Spiral Knights - Coders and Artists, I have a challenge for you!

Coders and Artists, I have a challenge for you!

12 replies [Last post]

Tue, 11/11/2014 - 17:26

Autofire

A few of you know about my humble little project.

Right now, I need help with getting a HUD running because I am far too busy to do it myself. So I challenge you all to create a lovely UI that makes you feel a bit like you're playing Spiral Knights with the old UI.

I have no prize money to offer, no golden cup full of a million crowns. All I can give you is my thanks and a place the game's credits. If you'd like a challenge or want something to do, then give it a stab, please!

Requirements
Although "beggars can't be choosers," I still have some requirements. I also say what variables are related to the given UI elements. Remember, I can do this myself, but then you'd have to wait longer for the demo!

The UI must look a bit like the old UI of Spiral Knights. Because of the see last point, you cannot just copy-paste from SK. It will have to be made yourself, but I think it is alright to study the original UI.
The UI must be able to represent Hitpoints. 10 Hitpoints = 1 unit on the UI? max_hitpoints will vary throughout the game. (variables: hitpoints, max_hitpoints)
The UI must be able to represent Energy. 100 Energy is the max, but it works a bit like Magic Points in other games. Energy will be used to activate Forge Trinkets and use Charged Attacks. (variables: energy, max_energy)
Optional: The UI must be able to alert the player when Joint has something to say. I can do this part.
Optional: The UI must be able to represent statuses. At the time, only three statuses are in the game: Pierce, Shadow, and Elemental. Elemental instantly effects your Energy, so nothing is required there. Talk to me if you want to do this one. (Details)
Optional: The UI must be able to represent your equipped weapon. Right now, I don't even have this in the game yet. Once I do, this still won't be required because Pivot's eyes and gauntlets will change color to show the equipped weapon.
Above all else, Three Rings must give the UI the okay. I have been told that this game can't draw revenue from SK, nor can it be confusing. This seems to be one point of uncertainty, so your UI might have to get changed (or rejected, in an extreme case).

Well, I guess that's it. Otherwise, get creative! I'm using pixel-art for my game's graphics, but you can go with your own method if you like. Unless you wear several hats, I suggest you grab a friend. I still cannot guarantee that I can send you Elemedals, because it depends on Frogatto, which is a commercial game; I'll have to ask the Frogatto guys or remove the dependency. (That might be a pain...)

Resources and Tools
Elemedals Repo
Frogatto Repo
Anura (engine) Repo
You will probably want git so that you can keep up to date with my updates.
General dev stuff here.

For those doing images.
Save your images in .png format. (If you use GIMP, .xcf is also fine.)
Frogatto's GUI images and the code for the animations.

Page on GUI code (Kinda outdated)
I can give some help with coding, but I hope that you'll be able to dig through the GUI code yourself to figure it out, or visit #frogatto channel on irc.freenode.net. (But be polite! Those guys have been a boon to this project.)
More on coding.
Also, outdated tutorial series.
Some of that stuff is old because of the Strict Mode update.
The code which ties the UI with the game.

Final note: I would greatly appreciate your help, because I simply don't have time. Ask questions, report broken links, tell your friends, and give support! I'm counting on you to make these 45 minutes spent on this post to not be in vain!

Wed, 11/12/2014 - 18:17

Hexlash

A Wolver's Purpose

Oops, I didn't notice this.

Sorry for being a lazy bum, but can you please sum up how Anura works? Is it like a game developing tool (Game Maker, Unity) or is it an actual language, and if it is, is it high or lower level?

I did a quick google and looked at the links, but it was not immediately clear.

Wed, 11/12/2014 - 21:07

Autofire

You are experiencing an AUTHER ERROR!

I realize that I left multiple points unmentioned, after sleeping on it. Sorry about that!

Anura is a game engine, so it works like Unity. It optimizes in fast development, but the engine itself is currently experiencing a few, er, growing pains. However, that should be cleared up before long.

Right now, the main thing I'm interested in is graphical resources. Meaning that this would be where the references would be. Most of those links are images, so you should be able to view and download them with your browser.

Almost everything else I linked would only apply to coding, which I guess I'm not ready for help with yet! (Gee, I do seem to get ahead of myself, don't I?)

I guess the final thing I should say is that the default window size for Anura is 800x600, but it can be adjusted. I really guess I should be giving out a demo before I request help, but...

Actually, yeah, I'll work on getting something to download next. It would be really incomplete, but it's better than nothing. Until then, I'll leave this post here.

Wed, 11/12/2014 - 21:15

Hexlash

A Wolver's Purpose

I have to admit I no longer recall the appearance of the old GUI, it's been far too long xD

Do you know where one might find reference to the old GUI? A picture somewhere, perhaps? I have no idea.

Also, I understand that the GUI is composed of varying elements, correct? If so, what format do things, like the health bar, have to be in? Are you going will you code into the game the health bar drawing a certain quantity of a picture for every point of health lost? Or are you representing them, from what I read as individual "units". For instance a heart disappears for every 10 hit points lost.

