176 replies to this topic

[TRAViS]

Anyhthing found needs to be shared!! NO HOARDING YOUR FINDINGS!!

I. Would. Never. I'm literally taking a full day or two once I get it to dissect the entire thing and write down EVERYTHING I find, and get as many screencaps, videos, and sound bytes as possible. I will report EVERYTHING. This is the most exciting project I've ever taken up. Who knows what we're going to find?

Edit: Thanks TRiPPY for the title!

[Kichigai]

This has got to be the most exciting year of NIGHTSy related things ever. XD TRAViS you are amazing~

[Sairus]

Again, I hate to just post in here to throw a damper on the festivities, but anyone who's expecting miracles and rainbows to start spewing out of the disk as soon as TRAViS sticks it in his PC you may want to sit down for a bit. Remember how much of a bitch it was to extract stuff from the full NiGHTS disk?
While, yes, there may be awesome stuff in there, try not to bug whoever's hacking the thing... it'll probably be nightmarish enough to try and open up without a hysterical fansite clawing at their throats.
...aside from that though... Hoorah! XD *runs around dancing and singing*

...and just to make sure that I'm definatly repeating everything I always say... join the chatroom! LINK! XD

[TRAViS]

All right then. Here comes the inevitable request. As you all know this almost completely drained my life savings and since many of you were willing to pool some money in the first place, here's your chance to help out. Large sums or pennies, every little bit most certainly helps. There'll be a PayPal donation button soon on the site, but in the meantime I'll provide my email address for those who prefer to send direct.

Now, I have absolutely no idea of how I'd be able to show my appreciation or give something in return for every donation, but I can certainly try and figure something out. If I think of something (or someone suggests something and I go with it) I'll keep you all posted. In the meantime, attach a message to any transaction with your registered forum username so I can know what's coming from where and record it.

I use my personal email with Paypal: daytonausa@gmail.com

Like I said, any little bit is appreciated and will be logged. Thank you in advance to whoever steps forward

Edit: Maybe this post should pop out as its own, possibly pinned, thread?

[Purgatory]

When this topic dies down, I don't want people to forget about TRAViS! So I went ahead and made a topic, which I pinned. It can be found here: http://www.nightsint...d...c=1221&st=0

[TRAViS]

All right, as promised I'll give this thread updates with the most current information available.

The disc was just shipped roughly an hour ago, international via EMS to drx. Should take 3 to 5 days to get there. Once it is, it's coming my way after he verifies he got what I paid for (remember now, he has direct contact with the seller so if anything went awry he could fix it quicker than I could). So, as of right now we're probably looking at a week to a week and a half until I get it. Then the fun starts

[Leedz]

MAN, AM I EVER LATE FOR THE PARTY.

I would've liked to contribute to this endeavor, but I'm always so out of the loop I only just now got this e-mail and found this topic. XD And here I feel like I should've been in here organizing this project because of the NiGHTS storybook from a couple years ago.

Ah well. I LOOK FORWARD TO THE SPOILS.

Also HI DiGi *WAVES D FLAG* HUG TRiP FOR ME.

[PRiNCE]

TRAViS. You. Are. Over. Nine. THOUSAND.

You rock my socks straight off my feet man! I would donate all my money...if I had any. T.T Sorry... But hey, you got (well, are getting) the beta! YAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAA
AAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYY
Y
YYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYY X 9,001!

[^_^ Go Dreamer]

(Sorry, I'm super late!!)

TRAViS YOU ARE SPECIAL AWESOME!!! I bow to you!! *bows*

Since I lost my job a couple of weeks ago I really low on funds, but I've been doing some babysitting *is embarrassed* So as soon as I get a little money I'm definantly gonna donate it to you!!

YOUR THE BEST!!! *glomps*

[Tragick]

TRAViS in order to play the beta disc on your Sega Saturn you will either need to have a chipped system capable of playing backups or you will need to get a red first party Sega Saturn System Disc. There is also a swap method that I would definitely not recommend. It works but can potentially damage your Saturn and the discs that you are swapping. I am going to be sending some money your way shortly as I am really glad that someone in the community got this and it isn't going to end up sitting in a box in some hoarder's closet.

[Sage]

*reads through the entire post*

TRAVIS... you are insane. AWESOME, but insane. XD I hope I can contribute to your fund somehow. I'll have to see what I can do.

I'm looking forward to seeing if we learn anything from this beta.

[TRAViS]

Okay, here's today's update on the beta.

The disc is in drx's possession and he's going to upload the disc image to me soon so I can start poking through it as early as tonight
He'll be shipping the physical disc my way within a few days.

Teaser anyone?

Spoiler

NiGHTS into Dreams version 0.20

[DiGi Valentine]

oooooooo!! YES! This is really good news.

The last 5 days have been good to us NiGHTS fans. ^___^ Can't wait to see what you guys dig up.

