Need Help with .IST files + Removing Play-Gate protection

[JPMiles]

I've been working on trying to get the text from the sequel to Snow Sakura out since its in .isf format.

I found a thread on this site talking about somewhat of the same thing: http://forums.novelnews.net/archive/...p/t-35384.html and I wanted to know if anyone still had the tools from the thread since the website had gone down.

[JPMiles]

I also wanted to know if it was possible to remove the copy protection from this game since it doesn't work anymore.

Whenever I try to start the game, it takes me to a website that doesn't exist anymore and from what I've found out from other links, I was to log in to play it. (play-gate.com I think if anyone is interested).

Anyone want to help out?...

[JPMiles]

I'm pretty sure its play-gate that it uses.

You know I saw a lot of views to this page but no one wants at least say "I liked that game..."

Does a lot of work get done here?

cdb_unpack.exe from that thread is downloadable. dsp2003's tools have moved to ttp://wks.arai-kibou.ru/ae.php?p=dl

If it's still sold, then there is a way to play it, I presume. In worst case you'll have to buy it again to be able to start playing it if you want to circumvent online check.
Sorry for kinda useless reply, but I don't think you'll get any better here because:
- It's too problematic for hackers to get the files to work with (not even a demo exists)
- It's very hard to discuss this matter here without being censored

Try asking elsewhere.

[JPMiles]

Been on the site like 3 times and cannot find it.

Can you lead me in the correct direction?

The company who made the game doesn't exist anymore and the only people who sell it are like 3rd party sites who don't really deserve the profits anyway.

Its more or less a giant mission for me. Its not about the porn aspect of it anymore of a "Can I figure out this problem". I'm gotten pretty god damn far so far with barely having a name of the sequel.

If anyone wants to take a look at the files I got so far, you can. When it launches, it just goes strait to the defunct website.



Those are what the files look like. Judging by the fact that I have like all of the h-scenes, and a metric fuck-ton of voice files, I would say I have the full game.

Originally Posted by JPMiles

Been on the site like 3 times and cannot find it.
Can you lead me in the correct direction?

I somehow assumed that you know which engine this VN is based on. It's Ikura GDL, so you'll want IKURA GDL Script Tools from dsp2003's site. These are Python scripts, and you'll need Python (likely a 2.x branch) to run them as well.
Prior to that you might want to try more user-friendly things, such as The ViLE Ripper and some of Proger_XP's tools from ttp://vn.i-forge.net/tools
If everything else fails, everyone in ttp://honyaku-subs.ru/forums/viewtopic.php?f=17&t=117 thread except Vask has written some tools to work with this engine too, you can try asking them. I'd start with Proger_XP first because you can bribe him with proofreading/editing of his somewhat Engrish VN hacking guide that's linked to on his tools page.

Originally Posted by JPMiles

If anyone wants to take a look at the files I got so far, you can. When it launches, it just goes strait to the defunct website.

Difficulty of bypassing online check can range from trivial to impossible (for example, if the game data is encrypted and decryption key must be downloaded from the now dead server) and can be estimated only by looking at the actual files.

Good luck.

[JPMiles]

Well I dunno, I got the graphics and sound out.

I'm pretty sure its based on a less complicated version of the engine than the original Snow Sakura is since this time the graphics are all .PNG instead of .BMP.

Anyway I'll give this all a look, thank you very much!

EDIT: I didn't really know much about specifics of engines I guess I should look around more.