Also, is it possible for the GUI to have animated components? As in a set of images that you can interpose into an idle animation?

So many question marks, scary!

Thu, 11/13/2014 - 05:29

Liminori

Hmm

I believe that the old GUI was a lot simpler,
For instance, health was based on percentages and layered healthbars.
Edit: Wait, that's the new UI.
Here's an example of the old UI, which will only really help on deciding the style-
For example, the healthbar's location: Undecided
And, not to mention- A lot of the bits and bobs will be useless due to singleplayer.

oh man I miss the old ui

Thu, 11/13/2014 - 08:52

Autofire

You are experiencing a PICNIC ERROR!

@Liminori

Thanks! Like I said, I forgot a few essential elements; I should have linked to a picture like yours.

@Hexlash

Let's see if we can burn of those question marks, eh?

Are you going will you code into the game the health bar drawing a certain quantity of a picture for every point of health lost?

I will point out that this is a very real possibility for, say, Energy. But it's up in the air.

Or are you representing them, from what I read as individual "units". For instance a heart disappears for every 10 hit points lost.

That's correct, for the most part. When I say 'unit', it could be a few pixels on an HP bar, pips, or even hearts. It really depends on the artist's choice.

The reason for choosing ten is that the Player's HP will be divisible by ten. (I.e. the player starts with 60 HP, and then putting on a VitaSuit will bump it up to 100 HP.) If the player loses 5 HP, for example, then it could still be shown by drawing half a heart instead of a whole one. (Or half-a-pip...or half-a-pixel. Wait, that's not possible without cutting your screen in half.)

If you try the demo, you will notice that your score meter animates whenever you get some points. Yes, HUD elements can indeed animate. (Note that Elemedals will not run on the demo!)

I think I shall draw (With pencil) a mock-up HUD. A picture is worth a thousand words!

Thu, 11/13/2014 - 08:57

Autofire

You are experiencing a CLONE ERROR!

My doppelganger got the better of me. If all goes well, you'll be able to download Elemedals by tonight. I need to talk to the Frogatto team, but I think I should be able to get away with giving out some of Frogatto's assets as long as I strip all of the levels out of Frogatto, making it unplayable.

(Okay, now I suddenly feel silly for doing that. I'm going to...step away from the computer...before I do something else...)

Thu, 11/20/2014 - 11:28

Gbot-Vtwo

I am an artist and I can help with the sprites!

Fri, 11/21/2014 - 20:36

Autofire

You are experiencing a PICNIC ERROR!

Also, on that demo and on that picture, I was going to do that this past week, but I just had to get sick with the worst sore-throat I've had for a long time. The demo won't be too much longer, I don't think. The picture is done, but it needs to be scanned in and colored. (I do colors on computer, because I do that for my concept art (You can't peek!).)

@Galaxthekillrmech

Really? That would be awesome! Before anything can really be done yet, I do need to get a demo out. So...yeah. Be back with you on that.

Sat, 11/22/2014 - 19:33

Gbot-Vtwo

Alrighty!

Sun, 11/23/2014 - 21:19

#10

Solotron

I try x3

uhhh.. i might not be a super game designer, but i thought about at least giving ideas for the health bar for your project.

http://serjinxable.deviantart.com/art/Autofire-thoughts-for-image-Clockw...

here's a health bar UI design.

Mon, 11/24/2014 - 09:51

#11

Autofire

You are experiencing a PICNIC ERROR!

@Solotron

Hey, that looks pretty cool! That could work, but keep in mind that max HP will have to be able to change. (I.e. Vitasuit, Cold Heart Pendant, etc.) Energy, on the other hand, stays at a fixed 100, so that design would work great there.

@All

I am still working on getting Elemedals separate from Frogatto, which is going a bit less smoothly than I hoped. I can't give any reasonable time frame, because I have no idea how many more things will pop up. (I'm just fixing the errors, one at a time. They're usually specific enough, but sometimes they get pretty vague.)

On a side note, (and this belongs in the main thread, too.) Anura appears to have the ability to update its modules, meaning I could make Elemedals self-update. I'm not going to do this any time soon, of course, but it's a possibility.

Thu, 12/04/2014 - 09:09

#12

Autofire

You are experiencing an AUTOFIRE ERROR!

Fresh hot concept art, get it here! This isn't necessarily the best way of doing the HUD, as it might resemble Spiral Knights too much...I'm not sure.

Darn, I need to go. Runs off. Enj- Wham

Bah. I guess I should say that this isn't exactly a fresh picture. AutoSlow finished it a week or so ago, but never got around to uploading it.

(But I'm Autofire...but not that other Autofire! But not exactly...no, wait...gee, this alternate forum account is starting to make my head...hurt...)

On that topic, the demo is still on hold because of coding issues. Yeah, it's frustrating.

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Coders and Artists, I have a challenge for you!