Star Stable: The Autumn Riders

Star Stable: The Autumn Riders is the first game in the Star Stable series and the ninth in the Star Stable/Starshine franchise.

To do:

Create series categories for this "Star Stable" game series, the "Starshine Legacy" game series, the "Star Academy" game series and the "Star Stable/Starshine" franchise as a whole.
Document the debug menu and the few debug worlds that are left in the game files.
Document the debug/dev resources such as test models and temporary textures.
Find and document the regionally localized titles of the game and the publishers for different regions.
Identify the leftover content from other games that goes unused in this game. (Such as content from the "Starshine Legacy" series, "Star Academy" series or of the other episodes of this series.)
Document the "manbat" model, which originates from the 2002 Nosferatu CD Rom game, since one of the developers that was part of Pixel Tales then, worked at the studio that developed the Nosferatu game before. The internally listed file path also hints at the fact that there might've been a PlayStation 2 port of the Nosferatu game in the works, but it apparently never got released.
Find as much information as possible from the help pages that used to be hosted for these games. (Use Internet Archive's Wayback Machine)

Debug Menu and Worlds#

In the script file for the main menu (E1_Menu.pxo), there is a hidden debug menu option that is used to load into several debug worlds. It has 8 buttons, of which 6 are for debug worlds, one is for unloading the currently loaded file although this doesn't have much of an effect, since loading any world or even an actual save file will reset everything anyway, and lastly a cancel button to navigate back to the main menu. Of the 6 debug world buttons, only 3 are functional here, and one of them has been attributed with a file that doesn't fit the button label, and the remaining listed debug worlds belong to other games, such as ones from the Star Academy series, and their file is not contained in this game. It's likely that this same debug menu script has been used for several games developed in the franchise and thus wasn't adjusted or relabeled to fit the specific game.

Button Name	World Name	File Name	Included in this game
Quest Test	Quest Test	DebugScene.pxo	Yes
Characters²	DebugSpaceWithSky	DebugSpaceWithSky.pxo	Yes
All Player Items (Room)	DebugAllPlayerItemsRoom	DebugAllShopItemsRoom.pxo	No
Quest World 1	QuestWorld1	QuestWorld_1.pxo	Yes
Collision Hiteffects	DevCollision	_DevCollision.pxo	No
Sound World 1	SoundWorld1	SoundWorld_1.pxo	Yes

There are more debug worlds included in the files which are not listed in this debug menu, such as:

Anders.pxo³
DebugPlayer.pxo
DevPlayer.pxo
TempDebugRoom100.pxo (meant for Star Academy)

However, some of these are not entirely functional and will crash the game, since certain files that they require are missing or they were meant for a different game entirely.

DebugWindow#

There is a hidden so called "DebugWindow" in the Game UI that can be activated via script injection and is automatically activated in some debug worlds. It has 5 tabs with special functions.

Game Tab#

Several gameplay related functions such as setting the player level, money and xp, disabling quest-dependencies, opening the in-game shops, changing the in-game time, mounting the player's horse, a rain test, killing hiteffects (the ground material specific step sound effects), a timer, setting the player or the horse's stat to the max, filling up the horse's needs, giving the player power-ups, triggering small dev tests, and lastly a notepad button which opens a separate window that is a clone of Windows' Notepad application, though the menu buttons are not able to display their context menus correctly and are therefore unusable (checking the file explorer from the Sys tab confirms that atleast the "file" menu's context menus is implemented).

