Dream Studio [DC]
This is the Dream Stud!o Giga-FAQ (well, eventually) v0.1
By Mark Green
Email address for submissions/comments:
mark [at] antelope [dot] demon [dot] co [dot] uk
The latest version of this FAQ will always be available from
http://www.gamefaqs.com.
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wwwwwwwwwww If the block of characters on the left has a straight
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iiiiiiiiiii This FAQ looks far better viewed in a monospaced font.
OoOoOoOoOoO Use EDIT, DOS TYPE, the Netscape text viewer, or MORE
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******************************* INDEX ********************************
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INTRODUCTION
TUTORIAL SECTION
REFERENCE SECTION
LIBRARY INDEXES
CREDITS
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**************************** LEGAL BITS ******************************
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Neither the author of this FAQ, nor any person who distributes it in
any way, shall be responsible or liable for anything that results from
using this FAQ for any purpose, including but not limited to
damage to your Dreamcast, controllers, hands, eyes, or sanity
(which may be oddly likely with this title).
This FAQ may be freely distributed provided that it is kept unmodified
and in its entirity. This FAQ may not be sold, or included as part
of a publication that is sold, without the author's express
permission.
Dream Studio is (c) Sega Enterprises, 2000. The use of any trademarks
within this FAQ is not intended to represent a challenge to their
validity.
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***************************** INTRODUCTION ***************************
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Dream Studio is an 3D adventure creation tool for the Dreamcast. It
allows the creation of fully 3D interactive adventure-style games.
Although it does not have hard-wired systems for magic or combat,
these can be added using the condition and scripting language included
within it.
Dream Studio is an intensely complex piece of software, and this
FAQ attempts to unravel it. This first version of the FAQ is
extremely incomplete, but I have posted it so people can get an
initial flavor of what's being found out. It will be updated as I
find out more.
The FAQ is divided into sections:
TUTORIAL SECTION - A walkthrough-style introduction to Dream Studio.
REFERENCE SECTION - A reference to each part of the tool.
LIBRARY INDICES - List of all items available in the libraries on
the GDROM.
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*************************** TUTORIAL SECTION *************************
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I'll start teaching when I know things for sure myself. :)
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************************** REFERENCE SECTION *************************
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R1 General Notes
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R1.1 Editor modes
-----------------
The Editor can operate in one of two modes: beginner or expert mode.
You are asked to choose which you want when you create a game and you
can change your mind while editing by going to the Game Properties
screen and changing the setting there.
Beginner mode and Expert mode are more or less the same except that
in Beginner mode certain options will be disabled or ghosted out.
Most of the menu translations listed here apply to Expert mode.
R1.2 Dialog structure
---------------------
Most Dialogues in Dream Studio are divided into two parts: a Standard
section and an Advanced section. You can fold down the Advanced
section of any dialog by hitting the button in the lower right-hand
corner. ALL dialogues will then display their Advanced section until
you press the lower right-hand button on any dialog again.
The lower-right hand button will be ghosted and give an error sound if
you select it while the editor is in Beginner Mode.
R1.3 Text entry
---------------
Many parts of Dream Studio require you to enter text. The text
entry system is as follows.
Use the digital joypad to move around and select letters from the
pad, and choose menu items from the menu on the right. The A button
selects letters and options. Letters are added at the point of the
cursor; the epsilon sign indicates the end of the string and cannot
be moved. The other buttons perform the following functions:
L Switch displayed character set (Hiragana/Katakana/Romaji/Dingbats)
X Insert a space
B Delete last character
R Insert carriage return (if appropriate)
Y Hold Y and move digital joystick left and right to move cursor
The menu is as follows:
Switch character set (same as L trigger)
Insert a space (same as X)
Insert carriage return (if appropriate) (same as R)
Delete last character (same as B)
Delete current character
Cancel
Ok
Pressing START will immediately jump the cursor to the OK button on the
menu.
Note that when you're editing a Script, the Text Entry box will often be
preceded by a list of all strings already in the game (comments, object
names, other messages, etc). You can select one of these to reuse it. This
will help make your game smaller, since the game doesn't have to store the
same string twice.
R1.4 Safety lines
-----------------
The term "safety line" will be used several times in this FAQ. A
safety line is a line of hyphens appearing on a menu as an option. It will
do nothing when selected other than produce an error beep. The only
reason for it is to seperate dangerous menu options (like Delete) from
the rest of the menu.
R1.5 Start Menu
---------------
Hitting the Start Button anywhere in the editor will give you this menu:
Playtest game
Switch editor (World Editor to Scenario Editor or back)
Reset game
Game Properties
Exit to title
File menu
If you are in Expert Mode, "Play Game" will give you a submenu:
From here
From this sheet (only if you have a sheet in the scenario editor open. The
sheet will activate as soon as the game is started)
From the castle (?)
While playtesting, you can hit the START button to open this menu:
Play On
Return to Editor
You cannot save or load games while playtesting. If you "Return to
Editor" while in the middle of an event, a warning is shown that this may
leave the game in a weird state if you return from the editor again.
Choose the left option to edit anyway, right option to return to pause
menu.
Note that changes made to the map in the course of play WILL be reflected
in the editor. For example, if you start the game and move the hero a bit
to the left, he will remain there when the editor is restarted. To put him
back where you placed him, use the Game Reset option. In Expert mode, this
gives you a submenu:
Everything except the map
Everything
Game Properties will take you to the Game Properties screen. Exit to title
will return you to the main menu (asking if you're sure first). And File will
offer you a submenu:
Save
Load
Which is easy enough. :)
R1.6 Game properties
--------------------
Game Title _________________
Author's name _________________
Hero _________________
Hero's initial location
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