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61
Chrono Cross HD Edition / Re: Goals, Progress, & Discussion
« on: June 06, 2020, 12:47:05 pm »
Ah, I was just watching a similar video. They used a lot of CPU overclocking as well. It does have the unfortunate side effect of killing the FMVs though, like you said with the camera panning too fast. I'm gonna play with the settings to see if I can get both working hand-in-hand.
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).
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).
62
Chrono Cross HD Edition / Re: RetroArch Setup
« on: June 06, 2020, 12:31:49 pm »
Awesome! Thanks, Tirion. I'll be working on this today and see what results I can get.
63
Chrono Cross HD Edition / Widescreen
« on: June 05, 2020, 01:09:36 am »
I've been researching this topic, and it looks like getting Chrono Cross to support widescreen will be quite the undertaking.
There's a community over at the PSXS2 forums dedicated to creating such widescreen patches for PSX games. However, the method seems to be quite the trial and error, with many games simply not compatible with that method. Worse, the OP later said that Chrono Cross is one such game, and that they do not expect it to be patched anytime soon without ASM coding. That was four years ago with still no news on it being supported.
The only other lead I found was this YouTube video from earlier this year, with incredibly little information on how it was done. Yet, it does appear to be true widescreen and not just stretched. There are a few issues, however; the dialogue text is misaligned, and there are noticeable graphical issues during battles.
If anyone has any information on how widescreen might be implemented, we can discuss it here.
There's a community over at the PSXS2 forums dedicated to creating such widescreen patches for PSX games. However, the method seems to be quite the trial and error, with many games simply not compatible with that method. Worse, the OP later said that Chrono Cross is one such game, and that they do not expect it to be patched anytime soon without ASM coding. That was four years ago with still no news on it being supported.
The only other lead I found was this YouTube video from earlier this year, with incredibly little information on how it was done. Yet, it does appear to be true widescreen and not just stretched. There are a few issues, however; the dialogue text is misaligned, and there are noticeable graphical issues during battles.
If anyone has any information on how widescreen might be implemented, we can discuss it here.
64
Chrono Cross HD Edition / RetroArch Setup
« on: June 04, 2020, 07:08:36 pm »
Since Tirion's mod works off of RetroArch, I figured I'd write a short tutorial on how to get it set up. Fortunately, the RetroArch developers are already pretty good at that: Their webpage has downloads and installation videos and instructions for just about every system you can imagine.
RetroArch itself is not an emulator but instead runs off plugins called "cores". Once you start RetroArch, you'll need to go from the Main Menu to "Online Updater" -> "Core Updater", then find the PlayStation cores. There are two: "Sony - PlayStation (Beetle PSX HW)" and "Sony - PlayStation (Beetle PSX)". The only difference, I believe, is that HW offers more features. Select and update one of those (or both!).
To get Chrono Cross (or any PSX game) to work, however, I believe you also need some of the PSX's bios files. Specifically, SCPH 5500, 5501, and 5502. Find these online and toss them into RetroArch's "system" folder. You can then Import Content from inside RetroArch to find your game.
I'm not quite sure how to use Tirion's mod that will enable us to play Cross in upscaled textures, so I'll give the floor to them.
All other discussions specifically related to RetroArch and this project can be had here.
RetroArch itself is not an emulator but instead runs off plugins called "cores". Once you start RetroArch, you'll need to go from the Main Menu to "Online Updater" -> "Core Updater", then find the PlayStation cores. There are two: "Sony - PlayStation (Beetle PSX HW)" and "Sony - PlayStation (Beetle PSX)". The only difference, I believe, is that HW offers more features. Select and update one of those (or both!).
To get Chrono Cross (or any PSX game) to work, however, I believe you also need some of the PSX's bios files. Specifically, SCPH 5500, 5501, and 5502. Find these online and toss them into RetroArch's "system" folder. You can then Import Content from inside RetroArch to find your game.
