Revision as of 15:52, 2 July 2014

If you have problems installing or running the game, this is what you should read.

FAQ

Insert disk 1

Bad installation

• Q: I keep getting 0% on all interactions. Please help!?
  A: You must run the game (AA2Play.exe/AA2Play English.exe) with Japanese locale (use AppLocale (or HF pApploc)). It will also work if you run the game via the desktop shortcut installed by the HF Patch (because it's an AppLocale shortcut).

• Q: My game freezes on all/some conversations. Help!?
  A: You must run the game (AA2Play.exe/AA2Play English.exe) with Japanese locale (use AppLocale (or HF pApploc)). It will also work if you run the game via the desktop shortcut installed by the HF Patch (because it's an AppLocale shortcut).

• Q: It's telling me to insert the "commercial version disk" even though I already have it mounted AND renamed it DISK1.mdf. I'm already in Japanese locale, and I still tried running it with applocale?
  A: Mount C:\Downloads\AA2\DISK1.iso with Daemontools Lite (other mounting software has been known to fail with Japanese games, so please use Daemontools Lite! - it's completely free)

• Q: I can't get PowerISO to mount disk 2 and 3. Any help?
  A: Mount C:\Downloads\AA2\DISK1.iso with Daemontools Lite (other mounting software has been known to fail with Japanese games, so please use Daemontools Lite! - it's completely free)

• Q: While installing, the game complains about Data1.cab from disk1. Help!?
  A: Make sure that you mounted DISK1.mdf (i.e. ジンコウガクエン2.mdf renamed to DISK1.mdf). If that doesn't help, try extracting ジンコウガクエン2.mdf again, rename it to DISK1.mdf, and follow the quick step-by-step guide below.

• Q: How do I zoom in, mouse wheel is getting me nothing?
  A: Right click and move the mouse.

• Q: The text is not displayed correctly and I already set my system locale to Japanese?
  A1: Use AppLocale instead (or HF pApploc), but make sure your "Region and Language" settings are in your native language; AppLocale will not work properly if it already thinks you're running in Japanese.
  A2: You need to set Formats and non-unicode programs (under Administrative) under "Region and Language" to Japanese (setting only non-unicode to Japanese is not enough with this game).

• Q: I have a trait/personality/etc in my game that doesn't seem to be mentioned anywhere?
  A: The translation of personalities, traits, sexual prefs, items etc. are subject to change until after the game has been launched. To ensure that you have the latest official translations go here.

• Q: My game just randomly crashes and I've tried reinstalling so many times, my system locale is japanese.
  A1: Use AppLocale instead (or HF pApploc), but make sure your "Region and Language" settings are in your native language; AppLocale will not work properly if it already thinks you're running in Japanese.
  A2: You need to set Formats and non-unicode programs (under Administrative) under "Region and Language" to Japanese (setting only non-unicode to Japanese is not enough with this game).
  A3: It might be because you load hacked characters or that use mods that you don't have installed. Easiest way to make sure is to load all characters you want to play with in AA2Edit one by one, review the hair/traits/sex prefs etc. and then save the character as a new file (System tab). Then you can start the game and safely load the characters you just saved.

• Q: The Maker/game stopped working (it crashes) when I launch it?
  A: This is known to happen (rare) and can be caused by other applications running. Try closing any open applications (browser etc.) and try again. If that doesn't help, try restarting Windows and then try running it again.

• Q: How to get the game uncensored? The uncensor for the Maker doesn't seem to work?
  A: It works only for the nude models. So undress completely.

• Q: Where do I put custom eye textures?
  A: If you installed AA2 Edit to the location suggested below: C:\illusion\AA2Edit\data\texture\eye\

• Q: Does anyone know what this error means (see Bad installation picture on the right)? It keeps showing up every time I talk to someone or they talk to me in game. All I have to do is click it to make it go away but its very annoying! Anyone know what it says?
  A: You installed the maker and game in the same folder (instead of following the Quick step-by-step guide below). Playing full screen may suppress the error, but otherwise install the game like suggested below to fix it.

• Q: When I run the game I see only a black screen? btw, I run the game in full screen and I installed the Windowed Fullscreen 2.0 mod.
  A: The Windowed Fullscreen mod is intended for running the game windowed in your desktop resolution (set the game resolution to match your desktop in Options on the AA2Play launcher). The purpose of the mod is that the game will seem to be in fullscreen, but you will be able to Alt-Tab etc. without it crashing/just showing a black screen. If you wish to run the game in full screen you should just delete the mod, i.e. delete <your AA2Play folder>\d3d9.dll.

Installing the Game

Quick step-by-step guide

Note that this covers installing the game from scratch. If you already installed the Maker (aka. AA2 Edit) you can skip the AA2 Edit steps.

