StepMania

> Please add Ez2dancer (http://www.ez2dancer.co.kr korean sorry) support

> too! This game is 100% unsupported on simulators so far (apart from my

> poor visual basic effort, and one in-dev C version) Arrows/modes
include:

Since all the game definitions will be separate from the code, how about
you try and adding support for it?  I guarantee that the hardest part
will be adding the graphics.

You'll see e-mails about the game definition language later.  I'll
probably do the "dance", "pump", and "drum" game types myself, and you
can use those an examples.

I'm very excited to try playing EZ2Dancer :-)

-Chris

> > In my own builds I've commented out the rageError line so it falls
> through
> > and returns a STEP_NONE. I think this should be done in all release
> builds
>
> I will fix this.  Do you think there should be any type of "nagging"
> warning?  Do the DWIs with little errors like that seems to play well
> most of the time?

Actually, I've never come across any DWI files with weird characters in the steps. StepMania just crashes on anything it doesn't
know, which is to say the C, D, etc in solo files. (makes things annoying since it parses solo steps even though it doesn't play
them or know what to do with them [besides crash] yet).

> > 6panel is defined in the DWI readme :) That'll probably be easier to
> work
> > from than reverse-engineering the letters :)
>
> Gotcha.  Will you send me a file though?  I want a few files to test
> with, and don't want to create some from scratch.
>

I've got furuhata's theme and b4u attached; they'll work in place of the ddrmaniax dwis (better, in fact, since they have added solo
and correct double steps).

About the file specs and ez2dancer...

I haven't had a chance to look through any code yet (I swear I'll do 
that tomorrow), but how does the file spec that is getting worked on 
tell the difference between different "game-styles"? I mean, is the 
plan to have it support BeatMania, GuitarFreaks, KeyboardMania, etc...? 
KeyboardMania is possible to have 10 notes hit at the same time, and 
I've seen dance games in Korea that were 9 panel each side!

Seems that the file must specify which game-style it's using. If it's 
Beatmania, then Step Mania just looks up the Beatmania way to decoding 
the file, but if the game-style is unrecognizable, Step Mania just 
doesn't support it.

If it's going to be like that, then support for future games would be 
easy as just pluging in a new file decoder...

Or maybe that's doing too much with one file format?

-Kefabi

---------------------------------------------------

BTW, slightly off topic, has anyone played a DJ game by Sega that 
contains two turntables and a fader? (No effect buttons or anything...) 
It simulates actual scratching and mixing better than other arcade's 
I've seen recently. Arcade Infinity in Rowland Heights, CA has the game 
and I've become addicted to that one recently. Figuring out a file 
format for this game would be a bit harder...

And even more off topic, I've been thinking about making a BeatMania 
controller recently, but I can't figure out a good way to create 
the "turntable" button. (Hmmm, actually, as I look at my mouse wheel, 
maybe I can hack that thing apart and see if I can figure out how it 
works...) If anyone has any idea how to get a good "turntable" working, 
send me a private email please.

