Support NeoGAF

[Choppasmith]

So I took a gander at the Steam folder and apparently the music stored in a file called BGM.xwb

Which is similar to what was done with Terraria. If my theory is correct and the same thing applies to KOF'98 UMFE as it did with Terraria.

One can say for example extract the this archive and replace the OST with AST versions, or even your own custom soundtrack if you prefer.

I'm just saying if anyone has a desire to change the default soundtrack instead of the NeoGeo AES stuff, there may be a way to change it.

I don't know if this guide is at all relevant but it's worth a shot. I'm going to try it out, worse thing can happen is I mess up my KOF98UMFE install and I just delete and redownload it.

http://www.terrariaonline.com/threads/how-to-custom-soundtracks.21951/

In any case once I figure out how this works, if I'm successful, I'll let you all know it works.

Just wanted to say I'm really interested in your findings and if you can get the AST to work.

 

[GorillaWithDandruff]

I can't fucking handle. I fucking can't. WHY DEAR JESUS WHY.....IS THIS NETCODE....SUCH...AN ABOMINATION!?!?!

Edit: Nah, it ain't that bad. But still Jesus.

 

[petran79]

Game also crashes randomly (Dinput8.dll error)
I deleted settings file, disconnected any gamepad or arcade stick and game crashes with the same message.

Also BGM is not heard at all
in Neo Geo mode, BGM during character selection screen is missing.


I'll stick to GGPO KOF98 for online and MAME or Neoraine for offline, thanks.
As it currently stands, KOF98 UM FE is unplayable.

 

[CadetMahoney]

Glad I waited for impressions.

I told everyone, dead community, shit netcode, but nuthuggers insisted.

How many time has this happened, KOF13, 2k2UM on xbox etc.

 

[alstein]

This is my last SNK purchase until they improve their quality on ports. 98UM was the SNK game I cared about most, so I kinda made up my mind I'd get this no matter what, and I"m not dissatisfied, but any other SNK game with this quality of port I would be.

Definitely not getting 2k2UM.

 

[BOTEC]

I just tried to load up the game a few times on brand new clean installation of Windows 8.1 and it kept crashing after the boot up logos. I checked the Windows error logs and it said something about "audio device." Since I'm working on this PC, I don't have any secondary peripherals plugged in, just a mouse monitor and keyboard. I plugged a pair of headphones into the front audio jack, and the game booted just fine. Did anybody QA this shit?

 

[Silky]

Having no issues with the game's startup or the netplay in general. I don't expect to play with randoms, as I have people to play this with in the first place.

 

[BadWolf]

Glad I waited for impressions.

I told everyone, dead community, shit netcode, but nuthuggers insisted.

How many time has this happened, KOF13, 2k2UM on xbox etc.

Huh? KOF13's netcode on Steam is pretty good actually.

 

[Exr]

Is the netcode comparable to any other games? If its like SF4 I can deal.

 

[Lyte Edge]

I played some games last night and the connection quality was fine. Got to the point that I couldn't find anyone to play with though, in both ranked and player matches. That part is just like the SNK games on XBLA. T_T

 

[NeoFaff]

I'm sure that everyone already knows but a beta patch was made available today.
Type “SleeplessCoders” in the private beta access box.

Controls
* Though the half-circle inputs were authentic to the XBLA version of UM and we have a responsibility to respect the fine tuning that's gone into the game's 20 year legacy, many of you have consistently spoken up on this, so we've been able to change the UM input to be more forgiving like the NeoGeo version.

* We fixed support for direction hats on controllers that aren’t compatible with XInput.

* Keys may now be reassigned between Player 1 and Player 2 without having to clear them.

* There is now a CLEAR option in the CONTROLS menu which will clear the currently selected button. (Press [LP] when the button is highlighted, or click on the button and then click “CLEAR” on the bar at the bottom while it’s waiting for you to assign a new button.)

Netcode
* We have improved the handling of the traffic from Steam’s servers, which should greatly reduce the “spamming” traffic that was flooding your bandwidth and ultimately had been increasing your lag.

* We have shortened the input queue for online play. If you encounter a bad connection, the input delay will be capped. (The game will of course stall if no input is received.)

* We have switched the method for recovering from temporary input lag to one that should work better with systems on the lower end of the hardware spec range.

* Please note that since we've changed how the inputs work, beta users cannot be matched against main branch users. You will be able to invite between beta and main branch, but we don't advise it because it will definitely desync.

* We are working on further improvements (below) but didn’t want to you to wait on these fixes while we do.

Graphics
* We have added the option to turn off the border art (in GRAPHIC SETTING) as some people have requested.

* We fixed a Z sorting issue that caused some cosmetic glitches (e.g. in the main menu background)

* We haven’t seen the “offline frame skip” problem people have reported but we’ve made a change to how the game handles threading which should improve smoothness.

