VNDS-LOVE

[mighty crater]

Visual Novel Interpreter
Title: VNDS-Love
URL: https://github.com/ajusa/VNDS-LOVE

UPDATED DOWNLOAD
#1328976043767500841 message

CONTROLS
D-Pad: move through menu/select VN if multiple
A: Proceed/select
Y: fast forward text

Start/Plus button: open menu

CFW Tests:
[] AmberELEC
[] ArkOS
[X] MuOS
[] ROCKNIX
-> [] Panfrost
-> [] Adreno (Optional)
[X] Knulli (Optional)

Resolutions:
[] 480x320 (Optional)
[X] 640x480
[] 720x720 (RGB30) (Optional)
[] Higher resolutions (e.g., 1280)

INSTALLATION
Install like any other portmaster port depending on your os. Refer to latest available file in thread for testing

INSTALL VN
VNDS files/games go in ports/vnds-love/conf/love/VNDS-LOVE/novels/VN_NAME

All credit/thanks go to @void mesa for writing script, and setting up everything.

https://github.com/ddrsoul/PortMaster-VNDS-LOVE/

[icy geyser]

Following things have to be tested

CFW Tests:
[] AmberELEC
[] ArkOS
[] MuOS
[] ROCKNIX
-> [] Panfrost
-> [] Adreno (Optional)
[] Knulli (Optional)

Resolutions:
[] 480x320 (Optional)
[] 640x480
[] 720x720 (RGB30) (Optional)
[] Higher resolutions (e.g., 1280)

You have to keep track in your first post whats left before you can put in the PR 🙂

So this is just a framework and not an actual port that is playable?

[void mesa]

it is engine that needs to add your own game files, same as theXtech for mario games

works on Knulli 640x480

[icy geyser]

thextech you can start like that

[void mesa]

oh right, for thextech you can get all assets free, here you need paid games

[icy geyser]

are there open source ones you could add as a base?

does it at least let you start into a menu or something? 😛

[void mesa]

yes, you can get into menu and see warning that you need to add files

[icy geyser]

ah nice

[void mesa]

about free games - no idea, @mighty crater seems like a pro here

all I know that all those games ARE SUPER OLD

doubt you can convert them into vnds format easily, everyone will just download them from archive

[mighty crater]

yea, most vnds supported games are ancient.

[void mesa]

@mighty crater for text scaling you can try to reach developer, I see him for the first time in a year today online

https://discord.gg/WmXfWZZv

[mighty crater]

There are free vnds games that started off as completely free games, and fans converted to vnds support. Narcissu, True Remembrance and other insani titles are completely free

[void mesa]

I think it might be ok to add them ? not sure about licensing thing but it looks like we have nobody from license holders to ask

in 2025 most of them should be already retired and resting at summer cottage

[mighty crater]

True

[void mesa]

https://github.com/ajusa/VNDS-LOVE/blob/master/src/text/text.moon

this is where text output is formatted

even without prograaming skills I can guess that line #12 set's font size

maybe it will affect whole text

and this is exactly our ussie here
https://github.com/ajusa/VNDS-LOVE/issues/3

but fix was done for nintendo 3ds only

we can use it as reference

my boss is forcing me do to real job at the office, so I will try to recompile it later

[mighty crater]

no worries, have a good day and thanks again

[icy geyser]

I'm afraid free is not the same as free to distribute 😛

Also make sure to add a link where people can find out where to find games / a list of compatible games or something

<@&1216123318122577972>

[mighty crater]

I cant find a list of them that isnt just a list to download them 😔

[dense crypt]

there's a comprehensive set of links in the wiki (that's linked on the repo page)

[mighty crater]

on that wiki page, the link to download every vn is listed as well.

[dense crypt]

yeah, i spotted that. are none of those free/open-source/homebrew projects or somthing?

[mighty crater]

some are free to download, wasnt sure if I can link to it though since it does have links to paid vns available

[dense crypt]

like this one: https://renai.us/game/who-is-mike
(hard to tell what's a port and what's not, haha)

but that one looks like a free steam game

or this one, wich looks a bit naughty, haha https://vndb.org/r77746

anyhow, I don't know anything about these games. so i'll keep quiet now 😆

[mighty crater]

You good, just don’t want portmaster to strike it down by accidentally linking to something lol

Having this error only on saya no uta in vnds love, if anyone has any idea if this engine side or port side that would be great.

