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VN32X - A tool to make visual novels for the 32X

Posted: Wed Aug 03, 2016 6:54 pm
by haroldoop
This is my new project; once done, it should allow anyone to make visual novels for the SEGA 32X.

I have just finished an actual working prototype of the engine.
It includes a 'transpiler' that can turn a Ren'py-like script into a C file plus some includes.

That is, it can turn this:

Code: Select all

image bg uni = "uni.jpg"
image sylvie normal = "sylvie_normal.png"

label start:
    scene bg uni
    
    "When we came out of the university, I saw her."
    
    show sylvie normal
    
    "She was a wonderful person."
    "I've known her ever since we were children."
    "And she's always been a good friend."
    "But..."
    "Recently..."
    "I think..."
    "... that I wanted more."
    "More just talking... more than just walking home together when our classes ended."
    "And I decided..."
    
    menu:
        
        "... to ask her right away.":
            
            jump rightaway
		
        "... to ask her later.":
            
            jump later
Into this:

Code: Select all

#include "script.h"

extern uint16 vg_uni[];
extern uint16 vg_sylvie_normal[];

const uint16 *vi_bg_uni = vg_uni;
const uint16 *vi_sylvie_normal = vg_sylvie_normal;

void *vn_start() {
    int mn_choice, mn_option_1, mn_option_2;

	vnScene(vi_bg_uni);
	vnText("When we came out of the university, I saw her.");
	vnShow(vi_sylvie_normal);
	vnText("She was a wonderful person.");
	vnText("I've known her ever since we were children.");
	vnText("And she's always been a good friend.");
	vnText("But...");
	vnText("Recently...");
	vnText("I think...");
	vnText("... that I wanted more.");
	vnText("More just talking... more than just walking home together when our classes ended.");
	vnText("And I decided...");
	
	initMenu();
	mn_option_1 = addMenuItem("... to ask her right away.");
	mn_option_2 = addMenuItem("... to ask her later.");
	mn_choice = vnMenu();

    if (mn_choice == mn_option_1) {
		return vn_rightaway;
	} else if (mn_choice == mn_option_2) {
		return vn_later;
	}

    return vn_start;
}
The generated C code can be linked alongside the included library, generating a 32X-compatible ROM.

Later, I intend to make an installer so that the tools can be installed without any hassle.

Also, for programmers, it should be possible to semi-easily adapt this tool to target other hardware platforms, as long as there's a C compiler for them.

GitHub repo: https://github.com/haroldo-ok/vn32x

Re: VN32X - A tool to make visual novels for the 32X

Posted: Sun May 28, 2017 3:47 pm
by CiNEPHiL
Since I'm a complete noob in programming, but I'm very interested in creating games for the old console, my question is - this project will reach the stage with the most simple input of data from the end user, as it was implemented in GINCS Studio [by 3DSchumacher] ?

BlocklyVN32X

Posted: Wed Aug 23, 2017 6:58 pm
by haroldoop
I have decided to reserve some time to continue developing this project. I decided to use Blockly instead of the custom scripting language; the editor is still a work in progress, but one can already glimpse how easy to use it will be:


Re: VN32X - A tool to make visual novels for the 32X

Posted: Thu Aug 31, 2017 8:56 pm
by haroldoop
Version 0.4.0 of BlocklyVN32X has just been released.

Release page: https://github.com/haroldo-ok/BlocklyVN ... tag/v0.4.0

The simplest way of running this preview release is by downloading the portable version:
https://github.com/haroldo-ok/vn32x/rel ... e-0.2.0.7z

Once downloaded, decompress the .7z file to some folder, and execute 'run.bat'.

Re: VN32X - A tool to make visual novels for the 32X

Posted: Fri Nov 24, 2017 8:44 am
by Compulsive Liar
This looks like a cool project. I've been thinking about mass producing some Mega Drive carts. However, without a game that would be pointless, so I started working on my VN engine.

I wonder how similar 32X cartridges are to vanilla ones. Shame I don't have a 32X to test.