Full post here: http://steamcommunity.com/app/222420/discussions/0/626329820792416671/

Also, the game now has trading cards (maybe it had them to start with, wasn't paying attention ).

 

[petran79]

I just tried to load up the game a few times on brand new clean installation of Windows 8.1 and it kept crashing after the boot up logos. I checked the Windows error logs and it said something about "audio device." Since I'm working on this PC, I don't have any secondary peripherals plugged in, just a mouse monitor and keyboard. I plugged a pair of headphones into the front audio jack, and the game booted just fine. Did anybody QA this shit?

I did the same. Plugged some USB headsets and game booted fine.
Still no in-game or menu BGM....

 

[Lyte Edge]

Are they taking suggestions? I'd like to see more filtering options, if possible. Something that emulates the look of a CRT with scanlines would be awesome.

 

[Leafhopper]

I'm sure that everyone already knows but a beta patch was made available today.
Type “SleeplessCoders” in the private beta access box.






Full post here: http://steamcommunity.com/app/222420/discussions/0/626329820792416671/

Also, the game now has trading cards (maybe it had them to start with, wasn't paying attention ).

Oh awesome. And No they didn't have codes to begin with lol.

 

[Holy Order Sol]

Are they taking suggestions? I'd like to see more filtering options, if possible. Something that emulates the look of a CRT with scanlines would be awesome.

That'd be cool but maybe a similar effect be achieved through SweetFX or something?

All I want is 1-guard jump and random guard options in training but that's so not happening.

 

[El Sabroso]

That'd be cool but maybe a similar effect be achieved through SweetFX or something?

All I want is 1-guard jump and random guard options in training but that's so not happening.

yes, I used SweetFX and so far is working, here is an example

a 4:3 resolution option would remove the bars and have a better effect imo, but I wonder if they can achieve that in this port

 

[alstein]

Can confirm input issues and lobby issues were fixed in that patch.

 

[ElTopo]

I played a friend of mine who lives an hour away. It's better but it's still not GGPO quality. It has that little bit of delay that will fuck you over in a game like this.

If they can improve it even more than great. I doubt that will happen though.

 

[Leafhopper]

I played a friend of mine who lives an hour away. It's better but it's still not GGPO quality. It has that little bit of delay that will fuck you over in a game like this.

If they can improve it even more than great. I doubt that will happen though.

Well at least it is better. Ill try it myself later.

 

[Holy Order Sol]

Played someone in Sweden using the beta build, ping 70-140, worked really great. Haven't had a chance to try it with the people I usually play yet.

 

[Lyte Edge]

yes, I used SweetFX and so far is working, here is an example



a 4:3 resolution option would remove the bars and have a better effect imo, but I wonder if they can achieve that in this port

Wow, that's awesome! How does SweetFX work? Never tried it before.

 

[Tizoc]

I've always hated the character portraits in KoF 98, they're the lamest and ugliest ones used in any KoF. What were SNK thinking with those...

Could someone post a guide on how to use SweetFX with 98UM to get that scanlines effect please?

Also, the game's cards seem to use Shinkiro art from KoF 96 I take it? If so, man Terry looked like a moeblob in that one artwork...

 

[PandaPedinte]

How do I change the controls in order that the player 1 plays with the keyboard and player 2 plays with the pad? It only allows me to set the controller to player 1.

 

[petran79]

Having no issues with the game's startup or the netplay in general. I don't expect to play with randoms, as I have people to play this with in the first place.

your friends list will be larger than randoms anyway....

 

[OmegaDL50]

Just wanted to say I'm really interested in your findings and if you can get the AST to work.

Well I figured out how to finally extract the music from the XWB file. This means I know the actual order of the tracks. There is 88 tracks in all so now I'm going to see what happens when I replace the OST versions of the music with the AST stuff and see if it properly plays in the game.

If this does work, and I don't see any reason why it wouldn't minding each track in the soundbank is the same order as the one that comes with the game. We will have a Steam version of KOF98 that contains the arranged soundtracks rather then the OST.

 

[Holy Order Sol]

Latest update:

LATEST UPDATE: the current build is now 479500. Right click on the game, select Properties, and look at the Local Files tab if you want to make sure you have the latest. The latest changes are:

* The half-circle input changes have been fine-tuned further and restricted exclusively to those playing UM via keyboard

* The BORDER ART option now is just BORDER and has three choices: BLACK (to keep the aspect ratio in full screen, but not have border art), ART (to keep the aspect ratio in full screen and have border art) and NONE (to stretch the game to fill the screen in full screen). If you are playing windowed, NONE will remove the black on the left/right side of the window.

* A NETWORK SETTING menu has been added which allows you to adjust the MAX INPUT DELAY. Default is 9. The lower the number, the less input delay you'll experience but the game may slow down on a poor connection. The higher the number, the greater the delay, but the less likely slowdown will be.