Visual Tab#

Has checkboxes to enable or disable certain visual effects, specifically related to the terrain:

Hide Terrain Objects
Hide Terrain Objects Billboards
Hide Terrain Spaces
Hide Terrain Patches
Hide Terrain Multi Tex Patches
Hide Game Spaces
Hide Water Reflection
Hide Water Reflection Bump

Map Tab#

Shows a debug version of the Jorvik map, and has all warp points listed on the right. Clicking any of the warp points when the player is currently loaded in Jorvik, will teleport them to that warp point. This game has the following warp points:

Jorvik Stable
Jorvik Jumping Paddock
Hillcrest
Valdale [sic]
Firgrove
River House
Old Wind Mill
Mill
Silo
Scarecrow Hill
MarshLakeIsland
Light House 1
Light House 2
Light House 3
Light House 4
Event Jumping 1
Endurance Riding 1
Event Jumping 2b
Event Jumping 3
Final
Dev

Sys Tab#

A file explorer to see which files are currently loaded in the game. Some file types have special icons here. The left side of the window, named "PropertyView" in the code for the DebugWindow, stays empty. Perhaps this part was still functional in earlier version of the DebugWindow, or it relies on a function that is no longer implemented in the retail release of the game.

Sound Tab#

Shows 3 columns for the 3 sound channels. Different sound files can be played in them, depending on their type, or the currently playing sound can be stopped for each channel individually.

Development Files#

Temporary/Dev textures & models#

Debug script files#

_TheAudience.pxo
_Cam1.pxo
_DanishWormblood_Horse.pxo [sic]
_Furioso_Horse.pxo (Horse_Furioso.pxo is the one that actually gets used in the game)
_Jorvik.pxo (Jorvik.pxo is the one that actually gets used in the game)
_LBigToe_Footstep.pxo
_LThumb_Footstep.pxo
_NotPadWindow.pxo [sic] (Gets used in the DebugWindow)
_Player.pxo (Player.pxo is the one that actually gets used in the game)
_Ply_SkinSetup.pxo
_Ply2_SkinSetup.pxo
_RBigToe_Footstep.pxo
_RThumb_Footstep.pxo
_Setup_Danish.pxo
_Setup_Furioso.pxo
_Setup_SelleFrancais.pxo
BriTest.pxo
Debug_HinderTemp.pxo
DebugGlobal.pxo (Global.pxo is the one that actually gets used in the game)
DebugHorseA.pxo (Horse.pxo is the one that actually gets used in the game)
DebugJeep.pxo
dev_test_1.pxo
LXX_Race_1.pxo
Menu.pxo (E1_Menu.pxo is the one that actually gets used in the game)
PlayerTest1.pxo
TestFig.pxo
TestHorse.pxo

Unused Quest-Related Text#

The file word.pxw contains names, dialogue, and descriptions for several quests and races which were cut for the final release of the game.

E1_Quest_L01_007_Name	Racing at Jorvik
E1_Quest_L01_007_Text	You need to beat Sabine's time in a race outside the Stables. Let her know if you've succeeded!
E1_Quest_L01_007_Giver	You're the new girl, aren't you? Well, just so you know, these are my stables. I made a perfect run in my practice race. I bet you can't beat my time! If you think you can, just follow the trail!
E1_Quest_L01_007_Incomplete	You haven't beaten my time yet!
E1_Quest_L01_007_Complete	You beat my time! I didn't expect that! Maybe you're not as bad as I thought! But don't worry, I won't let you do it again!

E1_Quest_L02_012_Name	Race at Devil's Gap
E1_Quest_L02_012_Text	You must beat Sabine's time in the race at Devil's Gap. Return to Sabine once you've succeeded.
E1_Quest_L02_012_Giver	What are you doing here, %%Player%%? You're bothering me! I don't know why I waste my breath on you. But since you're here, you can try to beat my time in the race here at Devil's Gap!
E1_Quest_L02_012_Incomplete	I knew you couldn’t beat me! I’m still the best!
E1_Quest_L02_012_Complete	Argh! What was that? You only won because you got lucky! Now get out of my sight!

E1_Quest_L03_008_Name	Hill Racing
E1_Quest_L03_008_Text	You must beat Sabine's time in a race up and down the hill at Hillcrest.
E1_Quest_L03_008_Giver	What, you again? Who told you I was here? Well, this time I'm sure that my time is unbeatable. No one has ever gone faster up to Hillcrest and back than I have. You can try to beat my time but you'll end up regretting it!
E1_Quest_L03_008_Incomplete	Hahaha! I warned you!
E1_Quest_L03_008_Complete	What? You did it?! I can't believe it! Bet you cheated. I need to talk to Monica, who runs the stable in Hillcrest. I'm sure she'll confirm my suspicions!