[icy geyser]

this seems bigger than renpy 😛

Like Steins:Gate

[void mesa]

you can download vnds-love windows version and try

[mighty crater]

True, I’ll try it in the morning and update

[void mesa]

hey, it seems the problem with russian font was fixed long ago but not merged

https://github.com/ajusa/VNDS-LOVE/pull/39

[mighty crater]

ok, so this is an engine issue not a port issue, just tested this on vnds love windows and had the same issue

also the text running long seems to be an engine issue as well

[void mesa]

at night I tried to make this project compile and had success just before going to sleep
https://mega.nz/file/nqZEBYKL#dthvJSHg-BZ0Qtri_z5KvIwTyLRIDWYeG-n2z21YJIk

I set smaller font and it also contains bugfix about sideloading fonts

but maybe it is not working at all as I didn't try myself

[void mesa]

that's much better

but I don't think we should decrease size more

it is VNDS-LOVE bug that is not wrap lines properly

or is this a single case in a specific game and we will not encounter such long lines again

[void mesa]

now russian fonts work too

let's decide about fonts size because they are hardcoded

lol, I generated cover art for port

[void mesa]

font size 22, I think it is good for 3.5"

need to test on something BIG

[void mesa]

https://github.com/ddrsoul/PortMaster-VNDS-LOVE

[mighty crater]

seems that text wrapping around is a engine issue, had it on a few games

[mighty crater]

One thing I’ve noticed is, it seems it uses a fixed window size because on windows the window is fixed and can’t be maximized

[void mesa]

I am not ready to fix vnds's bugs, maybe it is okay as it is

[twin cloak]

If you just mention it in the readme and its not game breaking. Then its perfectly fine imo

[void mesa]

I can test it with 5"' rocknix, @mighty crater if you are still ineterested to PR it into Portmaster please check what we can do with free game to add as default if one exists

[mighty crater]

There are some free games that are vnds novels that work good, but they’re not free to distribute and I believe the people who own them in the us are long disbanded

[void mesa]

is it ok to add one of such a game into multiverse or we still no-no ? @icy geyser

actually nevermind, "not free to distribute"

[twin cloak]

How will you add this to PM, port per port basis or the whole engine

[void mesa]

whole engine

[twin cloak]

Alright, does it have its own launcher?

[mighty crater]

What about abandonware? There are ancient vns for this thing that released for free. It’s been so long that I don’t know who maintains distribution on them now. True Remembrance, Anons nice day, and OMGWTFOTL come to mind.

[icy geyser]

Asking the same question as me lol

[void mesa]

yes, it allows to chose one of novels during start

[icy geyser]

Free is not the same as free to distribute

[twin cloak]

great

[twin cloak]

Sorry just hopped in ^^

I see love2d i get excited

[void mesa]

so we can add it into PM as it has own launcher, also we can add some links to places where to look for info about novels

[mighty crater]

So I guess the engine itself could just be released then, and people have the opportunity to acquire their own vns and supply them. Similar to TheXTech

[twin cloak]

Yeah sounds good

[void mesa]

most of novels I got in the internet where converted and then thoroughly polished by people

[twin cloak]

Just needs some good instructions, should be fine. Ideally ship it with one rtr game so users have an example. But if that doesnt exist good instructions should do.

[void mesa]

so I doubt there is a reason to add "how to convert" manual, only about how to look for ready solution and where to add files

[mighty crater]

OMGWTFOTL maybe fits it. I can’t find much info on it though. That or anons nice day but neither has much info on ownership or distribution.

[mighty crater]

Yeah, most converters are already prebuilt and out there, but unusable because they are either too deprecated or the source files can’t be found because the vnds version is the popular one

[void mesa]

I want "port's you will not be able to play unless you are geek" discord role please

[void mesa]

@mighty crater can you prepare part of the README about how to get novels? I use only 4pda that is not suitable here

also my basic english is not good enough for poems

I`ll add everything else (compile, setup and etc.)

[mighty crater]

im cobbling together a read me now that looks fine-ish, but can we link to the wiki page for vnds? That has links on it which take you to free vns you can download, and and not free vns.

