novafarma/docs/LAUNCHER_VIBE_UPDATE_GUIDE.md

🌫️ LAUNCHER VIBE UPDATE - Noir Atmosphere Implementation

Date: January 10, 2026 23:10 CET
Purpose: Enhance main menu with noir atmosphere, fix save system, add gamepad navigation
File: StoryScene.js

---

🎯 CHANGES TO IMPLEMENT

1. 🎵 NOIR BACKGROUND MUSIC

Current: No music
New: forest_evening.wav (reinsamba - Freesound)

Implementation:

// In create()
// Add noir forest ambience
audioManager.init(this);
audioManager.playMusic('forest', {
    volume: 0.3,  // 30% volume (quiet background)
    loop: true
});

Music Details:

• File: evening in the forest.wav
• Author: reinsamba
• Link: https://freesound.org/s/18765/
• License: CC BY 4.0
• Vibe: Dark, mysterious, survival noir

---

2. 🌫️ FOG SHADER ANIMATION

Current: Static brown background
New: Animated noir fog effect

Implementation:

// Fog particles system
const fogParticles = this.add.particles('fog_particle'); // Create small gray circle sprite

const fogEmitter = fogParticles.createEmitter({
    x: { min: -100, max: width + 100 },
    y: { min: -100, max: height + 100 },
    speedX: { min: -20, max: 20 },
    speedY: { min: -10, max: 10 },
    scale: { start: 0.3, end: 1.5 },
    alpha: { start: 0, end: 0.15, ease: 'Sine.easeIn' },
    lifespan: 8000,
    frequency: 300,
    quantity: 1,
    blendMode: 'NORMAL'
});

fogEmitter.setDepth(5); // Above background, below buttons

Alternative (Shader):

// Noir vignette filter
const vignette = this.add.rectangle(0, 0, width, height, 0x000000, 0);
vignette.setOrigin(0);
vignette.setDepth(100);

// Radial gradient effect (darker edges)
this.tweens.add({
    targets: vignette,
    alpha: 0.4,
    duration: 2000,
    yoyo: true,
    repeat: -1,
    ease: 'Sine.easeInOut'
});

---

3. 💾 SAVE SYSTEM FIX

Current Issue: FILE_NOT_FOUND error
Root Cause: LOAD GAME button not connected to SaveLoadSystem

Fix Implementation:

loadGame() {
    console.log('📁 Loading Game...');
    
    // Import SaveLoadSystem
    import('./systems/SaveLoadSystem.js').then(module => {
        const saveLoadSystem = module.default;
        
        // Try to load
        const saveData = saveLoadSystem.load();
        
        if (saveData && saveData.player) {
            console.log('✅ Save file found!', saveData);
            alert(`Save loaded!\nAge: ${saveData.player.current_age}\nMemories: ${saveData.progress.memories_found}/100`);
            
            // Start game with loaded data
            this.scene.start('GameScene', { loadedSave: saveData });
        } else {
            console.log('❌ No save file found');
            alert('No save file found!\n\nStart a new game first.');
        }
    });
}

Console Error Fix:

// In SaveLoadSystem.js - add error handling
load() {
    try {
        const saved = localStorage.getItem(this.saveKey);
        if (!saved) {
            console.log('📂 No save file found (this is normal for first time)');
            return this.createNewSave();
        }
        
        this.currentSave = JSON.parse(saved);
        console.log('📂✅ Game loaded successfully');
        return this.currentSave;
    } catch (e) {
        console.error('❌ Load failed:', e);
        console.log('🔧 Creating new save instead...');
        return this.createNewSave();
    }
}

---

4. 🎮 XBOX CONTROLLER NAVIGATION

Current: Mouse/keyboard only
New: Full gamepad support for menu

Implementation:

create() {
    // ... existing code ...
    
    // Initialize gamepad
    this.gamepadController = new GamepadController(this);
    
    // Menu navigation state
    this.selectedButtonIndex = 0;
    this.menuButtons = []; // Store button references
    
    // Highlight first button
    this.highlightButton(0);
}

update() {
    const input = this.gamepadController.update();
    if (!input) return;
    
    // D-Pad or Left Stick up/down
    if (input.leftStick.y < -0.5 || input.buttons.DPAD_UP) {
        this.navigateUp();
    } else if (input.leftStick.y > 0.5 || input.buttons.DPAD_DOWN) {
        this.navigateDown();
    }
    
    // A button to confirm
    if (this.gamepadController.isButtonJustPressed('A')) {
        this.confirmSelection();
    }
    