E1_Quest_L05_004_Name	Marsh Cross-Country
E1_Quest_L05_004_Text	You must succeed in the Marsh Cross-Country race. Let Mr. Fogg, the gamekeeper on the island, know when you’re done.
E1_Quest_L05_004_Giver	Welcome to the marshes. It's a bit rough here, compared to the rest of Jorvik. If you want to polish your cross-country skills I have the perfect trail for you. It used to be the original trail used for competitions in Jorvik, but the marsh now covers it. This is the real deal. Are you ready for a challenge?
E1_Quest_L05_004_Incomplete	Hmmm. You can do much better. I understand that you find the marshes scary, but keep trying!
E1_Quest_L05_004_Complete	Great! Keep coming back and exercising and you'll be great someday. Maybe you could even compete in the Claymore Challenge. It's coming up soon, if I remember correctly.

E1_Quest_L05_005_Name	A Taste of Swamp
E1_Quest_L05_005_Text	You must find five blue swamp flowers for Mr. Fogg.
E1_Quest_L05_005_Giver	Blue swamp flowers grow here in the marshes. They're hard to find, but useful. If you find five for me I'll let you in on a little secret.
E1_Quest_L05_005_Incomplete	Sorry, I need five.
E1_Quest_L05_005_Complete	They're great for increasing your horse’s stamina and endurance short term, but don’t give too much to your horse. One dose is enough.

E1_Quest_L05_006_Name	A Message from the Swamp
E1_Quest_L05_006_Text	Mr. Fogg has asked you to say hello to Charlotte for him. She runs Valedale Stables.
E1_Quest_L05_006_Giver	Charlotte, who runs Valedale Stables, is an old friend of mine. If you see her, please let her know that Mr. Fogg said hello. Tell her I miss the old days, in the saddle.
E1_Quest_L05_006_Complete	He misses me? That’s sweet. Yes, we did have a few good times in the wilderness together. We sure knew how to ride back then!

E1_Quest_L07_005_Name	Marsh Island Challenge
E1_Quest_L07_005_Text	You must beat Sabine’s time in the Marsh Island Challenge! Talk to her once you’ve succeeded!
E1_Quest_L07_005_Giver	What, you again? I thought you didn’t have the guts to go into the marshes. Now that you’re here I dare you to try to beat my time in the Marsh Island Challenge. Break a leg – isn’t that what they say in the theater?
E1_Quest_L07_005_Incomplete	Wow, I'm not too worried. All I can say is, I'm better.
E1_Quest_L07_005_Complete	I have nothing to say to you. Nothing.

E1_Quest_L08_002_Name	Thicker Gloves
E1_Quest_L08_002_Text	You must buy a pair of thick gloves at the shop in Firgrove. Let Georgina know when you’re done.
E1_Quest_L08_002_Giver	I've come up with a great idea for stopping the wolves from getting into the village. We're going to put thorns on the walls. That will keep them out. But to be able to pick thorns you need to have the thickest gloves available. Go buy a pair at the shop!
E1_Quest_L08_002_Incomplete	Remember, I told you to get the thickest gloves. Please go to the shop and buy them right away or else we may not finish our project before nightfall!
E1_Quest_L08_002_Complete	Great! Let me know when you’re ready to start picking thorns!

E1_Quest_L09_001_Name	Firgrove Endurance
E1_Quest_L09_001_Text	You must beat Kate’s time on the Firgrove endurance trail. Talk to her after you succeed!
E1_Quest_L09_001_Giver	I doubt you can beat my time on the Firgrove endurance trail. But if you think you can, you’re welcome to try!
E1_Quest_L09_001_Incomplete	You need to go faster! Get back on the trail and try again!
E1_Quest_L09_001_Complete	Wow! I’m impressed! Let me know when you're ready for a new challenge. I think that you have true potential.

