Releases: Reloaded-Project/Reloaded-II
[Beta] I'm Glad That You're Evil Too | 1.7.0
Note
This is a beta release; it may have issues.
Updating to this version is optional.
Don't accept this update if you are working with Persona 4 Golden; please use version 1.6.1 instead.
Some (but not all) people seem to be having an issue with P4G at the moment.
Summary
- Epic Stuff
- Miscellaneous
- Support for Multiple NuGet Sources
- Standalone NuGet Build Tool
- Ignore Mod Configurations in Unexpected Folders
- Remove Ready2Run from Launcher
- Generate Crashlog on Loader Failure
- Ability to mark mods as Libraries
- More Descriptive User Errors
- Issue Templates
- Improvements to Archive Extractor
- Improvements in Dependency Resolution
- Additional Translations
- Asynchronous Logging
- Multithreaded Compilation Flag
- Bug Fixes
This is the biggest update that Reloaded has ever had since it released over a year ago.
Epic Stuff
Built-in Dependency Checker
People are bad at reading. For a while now, this has been Reloaded's #1 end user issue. Users every other day would ask for help running Reloaded because they did not install the requirements listed. This issue alone generally amounts to what feels like 75-80% of all questions asked.
This would happen in many places. Github issues, GameBanana comments, game specific Discord groups and even on guides with images that direct users how to install step by step.
In the past, the required dependencies were at the top of readme. This did not work very well on Github, as the user required to scroll the page to see the dependencies; so it was changed in favour of a more optimised system. However, surprisingly, a lot of GameBanana users had a tendency of missing the prerequisites too, which was an annoyance.
I then figured that placing the dependencies beside the download buttons so that the users literally can't miss them would be better. This worked out pretty well at the time, however as more and more users started to use Reloaded, the issue would once again become an annoyance.
Well, things are better now. I had to write a .NET Core Install Checking Library from scratch while taking into account various ways .NET Core can "Roll Forward" to use a newer version if available (e.g. run 3.0 application on 3.1) as well as resolve dependencies (e.g. Desktop Runtime / Microsoft.WindowsDesktop.App requires Runtime (Microsoft.NETCore.App)).
It was non-trivial work but not difficult for someone like me. Hopefully this should help prevent any further issues.
Note:
Before seeing the dependency checker above; first time users might experience a dialog that looks like this:
This will take them to the following download page (large screenshot) where they'll need to hit Download x64 or Download x86 depending on their choice of 32 or 64-bit launcher.
For this reason it's not ideal, but it's better than no visible message or text for a casual end user. There is also a basic help file in the launcher folder Help.html in case things don't go smoothly.
Single File Launcher & .NET 5 (Next Update)
The launcher has been upgraded to now run on .NET 5. It is a bit smaller now and it is single file.
Before, I wasn't able to do this for various technical reasons, including:
- Longer load times.
- Actual application path not matching EXE path (Deal breaker: Launcher needs to find the loader!)
- Inability to edit launcher files (default theme etc.) for end users.
.NET 5 greatly improves on how single file applications are packaged; providing real single file applications which load libraries from memory and without needing to extract to a temporary directory. All is good, load times are faster too.
Before (Note the Scrollbar):
After:
Theme Support
Based off of some users' preferences to change minor UI elements (e.g. rounded window corners), update 1.7 features experimental theming support for the launcher.
This should allow you to customize just about every aspect of the Reloaded's default theme including but not limited to:
- Images
- Colours
- Animations
- Button/Control Styles
A template theme for custom themes named Halogen can be found in Theme/Halogen.xaml.
Meanwhile NoCorners.xaml provides an example of how individual small elements of the default theme may be edited without creating a fully blown theme.
Please note that this functionality is experimental; expect the possibility of minor bugs and/or issues.
Minor UI Overhaul
Alphabetical Sidebar Sorting
There used to be no strict order to how the individual applications are displayed, as it is only expected to have users add 3-4 at most. However, Reloaded has been getting traction and for the real power users out there, sooner or later this number may expand.
