Yep.
I hope you all enjoyed your Labor Day weekend. I did- but it was plagued with technical problems. I installed my new computer (a Mac Pro, I've been a PC guy up until now), only to an hour later have a transformer blow in my area and lose power.
After the DWP fixed the transformer (it did look very cool- there was literally smoke pouring out of the manhole covers), the power did come back (about 6 hours later). With the return of power however came a power surge, and while my computer(s) were plugged into a surge protector it doesn't seem to have done much good.
It seems the power supply on my old computer was fried. Good news is, I have my new computer (which, despite being plugged into the same surge protector, came out fine) so I can access the internet and such. Bad news is, all of my files and software are still on the old one; and I have no way of accessing them until I can have the power supply replaced (which hopefully wont take more than a week).
With any luck I'll be back in action then. The good news is I took the precaution of saving the entire project from the get-go onto an external drive, so I have all of the files. What I don't have is the software I need (Photoshop, Flash, my FTP client...).
So that's where it stands. Hopefully things should be back on track in a week or so.
Tuesday, September 4, 2007
Thursday, August 30, 2007
Step One: Artwork
The first step in this process is to take all of the original graphics and redo them to fit my needs. This mostly involves revising the instructions. For example, instructions saying "touch here" (the original kiosks were touch screens of course) need to say "click here" instead.
The goal, however, is to match the original as closely as possible.
The goal, however, is to match the original as closely as possible.
The Resurrection
And so it begins. Today I took my first look at the files. I must say I was impressed with what I saw. Full, high quality images of all of the screens- with layers. This will make my life much easier and also allow me to make some changes (a screen telling people to take their ticket to the Cast Member at the counter wont do much good- we'll see if it stays or not).
In fact, this is going to be easier than I thought. Which is not to say it will be a piece of cake, just that it's not as complicated as I had imagined. You see, the problem (the reason no one else has recreated the system) have to do not with pretty images like the one above, but with ASP files like this:
Now it is certainly understandable if that looks like complete gibberish to some of you. It does in fact make sense to me, however. What this is is the software that runs the system. It tells everything what to do, when to play, etc.
I thought that I would have to wade through all of the code, trying to figure out exactly what it was doing, and then rewrite it to suit my own needs. This however is not the case. The Disneyland forever system had to do many things: keep track of sales, handle databases of track listings, interface with the CD burning system, etc. My version does not have to do any of those things.
So what I can do instead is, using the graphics and videos, build a new system which will simply preview tracks, create your "CD" like the old one did, and allow you to play the music. It will look and function the same as the old system but behind-the-scenes it will be completely different.
That still wont be easy however. All new pages will have to be created using the old graphics- and the graphics will have to be edited slightly (for example, replacing the world "touch" with the word "click" in instructions). There also has to be a way to keep track of all of the music in each land so that you can browse through it, a way to keep track of what songs (and in what order) you've selected, a way to search through the database of tracks...
Yep. It's going to be a lot of work. But with any luck, maybe it will be up and running in time for the holidays. I'm not making any promises. However if you keep reading this blog I'll give you a chance to test out BETA versions of pages and give you previews. It should be fun.
Stay tuned!
Now it is certainly understandable if that looks like complete gibberish to some of you. It does in fact make sense to me, however. What this is is the software that runs the system. It tells everything what to do, when to play, etc.
I thought that I would have to wade through all of the code, trying to figure out exactly what it was doing, and then rewrite it to suit my own needs. This however is not the case. The Disneyland forever system had to do many things: keep track of sales, handle databases of track listings, interface with the CD burning system, etc. My version does not have to do any of those things.
So what I can do instead is, using the graphics and videos, build a new system which will simply preview tracks, create your "CD" like the old one did, and allow you to play the music. It will look and function the same as the old system but behind-the-scenes it will be completely different.
That still wont be easy however. All new pages will have to be created using the old graphics- and the graphics will have to be edited slightly (for example, replacing the world "touch" with the word "click" in instructions). There also has to be a way to keep track of all of the music in each land so that you can browse through it, a way to keep track of what songs (and in what order) you've selected, a way to search through the database of tracks...
Yep. It's going to be a lot of work. But with any luck, maybe it will be up and running in time for the holidays. I'm not making any promises. However if you keep reading this blog I'll give you a chance to test out BETA versions of pages and give you previews. It should be fun.
Stay tuned!
Wednesday, August 29, 2007
The Beginning...
In my fairly large collection of Disney Park CDs, there is one which always brings a smile to my eye. It has only ten tracks on it, and they are almost random in their disassociation from each other. That disk was created on November 21st, 1999. The CD is 8 years old now- and it's been through so much that it now skips and pops uncontrollably when played. I've kept it-though, because it is completely unique in the world. It is my copy of Disneyland Forever.
Disneyland Forever was my first experience with Disney Park "source audio". I discovered for the first time that, just by listening, I could be transported to the Magic Kingdom. The one track in particular that always took me away (and still does) was "Zip-a-dee-do-dah" from Critter Country, a very familiar piece of music to anyone who has ever ridden Splash Mountain.
But, unfortunately, less than two years later the Disneyland Forever kiosks were gone, along with their counterparts at the Walt Disney World Resort in Florida. Though Disney would release many more official Disneyland albums, even increasing the size of the sets from 1 to 2 disks, and updating it every year, nothing since attempted has ever come close to the brevity of Disneyland Forever. The expansive (and expensive) A Musical History of Disneyland set, while certainly a treat for Disneyland audio fans, focused more on attraction ridethroughs than on individual sounds- the bread and butter of Disneyland Forever.
Even with advances in legal digital music downloads, Disney has made no attempt so far to offer park music for sale beyond the official albums sold in the parks. And given the various legal issues that plagued the original Disneyland Forever, they likely never will.