E1_Quest_L09_002_Name	Jump Higher?
E1_Quest_L09_002_Text	You must talk to Jessica. She’s at the Firgrove cross-country trail.
E1_Quest_L09_002_Giver	If you need a real challenge in cross-country you should see Jessica. She's really good - a fantastic rider, and very skilled and focused. I’m sure she’ll be able to teach you a few tricks.
E1_Quest_L09_002_Complete	Nice to meet you, %%Player%%! Yes, I’m Jessica. So Kate sent you? Because she thinks I might be able to teach you things about cross-country? OK, let's see what we can do.

E1_Quest_L10_002_Name	Ice Cream Race
E1_Quest_L10_002_Text	Take this ice cream to Jessica before it melts! She should be at the start of the Firgrove cross-country trail, practicing.
E1_Quest_L10_002_Giver	I promised Jessica some ice cream earlier, but I can’t make it to the cross- country trail fast enough. The ice cream would melt before I got there. Since you're such a good rider, would you take it to her?
E1_Quest_L10_002_Complete	Ice cream? Oh, thank you! Mr. Jameson promised me some, but I didn’t think he'd make it!

E1_Quest_L10_004_Name	Lock Up
E1_Quest_L10_004_Text	You must buy a new lock at the shop in Hillcrest and bring it to Herman.
E1_Quest_L10_004_Giver	Last night someone got locked in the stables and we had to cut the padlock, so now we need a new one. Would you please go to the shop in Hillcrest and buy one for me?
E1_Quest_L10_004_Incomplete	Don't come back until you have the padlock, OK?
E1_Quest_L10_004_Complete	Well done! This padlock will fit perfectly!

E1_Quest_L11_001_Name	Throwing Down the Gauntlet
E1_Quest_L11_001_Text	You must tell Sabine that you're challenging her for the top spot in the Claymore Challenge at McKinney Castle.
E1_Quest_L11_001_Giver	I know we’ve been talking a lot about the Claymore trophy, but Jorvik has just one spot in the finals, and right now that spot belongs to Sabine. If you want it, you'll have to challenge her for it!
E1_Quest_L11_001_Complete	What? You're challenging me for my place in the Claymore Challenge? Are you crazy? You don't stand a chance.

E1_Quest_L11_002_Name	The Final Challenge
E1_Quest_L11_002_Text	You must beat Sabine in both endurance and cross-country races outside Jorvik Stables.
E1_Quest_L11_002_Giver	OK, let’s see what you’ve got. If you beat my times in both the endurance and cross-country races you can take my place in the finals. If you don’t, I'll be the one going to McKinney Castle!
E1_Quest_L11_002_Incomplete	You haven’t proven yourself yet. I'm still heading for the finals!
E1_Quest_L11_002_Complete	What? You did it? Well, I’m not impressed. It was just pure luck, and I'll beat you next time!

E1_Quest_L00_025_Name	Marsh Cross-Country Bronze Medal
E1_Quest_L00_025_Text	You must beat the Marsh Cross-Country Bronze Medal time. Let Mr. Fogg know when you’re done.
E1_Quest_L00_025_Giver	So you like the marshes? I agree with you. They have a serene quality, don't you think? But enough talk. Are you ready to try for a Bronze Medal?
E1_Quest_L00_025_Incomplete	No, I can't give you a Bronze Medal yet.
E1_Quest_L00_025_Complete	Congratulations! You look right at home in the saddle and in the marshes. Many riders would be scared of the treacherous ground, but you've overcome your fear and shown good riding skills. Here's your Bronze Medal!

E1_Quest_L00_026_Name	Marsh Cross-Country Silver Medal
E1_Quest_L00_026_Text	You must beat the Marsh Cross-Country Silver Medal time. Let Mr. Fogg know when you’re done.
E1_Quest_L00_026_Giver	The Silver Medal? If you think you're ready, then you should give it a try. The worst that can happen is that you fail. Get going!
E1_Quest_L00_026_Incomplete	Don’t quit on me now!
E1_Quest_L00_026_Complete	Congratulations! You are very close to mastering the tricky marshes. Here's a Silver Medal.

