Version 1.0.8 Released - Changelog.

Version 1.0.8 of ACSG is now available, bringing new features and important fixes. 

But before we dive into the details, I want to talk a little about the philosophy behind ACSG’s customization. If you prefer to get straight to the point, feel free to skip to the “Even Deeper Customization” section below.

Many people ask me about the level of interface customization in ACSG. After all, what is it possible to do? The answer is: much more than it seems!

The goal of the tool has always been to facilitate the creation of narrative games and first-person Dungeon Crawlers. To maintain this simplicity, some interface elements are fixed, but that doesn't mean they aren't customizable. My objective is for ACSG to be a facilitator, and to that end, it offers integrated tools that speed up the process. For example, all interface images can be modified, which in itself opens up a huge range of visual possibilities. Additionally, you could already customize the project's default font and the background and font colors of individual elements on each page. The Message Display itself offers a series of commands that allow you to go beyond the standard settings. With them, it is possible to create mixed screens, or even disable rotation for battles in text games and visual novels, adapting the interface exactly to the flow of your narrative.

Even Deeper Customization

With this new version, I have taken another step towards even deeper and non-intrusive customization. You now have total control over the formatting of most texts on the more fixed screens, being able to change the font, color, and even the text size. This ensures that, regardless of the font you choose, it will always fit perfectly within the interface elements. Check it out:

How to get the most out of customization

To help you create your visual style, I have prepared this short guide:

1. Default Images and Colors: The first step is to choose the images in the INTERFACES session and define the Default Colors, which are used as a standard for new pages. They should complement the visual design you have created.
   
   
2. Default Font: In the CONFIG session (the main session, not the tab in Interfaces), you choose the main font for the entire project.
   
   
3. Individual Formatting: You can now change the font formatting on the Interface Directions and Creation Screen, overriding the main CONFIG settings for fonts.
   
   
4. Menus and Windows: The design and background colors of menus (such as the in-game menu) use the color settings from the CONFIG session. The Creation Screen menu, on the other hand, uses the colors defined on your Start Screen.
   
   
5. Individual Freedom: With your base style defined, you can go further. It is possible to change the font and color of the Message Display individually on each page. And for even greater control, you can even change the color of an entire page to suit a specific moment, overriding the default color defined in your interface settings. Remember that, as the attribute display is fixed on the Interface Directions and has a background image, changing the page color there can generate visual conflicts. Therefore, changing the page color is more recommended for the Interface Buttons, where the attribute display is not visible by default, ensuring your design is maintained.

Availability and Information Hub

ACSG can now also be purchased on Game Jolt, offering more payment options for users. This way, the [ GET PREMIUM ] button in the FREE version of ACSG now redirects to a page on the Serpa Games server that provides the purchase option on both stores currently available: itch.io and Game Jolt. To make things easier for everyone and centralize information, the tool will be updated identically in both stores. However, changelogs and articles will continue to be posted only here on itch.io. Game Jolt users will be directed to these posts through a simple post on the store page, with direct links to the content.

PS: Even though I've had a Game Jolt account for over 11 years (yeah, I'm getting old), I never really promoted much there, mostly due to a lack of time. So, I'd be grateful to any friends who'd be willing to follow me there as well. It helps a lot with visibility. 

Here -> https://gamejolt.com/@serpa

Improvements

• A Clearer Fullscreen Experience: To improve the final user experience (the player), I adapted the system's code to identify the SCREEN option and, with it activated, show the Fullscreen option instead of 800x600. I did this because I noticed that people tend to want to run the game at the highest possible resolution, but they don't always understand that the game remains at 800x600 and only the background area is extended. With Fullscreen, the user already knows exactly what to expect: the game in full screen at its actual resolution.
  
  
• Resolution Recovery: An important improvement was made to ensure the recovery of the user's default screen resolution. The system already worked in most cases, but a user reported a problem that helped me identify and fix it. Thank FGandhi for this fix! :)
  
  
• Explanatory Texts: I reviewed and improved some explanatory and interface texts in various parts of the program.
  
  
• Image Filter Correction: A bug in the image filter for the Enemies and Sprites sections has been corrected. Previously, the image dialog would incorrectly display and allow you to load unsupported formats, which could cause errors. This issue has now been resolved. I apologize for any confusion or frustration this oversight may have caused.

Important Reminders:

• Updated Manual: The manual has been completely reviewed and updated to reflect all the changes and new functionalities in version 1.0.8.
  
  
• How to Update Your Project: To update your old project, just install the new version and open it. The program will handle the entire migration process automatically.
  
  
• Recommendation: It is highly recommended that you accept the option to update the Manual when prompted.

I hope you like the new features and I count on all of your support! 👍

All the best and have fun! ✨🚀🎮

Random Moment: Yes! I switched the difficulty to story mode when fighting The Lambach in Wolcen: Lords of Mayhem. For the love of God, why is it so hard?! :)