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16
Characters, Plot, and Themes / Re: Each version of Chrono Trigger represents its own dimension (theory)
« on: August 19, 2020, 10:58:36 am »
I think you can think bigger! You could say every playthrough is its own dimension, considering you can do things differently each time. Or even each play session could be its own dimension since you can start from a safe file any time. Each released version of each game represents a range of dimensions from the spectrum of possibilities.
17
Chrono Cross HD Edition / Re: Goals, Progress, & Discussion
« on: July 30, 2020, 01:23:19 am »
Yeah, really sharp.
18
Chrono Cross HD Edition / Re: Goals, Progress, & Discussion
« on: July 27, 2020, 03:03:18 pm »
That looks really nice, except the edges as you're already aware. I too ran into alpha channel troubles on my attempt and if you get it figured out I'd love to know how.
19
Reality, Real-World Connections, and the Supernatural / Re: Real World Influences
« on: June 30, 2020, 07:56:17 pm »
Regarding the real world definition of Mammon, a false god of wealth or wealth as evil, and that in Hebrew the word means money or wealth, is it possible that Magus calling himself Prophet was a pun? Profit?
20
Chrono Cross HD Edition / Re: Goals, Progress, & Discussion
« on: June 16, 2020, 02:07:44 pm »
I think I've figured out the aspect ratio with the logo. PlayStation apparently rendered screens as 340x224 and then CRT TV's were expected to stretch them to 320x240. The increase in height from 224px to 240px is approximately 7.14%. And if you stretch the logo's height by that amount in Photoshop, the O's in the font are not perfect circles, but the Roman numerals' black backgrounds on the clock ARE. To me it seems likely that the "correct" aspect ratio to view. The pixel amounts wouldn't be the same in HD resolution obviously, but the percentage shouldn't change. So the HD logo graphic will be created 7.14% shorter than it should display at its given width.
Does this sound reasonable? Or have I missed something crucial?
Does this sound reasonable? Or have I missed something crucial?
21
Chrono Cross HD Edition / Re: Goals, Progress, & Discussion
« on: June 07, 2020, 09:16:49 pm »
Tirion that's super helpful, thank you!
22
Chrono Cross HD Edition / Re: Goals, Progress, & Discussion
« on: June 06, 2020, 08:56:57 pm »Would anyone be willing to work on a new title screen? It could be as simple as adding "HD" as like a splash logo (or whatever title we end up deciding on).
I can do this, just need to know what format and dimensions are needed. Getting the current title/logo extracted would probably help.
Like is it just a high resolution logo on a transparent png at 1920px by 1080px file that we need? Or do we need a full image, non transparent? A different size (maybe not full screen but just the size of the logo cropped)? A weird file format?
Any info would be great so I can make the right file the first try.
23
Chrono Cross HD Edition / Re: Goals, Progress, & Discussion
« on: June 02, 2020, 04:14:48 pm »
I wish there was a like button, but since there isn't, I'll use text. I like the idea, I think the OP was put together really comprehensively.
Other ideas I wanted to add to the wishlist:
Widescreen hack.
This goes with improved graphics. I doubt this would be something that could be changed in a menu, so it might have to be a separate hack maybe tested for compatibility. It's possible Danetta and Prizvel or someone else already did this. It's also possible it already exists or can be done by changing emulator settings. I don't know, I can try to research it. Regardless of the how, it'd be nice to have the option to view the HD version in something like true widescreen, where the UI and text elements stretch but the environment, characters and objects are not stretched but still fill the entire available screen space. We'd have to decide whether to pillar-box (black bars on sides of the 4:3 video) the FMV scenes or crop then to the 16:9 aspect ratio. This would apply whether or not the videos were upscaled.
Typo/dialogue correction.
Goes along with bug fixes. I know text can be changed. I know the script is long. I assume there are typos (aside from the intentional grammatical mistakes that come from the accent system). If there is a dialogue dump if some sort, proofing and correcting typos would be doable.
Edit title.
Goes with Quality of Life. While it would be nice to simply boot up Cross in HD, I think if the work done to it isn't immediately obvious (and even if it is), then the title should be edited to immediately identify the version being seen, despite being vanilla.
...
Hack compatibility
Doesn't really fit a category.
Since it already exists and was (from what I understand) a Compendium community effort, I think Magus Unmasked would make a perfect first hack to try "on top" of the HD edition to test compatibility, once the HD edition is up and running of course.
I think those all seem like they would be perceived as upgrades and they seem like they could be realistic goals (though, again, I know little to nothing on the subject of PS1 game hacking so don't take my word for it).
Other ideas I wanted to add to the wishlist:
Widescreen hack.
This goes with improved graphics. I doubt this would be something that could be changed in a menu, so it might have to be a separate hack maybe tested for compatibility. It's possible Danetta and Prizvel or someone else already did this. It's also possible it already exists or can be done by changing emulator settings. I don't know, I can try to research it. Regardless of the how, it'd be nice to have the option to view the HD version in something like true widescreen, where the UI and text elements stretch but the environment, characters and objects are not stretched but still fill the entire available screen space. We'd have to decide whether to pillar-box (black bars on sides of the 4:3 video) the FMV scenes or crop then to the 16:9 aspect ratio. This would apply whether or not the videos were upscaled.
Typo/dialogue correction.
Goes along with bug fixes. I know text can be changed. I know the script is long. I assume there are typos (aside from the intentional grammatical mistakes that come from the accent system). If there is a dialogue dump if some sort, proofing and correcting typos would be doable.
Edit title.