However, the work of several dedicated fans had brought about a complete collection of the Disneyland Forever tracks. While many of the tracks had technical issues, and were usually offered in the compressed MP3 format, seeing the entire collection again rekindled my interest in Disneyland Forever.
Perhaps, I wondered, it would be possible to recreate the Disneyland Forever kiosks on the computer. Such an experience could be offered online, as a tribute both to Disneyland and the system itself. Perhaps, even, an updated Disneyland Forever 2.0 could be created. With no reference material to work from however, such a project was not possible.
Fast forward a few years again, to August of 2007. Thanks to the work yet again of dedicated Disneyland (and Disneyland Forever fans), high quality FLAC versions of the entire Disneyland Forever collection were made available. That was not all though- also included were many tracks never offered for sale- and original user interface files from the kiosks.
Now a recreation of the kiosk experience is finally possible. While I have not yet had a chance to look over the files (the collection is still downloading, and should be finished within the day), all indications would seem to point to there being enough there to recreate the system.
Just because it's possible, however, doesn't mean it will be easy. In order to create a working system that will be suitable for a web browser, the entire system will have to be recreated using the original files as a guide. suspect Adobe Flash is the best way to do it, as it provides the easiest way of combining audio and video into a seamless experience.
And there are still many questions left to be answered. The purpose of the original kiosks was the creation of a physical CD- something not possible with a website. There are, furthermore, many technical challenges yet to come.
But it should be an adventure nonetheless! I will be posting updates here with regard to my progress as I attempt to recreate the Disneyland Forever system. I'll also be relying on feedback from the comments to make decisions I feel should be left to the users, so comment!
Here's something to do in the meantime: If you have a Disneyland Forever CD, post your track listing!
Here's mine (text copied verbatim):
1. Mickey's ToonTown Area Music "Little Toot"
2. Mickey's ToonTown Area Music "Steamboat Willie"
3. Enchanted Tiki Room "Tiki Room War Chant"
4. Carousel of Progress "Opening 1"
5. Swiss Family Robinson "Christmas Medley"
6. Carousel of Progress "Speed Ramp March"
7. it's a small world "Danish Drum and Bugle Corps"
8. Fantasyland Band Organ "Mickey and Friends"
9. Critter Country Area Music "Zip-a-dee-do-dah"
10. Disney Gallery "Love is a Song"
Disneyland Forever was my first experience with Disney Park "source audio". I discovered for the first time that, just by listening, I could be transported to the Magic Kingdom. The one track in particular that always took me away (and still does) was "Zip-a-dee-do-dah" from Critter Country, a very familiar piece of music to anyone who has ever ridden Splash Mountain.
But, unfortunately, less than two years later the Disneyland Forever kiosks were gone, along with their counterparts at the Walt Disney World Resort in Florida. Though Disney would release many more official Disneyland albums, even increasing the size of the sets from 1 to 2 disks, and updating it every year, nothing since attempted has ever come close to the brevity of Disneyland Forever. The expansive (and expensive) A Musical History of Disneyland set, while certainly a treat for Disneyland audio fans, focused more on attraction ridethroughs than on individual sounds- the bread and butter of Disneyland Forever.
Even with advances in legal digital music downloads, Disney has made no attempt so far to offer park music for sale beyond the official albums sold in the parks. And given the various legal issues that plagued the original Disneyland Forever, they likely never will.
However, the work of several dedicated fans had brought about a complete collection of the Disneyland Forever tracks. While many of the tracks had technical issues, and were usually offered in the compressed MP3 format, seeing the entire collection again rekindled my interest in Disneyland Forever.
Perhaps, I wondered, it would be possible to recreate the Disneyland Forever kiosks on the computer. Such an experience could be offered online, as a tribute both to Disneyland and the system itself. Perhaps, even, an updated Disneyland Forever 2.0 could be created. With no reference material to work from however, such a project was not possible.
Fast forward a few years again, to August of 2007. Thanks to the work yet again of dedicated Disneyland (and Disneyland Forever fans), high quality FLAC versions of the entire Disneyland Forever collection were made available. That was not all though- also included were many tracks never offered for sale- and original user interface files from the kiosks.
Now a recreation of the kiosk experience is finally possible. While I have not yet had a chance to look over the files (the collection is still downloading, and should be finished within the day), all indications would seem to point to there being enough there to recreate the system.
Just because it's possible, however, doesn't mean it will be easy. In order to create a working system that will be suitable for a web browser, the entire system will have to be recreated using the original files as a guide. suspect Adobe Flash is the best way to do it, as it provides the easiest way of combining audio and video into a seamless experience.
And there are still many questions left to be answered. The purpose of the original kiosks was the creation of a physical CD- something not possible with a website. There are, furthermore, many technical challenges yet to come.
But it should be an adventure nonetheless! I will be posting updates here with regard to my progress as I attempt to recreate the Disneyland Forever system. I'll also be relying on feedback from the comments to make decisions I feel should be left to the users, so comment!
Here's something to do in the meantime: If you have a Disneyland Forever CD, post your track listing!
Here's mine (text copied verbatim):
1. Mickey's ToonTown Area Music "Little Toot"
2. Mickey's ToonTown Area Music "Steamboat Willie"
3. Enchanted Tiki Room "Tiki Room War Chant"
4. Carousel of Progress "Opening 1"
5. Swiss Family Robinson "Christmas Medley"
6. Carousel of Progress "Speed Ramp March"
7. it's a small world "Danish Drum and Bugle Corps"
8. Fantasyland Band Organ "Mickey and Friends"
9. Critter Country Area Music "Zip-a-dee-do-dah"
10. Disney Gallery "Love is a Song"
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