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| Septempber 18, 2011 - E02 v11.09.18 - Expressions, Sprite Import, and Stamps Today, E02 has been updated to v11.09.18, bringing even more editor-enhancing and ease-of-use features, as well as a few smaller changes and bugfixes. For a complete list and even more details, see the What's New document This version adds support for Keywords, which can replace certain Math and Conditional Commands and allow the use of expression syntax such as in these examples: ~Eval(RPC) U_RegTemp1 = A_Player_X_Pos - 160 ~If(OR) _Object_Y_Pos <= U_RegTemp1 The corresponding Math/If Commands can still be used in the same way as they always could, but they were less readable (and to an extent, less writeable) than this format, and are no longer necessary It also introduces a new Sprite File format for Player Characters and Game Objects, which has allowed for enhancements to the Sprite Editor. The graphic interface now has options for manipulating Sprite Set and Sprite Frame lists, and importing Frame graphics from external files, eliminating the need to create and manage some Sprite data from within the textual scripts. The text data within Character Def and Object Def sprites has been replaced with a single line that references this file, but files that use the old text data will still be work- E02 just will not write directly to them anymore due to an inherent incompatibility between the format and the new features; any saved data will be written to a new Sprite File. Another major addition are the "Stamps". "Stamps" are a new function of the Level Editor that allow for the creation of level structures larger than the 8x8 Tile, which can be drawn to the Tile Plane using the special "Stamp Draw Mode" to speed up the level creation process. This system is similar to the existing "Copy"/"Paste" feature, but "Stamps" can be cycled through as with Tiles, and the currently-selected "Stamp" is displayed underneath the cursor while editing Even more editing-enhancing features are on the way, so keep an eye out for them! Reply |
| August 11, 2011 - E02 v11.08.11 - Value Aliases, Wiz port, and more Today is my birthday, but it looks like I'm the one bringing the gifts E02 has been updated to v11.08.10, bringing a long list of changes that suit the delay. Among the most notable is the Value Alias Name System, which allows the use of easier-to-remember text strings to replace unwieldy Command and Variable IDs, as well as any other constant value. Others include an enhanced Tile Editor, Scripted File IO, several other new advanced Script Commands, and more. As always, please see the What's New document for a complete list and more information In other E02-related news, a new platform has been added to its repertoire; E02 is now available for the GP2X Wiz, thanks to one very generous person going by the name "alavaliant", who actually ended up donating enough on their own for me to purchase one for testing; this is the only person I've received any donations from to-date Also, because the Wiz makes the second platform that doesn't have internet connectivity, all games and templates now have web downloads in addition to their in-interface downloads. Currently, these will be the only versions that contain the Wiz keymap file, given that all but one of them are not yet receiving a proper update, so, please visit the project pages and download those copies for play on the Wiz To go along with the new Value Alias Name System, the E02 Generic Game Template has been updated to make use of Aliases as an introduction to their use, and to make using the template itself easier. The Sonic the Hedgehog template has not yet been updated to use Value Aliases, however, because of its size. The update is in progress and will be released upon completion. For a quick comparison between a Function using Command and Variable IDs and one using the new Value Alias Names, see these examples: Without Alias Names- http://stealth.hapisan.com/E02/ForumStuff/BuzzOri.txt With Alias Names- http://stealth.hapisan.com/E02/ForumStuff/BuzzAlias.txt Finally, I am also now announcing the opening of the official Organized Chaos IRC Channel. Stop by to ask questions about our projects and utilities, and/or talk about projects that you are creating with them yourself. I'll only be available during certain times of each day, and beginning and end may be somewhat erratic, but feel free to idle around to wait for me, or even to help out someone else when you already know some of the answers. The Forum is also still here for support and discussion as well, obviously :P Server: irc.badnik.net Channel: #OC E02 still has more major improvements ahead, so be on the lookout. Hopefully today's roster is a nice kick-start, though :P Reply |
