[Scummvm-tracker] [ScummVM :: Bugs] #17145: MADS: Nebular: All are unknown variants -> better detection for official releases and variants

[ScummVM :: Bugs]

#17145: MADS: Nebular: All are unknown variants -> better detection for official
releases and variants
--------------------------+-----------------------------------------
Reporter:  LukasThyWalls  |      Owner:  (none)
    Type:  defect         |     Status:  new
Priority:  normal         |  Component:  Engine: MADS
 Version:                 |   Keywords:  Detection, Fan Translation,
    Game:  Rex Nebular    |
--------------------------+-----------------------------------------
 Hello.

 [Following recent news https://www.scummvm.org/news/20260826/], I tried to
 add using the last daily build (''ScummVM 2026.3.1git31527-gd79f8bb292c
 (Sep  5 2026 04:07:59) / Windows 64 bits'') to test Running Rex Nebular
 and the Cosmic Gender Bender.

 With [the GOG version
 https://www.gog.com/en/game/rex_nebular_and_the_cosmic_gender_bender], it
 throws me a ''Pick the Game'' window with:

 - The Residents: Freak Show: Multimedia Bonus Track
 (Europe/Windows/English) - Unknown variant
 - Rex Nebular and the Cosmic Gender Bender (DOS/English)
 - Rex Nebular Bonus Disk (DOS/English)

 When I choose the second option (''Rex Nebular and the Cosmic Gender
 Bender (DOS/English)''), the complete status window output is:

 {{{
 The game in 'Rex Nebular\' seems to be an unknown game variant.

 Please report the following data to the ScummVM team at
 https://bugs.scummvm.org/ along with the name of the game you tried to add
 and
 its version, language, etc.:

 Matched game IDs for the director engine: freakshowost-win

   {"BONUS.EXE", 0, "t:2ce65228bce086a3a7b03bccb0f37f4f", 76855},

 User picked target 'nebular' (engine ID 'mads', game ID 'nebular')...
 }}}

 Playing the game seems to works fine, It boots and allows playing the
 first bits:

 {{{
 Running Rex Nebular and the Cosmic Gender Bender (DOS/English)
 section1.hag: 6f725eb38660de8af31ec7cdd628d615, 927222 bytes.
 }}}

 Also, There is a [Spanish Fan Translation
 https://pakolmo.netlify.app/rexnebular.html], and when you have it applied
 to the GOG version, the detection is the same: It thinks It's one of those
 tree games, you need to peak the Rex-English one, the status window output
 is the same even when launching the game, by the way, the game also seems
 to work with the translation applied in ScummVM, showing all the text in
 Spanish (This is the full status window output with detection and playing
 together):

 {{{
 The game in 'Rex_Esp\' seems to be an unknown game variant.

 Please report the following data to the ScummVM team at
 https://bugs.scummvm.org/ along with the name of the game you tried to add
 and
 its version, language, etc.:

 Matched game IDs for the director engine: freakshowost-win

   {"BONUS.EXE", 0, "t:2ce65228bce086a3a7b03bccb0f37f4f", 76855},

 User picked target 'nebular' (engine ID 'mads', game ID 'nebular')...
 Running Rex Nebular and the Cosmic Gender Bender (DOS/English)
 section1.hag: 6f725eb38660de8af31ec7cdd628d615, 927222 bytes.
 }}}

 By the way, with the old implementation (Tested with ScummVM 2026.3.0),
 the detection was basically the same output except It doesn't show ''Rex
 Nebular Bonus Disk (DOS/English)'' as a pick game option. And the Spanish
 fan translation is reportedly working.

 Thanks!
-- 
Ticket URL: <https://bugs.scummvm.org/ticket/17145>
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