They also fixed the old charge bug that found its way back in for some reason. EX Terry cr.C df.C Rising Tackle combo is now possible again for example.

Spoiler

(also no more accidental M.Escalation Spin Falls? I was starting to adjust but alright we take those)

 

[SixMachine]

Anyone from around Texas have this game? I moved here this year, and sadly I tried playing a friend in NY and it was obviously crap, so I have to find some new people who get in on this.

edit: I just noticed my game version isn't 479500, how do I update it? I'm already set to have this automatically update.

edit: NVM got it working.

 

[Emperor Bohe]

I hope that the community won't die off by the time I buy this game

 

[The Light]

Seems like my adapter that I use for my ps3 controller no longer works with the game. Strange as I was just playing the beta earlier.

 

[Holy Order Sol]

Seems like my adapter that I use for my ps3 controller no longer works with the game. Strange as I was just playing the beta earlier.

People are reporting similar issues, the latest update apparently caused that. :/

 

[SixMachine]

I'm sad, whenever I finally find a match online, I have a pretty bad connection. My internet sucks but I thought since I'm in Texas, I probably would find some mexican players or something since they are in a lot of ggpo rooms for 98 and 2k2. steamid: simsiriphanh if anyone in the mid south wants to attempt some games.

 

[The Light]

People are reporting similar issues, the latest update apparently caused that. :/

Hopefully it will be fixed in the next update.
Edit: Well going by the forums it is fixed now. Too bad I unable to play now :/

 

[Leafhopper]

Played someone in Sweden using the beta build, ping 70-140, worked really great. Haven't had a chance to try it with the people I usually play yet.

Forgot to post about it but about 2 hours ago, it was the same for me. Connection is much better.

Looks like that build rolled out of beta as well.

I hope that the community won't die off by the time I buy this game

Ill always be around to play KoF, I am not the greatest though.

 

[Holy Order Sol]

nvm I most likely fucked up

 

[Holy Order Sol]

I've always hated the character portraits in KoF 98, they're the lamest and ugliest ones used in any KoF. What were SNK thinking with those...

Could someone post a guide on how to use SweetFX with 98UM to get that scanlines effect please?

Someone just posted one in the Steam forums:

http://steamcommunity.com/app/222420/discussions/0/626329821070295255/

 

[petran79]

one of the most basic question that no one bothers to answer:

how can I listen to the arranged BGM music as is found in the arcade version here:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TP3unO3SKhs

all I get is a mute sound. I dont care about online, I want to play the arcade mode offline with the arranged BGM.

In all the betas they havent announced a thing about the no BGM issue in the arranged version. That was one of the main reasons I bought the game.

 

[OmegaDL50]

one of the most basic question that no one bothers to answer:

how can I listen to the arranged BGM music as is found in the arcade version here:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TP3unO3SKhs

all I get is a mute sound. I dont care about online, I want to play the arcade mode offline with the arranged BGM.

In all the betas they havent announced a thing about the no BGM issue in the arranged version. That was one of the main reasons I bought the game.

The reason for this is because instead of doing a straight porting the Nesica Arcade version of KOF98UMFE directly to Steam which would make the most sense (As the Nesica version is based on Taito Type X hardware which is effectively Windows based PC with special encryption)

Code Mystics instead used the XBLA version of KOF98UM and just slapped the Final Edition balancing changes on top.

The reason why you can't hear the Arranged audio in the Steam release is because it doesn't exist. In fact if you dump the XWB wavebank XACT audio file for the game all of the tracks used in the game are the OST versions rather then the AST stuff.

I've been trying to figure out the settings for the XACT audio cue that Steam version uses to make a replacement XWB and XSB files and basically make an AST mod for the game but so far replacing the default wavebank with my own custom one is muted. I'm sure sooner or later if I or someone else can figure out the right settings used using XACT an AST mod with properly looped tracks can be made.

For now we'll simply have to deal with the fact that Code Mystics opted using the XBLA version rather then use the Nesica release.

 

[chocolate disco]

For now we'll simply have to deal with the fact that Code Mystics opted using the XBLA version rather then use the Nesica release.

Are you sure it wasn't SNKP who decided that?

 

[OmegaDL50]

Are you sure it wasn't SNKP who decided that?

Seeing as Code Mystics had all porting responsibilities with this project and SNK Playmore just gave them the okay to make a PC port of 98 UM Final Edition.

The fact that the Final Edition of KOF98UM is a Nesica release means some of the code for balancing changes had to be used in some fashion.

Considering the nature of Taito Type X and the download service NeSIcAxLive, doing a straight port from an x86 platform to another x86 platform would be a relatively straight forward affair.

Of course the XNA Game Studio is can just the same be compiled to both PC and 360 with relative ease as well, which makes sense why Code Mystics simply decided to use that port and just adjust values accordingly to match character balance to the Final Edition.