[icy geyser]

sure

[mighty crater]

heres a rough readme with the info on it, if anyone wants to fill in the rest go for it

[void mesa]

https://github.com/ddrsoul/PortMaster-VNDS-LOVE/blob/main/README.md

[void mesa]

@icy geyser hello, I see a problem here beyond my understanding. original love2d project don't have any mention about licensing. README tells about using, contributing, compiling but that's it.

so in my basic understanding on licensing - it is private code, right ?

but that is stupid because it is definitely was made to share with public

if I message to dev and ask his permission to distribute the engine in Portmaster - is this enough?

but I doubt they will answer

[void mesa]

I message to project owner by mail

[twin cloak]

They also have a discord

[void mesa]

but they are not active there

[twin cloak]

Lol

[void mesa]

I had many questions but no answers

I think project is kinda abandoned but rather functional

hope they check mail sometimes

mostly I hoped for kind of lifehack as "everything that made with love2d is ZLIB"

;D

[twin cloak]

The original code is gpl2

https://github.com/BASLQC/vnds

[void mesa]

so it means that they should be GPL2 compatible in VNDS-LOVE or else they violate original license

then my time wasted to do screenshot is not in vain

[twin cloak]

I think so, might still be a good idea for MV. Just to be sure😄

[void mesa]

sorry to disturb, but maybe you can tell me

now I have this libs

should I also add armhf love2d libs?

I guess we don't have armhf only cfws anymore

but then what should I chose in port.json

if I set runtime - it means it can run on any architecture

what's the plan 😄

[desert raven]

What’s the problem?

[void mesa]

problem is that with those libs I add - it is really only arm64 port, right?

I can't find armhf love2d libs, are they exist?

and do I really need to add them?

[desert raven]

We don’t have an armhf love runtime.

Since there is no armhf only devices.

[void mesa]

so, it is better to chose "Architecture" - "AArch64" right?

so we will have no misunderstanding

[desert raven]

Yeah

[void mesa]

good, now it is clear

[desert raven]

Is it using the built in runtime?

[void mesa]

it should, I used script from portmaster site

[desert raven]

But you are injecting extra libs?

[void mesa]

# Run the love runtime
$GPTOKEYB "$LOVE_GPTK" &
pm_platform_helper "$LOVE_BINARY"
$LOVE_RUN "$GAMEDIR/vnds.love"

[void mesa]

maybe this is my mistake, they should not be needed ? luajit should load from built in runtime?

[desert raven]

Should do

[void mesa]

I`ll test it

I just used my previous attempt as base, where there was no runtime builtin

[desert raven]

It should run on x86 then too

[void mesa]

yep, works without libs folder, this is ridiculously easy port, I feel that I did nothing

[desert raven]

I can test in a few.

Am just at the park with my son, son in law, and grandson.

[void mesa]

no need, I tried it already, builtin runtime is enough, thanks

will polish it a little and then call for testing

[twin cloak]

Yep the runtime works well, only aarch64 for now

[void mesa]

much better than testing some pervert novels

[desert raven]

It’s also x86_64.

😄

[desert raven]

Oh I didn’t realise it was a pervy one.

[void mesa]

well it depends on what you donwload

[desert raven]

[void mesa]

mine are

[desert raven]

I have no idea what it is tbh

[void mesa]

😄

[desert raven]

That would require reading the whole thing.

[void mesa]

I remember I enjoyed those when I was 15 y.o.

now I am not sure

[desert raven]

Yeah I loved visual novels years ago, CLANNAD and all that. Now they hold zero interest.

[mighty crater]

thats why I got intereseted in this project was just being able to read visual novels that i hear are amazing but have something pervy on something portable for when I have free time lol

[void mesa]

good news, we have license

https://github.com/ajusa/VNDS-LOVE/blob/master/LICENSE

[void mesa]

@mighty crater I think I added every info needed for port, what is left - to test on different devices.
Please add https://github.com/ddrsoul/PortMaster-VNDS-LOVE/ link to 1st message

wait I forgot to add licenses into zip

now it is ready
UPD: love2d rocknix fix
#1328976043767500841 message

[mighty crater]

Added the link to it on the page, give me a few to get on pc and I can update post with updated zip

[mighty crater]

Does everything in the main post look good now? I cant update it with a new zip file for some reason

[void mesa]

nice, I`ll test rocknix with 854x480 px soon

uploading novel

[void mesa]

you can add link to my message with zip

env: can't execute '/roms/ports/PortMaster/runtimes/love_11.5/love.': No such file or directory
sway is not running, exiting

something is broken

I have PM:2024.12.31-0311 HM:2024-02-27

meanwhile I`ll update rocknix to latest release

@twin cloak hi, do you have any idea why love2d do not work on rocknix? do you have any rocknix device to try?

