Hello there, I've been doing some research in NiGHTS Into Dreams, and I've been modifying Save States, getting some weird results. I know that some superficial attempts have been made, is somebody really interested in hacking this game? It would be interesting and innovative at same time, sadly, I'm not an experienced hacker. Interest is appreciated if somebody could help. P.S: The point of this post is getting help for doing hacking research in NiGHTS Into Dreams.
If you're seriously interested in figuring out how NiGHTS works, you'll also have to know much about how the Saturn works, from SH-2 assembly (I could help with that) to how the two VDPs work. Considering how homebrew Saturn games are being developed, I'm sure you can find all this information, but considering how Saturn works, you've got a lot ahead of you. That said, if you're still intent on doing this, please go ahead! It's great to see someone try to research new things (on a system whose games aren't hacked much)! This is something I'm doing with the Mega Drive now and what I will keep doing for a while.
That's wonderful, guys... But, I'm afraid of something, I'm such a novice at hacking, I barely know how to use an HEX editor, I just edit random values to get a result.
That's pretty sweet actually. If you really want to learn about the saturn, I suggest 1. Community documentation, but more importantly, the sega documentation, just google antime, you should find it. Also...bosco...where have I seen that name in the community before...
While playing with Yabause's Memory Editor, I apparently found the place that tells the game which data is being loaded. Oh, also, I found this: NiGHTS Twins: Hm:
Hmm, I suggest using Yabause for debugging and hacking, but SSF for finalized stuff, as SSF is a much better emulator when it comes to accuracy. It even does video dumping, albeit the last time I remember trying that the audio and video didn't sync to well... Good stuff though, keep it up :D
Lol, VDP1 Debugging. I'll extract the files from the ISO file tomorrow, maybe I could edit the files separately and put them inside an ISO file once again.
Guys, I'm having problems with file replacement, I keep getting this message from the emulator: "DISK UNSUITABLE FOR SYSTEM" So, I can't replace the files without corrupting the game's data. Anyone got a clue? P.S: I carefully edit the files in an HEX editor, overwriting some text data.
If you edit the size of the file IN THE SLIGHTEST it will throw off the entire ISO9660 header. You need to research into the Saturn disc format and rebuild an iso if you are going to be doing anything that alters the filesize. (If it makes it smaller you could try padding though..)
EDIT: Guys! It works when I emulate the game using Yabause... This time I edited some text pieces and SSDVRS.TSK (Sound Driver), and now the sounds are loading in a different way. Unlike Yabause, SSF has trouble reading my modified version. I keep exactly the same file size when editing the file, because I edit the file carefully. So, file size is not the problem. Maybe you could tell me if my procedure is correct: I have an ISO file, it comes with a CUE file that shows the game's files when you mount it in a Virtual CD Device. 1.- I extract 0NIGHTS, from the ISO using Winiso. (Note: 0NIGHTS is the fist read file). 2.- I look for piece of legible text, per example: "- DREAMY!! -" and replace it by "- SUCKER!! -" which has the same number of letters. 3.- I delete the original file from the ISO using Winiso and replace it by my new edited file. 4.- I save. 5.- I mount the CUE file using Alcohol 120%, my PC detects it correctly. 6.- I open SSF up and it shows the error message.
Hah, "SONIC RETRO" perfect! =P Although I've never played NIGHTS before to be very honest with you, I'm interested in seeing how much more you'll be able to change and the research you'll gather from this. Understanding any form of game is interesting in general really =)
I did some research again, it involes text color. You see, when you write a text string in the game, it will appear with its default color: White. But you can write a small piece of code that gives the text a different color, you must always place it before the phrase or word that you want to be colored. @1 Makes the text white. (Default color, always activated) @2 Makes the text blue. @3 Makes the text green. (My favorite color) @4 Makes the text red. Example: @3BOSCO @1FROM @2SRETRO@4! @2SONIC 0ÿ@4RETRO :D 0þ@0 ÿ@0 Sorry, I couldn't delete those numbers: 35 and 8500.
Am I the only one getting a Disney vibe from that picture? Your progress on Nights make interesting reading/watching I look forward to seeing your further development no matter how hilarious some of those pictures are.
Again, this is probably just a question of accuracy. Try burning to a CD and testing on real hardware, that's the best indicator of whether your modifications are going to "break" the iso. Again, it's a matter of the ISO header and once I finish with my Sonic CD disassembly I'm gonna move on to Sonic Xtreme for saturn so I'll send any discoveries I make filesystem wise your way. (Then again, the research could already be out on the net, look around) I really do suggest rebuilding the ISO with your changes though instead of just sticking stuff in. (Also, if there are any official saturn sdk tools referenced that you can't find, I'll gladly look through what I have, I have TONS of developer assets from all over the place)
Hm, I don't have a Sega Saturn, maybe I could tell someone else to test it for me. EDIT: I've been doing some research in the E3 Beta... But I haven't found anything interesting, besides this: It looks like that levels were already planned even at an early stage of development. And now, Speaking about betas... Hm, is there any way we could contact DRX and ask him if he has any NiGHTS beta somewhere? Sometime ago, he said he had two betas, the E3 one, and a more complete one. I'm pretty interested in betas. Or, we could find some interesting content in an earlier one. Some beta footage if you are interested: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JDUSKOXGiHs The earlier known one... I wan't it. *-* http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IHk8BX74d6Y This one was released. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2O8cPReLcX8 This one is kinda complete.... I want this one too! *-* And lots of early screenshots from the old japanese website: http://nights.sega.jp/nights1/nigspia.html http://nights.sega.jp/nights1/epia.html http://nights.sega.jp/nights1/cpia.html http://nights.sega.jp/nights1/nigspia2.html http://nights.sega.jp/nights1/epia2.html http://nights.sega.jp/nights1/cpia2.html I want that beta too. *-*
drx has many things he isn't releasing yet...don't pressure him though, he releases when he wants or gets ... ahem ... proper motivation$ Edit: Typo :P
Ask DRX which beta he gave to the NiD Community and look for the other one I suppose? EDIT: Nothing is changed from those early screenshots to the final game. EDIT II: I need to read more.