    // B button to go back/exit
    if (this.gamepadController.isButtonJustPressed('B')) {
        this.exitGame();
    }
}

navigateUp() {
    this.selectedButtonIndex--;
    if (this.selectedButtonIndex < 0) {
        this.selectedButtonIndex = this.menuButtons.length - 1;
    }
    this.highlightButton(this.selectedButtonIndex);
}

navigateDown() {
    this.selectedButtonIndex++;
    if (this.selectedButtonIndex >= this.menuButtons.length) {
        this.selectedButtonIndex = 0;
    }
    this.highlightButton(this.selectedButtonIndex);
}

highlightButton(index) {
    // Remove highlight from all buttons
    this.menuButtons.forEach((btn, i) => {
        if (i === index) {
            btn.bg.setFillStyle(0x8b5a3c); // Highlighted
            btn.bg.setStrokeStyle(4, 0xf4e4c1); // Bright border
            btn.text.setScale(1.05);
        } else {
            btn.bg.setFillStyle(0x6b4423); // Normal
            btn.bg.setStrokeStyle(3, 0xd4a574); // Normal border
            btn.text.setScale(1.0);
        }
    });
}

confirmSelection() {
    const selectedBtn = this.menuButtons[this.selectedButtonIndex];
    if (selectedBtn && selectedBtn.action) {
        selectedBtn.action();
    }
}

---

5. 🐍 PYTHON FIX FOR VOICE GENERATION

Current Issue: python command not found on Mac
Fix: Use python3 instead

Terminal Commands:

# Check Python version
python3 --version

# Generate voices (if you have Edge TTS script)
python3 generate_voices.py --character kai --language en
python3 generate_voices.py --character ana --language en
python3 generate_voices.py --character gronk --language en

If Edge TTS not installed:

# Install Edge TTS
pip3 install edge-tts

# Generate voice (example)
edge-tts \
  --voice en-US-ChristopherNeural \
  --text "Dad and I. Before everything changed." \
  --write-media kai_en_01.mp3

---

📋 IMPLEMENTATION CHECKLIST

Before Testing:

Save System:

• Import SaveLoadSystem in StoryScene
• Connect LOAD GAME button to saveLoadSystem.load()
• Add error handling for missing saves
• Test save → reload flow

Launcher Vibe:

• Import AudioManager
• Load forest_evening.wav in preload
• Play music at 30% volume in create()
• Add fog particle system OR vignette shader
• Test music loops properly

Python Voices:

• Update scripts to use python3
• Regenerate missing voice files
• Verify all 45 files exist
• Test in-game voice playback

Xbox Control:

• Import GamepadController
• Add update() method
• Implement navigation (up/down)
• Add button highlighting
• Test with Xbox controller
• Test with PS5 controller

---

🎨 VISUAL ENHANCEMENTS

Fog Effect Options:

Option A: Particle System (Recommended)

• Subtle fog drifting across screen
• Low performance impact
• Easy to customize

Option B: Shader Effect

• Noir vignette (dark edges)
• Atmospheric glow
• Higher visual quality

Option C: Both

• Particles + vignette
• Maximum noir atmosphere
• Slightly higher performance cost

---

🔊 AUDIO IMPLEMENTATION

Preload Forest Ambience:

// In preload()
this.load.audio('forest_evening', 'assets/audio/sfx/evening_in_the_forest.wav');

Or if using music folder:

this.load.audio('forest_ambience', 'assets/audio/music/forest_ambient.mp3');

Play on Create:

// In create()
if (!this.sys.game.audioManager) {
    import('./systems/AudioManager.js').then(module => {
        const audioManager = module.default;
        this.sys.game.audioManager = audioManager;
        audioManager.init(this);
        audioManager.playMusic('forest', { volume: 0.3, loop: true });
    });
} else {
    this.sys.game.audioManager.init(this);
    this.sys.game.audioManager.playMusic('forest', { volume: 0.3, loop: true });
}

---

🎯 EXPECTED RESULTS

After Implementation:

Visual:

• ✅ Subtle fog drifting across menu
• ✅ Noir vignette effect
• ✅ Atmospheric dark theme
• ✅ Highlighted button for gamepad

Audio:

• ✅ Forest evening ambience (30% volume)
• ✅ Loops seamlessly
• ✅ Sets noir/survival mood

Functionality:

• ✅ LOAD GAME works (no FILE_NOT_FOUND)
• ✅ Save data displays correctly
• ✅ Xbox controller navigates menu
• ✅ Python3 generates voices

User Experience:

• ✅ Noir survival atmosphere
• ✅ Professional main menu feel
• ✅ Accessible (keyboard + mouse + gamepad)
• ✅ Immersive from first screen

---

🚀 PRIORITY ORDER

CRITICAL (Do First):

1. Fix Save/Load connection ✅
2. Add forest ambience music ✅
3. Test gamepad navigation ✅

IMPORTANT (Do Next):

4. Add fog/vignette effect ✅
5. Python3 voice generation ✅

POLISH (Do Later):

6. Fine-tune fog opacity
7. Add sound effects for menu clicks
8. Polish gamepad button highlights

---

📝 NOTES

Language Support:

• Already has: 🇸🇮 🇬🇧 🇩🇪 🇮🇹 🇨🇳
• Excellent for reach!
• LocalizationSystem implemented ✅

Accessibility Icon:

• Already visible (top-right)
• Links to accessibility menu ✅

Version Display:

• Shows "v0.9.0 ALPHA" ✅
• Update to "v0.95 ALPHA" before demo launch

---

END OF IMPLEMENTATION GUIDE

Ready to transform the launcher into a noir masterpiece! 🌫️🎮💎