The Second Reality Project 3 [status, screens] - Summer 2024

Welcome!

"The Second Reality Project 3" is a hack that I originally started working on way back in 2007...
and it's still a long way from being done. $#ab{<_<}$ Things didn't go exactly as planned.

If you're interested why this hack takes forever you can check out the collapsed text. But it isn't really a great story or anything, so only do it if you really are interested.
If this threat is your first time hearing about "The Second Reality Project" than there's especially no point to it.

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Up till 2014 I was of course mostly busy with the remakes for the first two parts, but after that it became mostly a health-issue.
I have a disease called Morbus Crohn since 2002 actually, but since then it became continuously slowly worse and by 2014 it wasn't really all that great.
That changed rather abrubtly in 2021, and I have Corona to thank for that $#ab{o_O}$ - or at the very least the vaccination that came as a result, which had an absolutely amazing effect because the first time since 2002 I felt like 100% healthy or something. It was unreal. So I figured "It's now or never" so I went back into production for TSRP3 - which meant completely restarting from scratch pretty much, considering how all tools and resources had changed over time - the last time a worked on that hack was in 2009, and it was made with a version of LM that for example would only allow 4 FG/BG-GFX-slots - and only singular tiles could be selected from the Map16-pages to build a level. So yeah, all had to be reorganized and rebuild, updated and whatnot. I was in full remake-mode again - but that was fine. In any other point in time it would have taken me forever to do all that, but thanks to the fact that I was feeling so well, I could just blast through all these neccessary evils to get the hack up to speed. Unfortunately the effect from the vaccination lasted only about two months and just when I was about to create actual new content for the hack it went back on ice for almost two years.

The only remotely good thing about 2022 was that at the end of december the situation became so bad that I could neither eat nor drink, so an operation was in order. I wasn't parrticulary keen about it considering I already had two of these in 2019 and they didn't helped much, and came with lots of complications, so I wasn't looking forward to reliving that, but as they say "third time's the charm" so it worked all fine which enabled me to resume work in May 2023.
And I have been working on the hack since without any interruption!
And despite the fact that my speed is frustratingly slow overall (nearly as stellar as in 2021) I can't deny that these last 15 months have been also a very fun and satisfying experience.
The thing is back in 2008/2009 there was a lot of brainstorming going on about what I wanted the hack to be - and while I was mostly working on the first world at that time, it also made it possible for a lot of pre-production for the later worlds which would include custom music composition (also from S.N.N.) and several users from the community took care of some of the graphics stuff, including creating several full custom tilesets.
And then I was sitting on most of these resources and ideas, and when I opened the hack in LM..., I didn't saw much of what I envisioned.
And that really only started changing in 2023, going forward.
During the last 15 months, I could also pretty much double the amount of levels in the hack compared to the output from 2007 to 2001 and when I now open up the hack in LM, I surely get a much better view of what this hack was supposed to be, and finally be there at the point to see these level-ideas I had for over a decade finally come to life, while putting some of these old resources to use like no time had passed... well, that was quite something.
In any case I feel like I'm on the right track.

But is this a reason to get excited? Afraid not.

Even if I can keep the current flow up, it will be still at least four years or probably more before things "get serious".
But the important thing for me is that I found a way and speed that somehow works for me, and yeah, progress hasn't been too shabby.
But this hack remains a big, ambitious project, and something like that doesn't happen overnight.

TBK331_CompleXX on YouTube reminded me a week ago that it has been 10 years now since the release of the second entry of this supposed trilogy,
so I figured it might be appropiate to at least show some lifesigns and a confirmation that this hack is still a thing.

The last time I talked about TSRP3 was at the C3 of Fall 2009, and thanks to the progress made during the last 15 months mostly, I have finally a little more to show.
So, let's a go!

The Plot:
Six months have past since Mario defeated Zycloboo with the help from the friendly natives of the "Second Reality".
And it's them - the powercats and happy goombas - who have that powerful switch in their possesion which caused previously so much trouble.
But instead of using the switch for world domination and/or destruction, they started using it for making the world a better place - where it's all about having fun.
But their ambitious efforts get abruptly interrupted when Bowser re-appears in the Second Reality - and he wants the switch back!
So, once again it's up to Mario to stop him...

At the beginning, we find ourselves back in the
Catgoom Kingdom
a world we had previously seen in TSRP2 already.
(And well, going back to familiar locations is sort of the gimmick here, if you can call it that...)
The first world is the only one completed so far, with no less than 10 level featuring content from 2007, 2008 & 2009 and some sparkles here and there from 2021.

