SmileBASIC for Wii U - "Official" Megathread
I'll be editing this more by the time it actually comes out so I have some vague idea of what I'm actually talking about.
SmileBASIC for Wii U is supposedly set to launch in Japan this month next week (as of 12/07/2016). There really isn't any central point of discussion for it, so here's a big megapost about it all!
If I miss anything, PLEASE tell me. I'll put more stuff in here as things happen/are discussed because I don't like sitting and doing one thing for hours I need my breaks ok
The software is set to be loaded with SmileBASIC 3.5.0, with a 3.4.0 update for 3DS planned.
NEW FEATURES
- USB Keyboard Support - A USB keyboard can be plugged in and used as the keyboard.
- Double-Res Graphics - A double-resolution mode will be available. This increases the upper-screen resolution to 800x480 and the lower to 640x480. Double-res variant of XSCREEN 4 unknown.
- Resizeable GRPs - Exactly what it says on the tin. Seems as though you can specify different sizes for the graphic page in a special screen mode, up to twice the size.
- Larger Editor Screen - 71x43 editor with a 16x16 font. Side note: this size is on account of the UI and menu systems running natively at 720p, it seems.
- Two SMILE Buttons - There are now two SMILE Buttons. Thus, you can have two tools mapped at any given time.
- 3DS/WiiU Compatibility Switches - There will be some kind of switches in the code that specify a program is a Wii U one and will enable specific features. There might also be one that specifies 3DS, whether or not this instruction will be present in a 3DS update is unknown.
- Performance Enhancements - As to be expected. Approx. 3x faster than N3DS (which is 3x faster than O3DS last I checked). 64MiB total heap memory (that's 8x what we have now!)
- Microphone is supported via USB, not through the Gamepad (for some reason?)
- Multiplayer was changed. Instead of connecting and communicating with multiple SB systems, up to 3 more controllers can be connected and used. All standard Wii U controllers (read: not GameCube) seem to be compatible.
- Obviously, no 3D display. Z-coordinate is still used in contexts of draw order and stuff of course.
So looking forward to the keyboard addition, my old man hands can only take so much cramping holding the 3DS. The additional controller support is great too; gives me a proper excuse to make a fighting game.
One of the gamepad modes. Notice the bottom-left.
The editor doesn't scale the graphics up to fit or anything, you get a nice presentation like this.
Our Wii U speed test stats.
3DS as of [3.3.0], for comparison.
So would now be a good time to bring back up that community Mario Party-Esque game, or has everyone moved past that?I'd honestly still like to make that. I think I could pull it off... Maybe... Party games like that don't seem too complicated, although creating computer AI would kill me!
Did they post a release date or are we going off of the Summer 2016 release window?
Only 3 times faster? I feel like it should be a little bit faster than that. I also don't think no microphone is RIP for PetitModem. You could probably still transfer games through PetitModem to the 3DS then transfer them to the Wii U through the server.One of the end goals of PetitModem is transfer without server, though. If the server goes down forever we could still share files via PM.
One of the end goals of PetitModem is transfer without server, though. If the server goes down forever we could still share files via PM.I thought the point of PetitModem was to transfer files period. Like, the only reason I use it is because I don't know of another way to transfer things like image files made on the computer to my 3DS (without homebrew). I can probably still accomplish that with PetitModem even on the Wii U, so at least to me, it's still doing its job. I do see your point about sharing files though when the servers go down. But I just don't think that is enough to say "RIP PetitModem" as I will still be using it.
QR codes for life ahahaha If the server is down, Nintendo probably also won't be supporting the platform by that time, and home brew might be the best way to do it at that point. Probably far in the future though. For all I know the servers will go down before 3DS but if they don't then home brew would be best for speed and ease of use, plus lack of BEEEEEeeeEEEEEEp in the background >.<Only 3 times faster? I feel like it should be a little bit faster than that. I also don't think no microphone is RIP for PetitModem. You could probably still transfer games through PetitModem to the 3DS then transfer them to the Wii U through the server.One of the end goals of PetitModem is transfer without server, though. If the server goes down forever we could still share files via PM.
"Completely silent"? Does the New 3DS have a microphone in? I know that the O3DS doesn't, but if the N3DS doesn't either, then it's not completely silent.For all I know the servers will go down before 3DS but if they don't then home brew would be best for speed and ease of use, plus lack of BEEEEEeeeEEEEEEp in the background >.<That's why I use auxiliary cables. It's completely silent and way faster.
The headphone jack is two way so it supports TRRS cables, there kinds used by those combo mic/headsets for phones. This goes for both models"Completely silent"? Does the New 3DS have a microphone in? I know that the O3DS doesn't, but if the N3DS doesn't either, then it's not completely silent.For all I know the servers will go down before 3DS but if they don't then home brew would be best for speed and ease of use, plus lack of BEEEEEeeeEEEEEEp in the background >.<That's why I use auxiliary cables. It's completely silent and way faster.
Japan release postponed to Summer 2016.
Twit here.