[Xenon]

GLEEEEEEE!!!!! X3

I can't wait to see what nifty things we get in the beta...

[TRiPPY]

*phew* i was worrying about all this the more time that passed. I am an auntylike stresshead when it comes to fans doing big stuff like this.

Very glad to hear everything went smoothly
*cheers*

Now i can get some sleep again ahaha.

[KatchiJoy]

Is there going to be a public release or at least semi-public release of the image so that those of us with an interest in hacking it will be able to access it?

[Monophobe]

Is there going to be a public release or at least semi-public release of the image so that those of us with an interest in hacking it will be able to access it?

Your one and only post is to come in to try and beg a copy of this beta that Trav oh so kindly paid $1500 for?..... just...... wow

[KatchiJoy]

Your one and only post is to come in to try and beg a copy of this beta that Trav oh so kindly paid $1500 for?..... just...... wow

Sorry, I'm a long-time member of the community. My name is Kat (I also go by KatchiJoy and Chouffette). I'm sure other members will vouch for my authenticity. I myself have donated large sums of money for prototype games. No need to be rude just because you don't recognize a name. I'm just not as vocal as other people.

[Monophobe]

Sorry, I'm a long-time member of the community. My name is Kat (I also go by KatchiJoy and Chouffette). I'm sure other members will vouch for my authenticity. I myself have donated large sums of money for prototype games. No need to be rude just because you don't recognize a name. I'm just not as vocal as other people.

I wasn't being rude. Surely you can understand how it looks. A member that's never posted and that joined in August this year.

My main thoughts on an iso of this being released are that it really shouldnt happen. Trav and the people he gives access to it (ie those who might be able to extract some new things from it) can work away as they please, and that still leaves Trav with the option of selling it on one day to make back some of that money. If an iso is released then the disc instantly loses value, though this is likely to happen somewhat once the contents have been revealed anyway.

In the end its Trav's decision I guess.

[KatchiJoy]

I wasn't being rude. Surely you can understand how it looks. A member that's never posted and that joined in August this year.

My main thoughts on an iso of this being released are that it really shouldnt happen. Trav and the people he gives access to it (ie those who might be able to extract some new things from it) can work away as they please, and that still leaves Trav with the option of selling it on one day to make back some of that money. If an iso is released then the disc instantly loses value, though this is likely to happen somewhat once the contents have been revealed anyway.

In the end its Trav's decision I guess.

I agree partially with your thoughts, however on the same line, if I were to donate money to this proto, then I'd like to have a crack at it myself. Sure, pictures and write-ups are great, but being able to look it over yourself is entirely different. If it were given a community release (or semi-release), then there would be a much higher chance of "hidden" code being found and cracked. As was stated earlier in the thread, NiGHTS' coding is very unique and NOT easy to hack. People from other communities could give a hand in the process with their expertise.

It just all depends on the person who puts forth the money. Just like you have your opinions, I too have mine My personal opinion is that if Travis put the money up on his own, with nobody else donating, that he should be entitled to keep the code for himself and do with it what he pleases (with the exception of drx who should absolutely have a copy)... HOWEVER... if he takes donations then the code should be made public or sent to the people who donated (it wouldn't be fair to resell it later for a profit when other people donated their money, would it?). To some members of the hacking community, the term "hoarding" refers to the code itself - not just information on the game.

Prototypes are a very "personal" thing... everyone has their own opinions on how things should be done But that's to be expected, I guess. Haha.

[DiGi Valentine]

I appreciate everyone has their own opinions and stuff but try not to turn this into one of those 'awkward to post in' topics, ok? Thank you.

[TRAViS]

Here's my thoughts on releasing it, as of right now.

While it would be good for some other people to get some hands-on time with it and see what they can discover (because odds are I'll miss a few things), Monophobe brings up a few good points about a public release and why it shouldn't happen, and I agree. I've been thinking about possibly having a very small, private release for members of the forum (with donators getting first dibs) for those who express a sincere interest in poking around and can assure me that they are going to do what I do; namely report everything they find that we didn't already know about. At this point, consider almost zero chance of a public release.

And while he also does bring up a good point about the disc's value later on down the road, I have no intentions of ever reselling the disc. Period. I bought this to keep it out of the hands of prototype hogs, and then I'm going to go on eBay and let one of them have at it? Not happening. If this disc ever leaves my possession it's going to someone else in the NiGHTS community who feels the same way about holding on to it.

Before I start a thread of everyone asking "can I have it," I'm talking so many years down the road that by then I'll have kids Helen and William's age. And last I checked I'm 19, single, and in college. So yeah.

Sorry to disappoint anyone that's hoping for a full-blown public release, but it isn't happening. Go hack the retail game. Or Christmas NiGHTS.