[void mesa]

yep, same on latest rocknix release

[mighty crater]

ogt it updated, wish I had more devices to test on but right now Im only rocking an rg35xx

[void mesa]

it's ok, we have community to try out

[mighty crater]

True, got the main post updated so we’re good to go

[twin cloak]

No should work just fine, if it cant find it, its probably just outdated portmaster install

[void mesa]

it is today's install

@icy geyser do you have an idea why I have problem with love2d?

env: can't execute '/roms/ports/PortMaster/runtimes/love_11.5/love.': No such file or directory
sway is not running, exiting```

PM:2024.12.31-0311 HM:2024-02-27

rocknix from 18.01.25

[icy geyser]

maybe latest rocknix problem?

[void mesa]

same launch script works on my knulli install

[void mesa]

I dunno

[icy geyser]

downgrade, try again 🙂

[void mesa]

oh, I better add love2d runtime inside port

D:

[icy geyser]

love2d runtime comes with portmaster

already included

you can check this folder /roms/ports/PortMaster/runtimes/love_11.5/

🙂

[void mesa]

S922X:/roms/ports/PortMaster/runtimes/love_11.5 # ls
LICENSE.txt   libs.x86_64   love.txt
libs.aarch64  love.aarch64  love.x86_64

so it has problem with adding architecture type after "."

[icy geyser]

yep and that is done within portmaster

so your device is detected

and it detects your architecture

run the port via ssh and post the output

it'll show you what portmaster detects from your device

[twin cloak]

Just force the aarch var

[icy geyser]

What device is that?

[void mesa]

your favourite

ogu

[icy geyser]

alright post the output from ssh

the first 10 lines or so

[void mesa]