Being the first world, it also has the extra duty of (re)introducing the main characters and get the plot going.
That's something that happens step by step over the course of the world.

At the end we find ourselves back at Powercat's castle which happens to be under attack from Bowser's airship.

The Bowser-situation can be dealt with, and we're already at a point where most Mario-adventures would end, but here, it's just the beginning.

The decision is made to destroy the switch by throwing it into the "Venom Volcano" so that it can't fall into wrong hands again.
For what it's worth, the plan is reasonable enough considering the Venom Valley is "just around the corner" and the switch is hidden even closer.
All the friendly characters we've met over the course of the first world want to help out as well, the "Fellowship of the switch" is formed, so...
might be Mario's easist adventure to date!!!

...

...

...

No!

Hedgehog Hills
Nine level planned, six completed so far, featuring content from 2007, 2009, 2023 & 2024.

Considering this stuff is all presented in non-chronological order, this is the world where the most "time travelling" for the player will happen...
jumping through the decades of SMW-hacking!

Lost Woods
Nine levels planned, six completed so far, featuring content from 2009, 2023 & 2024.

This was one of the worlds which had a lot of preproduction going on back in the day, so going back here was a lot of fun.

Mount Cheesaw
This is the world I'm currently focusing on.
Nine level planned, but as of now only one completed with two others in the works.

Second Reality Base
So, TSRP1 & 2 had both the "Orbital station" as a location, so I figured it would be wrong to leave it out here.
But as far as the main plot is concerned, there's no reason for Mario to go into space.
That's where that subplot about Little Boo's attempts to resurrect Zycloboo comes in...

...and because in 2023 I wasn't exactly happy with the amount of content that existed for the hack at the time,
I decided to "cheat a little" by remaking an already existing level of mine, my 2014's VLDC-entry,
figuring this could be done in "no-time", considering I "only" needed to do new graphics for it. $#ab{¬_¬}$
That completely backfired, so it wasn't really worth it. But what done is, is done.
At least it looks nice. I think it nails the "good future"-vibe I was going for quite well. $#ab{^^;;;}$

Venom Valley
Two levels done, one from 2021 and one from 2023.

So yeah, that's where I am so far...
still lots of stuff ahead.

Thanks for stopping by! $#ab{^^;;;}$

Hey FPI. While I thought your sequel wouldn't see the light of day, I'm glad I was wrong. The level screens all look great. While the goombas are happy, I especially like those powercats. While sure, the big ones did annoy me in the castle section of TSRP2, I'm happy those either were impostors or worked without knowing.
Most of you graphics did get a nice revamp for the sequel, which I'm surprised.
Cheesaw Mountain looks especially great since the graphics from Super Alfred Chicken got a great overhaul.
While I'm expecting you hack to take a long time to finish. I can wait.
Great job here!

this looks swell, i especially like the looks of that cheese level and the jungle one, the only thing that bothers me is that the happy goombas are missing eyebrows they look so weird and punchable lol

Benny Harvey RIP, miss you big man.
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Erik showing off new Overworld sprites, Blind Devil making a new ROM hack, FPI confirms The Second Reality Project 3 isn't dead... WHAT YEAR IS IT?!

Well, looks like we're living in a new timeline now. Can't wait to see how it goes!!!

Currently working on a new website. Don't expect any hopes soon. 『いけいけ団長、頑張れ頑張れ団長！』

Help us raise funds for the Armed Forces of Ukraine. #ДопомагаємоРазом / #HelpTogether
“Even if you personally are so dissatisfied with life that you want the world to end, surely the cruel reality is that it will continue on, unchanging. All the better for someone perfectly content, like me.”
– Aya Shameimaru, Touhou Suzunaan ~ Forbidden Scrollery

no fucking way

I really like what I'm seeing here, all these screenshots are so beautiful. I especially love that moon level, it's very colorful. Although, I gotta say... I find hedgehog hills to be kinda busy. Maybe tone down the background's colors a little?

Also, man, I feel sorry for what you went through. First time learning about Crohn's disease, and it sounds really terrible...

Sorry to heard about your health issues man, and I'm glad you're doing better. TSRPR and TSRP2R are my favourite smw hacks of all time and they have inspired and influenced my level design as deeply as the DKC series has. I wouldn't be the level designer I am today without your hacks to influence and inspire me, so thank you.

Good Result! I waiting for TSRP3!