Before, individual applications were displayed used to be alphabetically by AppId (normally EXE name) because that is how the list of configs is returned from filesystem. But this is no good as the AppId doesn't always match what the user might expect.
This update sorts the games on the sidebar by alphabetical order.
Configure Mods
As Reloaded went more widescreen this update to allow for better localization support and a cleaner UI; there was plenty more of horizontal space to now be leveraged by the various menus.
Therefore Author Name and Mod Version have now been inlined directly into the mod list.
In addition, the Mod Id has been removed from this menu as it is only useful to developers, not end users. This is a-ok as most mods use a folder name matching the ID anyway.
Before:
After:
The great benefit of this is that mods are now able to have longer descriptions without shrinking the mod list and stretching the image. Pretty cool.
Separate Add/Edit Application
Looking good?
It turns out that in practice, most Reloaded users do not need changing any of the application details after adding an application. There were also concerns that people might not know that the same menu which adds an application can also be used to edit it.
As a result; adding and editing application details have been split into separate functions. Adding an application will automatically take you to the default menu: Configure Mods; while the old menu is now available under the Edit Application button.
PS. Will have to figure something out about long game names.
Add Useful Links
A variety of useful links have been added to the main startup screen of Reloaded. Looks nice, and may potentially be very useful.
Reduce Tooltip Delays
Some more minor features and pieces of potentially useful to know information (e.g. mod order) do not not yet have their own explicit buttons.
Many of these misc. features have now had their tooltip delayed to 0, such that they should be better discoverable.
Application Sidebar Grouping
From time to time, new features are introduced onto the sidebar as Reloaded's capabilities expand.
To make it easier for the end user to navigate the UI, all actions are now grouped into categories.
Before and After
Create Mod Menu
When you are creating a new mod from inside the launcher, you can no...
[Stable] Misc Bugfix | 1.6.1
Prerequisites
In order to run Reloaded, you will need the following:
- Windows 7/8.1/10 with latest updates.
- .NET Core 3.1 Desktop Runtime x64 AND x86
- Visual C++ Redist 2015/17/19 (x64) and (x86)
X86 Runtime is necessary for using Reloaded II with 32bit applications.
X64 Runtime is necessary for running Reloaded II's Launcher and 64bit applications.
Changelog
Bugfixes
- Fixed crash in Add App menu when an executable does not define any import descriptors (imported DLLs).
[Stable] A Small Feature Addition | 1.6.0
Prerequisites
In order to run Reloaded, you will need the following:
- Windows 7/8.1/10 with latest updates.
- .NET Core 3.1 Desktop Runtime x64 AND x86
- Visual C++ Redist 2015/17/19 (x64) and (x86)
X86 Runtime is necessary for using Reloaded II with 32bit applications.
X64 Runtime is necessary for running Reloaded II's Launcher and 64bit applications.
Changelog
New Feature(s)
- Added a built-in changelog using Markdig.WPF.
[Stable] Misc Bugfix | 1.5.4
Prerequisites
In order to run Reloaded, you will need the following:
- Windows 7/8.1/10 with latest updates.
- .NET Core 3.1 Desktop Runtime x64 AND x86
- Visual C++ Redist 2015/17/19 (x64) and (x86)
X86 Runtime is necessary for using Reloaded II with 32bit applications.
X64 Runtime is necessary for running Reloaded II's Launcher and 64bit applications.
Changelog
Improvements
- Added a crash handler that will display the crash message and log if not debugging.
Miscellaneous
- Fixed potential crash in Manage Mods menu if a mod has no preview icon.
[Stable] Misc Bugfix | 1.5.3
Prerequisites
In order to run Reloaded, you will need the following:
- Windows 7, 8.1, 10 or above.
- .NET Core 3.1 Desktop Runtime (Both x64 and x86)
- Visual C++ Redist 2015/17/19 (x64) and (x86)
X86 Runtime is necessary for using Reloaded II with 32bit applications.
X64 Runtime is necessary for running Reloaded II's Launcher and 64bit applications.