S922X:/roms/ports # ./VNDS.sh
# ODROID-GO-Ultra - ROCKNIX
```bash
DEVICE_INFO_VERSION=0.1.13
PM_VERSION=2024.12.31-0311
CFW_NAME=ROCKNIX
CFW_VERSION=20250118
CFW_GLIBC=230
DEVICE_NAME=ODROID-GO-Ultra
DEVICE_CPU=Cortex-A53
DEVICE_ARCH=aarch64
DEVICE_RAM=2
DEVICE_HAS_ARMHF="Y"
DEVICE_HAS_AARCH64="Y"
DEVICE_HAS_X86="N"
DEVICE_HAS_X86_64="N"
DISPLAY_WIDTH=854
DISPLAY_HEIGHT=480
ASPECT_X=427
ASPECT_Y=240
DISPLAY_ORIENTATION=0
ANALOG_STICKS=2

ES Dev Mapper

GO-Ultra Gamepad :: 03001354474f2d556c74726120476100
env: can't execute '/roms/ports/PortMaster/runtimes/love_11.5/love.': No such file or directory
sway is not running, exiting
S922X:/roms/ports #

okay

I see

[icy geyser]

looks good

let me check

[void mesa]

you can run vnds-love without novels

it will show you that you need to add some novels

[icy geyser]

not that check lol

[twin cloak]

What the hell is that screen resolution lol

16:9 480p?😄

[icy geyser]

in love.txt we have

export LOVE_VERSION="11.5"
export RUNTIME_DIR="$controlfolder/runtimes/love_$LOVE_VERSION"
export LOVE_GPTK="love.$DEVICE_ARCH"
export LOVE_BINARY="$RUNTIME_DIR/love.$DEVICE_ARCH"
export LOVE_RUN="env LD_LIBRARY_PATH=$RUNTIME_DIR/libs.$DEVICE_ARCH:$LD_LIBRARY_PATH $RUNTIME_DIR/love.$DEVICE_ARCH"```

[void mesa]

thats psp resolution * 1.7791

easy

[icy geyser]

try moving this line

source $controlfolder/runtimes/"love_11.5"/love.txt

to somewhere before the app is run

also can you put in a echo $DEVICE_ARCH

like 3 times so you can see it 😛

[twin cloak]

XDG_DATA_HOME=${XDG_DATA_HOME:-$HOME/.local/share}

if [ -d "/opt/system/Tools/PortMaster/" ]; then
  controlfolder="/opt/system/Tools/PortMaster"
elif [ -d "/opt/tools/PortMaster/" ]; then
  controlfolder="/opt/tools/PortMaster"
elif [ -d "$XDG_DATA_HOME/PortMaster/" ]; then
  controlfolder="$XDG_DATA_HOME/PortMaster"
else
  controlfolder="/roms/ports/PortMaster"
fi

# Pm:
source $controlfolder/control.txt
[ -f "${controlfolder}/mod_${CFW_NAME}.txt" ] && source "${controlfolder}/mod_${CFW_NAME}.txt"
get_controls

# Variables
GAMEDIR=/$directory/ports/fridaynightfunkin
CONFDIR="$GAMEDIR/conf/"
cd $GAMEDIR

# Enable logging
> "$GAMEDIR/log.txt" && exec > >(tee "$GAMEDIR/log.txt") 2>&1

# Set the XDG environment variables for config & savefiles
export XDG_DATA_HOME="$CONFDIR"
export SDL_GAMECONTROLLERCONFIG="$sdl_controllerconfig"

# Source love2d runtime
source $controlfolder/runtimes/"love_11.5"/love.txt

# Use the love runtime
$GPTOKEYB "$LOVE_GPTK" -c "./fridaynightfunkin.gptk" &
pm_platform_helper "$LOVE_BINARY"
$LOVE_RUN "$GAMEDIR/gamedata"

# Cleanup any running gptokeyb instances, and any platform specific stuff.
pm_finish```

Heres an example that works on rocknix

Biggest difference is the source love runtime line

[icy geyser]

yeah

[void mesa]

strange, my example is pure template from portmaster.games

with small changes ofc

[icy geyser]

#1328976043767500841 message

please do

🙂

[void mesa]

sure

wait I don't get it

this is my .sh

#!/bin/bash

XDG_DATA_HOME=${XDG_DATA_HOME:-$HOME/.local/share}

if [ -d "/opt/system/Tools/PortMaster/" ]; then
  controlfolder="/opt/system/Tools/PortMaster"
elif [ -d "/opt/tools/PortMaster/" ]; then
  controlfolder="/opt/tools/PortMaster"
elif [ -d "$XDG_DATA_HOME/PortMaster/" ]; then
  controlfolder="$XDG_DATA_HOME/PortMaster"
else
  controlfolder="/roms/ports/PortMaster"
fi

source $controlfolder/control.txt
source $controlfolder/runtimes/"love_11.5"/love.txt

[ -f "${controlfolder}/mod_${CFW_NAME}.txt" ] && source "${controlfolder}/mod_${CFW_NAME}.txt"

get_controls

GAMEDIR=/$directory/ports/vnds-love
CONFDIR="$GAMEDIR/conf/"

mkdir -p "$GAMEDIR/conf"
cd $GAMEDIR

> "$GAMEDIR/log.txt" && exec > >(tee "$GAMEDIR/log.txt") 2>&1

# Set the XDG environment variables for config & savefiles
export XDG_DATA_HOME="$CONFDIR"
export SDL_GAMECONTROLLERCONFIG="$sdl_controllerconfig"

# Run the love runtime
$GPTOKEYB "$LOVE_GPTK" &
pm_platform_helper "$LOVE_BINARY"
$LOVE_RUN "$GAMEDIR/vnds.love"

pm_finish

move even higher?

[icy geyser]

dwon

# Source love2d runtime
source $controlfolder/runtimes/"love_11.5"/love.txt

# Use the love runtime```

almost all the way down

so above the run the love runtime you even have it in comment text lol

[void mesa]

yep, now it works

website example is not so clear, unfortunately

https://portmaster.games/packaging.html#love2d-example-launchscript

this one

[icy geyser]

@twin cloak wonder why that breaks it

because this does not overwrite arrch i think

[ -f "${controlfolder}/mod_${CFW_NAME}.txt" ] && source "${controlfolder}/mod_${CFW_NAME}.txt"

[void mesa]

so it is ok just to move ?

