Difference between this and Atari Flashback hits on the PS4?

[Emig5m]

Just wondering what plays and looks better overall. I bought Atari Flashback hits Vol2 on the PS4 and admit it looks and plays better than Atari games on the Xbox 360 (the PS4 has scanlines and some more graphics options like on the vector games where you can make the vector graphics brighter, realistic, etc).

The thing is on the PS4 you have to buy two volumes at $19.99 a piece costing $40.00 where you seem to get all the same games here on Steam for only $19.99 but was wondering if it's pretty much the same quality between the two as far as front end, graphics adjustments (gotta have scanlines), and smooth and faithful gameplay because the PS4 definitely plays the games better than the Xbox 360 but hows these games on Steam compared to the PS4?

[FleetCommand]

Hello,

I don't have a PS4 so can't compare. But since that was part of your question, we have the following display options in the Steam version:

You can turn on/off scanlines, arcade bezel art, and you can switch between a several vector graphics style (plus resolution obviously).

[Emig5m]

Got it but promptly requested a refund. As much as it pains me to praise a game console since I'm anti-console and pro-PC, the PS4 version does play and look better, unfortunately. It's clearer and brighter on the PS4 (same TV and settings) and there's some jitteryness and slight lag in the control that doesn't exist on the PS4. In Centipede I can see the slight jitteryness in the Centipede as it scrolls back and forth almost as if there's random skipped frames here and there.

Both seem to be made by Codemystics and have the same menu music. The Steam version gets you for half the price what you would pay for both Vol1 and Vol2 so it's a better value there, it's just the PS4 versions of the games look and play smoother.

Looks wise, Asteroids Deluxe on Steam setting vector brightness to realistic just like the PS4 I can barely see the asteroids as they're very dim so the PS4 looks more like a real vector monitor - much brighter. Non vector games like Missile Command are also much dimmer and also blurrier regardless if 4k res is being used.

I tried to get rid of the lag and jitteryness by messing with prerendered frames, different vysnc settings, and even lowering the resolution to 1080p from 4k and it didn't make much difference in look or feel.

I would rather have all these games on Steam because game consoles come and go and you will more than likely lose your backwards compatibility and games when getting the next game console and you'll always have your Steam collection regardless how many times you upgrade your hardware and OS so it kinda bums me out the Atari collection didn't work out for me here on Steam. But sometimes it is what it is. R-Type Dimensions sucked because of performance issues on the PS3 compared to the Xbox360. Sometimes a game just runs better on a different platform.

All that said, I have a real Centipede arcade machine sitting in the corner of my kitchen and no matter what, even with the scanline option, they just don't look that good on modern displays. Centipede on a modern LCD vs the 36 year old Electrohome G07 CRT monitor that came in the Centipede arcade machine looks so much clearer, brighter, better black levels, zero input lag, smoother and blended edges kinda like having free antialiasing, phosphor glow, etc. on the old CRT. All this resolution and contrast ratios on modern displays but the classic games look so flat and bland on them but look so beautiful, vibrant, crisp and clear on the 36 year old CRT displays.

With 4k res you kinda wonder if the resolution is getting fine enough to actually better mimic the look of a traditional CRT because the scanlines now are real coarse and unrealistic looking. I think some kind of curve distortion to mimic the CRT screens curve would also help bring back the classic look.

But PS4 vs PC, sadly, the PS4 versions might be worth the double cost in this case because of the smoother and constitent performance and brighter and clearer picture. Still wish a CRT display could be better mimicked on modern hardware.... I feel lucky to have a real Centipede arcade game....can't beat the CRT look and the precise trackball control. ;)