VN32X v0.2.0

This is a tool for creating graphic novels for the Sega 32X. Work in progress.

So far, it contains:

• A C library for making visual novels;
• Another C library to interface the VN library with the 32X hardware;
• A tool to convert PNG images to a format compatible with the 32X;
• A transpiler that translates a subset of the Ren'py scripting language to a C file (plus a few includes) that uses the VN library;
• A Makefile that takes care of coordinating all of that.

In order to compile the library and the generated sources, you will need a C cross compiler for 32X; you can find one on http://sebastianmihai.com/main.php?t=106&n=Sega-32x-development-Eight-Queens

Manual

A manual can be found at: https://github.com/haroldo-ok/vn32x/blob/master/MANUAL.md

Implemented so far

• Scripts for converting images to the proper format;
• 32K color mode;
• Image rendering with cropping and optional translucency;
• Antialised variable width font text rendering;
• Word wrapping for the text;
• Joypad input;
• Word wrapping for the text boxes;
• Menus;
• Some image decompression caching to speed up image rendering;
• Create an easy to use library to implement the graphical novels;
• Implement a tool to automatically generate C source code from Ren'Py scripts.

In progress

• An easy to use installer; see https://github.com/haroldo-ok/vn32x/releases/download/v0.2.0-alpha/vn32x-portable-0.2.0.7z for a 'portable' version;
• A visual editor for the scripts; see https://github.com/haroldo-ok/BlocklyVN32X for a work-in-progress;

Not implemented, but planned

• Better error handling;
• Correcting bug where the parser freaks out on empty lines;
• Support for variables;
• Support for conditionals;
• Support for a (limited) Python subset;
• More than one character on screen;
• Support for hicolor images;
• Documentation and tutorials;
• Digital audio playback.