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Post by Sorzo on Dec 24, 2017 23:23:55 GMT -8
This thread is meant to showcase any minor changes I make to the Sunrider games that I feel like sharing but don't think warrant their own threads. This initial post will be updated should I come up with additional small alterations, but for starters I have two changes that are showcased in the video below. As I tried to humorously point out in the skit, I'm well aware that these changes aren't perfect, and they certainly aren't for everyone. They were simply made to address issues I personally had with Mask of Arcadius, and I figured I had might as well share them in case anyone else was annoyed by the censored version of the game still containing a bit of nudity or was unsatisfied with the design for Arcadius. The files for these tweaks can be found via the link below. drive.google.com/drive/folders/1pxy9rAX6FKxbTFvdznscls1gn4kUBU8x?usp=sharingCensored Asaga Shower Scene Installation:Under the ModPromo1 folder, take the two asagashower images and paste them into the cg folder of the game directory for Mask of Arcadius. Override as necessary. Arcadius Design Replacement Installation:Paste the ModPromo1 folder into the game folder for Mask of Arcadius. After that, either replace the existing graphic inits.rpy file in the game folder with the one I've provided or just replace the relevant parts of the file (lines 74-152 in Notepad ++). In either case, code for the original Arcadius design is still present in the file; it's just commented out. If you want to change the design back, just move the # signs in that part of the file one line down. For the shower scene, you'll need to make a backup of the original files (again, located under Sunrider/game/cg) if you want to restore them without downloading the game again or having to search for them online. That's it for now. I'm hoping to have the project Sola alluded to in the skit out around late January, but that's subject to change. In the meantime, have a merry Christmas.
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Post by Sorzo on Dec 21, 2017 11:05:59 GMT -8
Rider
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Post by Sorzo on Dec 14, 2017 20:42:23 GMT -8
Liver (the arch foe of booze)
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Post by Sorzo on Dec 13, 2017 17:48:54 GMT -8
Bringing her back would be an awful, awful decision.
Coping with Maray's death and eventually overcoming the feelings of guilt stemming from it is the backbone of Kayto's character arc thus far, influencing everything from his relationship with Chigara to his decision to sacrifice himself to save Cera from the Alliance. Maray surviving would enormously cheapen the main character of the series, leaving his development feeling hollow.
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Post by Sorzo on Dec 13, 2017 14:09:57 GMT -8
Lice (Your DM really needs a shower)
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Post by Sorzo on Dec 12, 2017 21:06:25 GMT -8
Even though we never actually see him, I think this fits Sola's relationship with her father very well. In fact, I think the song works better for Sola than it does for Weiss, the character it was written for.
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Post by Sorzo on Dec 12, 2017 4:33:15 GMT -8
Mace
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Post by Sorzo on Dec 11, 2017 5:01:42 GMT -8
Tick
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Post by Sorzo on Dec 10, 2017 11:06:41 GMT -8
What could I possibly add?
We still need that Space Whale waifu that Samu probably promised at some point or another...
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Post by Sorzo on Dec 10, 2017 7:41:51 GMT -8
Smock
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Post by Sorzo on Dec 6, 2017 14:25:19 GMT -8
Back
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Post by Sorzo on Dec 3, 2017 4:04:57 GMT -8
Bar
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Post by Sorzo on Dec 1, 2017 19:36:13 GMT -8
Read
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Post by Sorzo on Nov 27, 2017 16:45:45 GMT -8
Pal
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Post by Sorzo on Nov 23, 2017 12:54:42 GMT -8
There's probably a way to get a version of this running in Liberation Day, but I've never dug into that game's code. If/when I eventually start trying to learn how to mod LD, I might post an updated version of this that's compatible.
The whole process took around a week to a week and a half, taking up a good portion of my free time. That said, a lot of that time was wasted on trial-and-error technical issues, like getting the video to run in-game and figuring out resolution issues after I switched to a different version of Adobe Premiere.
I'm actually already running an edited version of the intro movie. I'm just not comfortable sharing it because a lot of it's not my work. I just spliced together the start of the original OP with this awesome fanwork:
That said, at some point I might try to do one from scratch, or at least a mix of my material with that of the existing OP.
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Post by Sorzo on Nov 23, 2017 11:47:18 GMT -8
Thanks! I mainly drew inspiration from the menus of the first Mass Effect (cycling through semitransparent individual shots of the main characters) and Halo 5 (composition and movement of the ships).
