From 94c0a10fd3adc4b8d10c109b2d4502f8d8a390fe Mon Sep 17 00:00:00 2001 From: Hunter Kvalevog Date: Sat, 25 Apr 2026 15:58:58 -0500 Subject: --- content/articles/girlfriend-of-steel-re.md | 75 +++++++++++++++++++++ content/articles/win7.md | 37 ++++++++++ .../girlfriend-of-steel-re/000-weeb-header.jpg | Bin 1084194 -> 956676 bytes .../girlfriend-of-steel-re/000-weeb-header.jpg~ | Bin 0 -> 956639 bytes content/posts/girlfriend-of-steel-re.md | 75 --------------------- content/posts/win7.md | 37 ---------- 6 files changed, 112 insertions(+), 112 deletions(-) create mode 100644 content/articles/girlfriend-of-steel-re.md create mode 100644 content/articles/win7.md create mode 100644 content/files/girlfriend-of-steel-re/000-weeb-header.jpg~ delete mode 100644 content/posts/girlfriend-of-steel-re.md delete mode 100644 content/posts/win7.md (limited to 'content') diff --git a/content/articles/girlfriend-of-steel-re.md b/content/articles/girlfriend-of-steel-re.md new file mode 100644 index 0000000..35db72b --- /dev/null +++ b/content/articles/girlfriend-of-steel-re.md @@ -0,0 +1,75 @@ ++++ +title = 'Reverse Engineering _Neon Genesis Evangelion: Girlfriend of Steel_' +date = 2026-04-22T20:30:53-05:00 +draft = true ++++ + +![weeb-header](/files/girlfriend-of-steel-re/000-weeb-header.jpg) + +Last year, I started reverse enginering _Neon Genesis Evangelion: Girlfriend of Steel_ with the intention of writing a replacement engine that runs on modern computers. +I ended up losing interest, but not before cracking a few of the game data formats. I'm going to document them here, that way anyone who takes a similar +interest in restoration or modding can have a head start. + +The source code of the abandoned project is available here: [fantatech-1776908508.tar.gz](/files/girlfriend-of-steel-re/fantatech-1776908508.tar.gz). +It includes [ImHex](https://imhex.werwolv.net/) patterns and rudimentary decoders for some of the formats described below. + +## What game am I talking about? + +I actually looked at two different games. I will share the information I know about the 1997 formats, but the primary focus will be on the 2006 version. +VNDB has a good record of all the available ports and translations here: [https://vndb.org/v556](https://vndb.org/v556). + +**_Neon Genesis Evangelion: Girlfriend of Steel (1997, PC)_**: This is the original release of the game. It's also the most widely available. +I was able to buy a factory sealed copy on eBay. Surprisingly, you can still mount the ISO and run the ~30 year old binaries on Windows 11. It plays mostly +fine with a [Shift-JIS locale emulator](https://github.com/xupefei/Locale-Emulator). +The chunky bitmap graphics and audio, although charming, are considerably lower quality than in the 2006 version. + +**_Neon Genesis Evangelion: Girlfriend of Steel (Special Edition) (2006, PC)_**: Also called _Shin Seiki Evangelion: Koutetsu no Girlfriend Tokubetsu-hen_, is a remake. +It has upgraded sounds and visuals, additional scenarios, and a full-motion video (Cinepak) intro sequence. It's also filled to the brim with DRM that makes it completely +broken on any system that isn't running Windows XP with Direct3D acceleration. +This will only run in VMWare because VirtualBox dropped 3D acceleration support for Windows XP guests. + +I have not been able to find a physical copy of the PC version of Special Edition for sale anywhere. +The PSP version is available, but the image resolutions are smaller than those found in the PC version. + +Luckily, someone in 2020 found a copy and had the foresight to rip the disc and upload it to the The Internet Archive. This is the raw, original disc; DRM and all: +[https://archive.org/details/ssekngpcredump](https://archive.org/details/ssekngpcredump) - [http://redump.org/disc/74520/](http://redump.org/disc/74520/). + +MD5: `536adbefc80a84378b65224fddf122e7` SHA-1: `77a03fb1823cb96189ac50b9afece8930e709c93` + +## Getting around DRM + +Special edition is secured with [SafeDisc](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/SafeDisc). It's completely broken on modern Windows, so you'll need to use a virtual machine to run the game. +I had good success with Windows XP in VMWare with 3D acceleration enabled. + +Once the game is running in the VM (lots of fiddling, unfortunately) the executable can be dumped with [Scylla x86](https://x64dbg.com/). +To save you the headache, here's the dump: [mana01_dump.tar.gz](/files/girlfriend-of-steel-re/mana01_dump.tar.gz) + +![001-scylla.png](/files/girlfriend-of-steel-re/001-scylla.png) + +Although it doesn't run, the dump is a correct PE file. +Ghidra is able to create proper data and code cross-references. Here's a function that parses script keywords: + +![002-ghidra.png](/files/girlfriend-of-steel-re/002-ghidra.png) + + +## Custom file types (1997) + +* **BP2**: Image (1997) +* **BP3**: Image (2006) +* **LB5**: Lump file +* **TXT**: Game script +* **ZDF**: Animation data + +## Prior work + +When reverse engineering the 1997 game executable, I found several strings referencing something called "bmpwaku". +This was the name given to the tiled bitmap rasterizer written by programmer Ritsurō Hashimoto. + +A small portion of the source code is still available on his website to this day: [bmpwaku.cpp](http://www.ritsuro.com/prog1/bmpwaku.html). +This wasn't particularly useful, but it was cool to find. + +Aside from that, here are the existing tools I looked at: +* [evac010](https://www.vector.co.jp/soft/win95/art/se055672.html): BP2 <-> BMP transcoder, likely written when the game came out in the 1990s. +* [mdukat/EvaGOS\_engine](https://github.com/mdukat/EvaGOS_engine): Includes partial documentation of the game scripting language from the 1997 game. +* [lb5\_decode.c](https://d3suu.neocities.org/EvaGOS_engine/lb5_decode.txt): LB5 unpacker, written by either mdukat or roxfan. +* [Durik256/GOS2-Tools](https://github.com/Durik256/GOS2-Tools): Tools for dealing with files found in Girlfriend of Steel 2. Some overlap. diff --git a/content/articles/win7.md b/content/articles/win7.md new file mode 100644 index 0000000..7e2a843 --- /dev/null +++ b/content/articles/win7.md @@ -0,0 +1,37 @@ ++++ +title = 'Updating a fresh Windows 7+SP1 install' +date = 2024-02-05T02:30:19-06:00 ++++ + +**2026 UPDATE**: Use Atak\_Snajpera's [Windows 7 Image Updater](https://forum.videohelp.com/threads/384921-Windows-7-Image-Updater-SkyLake-KabyLake-CoffeLake-Ryzen-Threadripper) + +## How to update a fresh Windows 7+SP1 install in 2024 + +*Mostly taken from http://www.freenode-windows.org/resources/vista-7/windows-update ([archived](https://web.archive.org/web/20220925214048/http://www.freenode-windows.org/resources/vista-7/windows-update))* + +Windows 7 Ultimate (SP1) SHA1 hash: `36ae90defbad9d9539e649b193ae573b77a71c83` + +## 1. Download rollup updates +First, manually download (but don't install) these updates from the [Microsoft Update Catalog](https://www.catalog.update.microsoft.com/home.aspx): + +1. [KB3125574](https://www.catalog.update.microsoft.com/Search.aspx?q=KB3125574) +2. [KB3172605](https://www.catalog.update.microsoft.com/Search.aspx?q=KB3172605) +3. [KB3020369](https://www.catalog.update.microsoft.com/Search.aspx?q=KB3020369) + +## 2. Disable Windows Update + +1. Disable the internet connection +2. Disable the Windows Update service (`stop-service wuauserv` in admin PowerShell) +3. Remove cached update files (`remove-item C:\windows\softwaredistribution\WuRedir` in admin PowerShell) + +## 3. Install rollup updates + +1. Install KB3020369 +2. Install KB3172605 and reboot +3. Install KB3125574 and reboot + +## 3. Updating via Windows Update + +Reconnect to the