| May 19, 2011 - Site Update - Mods/Ports Portfolio I've decided to make an unusual addition to the site- a portfolio page that I put together in late 2009. Very few people have seen it since I had decided to keep it private, but I thought the video and some of the information might be of some interest and have decided to publish it. Better than letting it go to waste, and maybe it will be more effective this way The story behind this specific portfolio as it currently exists is as follows- Certain video game ratings sites had "leaked" information that a game called "Sonic Classic Collection" was to be released in the near future. Shortly after Sega realized that they couldn't keep it a secret any longer, they also released very underdetailed information about it. Having played the 2006 release "Sonic Genesis" for GBA, I was concerned about the potential quality of SCC. I put together the page and video to go along with an email that I sent to the then-producer for Sega of America, telling him that I very much wanted to be a part of development, and that these are the reasons that I should be considered. Unfortunately, I never received any response whatsoever. This was disappointing not only simply because I wasn't able to be a part of it, but also because the end-result provided little more than strictly lagged emulation of the original titles; even the menu system was extremely dull. I would have loved to have used my port to not only to provide smoother gameplay, but also to expand the overall experience with bonus content As mentioned previously, this is from nearly two years ago, so some of the content is out-of-date, particularly certain scenes in the video. Sonic Megamix, and even the Sonic C port have been much improved since the video was made If you're wondering about some of the projects I haven't mentioned on this site yet, you can find out more about them at Sonic Retro Reply |
| May 19, 2011 - SonED2 v11.05.19- Minor fix, ROMulan filesets 64bit "fix" It seems that one of the feature additions in the last release of SonED2 disabled the ability to use the "Ctrl" key to increase values in the Object Editor by 16. v11.05.19 restores that functionality I have also only now been made aware that the 16bit DOS programs included with some of the existing ROMulan file sets aren't running under 64bit Windows. The programs included with the Chaotix set have been recompiled for Win32 console, and the old Microsoft "EXPAND.EXE" and "COMPRESS.EXE" programs used for the PC version of Sonic CD have been replaced by the third-party "msexpand.exe" and "mscompress.exe", enabling 64bit Windows users to extract and inject Sonic CD for PC and Knuckles' Chaotix game data. Both the filesets included in SonED2 and the individual sets on the ROMulan page have been updated Bigger updates (for E02, in particular) are in the works, but won't be ready for release for a while longer. I'm a little occupied with something else at the moment, but I will probably still be able to tackle small bugfixes like the ones described above pretty quickly if anything else turns up in the mean-time Also, if you're interested but not keeping up with my Twitter, I'll be at the "Sonic Boom" event coming to Club Nokia in Los Angeles on the 8th of next month. If you're attending too, maybe I'll see you there Reply |
| April 12, 2011 - SonED2 v11.04.12 Quick update today - SonED2 has been updated to v11.04.12 to fix an issue where objects became uneditable when very near the top of a level, and to add object position fine-tuning, a map array position entry in the Status Display for the Level Editor, and Status Display on/off toggle. For more details, please see the "What's New" Document Reply |
| March 27, 2011 - SonED2 v11.03.27 and ROMulan page update Thanks to qiuu for reporting some issues with the previous version of SonED2. Today's update remedies those and a few others, as well as providing a few minor improvements. For full details, please see the What's New Document The upside to this is that it gives me an excuse to prove some seriousness in the continuation of this project, and to show some activity in general. Currently, my focus is on something that most certainly won't fit in with my accidental habit of monthly updates Also, in my haste to complete the previous update, It seems that I might have somewhat "undersold" ROMulan for worry of repeating the documentation. It's not that I'd rather go in the opposite direction and make a fuss over nothing, but, a proper features list was probably in order, which is why I've finally added one. If you've already given the documentation a thorough read, then it's likely nothing new. Otherwise, it should convey a quick and decent impression of what exactly makes the program useful It's always good to see these things being put to good use. Don't be shy about reporting the bugs, as that's how they get fixed with relative quickness. Remember also to tell me about all the neat things you've used them to create :P Reply |
| February 24, 2011 - SonED2 v11.02.24 and Introducing ROMulan Today's update is long overdue. Not only has it been too long since the last one in general, this particular update includes a new version of something that hasn't had a major update since its creation in 2004. I apologize if anything is wrong with the contents of this update; overall, there was a whole lot of work involved in preparing all of this, meaning plenty of room for error. Firstly, SonED2 finally receives another update, from v1.03 in the old versioning format to its new version under the new system- v11.02.24. Fitting of the length of time it's been since the release of the previous version, there have been many enhancements and fixes. Among these are support for Sonic 3 (& Knuckles), Sonic CD, and Knuckles' Chaotix/Sonic Crackers, as well as Sonic 1 Special Stages. There is now also a new customizeable Level Project File format, a feature for converting levels to work properly under Sonic 2's competition mode, and integration of the new utility "ROMulan", to be explained below. For more information on SonED2, check out the What's New Document and the now-complete SonED2 Page, and also have a look through the restructured and updated SonED2 Documentation Also, making its first ever public appearance with this update is the new utility ROMulan. It has