Android VNDS Interpreter is really good

Remember the VNDS Visual Novel Reader for Nintendo DS? It was super. It still is, and now there's an Android version too.

It seems a bit no-strings at first, not much in the way of instructions from within the app itself, but it turns out when you get it going, it works really well!

Useful Links:

• The VNDS site, this is the main site for the DS version - it has some free novels there.
• Discussion boards, to see what's being developed at the moment.
• Weeaboo.nl is the main site for the person who developed the Android VNDS Interpreter app. There are loads of resources here, special Android high-res packs for tablets, and convertors for games you already own. I guess they can't just give away retail games, so there we are - convertors.

At the moment I'm running the convertor for Ever 17. It's taking a while so I'm blogging in the meantime. :)

The process is... install the retail game on PC (which I happen to have right here, all 4 discs...), run the convertor application - which is really friendly and detailed and lets you select whatever screen size and colour depth you think is best for your device, and it not only includes a separate tool to convert the voice data into .wav files but it pops up a dialog box to tell you how to use that tool as well!

There are over 14000 of these little wav files btw, so it's taking ages. I think it's actually converting the .wav files into .ogg files. Ho hum, I think I'll come back when it's done.

One Piece Unlimited Cruise 3DS - watch out!

One Piece Unlimited Cruise first came out on Wii here in Europe a few years ago. A two-part action RPG game, based on the manga / anime series One Piece.

It is the only Wii game I have seen to have its price skyrocket to double its original price like that - copies trading for up to around £80 per part. When the first part came out, it was around £30 and climbed, then the price of the 2nd one was reasonable in preorder... but quickly grew to the same high price levels as the first part. Then the first part got a bit of a reprint, but it only lowered the price for a short while. I managed to snag both parts at a reasonable price, actually buying the 2nd part first!

And then, a few years passed and the 3DS came out. Soon after, I heard of a remake of One Piece Unlimited Cruise for 3DS. When it came out in Japan, it contained parts 1 and 2 redone in 3D and a bonus Marineford mode. Then it was announced that it would be coming to Europe!

Then a limited edition was announced, coming with a funny little Portagas D. Ace figure. For around that same £30 - £35 price mark that most new full-size games are.

So lots of people preordered.

And when it came out.... oh, I noticed a lot of disappointed and angry people reviewing the game on Amazon!

You see, the 3DS European version is completely missing part 2. And it doesn't mention this omission anywhere on the box or anything. People found out by playing it and it finishing all of a sudden, advertising a part 2 which isn't present in the game.

So if anyone is reading this, wondering about buying One Piece Unlimited Cruise on 3DS, well, know what you're getting - it might only be half the game you were expecting!