8/20 Update & Errorless crashes (8/19 + )

8/20 updates

• added manual "settings only" save in the debug menu
• added debug function to oth_ini for potentially bypassing weird errorless crashes that have cropped up (see below)
• added stick deadzone setting to Pad menu
• removed infinite scoring/milking potential from Exalted's 3rd phase

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Some folks on Steam reported the 8/19 build would crash with no displayed error. This is highly annoying, however - there are some things you can try.

1. Backup settings/save files and restart.

• Game Maker Studio has the odd distinction of telling the dev where they can store external game files/data. This one keeps it at (User)/AppData/Local/simpshm_sxy. Move the current files into a new subfolder and see if the game will then start. If the game runs again, you should be able move your settings (sxyx_settings_ini) and your progress file (enc_ini) back into place for the next go round. I'd still recommend keeping them as backups and copying them over though.

2. oth_ini settings

• This file can be the cause of crashes if a save/load fails for whatever reason. However, it exists for a purpose.
• Contents: (leave all as "0" aside from dbgmn if making a fresh one)
  
  • [oth]
    dbgx="0.000000"
  •  sync="0.000000"
  • vbuff="0.000000"
  •  inchk="2.000000"
  •  dbgmn="1.000000"
  •  nojoy="0.000000"

•  Revert inchk (initial check) to 0 (again, move/back up your settings and save files first) and the game can start fresh. If this gets the        game going again, you can move your stuff back before the next time you play and it *should* be ok.
• nojoy - this is a debug variable I added with the latest version (8/20.) All it does is skip over new/altered code from the previous one to try and weed out the problem. "1" skips all controller detection and "2" ignores a intentional delay I added between room changes to get more accurate detection. Try one then the other and see if it helps (also resetting inchk to "0" each time as well.)

3. General File Permission nonsense

• The most consistent bug I've had with this game is it not being able to write it's own files for whatever weird external/OS reasons, causing progress to not be saved. Since I can't just have the game write to the same folder the EXE is in and provide some default settings files so they don't have to fight the OS to do it, one preventative thing you can do is just make them yourself as blank text files with no extension.
  • sxyx_ini     (temp file for moving data)
  • sxyx_settings_ini  (settings)
  • enc_ini  (general save/progress/highscores repository)
  • enc_ini_bk (backup save file)

I've also decided to include an older build just in case the latest one fails to deal with the causes of these crashes. you just won't be able to play with your Dualshock, sadly. :(