[Kresna]

Hello!

Over the last 6 weeks I’ve been writing a Virtual Boy game for the 2019 Dream Diary Game Jam, along with my friend, Nyrator. The result is Red Square, a short Yume Nikki Fan Game.

http://slum.online/vb/

The game is written entirely in assembly. Nyrator handled graphics while I handled the programming. The game doesn’t feature any sound, since I didn’t have enough time to write an assembly sound driver. The source code is also available for free on the website, licensed under the Zlib license. The source obviously contains spoilers, so don’t look into it if you’re planning on playing first. (Some of the code is atrocious due to time constraints, but over all I’m fairly proud of it)

The game is fairly simple. You walk around dream worlds collecting different effects. Once you’ve collected them all you’re able to play the ending. There’s no saving, so either use save states or complete it in one play through. (It’s really not too long)

Anyway, I thought I’d share, since it was suggested to me by a VB friend I know.

• This topic was modified 5 years, 5 months ago by Kresna.

Kresna wrote:

This might be the part where it’s a good idea to explain that the game is a satire on the Yume Nikki fan game concept; it’s a joke. Only one of the effects has a function (aside from opening a door), and the bike deliberately does not speed you up. The deeper meaning is simply what’s on the surface. Delicious.

Hi. Having no context for the game or its character, I was really confused if I had reached the ending or not. Thank you for your explanation!

speedyink wrote:
camping right now in some lake in the middle of nowhere, but when i get back to civilization i’m definitely checking this out

Enjoy yourself out there, and I look forward to what you think when you return!

Lester Knight wrote:

Hi. Having no context for the game or its character, I was really confused if I had reached the ending or not. Thank you for your explanation!

No worries! The game’s character and story are original to this game, so there’s no back story or context to be found other than what you find inside. Nina, with all he dreams and desires, is what you see of her here.

Thank you! I certainly did, so relaxing, and spent a lot of time on my little boat. Loved it.

I got some time in on your game, I haven’t beat it yet, though. I will work on that =P

I must say, for a 6 week game, this is pretty varied in terms of visuals with a decent amount of gameplay. Well done! Also, the humor is awesome, I found myself chuckling at the dialogue. Finding that magazine on the shelf was definitely funny. I’ll definitely be playing again to go through and finish it now that I got all the mechanics down.

Actually, funny story, I was playing it earlier today, probably around 5:00 or so. I played for maybe 45 minutes or something. Then I got up to just take a break, and go and visit the spouse, leaving it on, using batteries. Well, good ol Sidetrack Mcgee here totally spaced cause something sidetracked me. Only visiting this site now at 11:00 I just remembered I was playing it. It was still there, humming away, lol. I was gonna keep playing, but it’s late, hence the finish it later remark. Anyway, I guess your battery optimizations worked, if it wasn’t optimized I’m sure it woulda killed my already used batteries for sure.

That’s awesome about the battery life! Glad you’re enjoying it, Nyrator also wrote the dialogue. The effect from the Manga has a special action that the others don’t have, too. Hope you like the ending when you see it! 😉

This is awesome!! Glad to see a game like this on Virtual Boy! One of my favorite game series, the LISA series, is heavily influenced by Yume Nikki. This is really cool!

clonecman wrote:
This is awesome!! Glad to see a game like this on Virtual Boy! One of my favorite game series, the LISA series, is heavily influenced by Yume Nikki. This is really cool!

Hey, thanks man. It’s great to see people who’ve heard about or played Yume Nikki enjoy this game. Developing for the Virtual Boy was a great experience and I’m glad I chose it as the platform to make this game on.

got this up and running using the padding instructions on page 1 of this thread; looking forward to trying it on real VB hardware later tonight. FWIW, this game is competing with Dark Souls (on switch) for my attention. hope that says something for my love of VB. Thanks!

update: So i played and finished it tonight. Anyone who plans on playing this should refer to page 1 for padding instructions (if you plan to play on a flashboy) and SKIP page 2 if you dont want spoilers.

HOWEVER, i was about to give up after getting almost to the end–and page 2 had a critical piece of information on how to see the ending. So, spoiler, or hint, your decision.

I really liked it. A mysterious vibe, and i caught onto the joke aspects pretty quickly, and though i wont pretend to understand it (even the dadaist ending/meaning/etc) i liked the flavor of the whole thing. It was short enough to play and finish quickly, and it works well. And the graphics are great, especially the void area with the ameoba thing!