I'm not quite sure how to use Tirion's mod that will enable us to play Cross in upscaled textures, so I'll give the floor to them.
All other discussions specifically related to RetroArch and this project can be had here.
65
Chrono / Gameplay Casual Discussion / Re: Multiple Occurences? Spoiler Warnings
« on: June 03, 2020, 02:09:55 am »
It's time being all wibbly-wobbly. 
Suppose this is the original timeline, where the three Gurus + Janus were sent into the future.
-------->------------------>---------------------->------------>-O (Gaspar)
| | | |
| | (Janus) | (Melchior) | (Belthasar)
| V V V
----O---------O---------O------------------O---------O-----------O------->
(65m BC) (12m BC) (600 AD) (1000 AD) (1999 AD) (2300 AD)
Once you start time traveling with Crono & co., we gotta start looking at each person's respective perspective.
----O---------O---------O------------------O---------O-----------O------->
(65m BC) (12m BC) (600 AD) (1000 AD) (1999 AD) (2300 AD)
^ ^ |
| | |
| | (Crono) V
<---------<-------------------
We play as Crono after Melchior has arrived in 1000 AD. When we travel to 12m BC, we arrive before Melchior was ever sent to the future. Thus, we are able to see him both in the present and at Mt. Woe; it's the same Melchior, just at different points in his life.
The same is true for Janus. We meet him in 600 AD as the older Magus, way after he first arrived from 12m BC. The Janus we meet in Zeal is Magus, only young and before he was flung to the future to become Magus. Only now we have two Magus's (young Janus and the Prophet) in the same place because our older Magus traveled back in time as well. Chrono Trigger almost never* demonstrates a grandfather paradox, so this is allowed.
Since we first control Crono in 1000 AD, the awakening of Lavos that sent the Gurus and Janus to their futures did and always will happen. Otherwise, we wouldn't have a Crono to play as. And since grandfather paradoxes don't exist in Trigger, we're allowed to have multiples of any character at any given moment(s).
As for Toma... Yeah, he literally has a family tree of men named Toma, haha. I think the one in 1000 AD is the 13th? He never time travels.
Suppose this is the original timeline, where the three Gurus + Janus were sent into the future.-------->------------------>---------------------->------------>-O (Gaspar)
| | | |
| | (Janus) | (Melchior) | (Belthasar)
| V V V
----O---------O---------O------------------O---------O-----------O------->
(65m BC) (12m BC) (600 AD) (1000 AD) (1999 AD) (2300 AD)
Once you start time traveling with Crono & co., we gotta start looking at each person's respective perspective.
----O---------O---------O------------------O---------O-----------O------->
(65m BC) (12m BC) (600 AD) (1000 AD) (1999 AD) (2300 AD)
^ ^ |
| | |
| | (Crono) V
<---------<-------------------
We play as Crono after Melchior has arrived in 1000 AD. When we travel to 12m BC, we arrive before Melchior was ever sent to the future. Thus, we are able to see him both in the present and at Mt. Woe; it's the same Melchior, just at different points in his life.
The same is true for Janus. We meet him in 600 AD as the older Magus, way after he first arrived from 12m BC. The Janus we meet in Zeal is Magus, only young and before he was flung to the future to become Magus. Only now we have two Magus's (young Janus and the Prophet) in the same place because our older Magus traveled back in time as well. Chrono Trigger almost never* demonstrates a grandfather paradox, so this is allowed.
Since we first control Crono in 1000 AD, the awakening of Lavos that sent the Gurus and Janus to their futures did and always will happen. Otherwise, we wouldn't have a Crono to play as. And since grandfather paradoxes don't exist in Trigger, we're allowed to have multiples of any character at any given moment(s).
As for Toma... Yeah, he literally has a family tree of men named Toma, haha. I think the one in 1000 AD is the 13th? He never time travels.
66
Chrono Cross HD Edition / Re: Goals, Progress, & Discussion
« on: June 02, 2020, 05:42:39 pm »
Wonderful! Schala shared one of those as well, but it's cool that the FMV upscale has been done twice separately.