I have great memories of playing the first two hacks in The Second Reality Project series; while it sucks to hear about the health issues, I'm glad you're still working on the third entry in the series FPI. The screenshots look awesome so far; I definitely look forward to seeing when this is complete, even if it does take a while.

This is such an exciting update, FPI! Stumbling on gameplay videos of TSRP on YouTube back in '06 is exactly what drew me to ROM hacking and the SMW Central community in the first place.

Please don't ever stop loving what you do, and chasing your vision is key!

Glad you finally got the time and motivation to work on it!
Hope to see more of it soon. ;)

Seeing this thread was such a shock to my system this morning! First and foremost, I am extremely happy to hear that your health is doing much better.

It will be really interesting to see where you manage to take this hack. I do feel like your older hacks are a little harder to go back to these days, but I will absolutely play this out of the sheer respect I have for your commitment to the craft through everything. Best of luck continuing its development!

Edit: To clarify, I really enjoyed playing TSRPR and TSRP2 original when I was younger and newer to this scene and had a lot of fun with them. I recall trying to play 2R when it came out and it just didn't hit the same way. But like I said, I still respect your hacks massively for being such an incredible introduction to the world of SMW hacking to babby FPzero.

Finally. After all these years.

This is one big hack I'm going to be looking forward to in the near future.

So hype that TSPR3 is finally now becoming an reality!!!!!!!!!!!
Keep going FPI!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

This is one of the hacks that when it comes out, I will play it. I have a lot of respect for the worldbuilding you have done for the TSRP series as well as its visuals and music composition that makes this series stand out from the rest.

I am curious though; do you have the old 2009 screenshots of TSRP3 from that C3 because I really want to see how much the hack has changed since then.

Modern Redrawn Mario Bros. 1.5 (last update - February 14, 2023, some new bonus frames, tons of minor touchups to various poses)

On Pixel Art Requests: Depends on what it is and if I have the time for it. If its complex and I don't have the time, don't expect me to accept it.

Projects I support:

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[19:43] <StrikeForcer> I also want to say that "because everything on the internet is definitely true!" is a derailment tactic that serves as a shorthand change for "I dont accept the facts"

[19:44] <StrikeForcer> When the information posted clearly is fact-based.

Extremely glad to see progress on TSRP3 is still a thing. Apparently the theme of this C3 is "old people coming back into the spotlight"; the layout must have been a sign!

Kinda in hibernation for a while. I hope to be back in full swing soon.

I've noticed you around, FPI, but even so this thread caught me off guard. I didn't know about your healtt issues, but now that I do, I feel happy for your condition improvement. You're really strong, you are moving forward regardless of problems and for that alone you should be proud of yourself.

TSRP2 was the hack that got me investing in SMW hacks - for the time of its release, it was labelled peak quality. When TSRP2R came out later, it had me wholly satisfied. But I always wondered about TSRP3, curious to know about its progress considering all the evolution resource-wise... and well, here we are. Throwback-themed C3 bringing memories back to us, returnings, and great news in general. So happy to see it all and looking forward to the eventual completion of TSRP3.

By the way, thank you for being a source of inspiration for me in my kiddo days of hacking.

I'm a huge fan of Happy Goomba, glad to see there will be more of him to come!

God dang it, this thread reminds me that I still haven't read/replied to your last PM! I swear, I weill get to that ~~soon~~ before the heat death of the universe! 👀 💦

Even though I knew you were actively working on the hack, it's still great to actually see new material from it. I love absolutely everything I'm seeing here, and I also love reading all of those development stories (some of which I vaguely knew about, and some of which are entirely new to me).

As someone from the olden days of SMW hacking, this is one of those hacks I'll always keep an eye on!

Feel free to visit my website/blog - it's updated rarely, but it looks pretty cool!

Oh yes, finally, some news about The Second Reality Project 3!

I've been waiting for years, since the release of the remakes!

Your hacks have been a great inspiration for me, mainly because of how well done the worldbuilding is. I can remember almost every level from the series. While my own hacks, the ones with my original character Aeron, have a different approach and tone; some worldbuilding, NPCs and lore ideas are inspired by your works.

And I can clearly see that you're putting a lot of care in the world of this series once again.

Superb work as always and I'm looking forward to play it in the future.

I never thought I would see the day that there would be a TSRP3. Can't wait to play this, no matter when it gets released.

CW: Medical: Show/Hide

Also, as someone who also suffers from severe Crohn's, I gotta say that I am glad to see that you've found remissions after so long. It's a super scary disease and feeling better is beyond amazing. Hope you continue to feel better!

I am not a latte.