Startup.exe: Click the fourth button to install AA2, fifth button to install the AA2 Edit

Click highlighted button to change the destination

It should look like this before you click (N)

Insert disk 2

1. Extract ジンコウガクエン2.mdf, DISK2.mdf and DISK3.mdf (DO NOT extract the .mds files!) to e.g. C:\Downloads\AA2
2. Rename ジンコウガクエン2.mdf to DISK1.mdf
3. Mount C:\Downloads\AA2\DISK1.mdf with Daemontools Lite (other mounting software has been known to fail with Japanese games, so please use Daemontools Lite! - it's completely free)
4. DO NOT autorun, but explore the mounted dvd and right-click Startup.exe and select Run with Japanese locale as administrator (you need HF pApploc for the right-click options).
5. Refer to Startup.exe picture on the right: If you can click the second button it means you have to install DirectX 9.0c. Your game will not work if you ignore these two issues!
6. Click the third button from the top (ref. Startup.exe picture) to start the AA2 Edit (aka. Maker) setup.
7. Click the button with (N) once.
8. IMPORTANT: Change the destination to e.g. C:\illusion\AA2Edit if you want to be able to play the game! (see picture on the right)
9. Click (N) again a few times and wait while AA2 Edit installs (will only take a few seconds).
10. When the AA2 Edit setup is complete: Click the fourth button from the top (ref. Startup.exe picture) to start the game (AA2 Play) setup.
11. Click the button with (N) once.
12. IMPORTANT: Change the destination to e.g. C:\illusion\AA2 if you want to be able to play the game! (see picture on the right)
13. Click N again a few times, and lastly (I), and wait while the game installs.
14. About a third through the setup will ask for DISK2 (ref. Insert disk 2 picture on the right): Mount DISK2.iso with Daemontools Lite, wait a few seconds and then click OK.
15. About two thirds through the setup will ask for DISK3: Mount DISK3.iso with Daemontools Lite, wait a few seconds and then click OK.
16. Wait while the game finishes the installation.
17. To run the game you need to mount DISK1.mdf again and right-click C:\illusion\AA2\AA2Play.exe and select Run with Japanese locale.

Next step

When you have successfully installed and tested the game you probably want to install official DLC/patches/addons as well as English translations and uncensor.

The easiest is to use the HF Patch. The latest version of the HF Patch includes the official patch 1.0.1 and DLC1 (jg2_03_plus.exe). The current release comes with partial English translations, full uncensor and other useful stuff. You can install additional or different mods after you have applied the HF Patch.

The HF Patch

1. Download the Artificial Academy 2 HF Patch.
2. Read the patch release post while downloading, so you know what is required and what to expect!
3. Run the patch by double-clicking on the file you just downloaded.
4. Read the information in the beginning and make sure that you have enough free disk space to run the patch before you click Next!
5. Click Next and review the components. The Recommended installation is all you need to get the game updated, partially translated and partially uncensored, but you might want to check out the options anyway.
6. Click Next and consider installing an icon on your desktop (TIP: The shortcut using AppLocale is highly recommended, because you still have to run the translated game with Japanese locale. Using the shortcut will make it completely transparent that you actually run the game with Japanese locale).
7. Click Next to start patching your game. Beware that patching your game will change installed files and it cannot be reversed or uninstalled. Therefore you should keep the original files, so you can restore the game to it's original state later on if needed. Having the original files might be a necessity if you plan to install additional or different mods later on.
8. Let the patch finish. Patching may take several minutes and the progress bar may not move. Just be patient. It is guaranteed to work if you installed the game as outlined above.
9. Play the updated, partially translated and partially uncensored game by double-clicking the desktop icon. :)

TIP: You can move the desktop shortcut to anywhere you prefer (some prefer to have it in the game folder) and it will still work.

Note: It is normally safe to run the patch again if you want to install additional components or change options. Just deselect the components you previously installed and patching will be relatively quick.

Installing the DLC

This section explains how to install the preorder bonus and DLC the easy way.

The Easiest Way

Get the Artificial Academy 2 DLC HF Patch. It will install all the below DLC and you don't have to worry about it.

