Mysterious Song: Release Is Pending

[VestCunt]

This all sounds awesome, but how are you going to release Mysterious Song on a commercially pressed CD?  Mindrec scoured the Earth and was unable to find single place on the planet that could press Meteor Blaster, that's why it's on a screen printed CDr.

[ParanoiaDragon]

Nod found a place, though, I can't remember the details.

[Seldane]

Nod can do anything. Including scouring the Earth more thorougly than Mindrec could.

[GUTS]

You guys actually found a place that could press Duo cds?  Thats pretty cool, you should share it with Mindrec so they don't have to release those 2 games they're working on on crappy CDRs.

[ParanoiaDragon]

We're good friends with Mindrec, so, I'm sure Nod has already shared.  Personally, I was a beta tester for Meteor Blaster DX, & in general gave alot of input on it.  But also, FraG has helped us with some stuff, & is even right now helping a few of us with an interesting side project that me, Keranu, & Bonknuts are working on that ya'll will enjoy.

[TurboXray]

Magic Engine doesn't properly handle the SuperGrafx. You would need to use mednafen. And I'm not even sure if mednafen supports ACD + SGX.

Oh yeah - it does   

 Mednafen needs a frontend for all the non tech savy type or users who hate to use the command prompt (I have all CUEs and PCEs associated with it so it's as simple as double clicking the file to load the game).

[Joe Redifer]

I just called my local EB and asked if they had gotten in any new TurboGrafx games.  They were confused as to what I was talking about so I guess this game hasn't come out yet. 

[ParanoiaDragon]

The game is going to be a TRU exclusive at first, so EB won't get it right away

[Joe Redifer]

Tru Value Hardware?  I called them up and they don't seem to take preorders.

[OldRover]

You guys actually found a place that could press Duo cds?  Thats pretty cool, you should share it with Mindrec so they don't have to release those 2 games they're working on on crappy CDRs.

This lead is not 100% positive yet, so I haven't mentioned it to bt until I know for sure...after he spent all that time, I don't want to give him a false positive about it. Besides, if this doesn't work out, then what I'm going to do is simply buy a replicator and produce CDROMs in-house. Very expensive but well worth the price of admission. So, we won't know if this lead is gold until the first pressing happens.

[MrFulci]

Any sort of mailing list one can be placed on, to be contacted about developements and releases?

I don't load up this forum too often and I would rather not miss a commercial release of this game.

When will a commercial release probably be available?

[Seldane]

No mailing list, but you can check out our website directly for the latest news. That way, you don't have to dig through message boards to get some info.

www.frozenutopia.com

[OldRover]

Perhaps we SHOULD set up a mailing list, but...considering the fact that website updates are extremely scarce, what's the chance of a mailing list working out either?

[MrFulci]

A mailing list could also give you an idea how many folks are interested in the project.

I can load this thread or the Frozen Utopia site from time to time to stay informed. I'm interested in a copy, so you can mark one as sold, haha.

A mailing list, specifically for updates on the release would be nice. The mailings don't have to be frequent, I'm looking for an e-mail when the download is made available, when to expect the CD release (preorder?), and when the CD is available for purchase.

I am hoping for an actual CD release. The CD-R of Meteor Blaster has gave me issues with my Duo, whereas Implode never has.

[Joe Redifer]

That's right, I forgot that the Duo does not like CDRs.  My TG-CD loves 'em, though.

[nat]

That's why the TG-CD can beat up the wimpy TurboDuo.

[MrFulci]

It would depend upon the TG-CD.

I owned a TG-CD at one point. Worked well for some time, however eventually it started taking a very.... very.... very long time loading things. I sold it to someone else when it started giving me problems, may have been repaired since then. All I could figure is it was either the lens wearing out, or it was overheating.

Interesting that meteor blaster would only work in a TG-CD, and not a Duo. I don't recall reading about that anywhere.


About that mailing list, if you decide to put one together, add me to it.

When you say the game is nearing completion, what quarter of the year does that mean the release may happen?

[Joe Redifer]

Some TurboDuos will read CDRs.   A friend of mine in Pittsburgh has one that does, but another friend of mine locally has one that can't.  I always point this out when he says that he is better than me.

[VestCunt]

It depends on the CDr.  My Duo played all music CDrs and 3 different game back-ups fine.  I had 2 other back-ups that it would never even recognize.  Then I loaded Meteor Blaster one day and it did a totally aggro face-plant and died.