This is clearly a case of a minimalistic port job. Hence why there is no Rollback netcode, and none of the additional stuff that exists in the Nesica Arcade version such as the AST audio for example.

I don't see why the blame falls to SNK Playmore because they are ones that didn't port the game, just gave publishing rights. Code Mystics were the ones the touched the code, so the onus of the quality of the product is on them.

 

[chocolate disco]

I don't think they had a choice which version to use. CodeMystics is a developer, not a publisher. A proper implementation of rollback is a costly thing so maybe SNKP didn't provide money for that.

 

[petran79]

The reason for this is because instead of doing a straight porting the Nesica Arcade version of KOF98UMFE directly to Steam which would make the most sense (As the Nesica version is based on Taito Type X hardware which is effectively Windows based PC with special encryption)

Code Mystics instead used the XBLA version of KOF98UM and just slapped the Final Edition balancing changes on top.

The reason why you can't hear the Arranged audio in the Steam release is because it doesn't exist. In fact if you dump the XWB wavebank XACT audio file for the game all of the tracks used in the game are the OST versions rather then the AST stuff.

I've been trying to figure out the settings for the XACT audio cue that Steam version uses to make a replacement XWB and XSB files and basically make an AST mod for the game but so far replacing the default wavebank with my own custom one is muted. I'm sure sooner or later if I or someone else can figure out the right settings used using XACT an AST mod with properly looped tracks can be made.

For now we'll simply have to deal with the fact that Code Mystics opted using the XBLA version rather then use the Nesica release.

Thanks for the clarification.

So even the Xbox360 version does not include any BGM at all if you play the UM arcade mode? That alone is a reason not to buy the game at all.

Had I known that the Arranged OST wasnt included (yet) I wouldnt have pre-ordered it and would have waited till they sorted it out. I knew online would not be the main focus of this series. But not including in-game BGM should be a reason alone not to get a Steam release due to false adverising. I hope this will get sorted out but I'll abstain from the 2002UM release if it has the same issue.

 

[sibarraz]

Seeing as Code Mystics had all porting responsibilities with this project and SNK Playmore just gave them the okay to make a PC port of 98 UM Final Edition.

The fact that the Final Edition of KOF98UM is a Nesica release means some of the code for balancing changes had to be used in some fashion.

Considering the nature of Taito Type X and the download service NeSIcAxLive, doing a straight port from an x86 platform to another x86 platform would be a relatively straight forward affair.

Of course the XNA Game Studio is can just the same be compiled to both PC and 360 with relative ease as well, which makes sense why Code Mystics simply decided to use that port and just adjust values accordingly to match character balance to the Final Edition.

This is clearly a case of a minimalistic port job. Hence why there is no Rollback netcode, and none of the additional stuff that exists in the Nesica Arcade version such as the AST audio for example.

I don't see why the blame falls to SNK Playmore because they are ones that didn't port the game, just gave publishing rights. Code Mystics were the ones the touched the code, so the onus of the quality of the product is on them.

A friend with some insider sources told me that SNK gave the code to Code Mystics. Rumour is that TENCENT bought the source code from the arcade versión to had the exclusivity on PC. (You must know the chinese client that offers 98um and 2002um for "free")

 

[Lyte Edge]

I don't see why the blame falls to SNK Playmore because they are ones that didn't port the game, just gave publishing rights. Code Mystics were the ones the touched the code, so the onus of the quality of the product is on them.

It's SNK's game and they are the publisher-- they are equally "to blame" here.

I think Code Mystics is doing a better job with this than any of the previous XBLA SNK games.

 

[sibarraz]

The game is good now, codemystics made the rights chages

I think that CM biggest mistake was releasing the game without a beta before that, look at XIII, besides the not so stellar netcode, at least te full game was functional

 

[Holy Order Sol]

Game now displays input delay during matches like GGXrd.
They also added an input display option for testing purposes, hopefully they'll put it in training mode.

 

[Emperor Bohe]

how is the community online for this game? still active?

 

[poopninjamvc3mk]

how is the community online for this game? still active?

Barely but least it's playable now except desyncs here and there.

 

[Emperor Bohe]

Barely but least it's playable now except desyncs here and there.

word, i'll grab it when it goes on sale again.

 

[Loona]

Finally back to my own computer, so I now access to it.

Since I've mostly been into the series for the plot, 98 was an odd one for me, since lack of a competitive scene for it in my area back in the day reduced its replay value a lot, so now I'm working through the challenges in this version - it pretty odd that there's not achievement for completing those, but I guess that means it's less annoying not being able to use Raising Storm consistently or combo all that well.
I managed to complete little over half of them by now, so that's nice - might be time to take a crack at some online games soon, although I haven't completely settled on mains yet.

 

[Holy Order Sol]

Game's 20% off until January 12th