Note: The Artificial Academy 2 DLC HF Patch doesn't include any mods, you need the HF Patch for those!

jg2_sou.exe

1. Right-click jg2_sou.exe and select Run with Japanese locale (you need HF pApploc for the right-click options).
2. Click the highlighted button (the left one) and wait while the archive extracts.
3. Open the "ジンコウガクエン２予約特典" folder.
4. Open the "ジンコウガクエン２ 曹" folder.
5. Copy all files/folders from \setup\main\ to your AA2 folder (C:\illusion\AA2).
6. Copy all files/folders from \setup\edit\ to your AA2 Edit (aka. AA2 Maker) folder (C:\illusion\AA2Edit).
7. Open the "ジンコウガクエン２予約特典髪型" folder.
8. Copy all files/folders from \setup\main\ to your AA2 folder (C:\illusion\AA2).
9. Copy all files from \setup\edit\ to your AA2 Edit (aka. AA2 Maker) folder (C:\illusion\AA2Edit).
10. Done.

jg2_03_plus.exe

1. Right-click jg2_03_plus.exe and select Run with Japanese locale (you need HF pApploc for the right-click options).
2. Click the highlighted button (the left one) and wait while the archive extracts.
3. Open the "ジンコウガクエン２ 追加髪型 アップデートプログラム" folder.
4. Copy all files/folders from \setup\main\ to your AA2 folder (C:\illusion\AA2) - Yes to overwrite.
5. Copy all files/folders from \setup\edit\ to your AA2 Edit (aka. AA2 Maker) folder (C:\illusion\AA2Edit) - Yes to overwrite.
6. Done.

Installing the Maker

Note that this covers installing the Maker ONLY (for those without the full game). IMPORTANT: If you have the full game you should follow the quick step-by-step guide above!

Maker Startup

It should look like this before you click (N)

1. Run jg2_02_make.exe.
2. Enter a location to install it, e.g. C:\Downloads\AA2Maker (you can just paste this to the extractor and it will create the folders).
3. Press Enter and wait for the extraction to complete.
4. Go to C:\Downloads\AA2Maker.
5. Rename the "ジンコウガクエン２ きゃらめいく製品版" folder to e.g. "Maker", so that you have C:\Downloads\AA2Maker\Maker.
6. Go to C:\Downloads\AA2Maker\Maker.
7. Right-click Startup.exe and select Run with Japanese locale as administrator (you need HF pApploc for the right-click options).
8. Refer to Maker Startup screenshot on the right: If the second button is not grayed out you must install DirectX 9.0c. Your game will not work if you ignore this!
9. Click the third button from the top (ref. Maker Startup screenshot on the right) to start the AA2 Edit (aka. Maker) setup.
10. Wait while the setup starts up and then click the button with (N) once.
11. IMPORTANT: Click the top-right button and change the destination to e.g. C:\illusion\AA2Maker!! (ref. 'It should look like this before you click (N)' screenshot on the right)
12. Click (N) again a few times and wait while AA2 Edit installs (will only take a few seconds).
13. Click (F) and you're done installing the AA2 Maker. :)

Running the Maker

1. Go to the C:\illusion\AA2Maker\ folder.
2. Right-click AA2Edit.exe and select Run with Japanese locale (you need HF pApploc for the right-click options).

Improving the Visuals

Some people may not know it, but it's possible to significantly improve how the game looks just by setting a few settings in your graphics adapter control panel. These settings shouldn't impact performance noticeably unless you have an older graphics adapter or if you are running the game at a very high resolution.

NVIDIA 3D Settings

For NVIDIA graphics do the following:

1. Make sure that Options->Effects->Anti-Aliasing is set to None.
2. Open NVIDIA Control Panel
3. Click Manage 3D settings
4. Click the tab Program Settings
5. Click add and browse to C:\illusion\AA2\AA2Play English.exe (for the Maker you should use C:\illusion\AA2Edit\AA2Edit.exe)
6. Recommended settings for maximum visual effect:
   1. Anisotropic filtering: 8x
   2. Antialiasing - Gamma correction: On
   3. Antialiasing - Mode: Override any application setting
   4. Antialiasing - Setting: 32x
   5. Antialiasing - Transparency: 8x (Supersample)
   6. Texture filtering - Anisotropic sample optimization: Off
   7. Texture filtering - Negative LOD bias: Clamp
   8. Texture filtering - Quality: High quality
7. Click Apply
8. Experiment with lower settings if you don't have a recent graphics card or to tweak performance vs. visuals.

ATi/AMD 3D Settings

For ATI graphics do the following:

1. Open AMD Vision Engine Control Panel
2. Click Gaming
3. Click the tab 3d Application Settings
4. Uncheck the Use application settings checkboxes under the Antialiasing and Anisotropic tabs.
5. Recommended settings for maximum visual effect:
   1. Antialiasing - Setting: 8x
   2. Antialiasing - Filter: Edge-detect
   3. Anisotropic filtering: 16x
   4. Catalyst A.I. - High Quality
   5. Catalyst A.I. - Enable Surface Format Optimization
   6. Mipmap Detail Level - High Quality
   7. Antialiasing Mode - Super-sample AA

• Note: Supersample AA can bring even the most powerful computers to sub 30 FPS in this game during H-scenes and conversations. If you find the FPS drop to be unbearable, Adaptive Multi-Sample AA is close to the same quality with drastically less of an impact on FPS.

1. Click Apply