internet and launch the standard Windows Update program. + +Many updates will fail, but if you retry and restart enough, they will eventually succeed. diff --git a/content/files/girlfriend-of-steel-re/000-weeb-header.jpg b/content/files/girlfriend-of-steel-re/000-weeb-header.jpg index 8c7b8dd..761a18b 100644 Binary files a/content/files/girlfriend-of-steel-re/000-weeb-header.jpg and b/content/files/girlfriend-of-steel-re/000-weeb-header.jpg differ diff --git a/content/files/girlfriend-of-steel-re/000-weeb-header.jpg~ b/content/files/girlfriend-of-steel-re/000-weeb-header.jpg~ new file mode 100644 index 0000000..6ad7ab0 Binary files /dev/null and b/content/files/girlfriend-of-steel-re/000-weeb-header.jpg~ differ diff --git a/content/posts/girlfriend-of-steel-re.md b/content/posts/girlfriend-of-steel-re.md deleted file mode 100644 index 35db72b..0000000 --- a/content/posts/girlfriend-of-steel-re.md +++ /dev/null @@ -1,75 +0,0 @@ -+++ -title = 'Reverse Engineering _Neon Genesis Evangelion: Girlfriend of Steel_' -date = 2026-04-22T20:30:53-05:00 -draft = true -+++ - -![weeb-header](/files/girlfriend-of-steel-re/000-weeb-header.jpg) - -Last year, I started reverse enginering _Neon Genesis Evangelion: Girlfriend of Steel_ with the intention of writing a replacement engine that runs on modern computers. -I ended up losing interest, but not before cracking a few of the game data formats. I'm going to document them here, that way anyone who takes a similar -interest in restoration or modding can have a head start. - -The source code of the abandoned project is available here: [fantatech-1776908508.tar.gz](/files/girlfriend-of-steel-re/fantatech-1776908508.tar.gz). -It includes [ImHex](https://imhex.werwolv.net/) patterns and rudimentary decoders for some of the formats described below. - -## What game am I talking about? - -I actually looked at two different games. I will share the information I know about the 1997 formats, but the primary focus will be on the 2006 version. -VNDB has a good record of all the available ports and translations here: [https://vndb.org/v556](https://vndb.org/v556). - -**_Neon Genesis Evangelion: Girlfriend of Steel (1997, PC)_**: This is the original release of the game. It's also the most widely available. -I was able to buy a factory sealed copy on eBay. Surprisingly, you can still mount the ISO and run the ~30 year old binaries on Windows 11. It plays mostly -fine with a [Shift-JIS locale emulator](https://github.com/xupefei/Locale-Emulator). -The chunky bitmap graphics and audio, although charming, are considerably lower quality than in the 2006 version. - -**_Neon Genesis Evangelion: Girlfriend of Steel (Special Edition) (2006, PC)_**: Also called _Shin Seiki Evangelion: Koutetsu no Girlfriend Tokubetsu-hen_, is a remake. -It has upgraded sounds and visuals, additional scenarios, and a full-motion video (Cinepak) intro sequence. It's also filled to the brim with DRM that makes it completely -broken on any system that isn't running Windows XP with Direct3D acceleration. -This will only run in VMWare because VirtualBox dropped 3D acceleration support for Windows XP guests. - -I have not been able to find a physical copy of the PC version of Special Edition for sale anywhere. -The PSP version is available, but the image resolutions are smaller than those found in the PC version. - -Luckily, someone in 2020 found a copy and had the foresight to rip the disc and upload it to the The Internet Archive. This is the raw, original disc; DRM and all: -[https://archive.org/details/ssekngpcredump](https://archive.org/details/ssekngpcredump) - [http://redump.org/disc/74520/](http://redump.org/disc/74520/). - -MD5: `536adbefc80a84378b65224fddf122e7` SHA-1: `77a03fb1823cb96189ac50b9afece8930e709c93` - -## Getting around DRM - -Special edition is secured with [SafeDisc](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/SafeDisc). It's completely broken on modern Windows, so you'll need to use a virtual machine to run the game. -I had good success with Windows XP in VMWare with 3D acceleration enabled. - -Once the game is running in the VM (lots of fiddling, unfortunately) the executable can be dumped with [Scylla x86](https://x64dbg.com/). -To save you the headache, here's the dump: [mana01_dump.tar.gz](/files/girlfriend-of-steel-re/mana01_dump.tar.gz) - -![001-scylla.png](/files/girlfriend-of-steel-re/001-scylla.png) - -Although it doesn't run, the dump is a correct PE file. -Ghidra is able to create proper data and code cross-references. Here's a function that parses script keywords: - -![002-ghidra.png](/files/girlfriend-of-steel-re/002-ghidra.png) - - -## Custom file types (1997) - -* **BP2**: Image (1997) -* **BP3**: Image (2006) -* **LB5**: Lump file -* **TXT**: Game script -* **ZDF**: Animation data - -## Prior work - -When reverse engineering the 1997 game executable, I found several strings referencing something called "bmpwaku". -This was the name given to the tiled bitmap rasterizer written by programmer Ritsurō Hashimoto. - -A small portion of the source code is still available on his website to this day: [bmpwaku.cpp](http://www.ritsuro.com/prog1/bmpwaku.html). -This wasn't particularly useful, but it was cool to find. - -Aside from that, here are the existing tools I looked at: -* [evac010](https://www.vector.co.jp/soft/win95/art/se055672.html): BP2 <-> BMP transcoder, likely written when the game came out in the 1990s. -* [mdukat/EvaGOS\_engine](https://github.com/mdukat/EvaGOS_engine): Includes partial documentation of the game scripting language from the 1997 game. -* [lb5\_decode.c](https://d3suu.neocities.org/EvaGOS_engine/lb5_decode.txt): LB5 unpacker, written by either mdukat or roxfan. -* [Durik256/GOS2-Tools](https://github.com/Durik256/GOS2-Tools): Tools for dealing with files found in Girlfriend of Steel 2. Some overlap. diff --git a/content/posts/win7.md b/content/posts/win7.md deleted file mode 100644 index 7e2a843..0000000 --- a/content/posts/win7.md +++ /dev/null @@ -1,37 +0,0 @@ -+++ -title = 'Updating a fresh Windows 7+SP1 install' -date = 2024-02-05T02:30:19-06:00 -+++ - -**2026 UPDATE**: Use Atak\_Snajpera's [Windows 7 Image Updater](https://forum.videohelp.com/threads/384921-Windows-7-Image-Updater-SkyLake-KabyLake-CoffeLake-Ryzen-Threadripper) - -## How to update a fresh Windows 7+SP1 install in 2024 - -*Mostly taken from http://www.freenode-windows.org/resources/vista-7/windows-update ([archived](https://web.archive.org/web/20220925214048/http://www.freenode-windows.org/resources/vista-7/windows-update))* - -Windows 7 Ultimate (SP1) SHA1 hash: `36ae90defbad9d9539e649b193ae573b77a71c83` - -## 1. Download rollup updates -First, manually download (but don't install) these updates from the [Microsoft Update Catalog](https://www.catalog.update.microsoft.com/home.aspx): - -1. [KB3125574](https://www.catalog.update.microsoft.com/Search.aspx?q=KB3125574) -2. [KB3172605](https://www.catalog.update.microsoft.com/Search.aspx?q=KB3172605) -3. [KB3020369](https://www.catalog.update.microsoft.com/Search.aspx?q=KB3020369) - -## 2. Disable Windows Update - -1. Disable the internet connection -2. Disable the Windows Update service (`stop-service wuauserv` in admin PowerShell) -3. Remove cached update files (`remove-item C:\windows\softwaredistribution\WuRedir` in admin PowerShell) - -## 3. Install rollup updates - -1. Install KB3020369 -2. Install KB3172605 and reboot -3. Install KB3125574 and reboot - -## 3. Updating via Windows Update - -Reconnect to the internet and launch the standard Windows Update program. - -Many updates will fail, but if you retry and restart enough, they will eventually succeed. -- cgit v1.2.3