a very simple interface, but is pretty powerful. This game-independent tool simplifies the management of modified data, easing the process of modifying and testing pre-compiled/assembled games through the use of two script file types- "Batch Files", and "Injector Files". The "Batch File" lists a series of commands for ROMulan to perform, such as extracting data, copying files, running external programs for processes such as data conversion, and/or calling on the "Injector Files". The Injector Files describe the layout of a game program/data file in such a way that ROMulan can re-insert the data into the original file regardless of whether or not the size of the data has changed. They provide information on where any data that must be relocated can be stored without damaging other vital data and code, and how it should update the program and other data pointers in order for the game to correctly use the relocated data. If proper script files exist or are created for any particular game, these processes are entirely automated, and can be started by simply opening the appropriate Batch File. For more information, see the ROMulan Page, and the ROMulan Documentation To both simplify the use of SonED2 and provide examples of full, working script sets, ROMulan Extract/Inject scripts and corresponding Project Files have been created for all supported Sonic games, and are included with the SonED2 download. They are also available for individual download on the ROMulan page, along with links to view the documentation for each online Finally, the Forum now has a "Game Modification" section for SonED2 and ROMulan discussion. Stop by for help with usage, to report bugs, or to discuss custom scripts or any other projects created for/with either utility Happy modding! Reply |
| January 01, 2011 - E02 v11.01.01, Project Mettrix and Sonic Game Template The new year brings a new E02 update, v11.01.01. This update fixes a few bugs, as well as introducing the new Repositories feature. This feature allows E02 to use special files placed in the "repo" folder to connect to other game download locations for public and private lists of third-party games, and to serve games locally for transfer between platforms when you're already running an http server. For more information, check out What's New Project Mettrix and the Sonic Game Template have also been simultaneously updated with a few bugfixes and minor enhancements. The common updates are listed here, although that doesn't include two additional fixes to Project Mettrix- Fixing a glitch that re-enabled input while the selection menu was still moving, and correcting some missing solidity in Bronze Lake Zone. This sort of contradicts something I said in the last update, about the Sonic Game Template not seeing updates for a long time, but I was speaking more in terms of major updates at the time :P There has also been some slow progress on some other projects, but nothing presentable at the moment. Keep checking back; more info will turn up eventually Happy New Year! Reply |
| December 09, 2010 - E02 v10.12.09 and Sonic Game Template First of all, I apologize if anything turns out to be wrong with this update. I've been feeling very sick for the last couple of days, but I've wanted these things done for some time now, so I've done my best to prevent it from causing any more delay than necessary This update begins with the new E02 version 10.12.09, which, in conjunction with a few bugfixes and a "Scanlines" render mode for Windows/Linux/Mac, features a new "Utilities" menu that is accessible from the main menu in builds that support editing. Accessible from this menu are interfaces for functionality that was previously only available by the command-line, including the "Level Ripper". The links provided in the previous sentence will explain usage for each of the utilities. Also, view the full "What's New" here A brief look at the "Level Editor" and "Level Ripper" interfaces is available here: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6DomElfg2pM This update also brings about the release of the "Sonic the Hedgehog" Game Template I had been promising. Unfortunately, the sheer amount of work involved in cleaning up and documenting my older scripts to the point that I had envisioned would have put any release off for far too long, so, I have decided to scale it back so that everyone isn't kept waiting. However, it is entirely sufficient to begin creating a "Sonic the Hedgehog" game, or to use in understanding how E02 can be used to create complex games. For more details on what exactly is in this template, you can view the ReadMe online. The template itself can be downloaded from E02's in-program downloads interface, under the section "Fangame Templates" This video provides a glance at the Template in action, but there is more functionality to be found by playing around with it yourself, and viewing and modifying some of the Scripts: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JPvV8qqELmw Your patience with this issue is very much appreciated. Because this template is very much usable in its current state, it won't be seeing an update for quite some time due to the amount of remaining work, and because it does a fair job of exhibiting E02's features, I have decided to put off any "Megaman" template for a while, as it also requires a large amount of cleanup, and would also require significant additions so as to "fill it in" without using too much content from Triple Threat. This is because there are some other Organized Chaos projects that are in need of attention, including a new E02 project to be revealed at a later date. This certainly does not mean that I will be leaving E02 to collect dust, though. I will still be providing support, correcting bugs as necessary, and expanding functionality as inspiration strikes. There should also be some more basic examples of individual fields of E02 functionality cropping up eventually, so, keep a lookout for that Finally, so far, I have received one donation, which was toward the purchase of a GP2X Wiz for E02 development. As I've stated, this money is reserved specifically for the fund it is donated to, so, please don't let this man's money rot away :P As always- Enjoy! Reply |
