Greetings, Adventurers!

Sorry for the delay, but the explanation is right [ HERE ]

ACSG version 1.1.5 brings new Script commands to use in the Message Display (M.D), helping you add more color and dynamism to your games quickly and easily.

Let's dive into what's new:

🎨 Real-Time Background Visual Effects (FX)

Commands with the FX prefix manipulate background image pixels in real-time directly on screen. They act as dynamic filters that instantly alter the scene's atmosphere without needing to import additional image files, saving disk space and optimizing your project.

The graphics engine executes these transformations directly in RAM via low-level mathematical manipulation. This ensures instant rendering with near-zero processing overhead, avoiding any stutters or lag in your game.

Where the system shines:

• Static screens, treasure rooms, special events, or unique interaction screens: Go wild without fear! The system is perfect for Visual Novels and heavy narrative games, but it also finds excellent use during NPC dialogues in your classic Dungeon Crawlers.

• Pseudo-3D Grid Exploration: The system works partially for dungeons, but there is a vital design detail: the effect script runs only once when rendering the current position. If the player rotates the camera, the screen redraws the original scene and clears the effect. However, with some testing and depending on your project, it can still be highly useful in this scenario.

• Text Effect Sync: It works flawlessly with the text effect enabled (typewriter letter-by-letter reading), executing scripts at the exact moment they are interpreted. Just like other existing commands, this allows you to create rich narratives with text effects, sound effects, and now screen effects, all occurring in real-time.

🕹️ Ok! So what are these new commands?

P.S.: The premise is the same as other script commands used in the Message Display (M.D).

To demonstrate, I'll show a sequence of the same image with the modifications so the concepts are crystal clear.

ORIGINAL IMAGE 


Note: Numerical values and colors must be passed without quotation marks.

$$$FXGR - Converts the background image to grayscale (Classic Black & White). 

$$$FXNE - Inverts the background image colors (Negative Effect). 

$$$FXCL1:Color - Applies a semi-transparent layer of the chosen color over the image (Perfect for weather, fog, or ambient filters).

$$$FXCL1:ClRed

$$$FXCL2:Color - Blends the chosen color directly into the image channels, transforming the entire background palette into the selected hue.

$$$FXCL2:ClRed

$$$FXPT:Value - Posterization Effect (Limits: 2 to 255). Reduces the number of colors into "steps". The lower the number, the more blocked and pixelated the image becomes, creating a retro 90s digitized look. 

$$$FXPT:32 

$$$FXTH:Value - Threshold Effect (Limits: 0 to 255). Applies a sharp cut that transforms the image into absolute black and white via light contrast. Low values brighten the scene; high values darken it, generating dramatic comic-book or manga-style silhouettes. 

$$$FXTH:40

Combining Threshold $$$FXTH of 32 and $$$FXCL2 with a Blue hue. 

$$$FXTH:32 
$$$FXCL2:$00C08000

$$$FXCLN - Clears all applied effects and instantly restores the background image to its original default state. 

More Examples: 

$$$FXPT:32 The background image reduces its color count, taking on a retro look.

$$$FXTH:128 The scene transforms into a high-contrast, absolute black-and-white image.

$$$FXCLN The scene clears the filters and instantly snaps back to the original full-color image.

⚠️ Heads up: Combining Effects (FX Overlay)

Visual effects are CUMULATIVE! If you apply an effect command and do NOT use the $$$FXCLN command right after, the next effect will be processed on top of the already modified image.

This means you can COMBINE filters to build entirely unique and exclusive atmospheres for your project!

COMBINATION EXAMPLE:
$$$FXPT:32
$$$FXCL2:$0040FF00

What will happen: The background image will first be posterized (gaining a retro, color-reduced look) and, right after, it will have its channels changed to green on top of the already posterized result. Use your imagination to create incredible visual fusions!

💡Technical Note : 

• Engine Behavior: Please keep in mind that scripted FX commands are executed at the end of the screen's rendering cycle. Because of this, if you apply a persistent script filter right during a screen transition, the original image may briefly "flash" for a few milliseconds before the effect kicks in. 

• Best Practices: For persistent and constant visual styles (such as keeping an entire Visual Novel scene in a sepia or black-and-white tone), it is highly recommended to bake the filter directly into your background image assets beforehand. 

• Save the scripted FX commands for dynamic, temporary, or dramatic scene impacts (such as lightning flashes, narrative transitions, or emphasizing emotions during dialogue — for instance, shifting the background to red when a character gets angry, and then returning to the original look once they calm down).

🛠️ Bugfixes & UI Adjustments

• Muted Script Commands: The typewriter sound effect in the Message Display (M.D) is now successfully skipped whenever a script command prefixed with $$$ is detected. No more ghost blips!

• Routine Maintenance: Full technical review across multiple modules to guarantee ironclad stability and optimized performance while running your adventures.

⚙️ How to update your project

• Compatibility: Fully guaranteed for projects built with the immediately preceding version.

• Procedure: Uninstall your old version and install ACSG 1.1.5. Data migration happens automatically the very first time you open your legacy project.

• Important Note: I highly recommend accepting the built-in User Manual update when prompted.

That's it! I hope you enjoy it! 🗺️💻🎲⚔️🏰