Since they're using external AI machine learning to perform the upscale, I assume it would be as "simple" as copying the process to upscale each FMV, then using Tirion's modded RetroArch to replace them at runtime just like the textures.
I wonder if there's any inspiration we can get from the FFVII hack...?
Since they're using external AI machine learning to perform the upscale, I assume it would be as "simple" as copying the process to upscale each FMV, then using Tirion's modded RetroArch to replace them at runtime just like the textures.
I wonder if there's any inspiration we can get from the FFVII hack...?
67
Chrono Cross HD Edition / Re: Goals, Progress, & Discussion
« on: June 02, 2020, 05:29:46 pm »
Thanks, Bekkler!
Widescreen Hack
This would be wonderful and definitely fits the scope of an "HD edition". My concern is how feasible it actual is. Looking at Final Fantasy X/X-2 Remaster*, for example, I recall reading that one major issue was that some characters who were scripted to enter a scene had been previously placed off-screen, thus simply increasing the aspect ratio revealed those characters just standing around awkwardly. I don't know how much, if any, of that is present in Chrono Cross, but it's something to keep in mind. If there is a way to introduce widescreen easily through a menu or something, then it would be a simple matter of playtesting to see if such an issue arises.
The FMVs were also not changed and instead cropped to fit the widescreen. I'm not sure which is better, that or the black bars, but we could take a vote when we get there?
*Maybe we should call this Chrono Cross HD Remaster...?
Typo/Dialogue Correction
This should be easy. I think. We have the script. We have the tools (Terminus Traductions is what I believe is used for editing the script). I don't recall any typos but, again, playtesting would help with that.
As for dialogue changes (the story and whatnot), there is so much that I want to do; however, I wonder if that would fall under the "more ambitious" hacks. Regardless, we can start a new thread specific for "dialogue re-writes" for brainstorming.
Edit Title
I wonder if this could be done with some sort of graphical insert...?
Hack Compatibility
Sounds great, using Magus Unmasked as the first test. We should have all the assets around here. I don't know how easily pre-existing hacks could be re-inserted after the Single Disc Project, or if those would need to be completely redone... But we'll see.
Thanks so much for your input, Bekkler.
Widescreen Hack
This would be wonderful and definitely fits the scope of an "HD edition". My concern is how feasible it actual is. Looking at Final Fantasy X/X-2 Remaster*, for example, I recall reading that one major issue was that some characters who were scripted to enter a scene had been previously placed off-screen, thus simply increasing the aspect ratio revealed those characters just standing around awkwardly. I don't know how much, if any, of that is present in Chrono Cross, but it's something to keep in mind. If there is a way to introduce widescreen easily through a menu or something, then it would be a simple matter of playtesting to see if such an issue arises.
The FMVs were also not changed and instead cropped to fit the widescreen. I'm not sure which is better, that or the black bars, but we could take a vote when we get there?
*Maybe we should call this Chrono Cross HD Remaster...?
Typo/Dialogue Correction
This should be easy. I think. We have the script. We have the tools (Terminus Traductions is what I believe is used for editing the script). I don't recall any typos but, again, playtesting would help with that.
As for dialogue changes (the story and whatnot), there is so much that I want to do; however, I wonder if that would fall under the "more ambitious" hacks. Regardless, we can start a new thread specific for "dialogue re-writes" for brainstorming.
Edit Title
I wonder if this could be done with some sort of graphical insert...?
Hack Compatibility
Sounds great, using Magus Unmasked as the first test. We should have all the assets around here. I don't know how easily pre-existing hacks could be re-inserted after the Single Disc Project, or if those would need to be completely redone... But we'll see.
Thanks so much for your input, Bekkler.
68
Chrono Cross HD Edition / Goals, Progress, & Discussion
« on: June 02, 2020, 03:02:45 pm »
This will be the place for general discussions for the Chrono Cross HD Edition idea I had in the Chrono Cross Backgrounds thread.