source $controlfolder/runtimes/"love_11.5"/love.txt

well it works

so it should be ok 😄

[icy geyser]

i know why

source $controlfolder/device_info.txt
source $controlfolder/funcs.txt

inside control.txt

[icy geyser]

fixed, thank you

[void mesa]

great, and thanks to you for troubleshooting, sorry being slowpoke a little

[void mesa]

works on rocknix with libmali and panfrost

also works on my TV (knulli HDMI out), so maybe it counts as "[] Higher resolutions (e.g., 1280)" ?

now we need arkos and amberelec

[celest wraith]

I tested it few days ago on arkos

it works fine

[void mesa]

what if create default free vn that shows how to get real vnds files 😄

[mighty crater]

cool idea i just have no idea about creating vns for vnds nowaday

[void mesa]

I managed to make simple plain text script on background picture

I think this is enough to make people understand that port is working

I'll add tutorial text later and repack everything into zip

[mighty crater]

that is so cool that you know how to do all of this. I look at scripting stuf and just see mostly wordsoup. I know a little linux lingo and thats about it, but just being able to put things together like that is so cool. Thank you again for all your help on this.

[void mesa]

yes, actually I also don't understand some parts of this scripting language, at first I had an idea to add some free to use anime girls to make novel more "novel" than plain text, but I gave up. don't have time and motivation. still I like the result and hope that not only you will enjoy it

"onii-chan, you need to put your novel inside my folder"

[twin cloak]

https://tenor.com/view/chandler-friends-matthew-perry-funny-kill-me-now-gif-13971350

[void mesa]

please test on amberelec

also I am curious about [] 480x320 (Optional)
i think it should be broken

package contains tutorial novel, so it is "ready to run"

[mighty crater]

testing

works perfectly with the test vn. Saving, skipping to choice etc all work great. Screen looks good and text on anbernic rg35xx 2024

[upbeat lion]

@void mesa

[void mesa]

perfect, thanks!

[upbeat lion]

fresh download of amberelec 20230203 panda conspiracy, portmaster installed through sh file v2024.12.31-0311, port installed via autoinstall directory

absolutely nothing else on it

[quick beacon]

✅ RGB10X Amberelec (prerelease) and OGA Arkos (480x320)

Seems like text pages are correctly divided and displayed on 480x320 screen, but no idea how it will behave in actual games. I think im gona load Fate/Stay to see

[void mesa]

I was worried about backgrounds and sprites, was VNDS Tutorial background scaled to 480*320 ?

because the image is 640*480

[quick beacon]

background image scales to 4:3 with small vertical bars, which is probably a correct way

[void mesa]

good, so I think it is good enough, text may have some problems but this is engine limitation

like here

#1328976043767500841 message

[quick beacon]

I quickly rushed though some early parts of Fate/Stay Night and I dont get any cutoff text, seem quite fine even on 320p

[void mesa]

good, I made a PR already

thanks for testing 🙂

[mighty crater]

So happy to see this get somewhere so quickly, hopefully this makes it easier for people to get into vns because there are so many under vnds in a million different languages

[celest wraith]

any idea about this error when playing Yume Miru Kusuri

game crashes at the start

[void mesa]

well, maybe it wants something in ./foreground folder

show me your ./Yume Miru Kusuri/

[celest wraith]

alright

the game intro text does work fine until the first character and it crashes

[void mesa]

well, files are there 😥

then script is calling for a file that does not exist

or vnds-love have bug in parsing script

[celest wraith]

Yeah

the files are set up correctly

its the same way I did for other games

[tepid cradle]

heyyy, on trimui brick/knulli the sound doesnt play on novels, then doesnt play on anything after i close the novel 😦 does anyone have an idea about that?

[void mesa]

I know somebody had same issue on knulli\brick with other ports

or was it you ?

[rain zenith]

Hey, thanks for the port! Looks great on 35 SP with MuOS.

but I had problems with running the games from the VNDS wiki you linked...

I tried Higurashi, Planetarian, Tsukihime, and all of them failed to load because of the main script

[rain zenith]

I got this version of Tsukihime for VNDS from r/Tsukihime thread, feel free to DM me for a link! Even the sounds are working

But I'm not really sure about this... do all the zip files in the game directory have to be unzipped to work correctly? Or do I keep them zipped?