E1_Quest_L00_027_Name	Marsh Cross-Country Gold Medal
E1_Quest_L00_027_Text	You must beat the Marsh Cross-Country Gold Medal time. Let Mr. Fogg know when you’re done.
E1_Quest_L00_027_Giver	Going for Gold? Not many riders have succeeded with this. Not even Herman in his glory days. But you just might have it in you.
E1_Quest_L00_027_Incomplete	I believe in you! Don't quit just yet.
E1_Quest_L00_027_Complete	Fabulous! Magical! Congratulations, the Gold Medal is yours! If you keep going like this I can't think of anyone who'd be able to compete with you for a place in the finals of the Claymore Challenge! Please feel free to come back to train any time.

E1_Quest_L00_028_Name	Marsh Cross-Country Training
E1_Quest_L00_028_Text	You must beat the Marsh Cross-Country Training time. Let Mr. Fogg know when you’re done.
E1_Quest_L00_028_Giver	So you like the marshes? I hope your horse does too. Why don't you get started now with that training?
E1_Quest_L00_028_Incomplete	You need to work a little harder.
E1_Quest_L00_028_Complete	Well done! The horse is very, very dirty. That's a good sign. Nice work out there!

E1_Quest_L00_045_Name	Firgrove Endurance Bronze Medal
E1_Quest_L00_045_Text	You must beat the Firgrove Endurance Bronze Medal time. Let Kate know when you’re done!
E1_Quest_L00_045_Giver	You really can ride! You've showed me that. If you want to challenge Sabine for her place in the Claymore Challenge you need to work even harder. Take a shot at the Bronze Medal. It will get you one step closer to a place in the finals.
E1_Quest_L00_045_Incomplete	Not quite. Try again!
E1_Quest_L00_045_Complete	I knew you had it in you! Here's your Bronze Medal. Keep trying, and you could go all the way!

E1_Quest_L00_046_Name	Firgrove Endurance Silver Medal
E1_Quest_L00_046_Text	You must beat the Firgrove Endurance Silver Medal time. Let Kate know when you’re done!
E1_Quest_L00_046_Giver	Silver Medal? Already? Well, if you think you can, you might as well try. But trust me - it's hard!
E1_Quest_L00_046_Incomplete	I told you it was hard, didn't I? Try again!
E1_Quest_L00_046_Complete	Congratulations! You made it. That's really something! Here's your Silver Medal. You deserve it!

E1_Quest_L00_047_Name	Firgrove Endurance Gold Medal
E1_Quest_L00_047_Text	You must beat the Firgrove Endurance Gold Medal time. Let Kate know when you’re done!
E1_Quest_L00_047_Giver	The only thing left to try for is the Gold Medal time. You think you have what it takes? I guess you just might.
E1_Quest_L00_047_Incomplete	Not quite. You're not a true contender for a place in the Challenge yet, but keep trying.
E1_Quest_L00_047_Complete	Congratulations! What can I say!? Amazing. If you can combine that with a good cross-country time, you might actually be worthy of the top spot. Here's the Gold Medal to show the world what you've done! Feel free to come back if your horse needs some training.

E1_Quest_L00_048_Name	Firgrove Endurance Training
E1_Quest_L00_048_Text	You must beat the Firgrove Endurance Training time. Let Kate know when you’re done!
E1_Quest_L00_048_Giver	Time for some training to convince Herman that you’re ready? The trail is all yours.
E1_Quest_L00_048_Incomplete	Not quite. You and your horse need a little more work.
E1_Quest_L00_048_Complete	Well done! Very well. But there's always more practice to be done, more training. Have you polished your cross-country skills yet?

References#

Credit screen↩︎
This button loads a different debug world named "AllCharactersRoom" in other games, which is also referenced in the unused "Menu.pxo".↩︎
"Anders" is the name of one of the Pixel Tales developers, "Anders Åkerfeldt", as seen in the credits. His name is mentioned a few times in file paths as well.↩︎