The PS1 version is called V-Rally 2 Championship Edition, and is specific.
This was explained in october 2019, and then Game Rule was changed to the actual one.

Can you explain, if you played on PS1, why it's written "V-Rally 2 Expert Edition" (which is for PC or Dreamcast), and not "V-Rally 2 Championship Edition" (which is for Playstation) ?

Problem 2:
He played with a beginner profile, without any distance (mileage or kmage) nor playing time. 😑
He played with a standard car. Of course in Arcade mode, because you can't select the car category (if I remember well).
He directly beaten well known legendary members (among driving games specialist), with huge gaps (around 30 s on 3 min total), which is really not frequent.
His standard car gaps time remains huge, even if others play with probably the best car (Group B Peugeot 405 Turbo 16). 
Zephyraz game profile (sorry for the cables setup, I'm usually more organised 😅):
 

Problem 3:
The loading screens between super specials/tracks are different with the PS1 version.

thebpg13 images

These designs don't exist in the PS1 version.
How can you explain these design differences ?

Problem 4:
The tracks (length and form) are different between versions, and level designs too !
We discovered this in 2019, you can read the topic jn the game forum.
Did you read this topic before sending your scores ?

That's why we specified a specific Game Rule, for Playstation 1 only: "Please take care and respect exactly the system of this game (Playstation)."
Did you read the Game Rule before sending your scores ?

Example for the second Super Special in Arcade Level 1, called SS06 England
thebpg13 images
 

zephyraz images
 

My previous record was 53s83 in 2020 (with standard car probably), and now I made 52"90 with the (possibly best car).
thebpg13 made 49"41 ... with the (standard) Focus WRC 🤔

How can you explain this track differences, if you pretend to play the same version ?

Problem 5:
I was warned about this because I played this game, and received medal lost alarms.
Then I contacted him to bring me details and informations.
What I asked him:
"Hello,

Clearly, there is something strange on your records and proofs sent in V-Rally 2 Championship Edition, on Playstation.
1) Which version did you played ?
2) What kind of configuration did you used for the windows used (for streaming, I suppose) ?
3) Why did you not post your scores for all the stages concerned by your records ?
4) Can you show me (us) a proof in the Menu stats, as done by other players of this game ?
5) Can you show me a proof of your system, game, and eventually your pad or wheel ?

Please answer me with details, due to the specificities of this game (as you should know)."

Thebpg13 answer:
"Hi there,
So to answer your questions:

1) I played on the PS1 version of the game on real hardware.
2) I don't really understand this question, if it's streaming software that I used then the answer would be OBS Studio with my Elgato software picking up my console capture.
3) I didn't do due to me being lazy, nothing more than that.
4) The time set was at the end of each trophy, arcade or championship event. Showing it in a high score menu is the same as this.
5) I don't know what this will achieve but it should be attached or sent after this message."
 

As you can see in this picture upthere I don’t see a PS1 neither the PS1 game, nor a PS1 pad.
Now (more officially), if you really played on PS1 like you pretend, please show us:
- pictures of your PS1 system
- pictures of your game called “V-Rally Championship Edition”
- pictures of a PS1 pad
Everything with a specific tag that represents you.
You can look at example of images than I would like to see upthere with my own images.

Otherwise, we can consider that you deliberately played another version, so that you broke or ignore the Game Rules, and then you can be banned (level 1: 4 months, for info/reminder).

Maybe there is something strange with your stream configuration or something else, but then we need more explanations from you, and transparency if you simply ignored the Rules (again), for example.

Thanks for your future comments and details on this problem.

1. The game is being played on a PlayStation 2 (PlayStation games are backwards compatible) via a capture card setup. The setup goes as follows:
   PS2 --> Component - HDMI Converter --> Elgato Game Capture Card
   
   The game itself is actually the North American version of the game (Subtitled: Need for Speed: V-Rally 2 because EA bought the rights to it in America) and is ran on a North American PS2 (SCPH-90001) with Fast Disk Speed enabled (This only speeds up load times, nothing else)
   
   In the game itself this shows a different main title screen and loading screens hence why they are different compared to the ones you have (Because you are playing the PAL region version of the game compared to me)
   
   NOTE: Playing a PlayStation game via a PS2 is nothing out of the ordinary and is usually allowed as the game isn't being tampered with other than it's load times.
   
   NOTE #2: Need for Speed: V-Rally 2 and V-Rally 2: Championship Edition are the EXACT SAME GAME.
   
   2. I can play this game quite well hence why my times are so much faster. Simple as that.
   
   3. Explained in point 1.
   
   4. Yes I know of the differences between the PS1 version and Dreamcast/PC versions of the game as I've played them and ran various parts of them too. I am definitely sure I have submitted to the correct game here.
   
   5. The PlayStation 2 I used along with the controller I used (PS2 controller) is located there in the picture (Next to the MW3 Xbox 360 on the left with the blue controller on top of it) and as for the game itself all I can do is show both versions of the game I own and the one that I ran on.

https://drive.google.com/file/d/1VgFQu7TNTaBoou9Ob-zzWn1VsQ1vq8Yj/view?usp=sharing

My V-Rally 2 copies as proof.