MrFulci, my Duo locked up after I made it through the game select screen, watched the Meteor Blaster intro and then hit RUN on the title screen.  How about you?
I'm just curious if it happened in the same spot.

[Seldane]

I've never had any problems reading cd-rs with my Duo. I even used an old, very dirty and very scratched Dracula X disc a couple of times. Worked great. Although I regret using that. It had been under my desk for a year or so, hehe. The laser's dying now though, but I got one of those replacements at hand.

[Joe Redifer]

Why doesn't my laser die in my regular TurboGrafx-CD?  It loads everything quick (for the Turbo) and fine.  Every once in a blue moon it will "forget" to load during a game.  A small bump to the Turbo will make it do a reseek and then everything is fine.  Should I throw away my TG-CD and get a Duo so I can have a dying laser?  I feel like I'm missing out.

[esteban]

Why doesn't my laser die in my regular TurboGrafx-CD?  It loads everything quick (for the Turbo) and fine.  Every once in a blue moon it will "forget" to load during a game.  A small bump to the Turbo will make it do a reseek and then everything is fine.  Should I throw away my TG-CD and get a Duo so I can have a dying laser?  I feel like I'm missing out.

I've had an experience similar to Joe. My TG-CD has been solid over the years, and I've put far more hours on it than my DUO (US). This topic has come up in the past, and CDR's/original discs play better on my TG-CD than my DUO.

[termis]

Why doesn't my laser die in my regular TurboGrafx-CD?  It loads everything quick (for the Turbo) and fine.  Every once in a blue moon it will "forget" to load during a game.  A small bump to the Turbo will make it do a reseek and then everything is fine.  Should I throw away my TG-CD and get a Duo so I can have a dying laser?  I feel like I'm missing out.

I get the same thing with my PCE Duo.  It will read okay most times, but oooonce in a while, I have to tap the Duo lightly to get it going.

I also notice that my Duo is really sensitive to CDR brands.  Some brands will make a light "scuffing"-type noise as they spin, and others will be okay.

And I noticed that my Duo is much more CDR-friendly than my Super CD-ROM.  On the SCDROM, sometimes it will literally make painful grinding noises - that's never happened on the Duo.

[MrFulci]

I've read conflicting things over the years about the TG-CD add-on. Some have said it is more heavy duty than the Duo, others say they're both on the same level.

I'm limited in my exposure to the TG-CD. I've only toyed around with one. Mine worked well for a while, then began to have very long load times.

My Duo I've owned since it was new. I've had no issues with it with other games. I've even put it through some extra long playing times when I first purchased Exile some time ago (Beat the game in one sitting).

Vestcunt, Meteor blaster is the first game to refuse to work for me. I place the disc in there, it searches for a period of time, then reads "please check disc" or whatever the message is when you put the wrong type of media into a Duo.

I don't fool around with other, ummmmmm, bootle.... no, "back-ups". So I have no idea if it is the CD-R brand, or just CD-R's in general.

Could be the brand, as I have encountered issues with certain cheap DVD-R's.


Hoping this new homebrew game is on an actual CD!

So, what qaurter does it look like the release will happen?

[nat]

Why doesn't my laser die in my regular TurboGrafx-CD?  It loads everything quick (for the Turbo) and fine.  Every once in a blue moon it will "forget" to load during a game.  A small bump to the Turbo will make it do a reseek and then everything is fine.  Should I throw away my TG-CD and get a Duo so I can have a dying laser?  I feel like I'm missing out.

Another reason the TG-CD trounces the Duo.

I've had an experience similar to Joe. My TG-CD has been solid over the years, and I've put far more hours on it than my DUO (US). This topic has come up in the past, and CDR's/original discs play better on my TG-CD than my DUO.

Seriously though, I personally believe the TG-CD decks are more robust, durable, reliable, etc, etc, than their Duo counterparts. This has been my own personal experience as well and the prime reason I steer clear of Duos. The fucking things just last forever. I've owned two or three over the years putting hundreds (thousands?) of hours on each. The worst problem I've ever had was the CD unit "forgetting" to load, as Joe put it. It seems like ever other week another poor bastard has a dying Duo on his hands, though.