Goes with Quality of Life. While it would be nice to simply boot up Cross in HD, I think if the work done to it isn't immediately obvious (and even if it is), then the title should be edited to immediately identify the version being seen, despite being vanilla.
...
Hack compatibility
Doesn't really fit a category.
Since it already exists and was (from what I understand) a Compendium community effort, I think Magus Unmasked would make a perfect first hack to try "on top" of the HD edition to test compatibility, once the HD edition is up and running of course.
I think those all seem like they would be perceived as upgrades and they seem like they could be realistic goals (though, again, I know little to nothing on the subject of PS1 game hacking so don't take my word for it).
24
Chrono Cross Modification / Re: Chrono Cross Backgrounds
« on: May 31, 2020, 01:00:39 am »
Gasssp! Bekkler, Boo! I missed u both!
Mage, it's been too long! Missed you too. Lots to talk about!
Kodokami, once we kinda understand how to replicate the texture injection, it might be cool to start a new thread about the HD baseline ISO idea. I have kind of a short list of possible extra ideas for a definitive edition that I would want.
- Upscaled textures
- Bug fixes
- Single disc
- Widescreen hack?
- Upscaled FMV?
- Typo/dialogue correction?
- Magus Unmasked hack? (Wouldn't really be vanilla anymore)
- Edit title graphic or add text to screen during title sequence? ("Chrono Cross HD")
But I don't want to derail this thread, as I also don't really know anything about this stuff.
Tirion, your video brings me hope.
25
Chrono Cross Modification / Re: Chrono Cross Backgrounds
« on: May 28, 2020, 07:15:22 pm »
That's exciting! Even at 5gb that's not much more than a standard single layer DVD. Sounds reasonable enough if it works. And+1 to that one-stop-shop idea, Kodokami. Even if heavy changes weren't considered and it was just upscaled textures, single disc, and bug-fixed. Call that version Chrono Cross HD Vanilla and maybe it can be used as a starting point for more ambitious hacks.
26
Kajar Laboratories / Pitch Your Ideal Chrono Cross Remake
« on: May 24, 2020, 06:56:19 pm »
Pitch your ideal Chrono Cross Remake. Assuming Square Enix has decided to give Cross a similar treatment, but not necessarily with the same approach, and they hire you to run the project. What would you keep? What would you remove? What would you twist or rearrange? Would you tie it closer with Trigger, or sever those ties that already exist? Would you want to keep the 3d models or switch to sprites? This is not meant to antagonize die-hard fans of Cross who love it how it is, just meant to be a fun thought exercise and hopefully get some discussion going.
Mine isn't set in stone, but I would want fewer playable characters, but more personal moments with the ones that remain. I would want the story to be simplified a little and spread out more. Perhaps we could find out Lynx was Serge's father right before they switch bodies, and soon after find out he's controlled by FATE from Harle. That kind of thing.
I would want the battle system to take place on the map field like Trigger instead of it's own separate location, but I wouldn't necessarily change the mechanics of battle, except maybe separating consumable items out of the Element system.
I would want to change a few things to connect to Trigger more, like Miguel would be explicitly Crono and Guile would be named Magus or Janus. Glenn would be the descendant of Trigger's Glenn and would be like Glenn XIV. Character designs would be toned down, closer to Toriyama style, because with fewer of them, they wouldn't have to try as hard to stand out from each other. I'm sure there's more stuff I would want personally but I'll have to think on it more.
Do you agree or disagree? What's your pitch?
...
Inspired by the discussion of the Final Fantasy 7 Remake changes in this thread: https://www.chronocompendium.com/Forums/index.php?topic=13311.0
Mine isn't set in stone, but I would want fewer playable characters, but more personal moments with the ones that remain. I would want the story to be simplified a little and spread out more. Perhaps we could find out Lynx was Serge's father right before they switch bodies, and soon after find out he's controlled by FATE from Harle. That kind of thing.
I would want the battle system to take place on the map field like Trigger instead of it's own separate location, but I wouldn't necessarily change the mechanics of battle, except maybe separating consumable items out of the Element system.
I would want to change a few things to connect to Trigger more, like Miguel would be explicitly Crono and Guile would be named Magus or Janus. Glenn would be the descendant of Trigger's Glenn and would be like Glenn XIV. Character designs would be toned down, closer to Toriyama style, because with fewer of them, they wouldn't have to try as hard to stand out from each other. I'm sure there's more stuff I would want personally but I'll have to think on it more.
Do you agree or disagree? What's your pitch?
...
Inspired by the discussion of the Final Fantasy 7 Remake changes in this thread: https://www.chronocompendium.com/Forums/index.php?topic=13311.0
27
Fan Art / Re: Starky / 3D
« on: May 22, 2020, 07:39:00 pm »
Looking great. Have you considered a Nu for a possible future project?
28
Fan Art / Re: Recent original CT art
« on: May 16, 2020, 12:12:42 am »
I just want to echo that is some excellent art.
And the z-brush bust is impressive too, I never would have guessed you're new to 3d modeling.
And the z-brush bust is impressive too, I never would have guessed you're new to 3d modeling.
29
Chrono Cross Modification / Re: Chrono Cross Backgrounds
« on: May 14, 2020, 09:38:35 pm »Bekkler, do you know how HAPPY it makes me to see you active here? I've missed you, buddy. For real.
I missed you too, man. This place will always be important to me whenever I'm here or not, but I'm trying to stick around.
30
Chrono Cross Modification / Re: Chrono Cross Backgrounds
« on: May 14, 2020, 08:57:45 pm »
I saw these in the wild. Someone ran all Cross backgrounds through I think Topaz Gigapixel.
https://imgur.com/a/o17a5At
https://imgur.com/a/o17a5At