The goal is to have a more "modern" play experience of game, by way of upscaled textures and backgrounds, adding quality of life updates, and fixing known bugs. Eventually, once those are done, this "HD edition" can be used as a jumping point for more ambition hacks.
So, the three goals right now are:
Improved Graphics
User Tirion has created a mod of the RetroArch emulator that can replace the textures of Chrono Cross at runtime. His demo of this can be seen here. Currently, the textures have been upscaled using various sources to create a 5 GB texture pack.
QoL Updates
These should be relatively simple updates that make life easier for the players (and for the modders!). Users prizvel and Danetta had a list they were working on (are they still working on it?).
Bug Fixes
Every game is known to have bugs. We should attempt to fix these for the final ISO for a better gaming experience.
Known Issues
Main files for this project, now tiltled "PROJECT KID", are listed below.
The goal is to have a more "modern" play experience of game, by way of upscaled textures and backgrounds, adding quality of life updates, and fixing known bugs. Eventually, once those are done, this "HD edition" can be used as a jumping point for more ambition hacks.
So, the three goals right now are:
- Improved Graphics
- QoL Updates
- Bug Fixes
GRAND TO-DO LIST
Improved Graphics
User Tirion has created a mod of the RetroArch emulator that can replace the textures of Chrono Cross at runtime. His demo of this can be seen here. Currently, the textures have been upscaled using various sources to create a 5 GB texture pack.
- Condense the texture pack into a more manageable size? (current pack can be found here)
- Upscale and incorporate the FMVs as well (using a process similar to this or this)
Write a Read-me for directions on how to use Tirion's RetroArch mod(Included in the mega file and attached below)- Implement a widescreen hack, if feasible
- Edit the game's introductory title screen (e.g. Chrono Cross: HD Edition)
- Possibly wait for official texture support for Beetle?
- Any more...?
QoL Updates
These should be relatively simple updates that make life easier for the players (and for the modders!). Users prizvel and Danetta had a list they were working on (are they still working on it?).
Single Disc Project(MOST IMPORTANT: Every change to the ISO should come after and be merged with this) (the SDP is the base game included in the mega file)- Introduce the Relief Charm early on and before NG+
- Any more...?
Bug Fixes
Every game is known to have bugs. We should attempt to fix these for the final ISO for a better gaming experience.
- Pip Evolution Bug (merge with SDP)
- Add the "Ghetz's Shirt" Wraith (merge with SDP)
- Scour the script/Re-play the game to find and fix any typos or grammatical errors that may exist
- Any more...?
Known Issues
- Leaving some menus removes all or parts of the upscaled texture pack for that area, until it is reloaded.
- A few 3D models appear to have been replaced with textures so that they are static images. So far I've seen two: A man in Termina (the one ogling Nikki's poster) and a girl in Guldove (the one who lets you "become one with the wind").
- Lisa's model is made of poop. While not a fault of the texture pack, increasing GPU resolution really makes the clipping of her face noticeable.
- Typos: "Inisignificant"; "4 Devas" when there are only 3; "Dragonites".
Main files for this project, now tiltled "PROJECT KID", are listed below.
- All-in-one Package
- Tirion's Upscaled Texture Pack
- Tirion's RetroArch Core
- Danetta and prizvel's Single Disc Project
- RetroArch
69
Fan Art / Re: Razzly / 3D
« on: June 02, 2020, 02:12:13 pm »
Razzly!! I can't wait to see how it progresses. She's one of my favorites.
70
Chrono Cross Modification / Re: Chrono Cross Backgrounds
« on: June 02, 2020, 02:08:53 pm »I modified the emulator to replace textures at runtime based on their hash, so the discs are unmodified. This also means they're not limited to 256 colors like the originals.