| November 20, 2010 - E02 Mac 10.11.20 - Downloads fix It's just been brought to my attention that the Mac version hasn't had a functional version of the downloads system since it was implemented. This is due to an oversight that caused any folders that E02 needed to create to be set with no access permissions, thus, they were unable to be used, and after downloading was complete, E02 would crash when unable to find some information that was expected to be there I have updated the Mac build to v10.11.20, which should eliminate this issue. The folders should now receive proper permissions, so the files should be placed in the correct locations, and the program should be able to find everything it's looking for, eliminating the crash and making the downloads usable Another issue is that a reminder message was supposed to be printed after having downloaded a new E02 program build to note that E02 Mac cannot automatically replace its own executable, and that it downloads a file named "e02mac.zip" into the program folder, which contains a new "e02.app" that you must manually extract to replace the old version. Please keep this in mind as you will need to do this for this update to take effect. From this point on, the reminder message should now be printed whenever a program update is downloaded My Mac work is being done on a Virtual Machine that I have to run on a system that I do not have consistent access to (as mine isn't sufficient for running it), and I cannot get the VM itself to access the internet, so I am unable to personally test internet-related features. Unfortunately, this has led to me missing these issues for a long time due to lack of thorough testing, and lack of bug reports. In the future, please report any unresolvable issues immediately so that I can address them as soon as possible I apologize for the inconvenience, and hope that Mac users can now fully enjoy E02 Reply |
| November 16, 2010 - E02 10.11.16, Game Template, New Forums, Donations This update begins with a brand-new forum for E02 support and other project discussion. Feel free to register and ask questions about E02, comment on E02 or our projects, or let us all know about your own E02 games! E02 has been updated to version 10.11.16. This revision features an overhauled interface with some new options including per-game controller configuration, in-program update messages, and in-program documentation download and update for editing-supporting platforms. There are also a few enhancements and bugfixes; find out more in the What's New document There is also a new addition to the downloads list that may help out some beginning developers - a very basic E02 game template that gives a better idea of just how to set up the files and how they work together. Read the included ReadMe.html to see a file tree listing and a brief description of each file in the template, with reference links to the primary E02 documentation. If you are interested in creating games for E02, this is a good starting point. Use the in-program downloads list to check it out! Also, because of one of the changes noted in the What's New, don't forget to redownload any existing games that you still want to play. They need to be updated for the slight pack format change, and for the new key config system And finally, I realize that updates and support have been far-between in the past, but I aim to fix that from this point on, as evidenced by the more frequent updates as of late and the new forum. However, I'm going to need your help to be able to keep up a steady pace, so, please visit the donations page to find out how you can support Organized Chaos, it's projects, and it's community, and possibly ease development and expand multiplatform support I haven't mentioned this explicitly on the site before, but, as you can see by the above link, I have had a youtube account for showcasing some of our projects for a while now, which can be found here. I have also just created an account on twitter. Follow me there, if you like, I may be referencing site updates from there too The following update should feature some editing templates for the existing E02 games, suitable for building a Sonic game or a Megaman game, or for rearranging into something different or just having a look at how something more complex would work in this system. There are several large files that need to be cleaned up and reformatted to comply with the new, much easier to read and manage standard I worked out a few releases ago, as well as some commenting to insert and some possible documentation to write, so, this may still take a while. Keep an eye out for it, though. After that, I will probably finally get around to filling in the empty site sections, which has been long overdue Thank you very much for your interest in our projects; we hope you'll stick around for what's to come! Reply |