---------------------------------------------------

> 27/02/02 05:31:00:AM, "Chris Danford" <cdanford@...> 
wrote:
> 
> >Here's my plan for the next couple of days:
> >
> >- This evening:  I'm going to fix as many of the bugs in the 
database as
> >possible.
> >
> >- Tomorrow:  Release 1.64.  The changes are new note effects, 
improved
> >Synchronize screen, and bug fixes.
> >
> >- This weekend:  Finalize new GameMode/Style/Instrument/Song/Pattern
> >file formats.  This will allow me to finish the Edit/Record
> >functionality and add new GameModes like PIU/PPP/DrumMania.
> >
> 
> Further functionality!! YAY!
> *ahem*
> 
> Please add Ez2dancer (http://www.ez2dancer.co.kr korean sorry) 
support too! This game is 100% unsupported on simulators so far (apart 
from my poor visual basic effort, and one in-dev C version)
> Arrows/modes include:
> 
> (x2) EASY MODE: [TopLeftFoot][LeftHand][BackFoot][RightHand]
[TopRightFoot]
> (x2) HARD MODE: As Above.
> (x1) DOUBLE MODE: As Above x2
> (x2) REAL MODE:  [TopLeftFoot][UpperLeftHand][LowerLeftHand][BackFoot]
[LowerRightHand][UpperRightHand][TopRightFoot]
> 
> Two players in real-mode means 14 arrows on the grayline.
> Lower hands are green circles,
> Upper or normal hands are blue circles
> Back foot is yellow
> Left/Right corner feet are red.
> 
> Hands can hold in "ez2dancer 1st move."
> Hands and feet can hold in "ez2dancer 2nd move".
> 
> Machine Screenshot: 
http://www.annie.ne.jp/~ken/S3C21/image/ez_machine.gif
> 
> Ez2dancer 1st move Song Selection Preview Images:
> (Japanese site, I can also take photos down my local arcade)
> http://www.annie.ne.jp/~ken/S3C21/ez2d_list.html
> 
> Pad layout, and screen greybar (real) image.(also japanese site)
> http://www.annie.ne.jp/~ken/S3C21/ez2d_how2.html
> 
> Ez2dancer 2nd move mp3s 
http://mly.hoolee.net/idmusic/games/ez2dancer.htm
> 
> Catch modes include:
> CooooL!!!
> Cool!
> Oops!
> Oooops!!!
> 
> Swap Modes include:
> Rotate Left (rotates all foot steps left)
> Rotate Right (rotates all foot steps right)
> Mirror (swaps left hands with right hands, left feet with right feet)
> 
> I'm a big enthusiast of this game, and i'm more than willing to code 
up some step patterns/graphics/e.t.c. for it.
> Infact, with help, i'll be more than willing to code the bulk of it.
> If theres interest in this please mention it, as always feedback is 
welcome. I can give even more specifications should they be required.
> 
> >
> >I have some questions for you all:
> >
> >- What are the worst bugs left in the program? (please reply to the 
list
> >for this one)
> >
> >- Will someone send me some DWI 6-panel files so I can add that
> >functionality?
> >
> >- With the new file format, would you prefer the Steps patterns in 
the
> >same file as the Song, or in separate files?  Note that the new file
> >defines the steps more like BMS than DWI, so the Steps files will be
> >very long.  
> >
> >
> >Status of new file formats:
> >
> >I'm finishing up the specs for the new file formats now, and will 
send
> >them out soon.  I want to discuss the new format for a while before 
we
> >release an implementation so that we can get it right on the first 
try.
> >
> >
> >
> >-Chris
> >
> >
> >
> >
> >_______________________________________________
> >Stepmania-devs mailing list
> >Stepmania-devs@...
> >https://lists.sourceforge.net/lists/listinfo/stepmania-devs
> >
> >
> 
> 
> 
> 
> _______________________________________________
> Stepmania-devs mailing list
> Stepmania-devs@...
> https://lists.sourceforge.net/lists/listinfo/stepmania-devs
> 
>

> About the file specs and ez2dancer...
>
> I haven't had a chance to look through any code yet (I swear I'll do
> that tomorrow), but how does the file spec that is getting worked on
> tell the difference between different "game-styles"? I mean, is the
> plan to have it support BeatMania, GuitarFreaks, KeyboardMania, etc...?
> KeyboardMania is possible to have 10 notes hit at the same time, and
> I've seen dance games in Korea that were 9 panel each side!
>
> Seems that the file must specify which game-style it's using. If it's
> Beatmania, then Step Mania just looks up the Beatmania way to decoding
> the file, but if the game-style is unrecognizable, Step Mania just
> doesn't support it.
>
> If it's going to be like that, then support for future games would be
> easy as just pluging in a new file decoder...
>
> Or maybe that's doing too much with one file format?

I believe the idea is to have our format look like BMS and have a keyword in each file that says which game definition to use (which
will in turn load the correct graphics and scoring and control scheme). So it in fact would be as easy as plugging in a new file
decoder. And we'd be flexible, allowing for as many snarks at once as the game requires.


> And even more off topic, I've been thinking about making a BeatMania
> controller recently, but I can't figure out a good way to create
> the "turntable" button. (Hmmm, actually, as I look at my mouse wheel,
> maybe I can hack that thing apart and see if I can figure out how it
> works...) If anyone has any idea how to get a good "turntable" working,
> send me a private email please.
>

I think the official beatmania controllers use an analog device to measure the turning. You could hack it together with a mouse
wheel I suppose... those generate button presses for each click each way.