Changelog
Miscellaneous
- Fixed crash when selecting application whose EXE does not exist in
Add Applicationmenu.
[Stable] Misc Bugfix | 1.5.2
Prerequisites
In order to run Reloaded, you will need the following:
- Windows 7, 8.1, 10 or above.
- .NET Core 3.1 Desktop Runtime (Both x64 and x86)
- Visual C++ Redist 2015/17/19 (x64) and (x86)
X86 Runtime is necessary for using Reloaded II with 32bit applications.
X64 Runtime is necessary for running Reloaded II's Launcher and 64bit applications.
Changelog
Miscellaneous
- Fixed crash when setting application image (accident from last 2 upda tes).
- Setting application image should now update in real time.
[Stable] An update the size of a walnut but smaller | 1.5.1
Prerequisites
In order to run Reloaded, you will need the following:
- Windows 7, 8.1, 10 or above.
- .NET Core 3.1 Desktop Runtime (Both x64 and x86)
- Visual C++ Redist 2015/17/19 (x64) and (x86)
X86 Runtime is necessary for using Reloaded II with 32bit applications.
X64 Runtime is necessary for running Reloaded II's Launcher and 64bit applications.
Changelog
Features
- Added pt-BR translation courtesy of @igorseabra4
Miscellaneous
- Fixed hypothetical unconfirmed bug where theoretically the bootstrapper could be loaded again by another mod loader while the loader is loading using an API hooked by the foreign mod loader while loading loader.
[Stable] A Small Update | 1.5.0
Prerequisites
In order to run Reloaded, you will need the following:
- Windows 7, 8.1, 10 or above.
- .NET Core 3.1 Desktop Runtime (Both x64 and x86)
- Visual C++ Redist 2015/17/19 (x64) and (x86)
X86 Runtime is necessary for using Reloaded II with 32bit applications.
X64 Runtime is necessary for running Reloaded II's Launcher and 64bit applications.
Changelog
Features
- (Optional) Implement 3rd Party DLL Loader
For those who would like a more permanent integration, where mods would be loaded without either using the launcher or a shortcut, @ThirteenAG 's ASI Loader can now be deployed to any application added to Reloaded.
If an existing ASI loader exists, which Reloaded determines by an existing scripts or plugins folder containing .asi files, Reloaded will install itself there.
If Reloaded believes there is no loader, Reloaded will scan the PE header of the game executable and automatically determine an appropriate DLL to replace.
Note: This feature automates one of the DLL Loader injection methods for Reloaded II as outlined in: Injection Methods
- Translations: Language can now be set explicitly in real time by the user in the Settings menu. Language saves across instances.
Improvements
- Translations: Add Portuguese (Portugal) translation, courtesy of Raphael Drew Boltman.
- Performance: Memory usage reduced. Potential leaks, due to references caused by event subscriptions have been destroyed.
- Documentation: Various miscellaneous improvements on mod loader documentation since last version.
- Mod Template: Unified all mod templates, Template now features common libraries, optimisations and loader features.
Miscellaneous
- Dependencies: Updated project dependencies.
- Documentation: Added documentation on loading native C/C++ DLLs.
- Create Shortcut: Moved to Application page for better end user discoverability.
- Libraries: Add small amount of missing license information regarding 3rd party libraries to build output.
- Build: Should now build when running Publish script after a fresh clone. 3rd party C++ Json library moved from NuGet back to project folder, albeit this hugely skews the Github code statistics.
[Stable] 1.4.4
Changes
- Added a dependency check for mods when an application is launched. This should hopefully prevent from users having any missing dependencies if they add a mod to Reloaded while the launcher is running.
[Stable] 1.4.3
Bug FIxes
- PropertyGrid from WPF Toolkit now has its stock, default theme.
- Updated Dependencies (notably Reloaded.WPF no longer has implicit inheritance for TextBlock, had to update many menus to reflect this).
Potential Bugs
As I had to adjust every single instance of a particular control, there's tiny possibility of there being black text in some menu. Please let me know if you run across it.