In addition, when the Ryders show up I tried to add a bit of personality to some of their movements. So you've got Asaga flying first, befitting her status as the squadron leader, while Chigara, still being her best friend during FA/MoA, stays close. Icari shows off with a tight maneuver, while Claude does crazy barrel rolls for fun. The Paladin's a bit stiff in its turning, while Sola trails a bit behind the others, keeping her distance.
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Post by Sorzo on Nov 23, 2017 9:59:10 GMT -8
While I love Sunrider, I'm not the biggest fan of the main menu for Mask of Arcadius, at least from a visual standpoint. It's just a static image of the promotional art, an ensemble image already showcased in the OP video. There's nothing inherently wrong with it, but it's rather plain in my esteem, failing to convey the sweeping space opera atmosphere that the games themselves capture so well. As such, I decided to try my hand at making a replacement, editing together a video incorporating renders taken of the ship assets, character and background art from the game files, and some basic keyframe animations and other effects. The outcome was hardly a masterpiece, but I'm fairly satisfied with it, all things considered. A video captured in-game of the new menu is below: If you would like to use this menu for yourself, the relevant files can be found here: drive.google.com/open?id=1u7kuPkOnv9Bq8oG_eibu1GEp_j-FTMjYInstallation instructions:Copy the MenuMod folder into the "game" folder of your Sunrider directory. If you're using the Steam version, the file path should look something like this: Computer\Local Disk (C:)\Program Files (x86)\Steam\steamapps\common\Sunrider\game Once you've copied the folder, copy the Options and Screens RPY files into the game directory. You'll have to replace the default versions of those files, so either overwrite them or delete them first. As with any mod that changes the default files, I strongly recommend making backups of the default Options and Screens RPY files first. Replacing the Options file is optional, as it just adds two additional tracks (Star of Bethlehem and Colors of an Orchestra) that play after The Meteor on the menu. Known Bugs:- When starting a new game and asked to select a difficulty, the backgound will become a default checker pattern. The UI still works, and you should be able to start the game as normal.
- Minor stuttering and lag between the OP video and the menu. The menu animations will also lag slightly when sub-menus are open, but they will still continue to play.
- The rendering options menu and command console WILL NOT WORK in the new menu. If you wish to adjust the rendering mode or use the command console, enter a scene by starting/loading a game or selecting one from the bonus menu first. If you accidentally open up the command console while in the menu, hitting ESC will get you out of it. However, as far as I'm aware, the rendering menu will leave your game unplayable if it is triggered while in the main menu. You'll have to forcibly close the program using alt-tab or some other method. Speaking of rendering options, please note that the menu animations will only play if you are using the DirectX or OpenGL modes. Do not use the software rendering mode!
UPDATE:
I've created a new opening for the game as well. Transitions seamlessly into the new menu.
Download Link:
Just drag the file into the CG folder of your MoA installation and override accordingly. You may wish to back up the original opening (OP.webm) first.
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Post by Sorzo on Nov 20, 2017 13:36:56 GMT -8
Forts
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Post by Sorzo on Nov 2, 2017 8:55:06 GMT -8
Discussion of the series has dwindled because, for the time being, there's not that much to discuss. It's been a year and a half since the last release of new Sunrider game content, and with Starnova still lacking a release date it will doubtless be quite some time before the formal announcement of the next Sunrider. When that happens and information about the game starts to trickle in, the IP will attract more attention again. People have just moved on to other stuff in the meantime. At any rate, I feel you're flat out wrong about the lack of character motivations. Spoilers, just in case there's actually someone reading this that hasn't beaten the main series so far. The loss of Cera is a driving force for both Kayto and Ava throughout the story, one reinforced by childhood flashbacks that help illustrate what they've lost. Kayto's PTSD stemming from his perceived failure to protect Maray is a central component of his character and arc, influencing everything from his romance with Chigara to his decision to sacrifice himself at the end of Liberation Day in order to save Cera. We see less of Ava's perspective on this, largely due to her reserved personality, but her loyalty toward Cera is shown time and again. The loss of her father in the attack further gives her a personal stake in stopping PACT.
Asaga is a self-proclaimed champion of justice, and PACT's many atrocities against its targets, civilian and military alike, make it something she's naturally opposed to. Her motivation increases tenfold when Arcadius murders her father and conquers Ryuvia, the world she is now responsible for protecting.
Initially, Chigara's motives seemed to boil down to wanting to accompany her best friend and, later, protect the man she had fallen in love with. Though serviceable, they weren't particularly tied to the conflict with PACT. Of course, we later learn that Chigara was being subconsciously manipulated the whole time into keeping tabs on Asaga and getting close to Shields, thus adding a great deal of purpose to her actions.