>
> > 27/02/02 05:31:00:AM, "Chris Danford" <cdanford@...>
> wrote:
> >
> > >Here's my plan for the next couple of days:
> > >
> > >- This evening:  I'm going to fix as many of the bugs in the
> database as
> > >possible.
> > >
> > >- Tomorrow:  Release 1.64.  The changes are new note effects,
> improved
> > >Synchronize screen, and bug fixes.
> > >
> > >- This weekend:  Finalize new GameMode/Style/Instrument/Song/Pattern
> > >file formats.  This will allow me to finish the Edit/Record
> > >functionality and add new GameModes like PIU/PPP/DrumMania.
> > >
> >
> > Further functionality!! YAY!
> > *ahem*
> >
> > Please add Ez2dancer (http://www.ez2dancer.co.kr korean sorry)
> support too! This game is 100% unsupported on simulators so far (apart
> from my poor visual basic effort, and one in-dev C version)
> > Arrows/modes include:
> >
> > (x2) EASY MODE: [TopLeftFoot][LeftHand][BackFoot][RightHand]
> [TopRightFoot]
> > (x2) HARD MODE: As Above.
> > (x1) DOUBLE MODE: As Above x2
> > (x2) REAL MODE:  [TopLeftFoot][UpperLeftHand][LowerLeftHand][BackFoot]
> [LowerRightHand][UpperRightHand][TopRightFoot]
> >
> > Two players in real-mode means 14 arrows on the grayline.
> > Lower hands are green circles,
> > Upper or normal hands are blue circles
> > Back foot is yellow
> > Left/Right corner feet are red.
> >
> > Hands can hold in "ez2dancer 1st move."
> > Hands and feet can hold in "ez2dancer 2nd move".
> >
> > Machine Screenshot:
> http://www.annie.ne.jp/~ken/S3C21/image/ez_machine.gif
> >
> > Ez2dancer 1st move Song Selection Preview Images:
> > (Japanese site, I can also take photos down my local arcade)
> > http://www.annie.ne.jp/~ken/S3C21/ez2d_list.html
> >
> > Pad layout, and screen greybar (real) image.(also japanese site)
> > http://www.annie.ne.jp/~ken/S3C21/ez2d_how2.html
> >
> > Ez2dancer 2nd move mp3s
> http://mly.hoolee.net/idmusic/games/ez2dancer.htm
> >
> > Catch modes include:
> > CooooL!!!
> > Cool!
> > Oops!
> > Oooops!!!
> >
> > Swap Modes include:
> > Rotate Left (rotates all foot steps left)
> > Rotate Right (rotates all foot steps right)
> > Mirror (swaps left hands with right hands, left feet with right feet)
> >
> > I'm a big enthusiast of this game, and i'm more than willing to code
> up some step patterns/graphics/e.t.c. for it.
> > Infact, with help, i'll be more than willing to code the bulk of it.
> > If theres interest in this please mention it, as always feedback is
> welcome. I can give even more specifications should they be required.
> >
> > >
> > >I have some questions for you all:
> > >
> > >- What are the worst bugs left in the program? (please reply to the
> list
> > >for this one)
> > >
> > >- Will someone send me some DWI 6-panel files so I can add that
> > >functionality?
> > >
> > >- With the new file format, would you prefer the Steps patterns in
> the
> > >same file as the Song, or in separate files?  Note that the new file
> > >defines the steps more like BMS than DWI, so the Steps files will be
> > >very long.
> > >
> > >
> > >Status of new file formats:
> > >
> > >I'm finishing up the specs for the new file formats now, and will
> send
> > >them out soon.  I want to discuss the new format for a while before
> we
> > >release an implementation so that we can get it right on the first
> try.
> > >
> > >
> > >
> > >-Chris
> > >
> > >
> > >
> > >
> > >_______________________________________________
> > >Stepmania-devs mailing list
> > >Stepmania-devs@...
> > >https://lists.sourceforge.net/lists/listinfo/stepmania-devs
> > >
> > >
> >
> >
> >
> >
> > _______________________________________________
> > Stepmania-devs mailing list
> > Stepmania-devs@...
> > https://lists.sourceforge.net/lists/listinfo/stepmania-devs
> >
> >
>
>
>
> _______________________________________________
> Stepmania-devs mailing list
> Stepmania-devs@...
> https://lists.sourceforge.net/lists/listinfo/stepmania-devs

> how does the file spec that is getting worked on 
> tell the difference between different "game-styles"? I mean, is the 
> plan to have it support BeatMania, GuitarFreaks, KeyboardMania,
etc...? 
> Seems that the file must specify which game-style it's using.

I'm writing a document that will explain all of this.  I'll send it out
soon.


> KeyboardMania is possible to have 10 notes hit at the same time, and 
> I've seen dance games in Korea that were 9 panel each side!

Like BMS, the new file format will have no limit on the number of note
columns or the number of simultaneous notes.



> If it's going to be like that, then support for future games would be 
> easy as just pluging in a new file decoder...

There are really two file formats.  One type of file defines a game
(e.g. "dance", "pump", "drum"), and the other type of file defines a
Song and Patterns.  The relationship between these two files is a little
bit complicated, but will be explained when I send out this
specification document.


-Chris