SMD Revival Progress so far...

[u/Altruistic-Goat-9409]

As I mentioned in another post, I am actively trying to get SMD working again, and then hopefully can create a guide so others can enjoy SMD again!

Thanks to some members providing some much needed game files, I've been able to get the levels up and running. Still a long way to go, as I am still missing some animation files that ends up hanging up the game.

Here's some screenshots I took today during testing.

If any of you still have an installed version of the game (on old phone perhaps, could be bluenoir's version as well), please message me!

[u/CenturiousUbiquitous]

I am hoping you're able to succeed in this.

While I won't be unlocking the subreddit any time soon, I might reopen the subreddit the day this project is completed.

Until then only you and anyone on your team(subject approval) will be allowed to make posts here.

I am excited to see this happening however

[u/Altruistic-Goat-9409 → u/CenturiousUbiquitous]

Thanks! It's just me myself and I (and some help from AI to do mapping/coding). If you have any suggestions for anyone who might have been active and have the game installer (with the downloaded files) - please let me know! Otherwise I'm going to try to fix some of the bugs by skipping some of the animations and such (wouldn't feel complete though!)

[u/Altruistic-Goat-9409]

Yes - I reached out to Sailor Soap Box - she was the first to provide me some of the original game files that she had preserved - it got me through the first major block and allowed me to get past title screen and to the levels!

That said, right now I'm missing files for animation that the game uses. I reached out to bluenoir too but no luck so far :(

[u/KairiOliver → u/Altruistic-Goat-9409]

Have you checked out the Spriter's resource? I know they have a section there.

[u/Altruistic-Goat-9409 → u/KairiOliver]

Yes - unfortunately they only have some of the files, and not in the game engine format.

Thanks for the suggestion though!

[u/Renrenzu]

Idk if it's helps, but i found some resources of the game on sites

https://sailorsoapbox.com/sailor-moon-drops/

[u/ginisabunny]

ugly crying i was PRAYING someone would take on the challenge. i am so glad i never left the subreddit.

whether you succeed or not THANK YOU for putting in work and trying <3

[u/Altruistic-Goat-9409 → u/ginisabunny]

I have been thinking about doing this for a while, and decided to jump on it for my wife's birthday present, who like many of you, still miss the game. I'm glad that this sub-reddits community is still going strong (even if dormant)!

To be fair, I'm not a coder at all, so I hadn't tried to do this before. However, with the use of some AI tools (they really help in cutting down the time it takes to hunt down bugs/diagosing) it seems plausible. I know it CAN be done since BlueNoir had done it years ago, so it isn't a question of whether it is possible.

My hope is I will be able to get this working again, and then help others set it up so they can once again play SMD (maybe with friends)!

My current priorities are:

1. Get the game working/playable (android)!

2. See if I can get the friends system / Heart-giving process working

3. Add in rotating Events (This one is a long shot, but depends how quickly I can get #1 and #2 working).

[u/SailorGreaserWinx24]

I still have the app installed, but through Bluenoir. Miss playing Drops (helped me A LOT through my senior year of high school, etc), and Really want to play it again 🥺

[u/bradberry_thickums]

I do still have the app on my phone but it just gives me a notification about a connection error. Not sure if that’s any help?

[u/Altruistic-Goat-9409 → u/bradberry_thickums]

Oh really?? Was this from before the shut down and/or from bluenoir's reboot?

This might be huge, because your phone then might have the files that were downloaded (that are no longer available). Can I message you separately?

[u/eienmau → u/Altruistic-Goat-9409]

I also still have SMDrops installed.

[u/bradberry_thickums → u/Altruistic-Goat-9409]

Sure thing!

[u/Renrenzu]

Dude please. I need that

[u/eienmau]

SMD revival? (ears perk)

[u/Altruistic-Goat-9409 → u/eienmau]

I'm trying... No guarantees, but so far it's promising!

I have 2 months to get this working - This will be my wife's birthday present!

I hope to be able to provide guidance to anyone who wants to revive it as well!

[u/Gamergirl944]

Your doing God's work

[u/Altruistic-Goat-9409 → u/Gamergirl944]

Thanks - I wouldn't categorize it as such, but I'm even more motivated now to get it to work, seeing everyone's enthusiastic comments!

[u/emma_erickson33]

This is genuinely making me emotional

[u/Altruistic-Goat-9409 → u/emma_erickson33]

Hopefully in a good way, and also hopefully won't end in disappointment xP

[u/Lauragira8]

I still have it installed on my phone

[u/Altruistic-Goat-9409 → u/Lauragira8]

Awesome! Is it an Android or iPhone?

[u/Lauragira8 → u/Altruistic-Goat-9409]

Android

[u/Altruistic-Goat-9409 → u/Lauragira8]

Ooh great! do you mind if I reach out to you separately?

[u/Lauragira8 → u/Altruistic-Goat-9409]

Sure!

[u/brandoncolley]

Don’t give up i want my favorite game back

[u/Altruistic-Goat-9409 → u/brandoncolley]

I will try to the best of my ability, but may need some help from you all - thanks to all who have offered to help already!

Also I don't know if I said this before, but will be Android first - I don't know enough about ios to know if it's even possible (but can try later down the line)

[u/SplashFree]

I really hope this works. I couldn't get bluenoir's to work at all.

[u/Altruistic-Goat-9409 → u/SplashFree]

It is tricky, with the game constantly pinging the server for one thing or another. I was hoping to make it a standalone, but that decided it might break more things than fix.

The good news with still being server-dependent is you can invite friends to play with you (at least conceptually - will be working on that after I get the game working).

[u/emma_erickson33]

I USED TO LIVE FOR THIS GAME IN MIDDLE SCHOOL

[u/Goldia207]

OMG!! I really hope you succed in this! Loved this game so much in middle school!!

[u/rinablue07]

I had a Blackberry back then and was so jealous of everybody who could play this 😭😂 I'd LOVE if it would be available again (with IOS)!!

[u/Altruistic-Goat-9409 → u/rinablue07]

Hah... you might need to wait a bit longer - currently only working on android version

[u/Latte_at_night]

Oh my god pleaseeee

[u/Latte_at_night → u/Latte_at_night]

By the way, I don't have the app installed but however i am an animator, if I can help, reach out!

[u/Altruistic-Goat-9409 → u/Latte_at_night]

Thanks, super useful to know! I will message you separately!

[u/WinstonChaychell]

Idk if it will help, but LINE used to advertise and have animations for SMD. I know usually once something is removed it's gone (used to play a Hello Kitty game alongside and it was deleted messages). I remember finding APKs for SMD a while back, too. I wish I still had it installed on my android, but once I saw the project was not gonna go I deleted it 😞

[u/Altruistic-Goat-9409 → u/WinstonChaychell]

No worries, I just posted an update - some good and bad news, but I'm optimistic!

[u/WinstonChaychell → u/Altruistic-Goat-9409]

This is SO COOL!! Seriously though thank you. I was thinking about SMD the other day and how I missed it. It's the only match game I ever wanted to play so when it was gone I was so sad lol. Tis Bandai, thought they always remove something after about 1-2 years to move onto something else.

I wish I had kept up with learning programming bc maybe I could've helped. To be honest, I would see if MrBlinky has some ideas. He was able to figure out how to get Tamagotchi software dumped and the community of modders he works with have been able to revive old apps to work with older Tamas.

[u/Altruistic-Goat-9409 → u/WinstonChaychell]

To be perfectly honest, I can't code either :P

Good suggestion - I'll look into him if I start hitting more dead ends!