PACT soldiers murdered Icari's family, and joining Shields' campaign allows her to pursue revenge while preventing similar atrocities.
Claude spends virtually all of her screentime outside of [Re]turn trying to help Alpha set Shields up as a galactic leader in order to thwart a coming threat (possibly Crow Harbor) and secure galactic peace. As she reveals in [Re]turn, she's also motivated by just finding Kayto amusing and attractive. They're petty motivations, but this is Claude we're talking about. She's a thrill-seeking demigoddess who's experienced so much that she gets bored very easily, so she prizes entertainment wherever she can find it.
Sola initially follows Kayto and Asaga because she has nowhere else to go. Everything she's ever known is gone, so she had might as well serve the current heir to Ryuvia until she dies. Eventually, Kayto convinces Sola to move forward and embrace life rather than resigning herself to nihilism and death. Because of this, Sola develops an enormous degree of personal loyalty to Kayto. In addition, she finds purpose in becoming Asaga's mentor and trying to restore Ryuvia, a goal that naturally places her at odds with PACT.
Kryska is, above all, loyal to the Solar Alliance, or at least her conception of what the Alliance should be. This naturally gives her cause to fight PACT, given that the two governments are at war by the time of her introduction, and it later drives her to oppose the extremist tactics the Alliance employs following the Liberation Day Massacre.
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Post by Sorzo on Oct 20, 2017 16:32:51 GMT -8
As I recall, the main reason ME1's love interests had limited screentime in ME2 was because ME2 was structured around an endgame where any squad member could die. By putting the first game's love interests on the sidelines in ME2, BioWare was ensuring that they could play more sizable roles in ME3. Notice how most of the ME2 squadmates, love interests included, had fairly limited roles in ME3. The only exceptions were Garrus and Tali, who had the benefit of being by far the most popular characters in the series.
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Post by Sorzo on Oct 13, 2017 10:54:19 GMT -8
Nononononono. I know where that line of thinking ends.
Don't worry. The Sunrider series has already had its controversial ending that required a free extended cut update. The end of the series will skip that and go straight to the awesome party filled with inside jokes and the characters all getting drunk.
As long as Love In Space doesn't release a crappy spinoff in which a bunch of morons move to another galaxy to fight boring rock people, it's all good.
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Post by Sorzo on Oct 12, 2017 15:42:51 GMT -8
I'm pretty sure the original Sunrider is gone for good.
But don't worry. In the next game, Kayto will be recruited by a Ceran supremacist terrorist organization led by a chain-smoking Prototype, which will bring Chigara back to life and present them with the Sunrider SR-2.
After that, they'll go find Sola, who's been busy sniping the criminal population of Ongess while operating as the masked vigilante known as Seraphim.
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Post by Sorzo on Oct 8, 2017 19:28:10 GMT -8
Tart
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Post by Sorzo on Oct 3, 2017 5:38:26 GMT -8
Though I'll probably chicken out and do it on Waifu mode because dating/management sims like this confuse the hell out of me. Honestly, while I enjoyed the VN side, I thought that Academy's "gameplay" was pretty awful. It's a confusing mess that relies far too much on hidden random number generators, one that gets tedious very quickly. It was a pretty large disappointment, considering the main series' gameplay is so good. I played it on the Easy setting, but subsequent runs will definitely be on Waifu Mode to minimize frustration and speed up the downtime between story segments. That said, I think you'll enjoy the Sola route. Despite appearing in a standalone game with a wacky, parody-filled high school setting, Academy Sola somehow manages to be just as fantastic a character as her mainline counterpart.
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Post by Sorzo on Sept 28, 2017 22:54:04 GMT -8
Barge
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Post by Sorzo on Sept 26, 2017 16:37:45 GMT -8
Surge
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Post by Sorzo on Sept 11, 2017 23:07:27 GMT -8
Urns
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Post by Sorzo on Sept 10, 2017 20:00:45 GMT -8
Cab
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Post by Sorzo on Sept 9, 2017 18:34:08 GMT -8
Mob
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Post by Sorzo on Sept 9, 2017 14:16:11 GMT -8
Who's to say that warp technology of some sort isn't involved with the Seraphim's rifle? It could be analogous to a one-way Mass Relay from Mass Effect. It's overkill, sure, but this is Ryuvian tech we're talking about.
Regardless, you're looking too much into it. Sunrider isn't hard sci-fi, but it's not trying to be. I mean, the scene in question is about the captain in charge of a harem of anime waifus recruiting a time-traveling space princess who has nanomachines in her blood that make her eye glow and let her activate doomsday weapons. Nothing about it is remotely plausible, but it still makes for a great story.
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