[ParanoiaDragon]

Believe me, we're going to make every attempt possible to make real pressed cd's of all our games....well, probably not any remakes we do, but, original games yeah.  Release, not sure.  I think we're still waiting on some tilesets, & I think some palettes for the cinemas.

[OldRover]

Yeah, lc is still plugging away at the tilesets, and so far they kick ass. The first cinema is completed, and the next three are designed but unfinished (missing animations). I don't know if he's started on the final cinema or not (it's REALLY long) but so far so good...the first cinema looks pretty good and the second one will turn out nicely too.

[CrackTiger]

I used to tap my Turbo/PCE CD systems when they got lost, but now I just open the CD door, wait for the disc to stop spinning and then close the door.

Works every time.

[Joe Redifer]

But that takes longer.

[CrackTiger]

But that takes longer.

Yeah, but I don't like the idea of my CD bouncing as it spins.

[Joe Redifer]

So you're saying I shouldn't use the sledgehammer?

[NecroPhile]

So you're saying I shouldn't use the sledgehammer?

Most definitely not!  Immediately switch to a dead blow rubber mallet - you don't want to risk scratching the case.   

[MrFulci]

What is the current status of this release?

[Keranu]

Tiles are still coming together, cinemas are finilazing, and some more programming. The game is so close to completition, but it just hasn't reached that final step yet and I have no idea when that step could be. The good news is that I think once one game is finally out, it won't be much long for the other games to get released.

[nat]

I sooooo can't wait.

[OldRover]

All my work on the project is frozen right now and has been for a few days. My monitor died a few days ago and so I've not been able to do any work (been using my wife's computer). Once I get a new monitor, I'll be back to work on my part of the project so we can get it out there.

[NecroPhile]

I love projects that are "almost done" for months or even years.  It seems everyone (myself included) severely underestimates the amount of time required to finish that last 5%.  I'm not bitching though; this grasshopper has patience.  Mysterious Song will be released when it's released, and not a moment sooner.

[Keranu]

I love projects that are "almost done" for months or even years.  It seems everyone (myself included) severely underestimates the amount of time required to finish that last 5%.

Ain't that the truth! The first 90% of a game can be made in less time than the last 10% takes!

[ParanoiaDragon]

I think that last 10% of a project, should be considered truthfully more like 70%, so basically, 30% of the game is done!

[Keranu]

Good point!

[Joe Redifer]

I can certainly understand.  I have been working on some music for a video I shot, and I created about 80% of the tune last night in a couple of hours.  Now I am trying to work on a little segment in the tune to make it sound better and whatnot, and it is taking forever.  Not sure why.

[OldRover]

An update: I picked up a new monitor tonight (a 19" widescreen, resolution is a weird 1440x900 pixels) and immediately went back to work on Mysterious Song. There's quite a laundry list of tasks to be completed right now, most are small tweaks here and there but some are pretty major. For example, check out this pretty major bug:

nodtveidt.net/msr-broke-shit.png

So there's still plenty to do but it's coming together. Note that this screenshot in particular uses the old tileset that is currently being replaced...one of the things on the "big list".

[nat]

You mean....

That's not a feature?

[OldRover]

You mean....

That's not a feature?

[esteban]

For example, check out this pretty major bug:

nodtveidt.net/msr-broke-shit.png

Nat's right: that is most certainly *not* a bug. I, for one, am glad that the castle guards have been programmed with an advanced AI (indeed, they will use whatever it takes to thwart a player's progress... ).

[Keranu]

Yes very good point, Steve! This is the first RPG where enemies actually cover up text on the screen to prevent you from learning!

[OldRover]

Now that my CDROM unit is working, I can attempt to test this game on actual hardware. Here's hoping for the best.

[Keranu]

Alright everyone, LISTEN UP! To repost what nodtveidt has announced on the Frozen Utopia forums, the deadline for Mysterious Song will be November 9th, 2007. We are very close to completition and have a relation with a pressing company, so it's possible we could get it out before then, but it won't go beyond that date.

[nat]

the deadline for Mysterious Song will be November 9th, 2007. We are very close to completition and have a relation with a pressing company, so it's possible we could get it out before then, but it won't go beyond that date.

I'm marking my calendar and holding you to that.

I have close ties with some folks you don't want to meet.

[Keranu]

Hehe  .

To fill you in on the progress of the game's development, there are three main things left to do: programming, some tile work, and beta testing. We're finally starting to break that annoying 90% barrier!