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

[haroldoop]

Version 0.7.0 now available!

• Added an overview/search panel;
• Allow the user to work with multiple projects;
• Exporting/importing of projects.

Release page: https://github.com/haroldo-ok/BlocklyVN ... tag/v0.7.0
Portable version: https://github.com/haroldo-ok/BlocklyVN ... -0.7.0.exe

[haroldoop]

Version 0.8.0 now available!

• Now it is possible to display numbers on the "Say" command. If the string contains something like ${name of the variable}, that part will be replaced with the value of the referenced numeric variable.

Release page: https://github.com/haroldo-ok/BlocklyVN ... tag/v0.8.0
Portable version: https://github.com/haroldo-ok/BlocklyVN ... -0.8.0.exe

[haroldoop]

Version 0.8.2 is now available!

No new features; it was just adjusted so that the generated ROM can run on real hardware.
On real hardware, it starts correctly, but the blinking cursor glitches and the images sometimes fail to appear.
Special thanks go to Bullis Marter (Nils) for help in making it work on real hardware.

Release page: https://github.com/haroldo-ok/BlocklyVN ... tag/v0.8.2
Portable version: https://github.com/haroldo-ok/BlocklyVN ... -0.8.2.exe

[haroldoop]

Version 0.8.3 is now available!
All of the memory alignment glitches are now solved. It should run reliably on real hardware.

Release page: https://github.com/haroldo-ok/BlocklyVN ... tag/v0.8.3
Portable version: https://github.com/haroldo-ok/BlocklyVN ... -0.8.3.exe

[haroldoop]

For anybody interested, here's a new video!

[Chilly Willy]

Yep, that's a visual novel all right!

They're still surprisingly popular.

[Stef]

Honestly your tool is very nicely done and it looks quite interesting, too bad the target machine is the 32X, a system than almost nobody is interested for :-/

[Muzzy]

too bad the target machine is the 32X, a system than almost nobody is interested for :-/

Well, this tool is meant to change this situation

[haroldoop]

Yep, that's a visual novel all right!

They're still surprisingly popular.

too bad the target machine is the 32X, a system than almost nobody is interested for :-/

Well, this tool is meant to change this situation

Yes, I chose this platform both because there aren't many homebrews for it, and because it was incredibly adequate for displaying static images without too many compromises.

Also, since BlocklyVN32X is mostly comprised of a C code generator, it shouldn't be incredibly hard to adapt it to other retro hardware. It would mostly require writing a C library, plus some proper image conversion tool and an adequate Makefile to coordinate the build process.

BTW, here's version 0.9.1:

• Now the tool memorizes which was the last open project;
• Corrected bug with RGB images; now all the images will be automatically converted to paletized ones.

Release page: https://github.com/haroldo-ok/BlocklyVN ... tag/v0.9.1
Portable version: https://github.com/haroldo-ok/BlocklyVN ... -0.9.1.exe

[haroldoop]

Version 0.10.0 is now available:

• Added command to choose the name that will be displayed in the top left corner of the text window;
• Resolved the input lag problem on the generated ROM.

Release page: https://github.com/haroldo-ok/BlocklyVN ... ag/v0.10.0
Portable version: https://github.com/haroldo-ok/BlocklyVN ... 0.10.0.exe

[haroldoop]

Version 0.10.1 is now available:

• Product name string on the ROM header changed to "Powered by BlocklyVN32X";
• Generated ROM will be automatically padded to 256KB, 512KB, 1MB, 2MB, 3MB or 4MB (that is, 2, 4, 8, 16, 24 or 32 mbits).

Release page: https://github.com/haroldo-ok/BlocklyVN ... ag/v0.10.1
Portable version: https://github.com/haroldo-ok/BlocklyVN ... 0.10.1.exe

[Chilly Willy]

Cool. Between those changes and the previous fix for input lag, you have a solid platform for certain types of games like visual novels.

[Muzzy]

It is possible to add the custom (2 colors) font from the raster image file?

[haroldoop]

It is possible to add the custom (2 colors) font from the raster image file?

Yes, the raster font file was generated using BMFont v1.14, available on http://www.angelcode.com/products/bmfont/.

This tool allows you to choose any TrueType font and then generate a PNG file containing the font converted into a raster image, plus a FNT file, which is actually a text file saying the position of each character on the PNG.

On compilation, VN32X reads the FNT files and uses its information to chop the PNG file into individual characters, that are then converted to the format that's internally used by the engine.

[Muzzy]

choose any TrueType font and then generate a PNG file containing the font converted into a raster image, plus a FNT file

Well, I don't have TrueType font. I made it pixel by pixel in PhotoShop - so I have raster file. White letters with black borders -

______________________________

Also in blocklyvn32x-portable-0.10.0 got some error messages while trying "run" or "compile": popup system error from pngnq.exe - zlib1.dll are not found on the computer, try to reinstal the program.
And Error -1073741515 Compilation failed! in status bar.