[iLLViLLAiN]

I've been looking at this thread for a week now and still I have completely no idea what is going on in here

[iLLViLLAiN]

Travis either spent nearly all or indeed all of his life savings to buy a prototype of the old NiGHTS game.

Ah cool that's awesome. Nice going TRAViS!

uh... a prototype is what the game is like before they release it right?

[iLLViLLAiN]

Yes pretty much a beta before they get all the bugs out.
There might be a good chance we could find out what "Selph" is on this disk or any other unknown secrets.

THE MYSTERY OF SELPH COULD SOON BE UNLOCKED?!! OH YEAH!!!!

[Miles]

This is one of the most idiotic decisions I've ever seen. Not releasing the ROM image is just as bad as it being "hoarded by some nameless collector".

[kidninja]

Hopefully this will keep me from saying wtf is selph

[Kori]

Discovering Selph would probably be the biggest thing to hit this fandom aside from the new games. X3 But even if you guys don't find much, a piece of NiGHTS history is within our reach! Although for you lucky folks getting to handle the disc itself, well, it goes without saying, LOL!

I'm all warm and fuzzy, actually. NiGHTS is such a huge part of many of our lives, and here's a checkpoint in the development itself! This is too freaking awesome!

[Monophobe]

This is one of the most idiotic decisions I've ever seen. Not releasing the ROM image is just as bad as it being "hoarded by some nameless collector".

No, it's not. Collector's that hoard stuff genuinely buy just for the sake of being able to say they have it, and said item rarely sees the light of day again. Travis is doing the sensible thing and ensuring that the disc or an image of it will always be in the posession of people who aim to glean as much as they can from it to share with the community. The fact is, the data would be utterly useless to most people here, myself included.

[Purgatory]

This is one of the most idiotic decisions I've ever seen. Not releasing the ROM image is just as bad as it being "hoarded by some nameless collector".

Miles, if you must make such a comment, why don't you PM TRAViS with your opinion. Better yet, keep it to yourself, if you insist on being rude. Its his choice whether or not he places this online for everyone to have or whether or not he'll give it to a chosen few. Or share his findings, for that matter. We've already asked that this topic not be made awkward or rude. You don't have to participate or donate if you don't wish to. If you have further problems, PM me about it.

Please, other members, continue on topic.

[TRAViS]

Amazing what emulation is doing to people today. I don't even have the disc yet and people are already asking if the disc image is going to be released. We don't even know what's on here for christ's sake. It could be an early beta with NiGHTS flying over a grid, it could be a near-to-retail build, it could be an E3 demo with only one or two things playable, it could be a buggy, glitchy mess of a flying game, it could be a magazine demo edition, it could be ANYTHING.

Until I or drx has played through it we don't know for sure...so while this could have all the answers PLEASE do not get your hopes up. I should have some initial findings tomorrow once he uploads the image to me. It's faster than mailing the CD. I'll have a beta findings thread.

Donations might give me incentive to release it...just a heads up to the two lurkers who want their hands on an image of it...

EDIT: Back on topic. Anyone want me to look for anything specific once I have it in my hands? Start asking!

[Matthew29w12]

Selph! Find it!

[DiGi Valentine]

Trav. You and Drx take your time and just do whatever you can. No rush, man.

[Sairus]

No rush!? What's wrong with you!? We want it NOW! >_<
[/joke]

Seriously though, people, please keep in mind how much of a bitch it is to open up a Saturn disk... people are still looking through the complete NiD 11 years later, I am guessing it will be a long time before anything of major interest is discovered, if anything.
And also... as TRAViS has stated, if you're so desperate to start poking around in the disk, then donate. It's not particularly fair that he shell out fifteen hundred dollars for a disk, then you get it for nothing.

[animejosse]

And also... as TRAViS has stated, if you're so desperate to start poking around in the disk, then donate. It's not particularly fair that he shell out fifteen hundred dollars for a disk, then you get it for nothing.

Quoted for truth. It's the reason I'm waiting until my donation's in TRAViS' Paypal before asking him to look for anything specific.

[iLLViLLAiN]

This really has been a huge year for anything NiGHTS. New game on the way. News of a port coming out for PS2. This. It's just so much stuff we are getting. It's been a good year indeed

[iNSOMNiAC]

This is one of the most idiotic decisions I've ever seen. Not releasing the ROM image is just as bad as it being "hoarded by some nameless collector".

Wow...That angered me so much I'm not quite sure how to put my response..

Just..Think before you speak. TRAViS spent practically all of his money to get this for us, the least you could do is show some respect and thank him. I'm sorry if this sounds rude, but..Dude, shut up, ok?

Anyways..

THANK YOOOOOOU TRAViiiiiS! X3 ohmahgawd

I would donate money if I had any. ;^; Is there anything else I could do, though?

>w< Man, who knows what we'll find! I'm not getting my hopes up, of course, but I'm still giddy.

<333 Thank you so much, man.