Also one last thing before I forget that is very crucial to this investigation:

PlayStation 1 games are backwards compatible with a variety of consoles and can be run on a lot of devices ranging from PS2's to PS3's and more. Emulation makes it go even further with modern consoles.
Playing a downloaded version of the game or running an ISO via a Hard Drive (Something the old fat PS2's can do) is another way of playing old games.

Playing a PlayStation game on a PlayStation 2 is never looked down upon as all you are using is the hardware you have been given and if it's backwards compatible then why shouldn't you be allowed to use it? I've played plenty of PlayStation games via a PS2 because the PS2 has faster load times due to the option that the console comes with called FDS (Fast Disk Speed)

Original Xbox games can be played on a Xbox 360 to give better performance or to make it easier if you don't have an original Xbox (Like me for example) so I think boxing people in via a console rather than allowing them to use other consoles to play them via backwards compatibility is not a good look.

I'll leave this here, anymore questions then just ask.

Thanks a lot for your detailed answer, I will study this in the next days or week.

Quickly, playing PS1 game on PS2 is authorized, when retrocompatibility is not creating gameplay or speed differences.
Sorry if it's not yet detailed in the Rules, or if there was a misunderstanding concerning this.
A new detailed version of Rules will update the actual one, which is finally too general. 
We planned this since 2-3 years, but unfortunately there was more prior developments and important decisions to deal with.
Note that we intended to finally fix this 2 days ago, but it was sadly and unpredictibly reported to another date.

Thanks for your 2 copies of the game (US "V-Rally 2 Need for Speed" version and Europe PAL "V-Rally 2 Championship Edition"), but can you just put a personal logo or signature, between or below your 2 games  (as already asked, in the previous message) ? And why not too, show the 2 discs too, please ?
So if you own the 2 versions and if we can't see or proove which one do you used in your PS2, this can be a problem.
Because your stream software/capture card probably creates a wrong spelling, which is one of the reasons why this topic was opened.

VGR policy is usually not so demanding, but you also need to understand that we need to ensure a fair competition between players.
So, sorry if I insist on this kind of things, but it is important for us to determine if the game versions are identical.
Thanks for your help, which is already nice and satisfying in some points, don't worry.

I will study this again, based on your video.

I'm sorry but why do I need to show the disks and my copies exactly? THESe ARE MY COPIES! 

The game I used is in the picture, what more is there left to prove? XD

You need to proove that you really own these 2 original games please, and no other (bad) possibility. Because we already saw some other surprising things in the last decade, and because you used to play with emulator, sorry to insist.
It can helps to see if you played both games, as you said, and validate some of your comments.
Please answer before 25th November, and continue to read this topic when you can.
I can be tolerant if I'm too busy next week, because you already helped to bring details to this problem.
 

The picture I took was of both of my copies, seeing the disks isn't going to prove anything further.
I really don't understand what you want me to do at this point.

You're just being petty at this point really, I have nothing left to prove. You've seen my setup and my games, I've told you everything regarding the different versions of the game and the hardware I used along with how I capture my console and it's still not enoughs so what is?

As already asked and explained 3 times (!), you need to proove that you really own these 2 original games please, and no other (bad) possibility (Google search and copy of image which don't belong to you, if you still don't understand).
So, with a personal logo or signature, between or below your 2 games.
Because we already saw some other surprising things in the last decade, and because you used to play with emulator.

Again, sorry to insist and be demanding, but there is so many things to deal for VGR that we need to prevent the site for problems (and time it represents), and guarantee actual records and competition as legit.
Please just make a small more effort, please, you already helped a lot to clear the situation.   
Before 25th November, if you can.

I ran the picture of Thebpg13's copies of V-Rally through several different reverse image search engines and was not able to find any other examples of that image, he has taken the photo.

After reading what has been said by someone else in this post, that is my original photograph that I took on my own phone by myself. I will not be providing any more "proof" regarding whether this is legit or not.

I would not fake an picture of 2 games just to prove that I didn't "cheat" any times in a video game, the picture clearly shows my 2 games side by side and like I said previously you have got a picture of my setup to see what I'm using. I don't see what a signature or anything can do to a picture that can make it "legit" as someone could easily photoshop that onto a picture and say it's theirs.

Clearly whatever anti-cheat policy you have in place isn't very smart and can easily be worked around using simple manipulation programs such as photoshop and paint as others have probably done but because I didn't take the pictures using my phone like everyone else has and have used images captured by my own capture card and my own video on YouTube that I'm now a cheat? You're a joke, there's nothing more to say. I'm done wasting my time on this issue.

The 15 days delay for answering with details is now over, so I can now take a decision.
Sorry, but I will delay my decision, due to lack of time for investigations and detailed answer, and other things to manage.
My priority is now to fix this, as soon as possible.
Thanks for understanding, please continue to keep an eye on this topic.