Simply Love (StepMania 5)
About
Simply Love is a StepMania 5 theme for the post-ITG community.
It features a clean and simple design, offers numerous data-driven features not implemented by the StepMania 5 engine, and allows the current generation of ITG fans to breathe new life into the game they've known for over a decade.
Simply Love was originally designed and implemented for a previous version of StepMania (SM3.95) by hurtpiggypig. For more information on that version of Simply Love, check here:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OtcWy5m6-CQ
Requirements
You'll need to install StepMania 5.0.12 or StepMania 5.1 beta to use this theme.
Older versions of StepMania are not compatible. StepMania 5.2 is not compatible.
Troubleshooting StepMania
If you are having trouble installing StepMania or getting it to run on your computer, please refer to StepMania's FAQ. Additionally, you may find these links helpful for your given operating system:
- Windows - This issue on GitHub provides links to the needed DirectX and VS2013 redistributable packages.
- macOS - If you are unable to open the dmg installer with an error like "No mountable file systems", you'll need to update your copy of macOS for the time being. If you are encountering the "No NoteSkins found" error, this wiki page provides a means of resolving it on your computer until it is properly fixed upstream.
- Linux - It is more or less assumed that you will build your own executables if you are using Linux. StepMania's GitHub wiki provides both a list of dependencies and some instructions on compiling.
Installation
Head to the Releases Page to download the most recent formal release of Simply Love. If you opt to download directly from the master branch instead, you may get new features but also newer bugs.
To install this theme, unzip it and move the resulting directory inside the Themes folder in your StepMania user data directory.
Screenshots
Visit my imgur album for screenshots of this theme in action: http://imgur.com/a/56wDq
New Features
Or, things I've added that were not present in the original Simply Love for StepMania 3.95.
New GameModes
- Casual – Intended for novice players; restricted song list, no failing, no LifeMeter, simplified UI, etc. You can read more about customizing what content appears in Casual Mode here.
- ITG – Play using the In the Groove standards established over a decade ago
- FA+ – Similar to ITG, but features tighter TimingWindows; can be used to qualify for ECFA events
- StomperZ – Emulates a very small set of features from Rhythm Horizon gameplay
New Auxiliary Features
- Live Step Statistics – This optional gameplay overlay tracks how many of each judgment have been earned in real time and features a notes-per-second density histogram. This can make livestreaming more interesting for viewers.
- Judgment Scatter Plot – ScreenEvaluation now features a judgment scatterplot where notes hit early are rendered "below the middle" and notes hit late are rendered "above the middle." This can offer insight into how a player performed over time. Did the player gradually hit notes earlier and earlier as the song wore on? This feature can help players answer such questions.
- Judgment Density Histogram – The evaluation screen also now features a histogram that will help players assess whether they are more often hitting notes early or late.
- Per-Column Judgment Breakdown
- IIDX-inspired Pacemaker
- QR Code Integration with GrooveStats – Evaluation now displays a QR code that will upload the score you just earned to your GrooveStats account.
- improved MeasureCounter – Stepcharts can now be parsed ahead of time, so it is no longer necessary to play through a stepchart at least once to acquire a stream breakdown.
New Aesthetic Features
- RainbowMode – add some color to Simply Love!
- NoteSkin and Judgment previews in the modifier menu
- improved widescreen support
New Conveniences for Public Machine Operators
- MenuTimer Options – Set the MenuTimers for various screens.
- Long/Marathon Song Cutoffs – The cutoffs for songs that cost 2 and 3 rounds can be set in Arcade Options.
Language Support
Simply Love has support for:
- English
- Español
- Français
- Português Brasileiro
- 日本語
- Deutsch
The current language can be changed in Simply Love under System Options. You may need to restart StepMania immediately after changing the language for all in-game text to be properly translated.
FAQ
Why are my high scores ranking out of order?
You need to set PercentageScoring=1 in your Preferences.ini file. Please note that you must quit StepMania before opening and editing Preferences.ini.
Your existing scores will remain ranked out of order, but all scores going forward after making this change will be ranked correctly.
Where is my Preferences.ini file?
See the Manually Changing Preferences page on StepMania's GitHub Wiki.
How can I get more songs to show up in Casual Mode?
Please refer to the Casual Mode README.