One reason that I haven't updated the site is a while is because I've been too busy making progress with SCI Studio. I'm focusing more on making it into the universal SCI tool rather than doing publicity for SCI Studio EGA. When it fully supports SCI32, I'll be very interested in being slashdotted, but until then, I'm mainly just working in peace.
By not updating the website some people get the idea that it's not being developed anymore, less people bother me, and I get more work done
. I love getting emails from you guys, but many I might not respond to if the same question is asked over and over and normally will just post it's response here for everyone all at once. If you want to know what's going on day by day, drop by the freeSCI IRC channel. When I'm there I'm usually talking about every tiny detail on what's going on.
For example, I now have my script decompiler (yes decompiler, not disassembler, this thing has a hell of a lot of code/AI) working on every single SCI version. The early SCI0, common SCI0, SCI01, SCI1, SCI11 and SCI32. That means Leisure Suit Larry 1VGA, 2, 3, 5, 6, and 7! And all your QFGs, KQs, SQs, etc.! It works very well, and the only real flaws in it are that it doesn't fully support complex "if" expressions, and simply dumps many as "if(...) goto xyz". It works fine though.
I'm able to browse through the code of LSL6 and LSL7 and find out all the hidden stuff, as well as how it all works. It's great! For example, I've found all the juice on LSL7's secret "classes" debug. Oh yeah! There's a lot more to it than just the "classes" file. I'll write a doc on it later.
For everyone who wants to make SCI VGA games but not SCI EGA games, you need to realize that though they have different capabilities, file formats, graphics, audio, etc., from the scripter's (you) standpoint, they are almost identical. Instead of doing "if(Said" expressions, you simply perform tasks on icon clicks. Other than that, it's basically the same! Even LSL7 is VERY VERY similar to LSL2! Yes, that's right! Their scripts run very similar. The only real differences are that LSL7 uses a point and click interface, and has different graphical/audio/memory capabilites. They both have a similar Obj system, with nearly identical Obj classes, Script classes, Event classes, etc.! You better believe it!
Anyway, if you're interested in coding the VGA games, get cracking on EGA SCI coding. It's virtually the same!
My decompiler can dump SCI Studio-syntax code, as well as C-like code. I like the C code much better, and may write a C-syntax compiler for SCI as well in the future, so you can compile C++ into SCI. Time will tell.
SCI Studio 4 is in bits and pieces, with almost everything there, just not all connected and polished. Virtually everything's done for SCI1 VGA game creation, maily just missing the massive docs/tutorials I'll need to write. However, I've been working a lot with the later SCI versions such as SCI11 and SCI32 as well, and their great progress stalls the completion of the SCI1. With my decompiler, who knows, SCI Studio 4 may include SCI32 templates and others too. SS4's release date is unknown because I keep making it bigger and bigger. It will be worth the wait for those who actually do so