Upscaling the rooms themselves is a little tricky because they use tile maps, and not every pixel maps to a unique tile. Also, some of the layers interlock with each other like pieces of a jigsaw puzzle, so those edges need to be maintained to prevent seams.
Ah, so it's the emulator that's sort of replacing the textures on the fly (or at least when the ISO is booted up)? That actually sounds like it's easier to work with.
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.
Yeah, good idea, Bekkler. I'll start a new thread so-as not to derail this one further.
71
Chrono Cross Modification / Re: Chrono Cross Backgrounds
« on: May 30, 2020, 02:47:36 pm »Hi, I made that upscale, but I've just kind of been sitting on it for months since I wasn't sure if I should wait for official texture replacement support in beetle. I used a lot of tools from the modification section here, most notably the roomviewer and egfx stuff. Let me know if you have any questions. It's better to ask here than reddit, since I can't seem to actually post there.
Wow, hi Tririon! Welcome tot he party.
First off, thanks for the wonderful demonstration with that video. I guess you can see from my previous comment what I'm hoping to accomplish, I'm just not sure how to get there.
So, Retroarch is the emulator you're using, and Beetle is the "core" of the PSX, am I correct? Upscaling the textures themselves seems simple enough, though it sounds like you re-injected them into the Chrono Cross ISO. Or is that a trick of the emulator instead?
If it really is an re-injection of the textures into the ISO, then that's perfect. I'm hoping we could use that upscaled ISO as a baseline for future projects.
I did find a youtube video where someone ran the Cross FMVs through a neural network AI that was able to make it 4k. Perhaps the backgrounds were done the same?
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DH5hl1fho2s
I did notice that the FMVs in Tirion's video weren't upscaled, so maybe they can be upscaled and re-injected the same way?
72
Chrono Cross Modification / Re: Chrono Cross Backgrounds
« on: May 28, 2020, 11:39:55 pm »
Right? Having an updated version of the game to use as a starting point for those more ambitious hacks would be wonderful.
73
Chrono Cross Modification / Re: Chrono Cross Backgrounds
« on: May 28, 2020, 02:20:18 pm »
Looks like someone found a way to upscale the textures after all. Check this out.
User Tiriosaurus in a comment says he/she:
Hear me out. Since Square Enix won't even bother porting Chrono Cross to any modern system, I would love to create an "ideal" version of the game. At the very least, it would have upscaled textures just like this, along with known bug fixes (the Pip evolution bug, missing text?, etc.) and QoL updates (single disc game file). If we could do that, I'd then love to explore more changes, such as those Prizvel and Danetta were working on or the many changes being discussed in Mr Bekkler's topic.
For those with the technical know-how, what would I need to do/start with to make this happen?
User Tiriosaurus in a comment says he/she:
Quote
Modified retroarch's beetle psx core to replace chrono cross' textures. Dumped the textures from the isos using various community tools and upscaled 4x with waifu2x, gigapixel, and esrgan (using some of the models on the wiki).
The texture pack right now is 5GB, but it's a bit bloated because it's using pngs. If anyone wants to try it out there are core binaries on github with instructions and here's a mega link for the texture pack itself. Probably not the best place to host this.
If anyone wants to try their hand at a better upscale let me know and I can share some tools that would be useful.
Hear me out. Since Square Enix won't even bother porting Chrono Cross to any modern system, I would love to create an "ideal" version of the game. At the very least, it would have upscaled textures just like this, along with known bug fixes (the Pip evolution bug, missing text?, etc.) and QoL updates (single disc game file). If we could do that, I'd then love to explore more changes, such as those Prizvel and Danetta were working on or the many changes being discussed in Mr Bekkler's topic.
For those with the technical know-how, what would I need to do/start with to make this happen?
75
Site Updates / Re: The Chrono Compendium and Fandom in 2019
« on: May 15, 2020, 12:57:29 pm »
Something like "The Spirit of Chrono"? Maybe with a tagline of "Celebrating the success of the series through spiritual successors and crossovers"?