Great contribution to the VB homebrew library imho.

If you don’t want any spoilers but would like to play the padded ROM… Post 19 has it attached. Just log-in, click, scroll (don’t read spoilers), and you should be good. =)

unoclay wrote:
I really liked it. A mysterious vibe, and i caught onto the joke aspects pretty quickly, and though i wont pretend to understand it (even the dadaist ending/meaning/etc) i liked the flavor of the whole thing. It was short enough to play and finish quickly, and it works well. And the graphics are great, especially the void area with the ameoba thing!

Great contribution to the VB homebrew library imho.

It’s great to hear that you enjoyed it. I never really thought much about what people would think of the things we put in, but it seems like it left a good impression on you. The VB community as a whole has made me confident that making this game for the VB was the right decision!

Thanks for playing my game!

I recently was able to play it on Oculus Quest in 3D and it was a beautiful little experience. I really enjoyed this piece of art and felt sad (in more than one way) when it ended.
Thank you for making it and even more so for releasing the sources!

[SMVB64]

Fun little game!, you know it gets good when you want more.
Its was pretty intriguing and I liked all the different background effect.

Reminds me a lot off The Witch’s House

also the ending cracked me up

good choice haha

Edit – looking at the source, There is an anime guy doing poses lol. Unused? didn’t come across that when I was playing

• This reply was modified 5 years, 2 months ago by SMVB64.
• This reply was modified 5 years, 2 months ago by SMVB64.

enthusi wrote:
I recently was able to play it on Oculus Quest in 3D and it was a beautiful little experience. I really enjoyed this piece of art and felt sad (in more than one way) when it ended.
Thank you for making it and even more so for releasing the sources!

It was a pleasure talking with you! I look forward to what you make for the VB sometime in the future!

SMVB64 wrote:
Fun little game!, you know it gets good when you want more.
Its was pretty intriguing and I liked all the different background effect.

Reminds me a lot off The Witch’s House

also the ending cracked me up

good choice haha

Edit – looking at the source, There is an anime guy doing poses lol. Unused? didn’t come across that when I was playing

Heh, glad you hung around on the ending screen long enough to see it. As for what’s in the game, every asset is used. That means even those anime boy poses are in there. You can see them by using the “action” of one of the effects you collect.

[SMVB64]

Heh, glad you hung around on the ending screen long enough to see it. As for what’s in the game, every asset is used. That means even those anime boy poses are in there. You can see them by using the “action” of one of the effects you collect.

I see, I may have to check again. I used the action button when im a dude and I see the sprite poses. But in the source there’s like full screen art work

Edit – this is what I am talking about

View post on imgur.com

• This reply was modified 5 years, 2 months ago by SMVB64.

SMVB64 wrote:

Heh, glad you hung around on the ending screen long enough to see it. As for what’s in the game, every asset is used. That means even those anime boy poses are in there. You can see them by using the “action” of one of the effects you collect.

I see, I may have to check again. I used the action button when im a dude and I see the sprite poses. But in the source there’s like full screen art work

Edit – this is what I am talking about
https://i.imgur.com/rjstqmt.jpg

After the sprite pose, press the action button again while Nina is still sparkling, you’ll get the full monty.

Kresna wrote:

SMVB64 wrote:

Heh, glad you hung around on the ending screen long enough to see it. As for what’s in the game, every asset is used. That means even those anime boy poses are in there. You can see them by using the “action” of one of the effects you collect.

I see, I may have to check again. I used the action button when im a dude and I see the sprite poses. But in the source there’s like full screen art work

Edit – this is what I am talking about
https://i.imgur.com/rjstqmt.jpg

After the sprite pose, press the action button again while Nina is still sparkling, you’ll get the full monty.

Yup there we go lol, I swear I did that. That’s a funny Easter egg

I really enjoyed this thanks! It gave me a reason to pull out the virtual boy to try something new. Even my 14 year old son thought it was cool.

Nate wrote:
I really enjoyed this thanks! It gave me a reason to pull out the virtual boy to try something new. Even my 14 year old son thought it was cool.

Thank you for your kind words, Nate! It’s great to hear both you and your son enjoyed my game. It’s nice to hear people are still discovering it months later.