This was something I looked at doing a long while ago, but time was always against me with other priorities. However, I finally decided to do it and I am pleased with the results. For those that want a heads up on the scripting involved, I simply saved a separate background image that was the same size as the original, but with the new image on it, and then held the name of the TGA file in a global variable and updated the background GUI image whenever the page was referenced, deleting the global storage between references. It worked a treat and removes the need to rely on a rather complicated bit of scripting to reference different conversation files and keep track of various tokens. i.e It's a MUCH SIMPLER system!
However, as some people may also like the "zoomed in" feel when looking at images, I have not removed any of my original code, so that the two systems can, in theory, be used side by side. Below is a screenshot of the new book images in action.
Meanwhile,I am continuing to plug away at the conversations and scripts remaining in the mod, and while there are still a few areas left to do, I am definitely on the home straight now.
And while, personally, I do not celebrate the Xmas festivals (due to them stemming from a pagan background), I do, however, wish everybody a Happy New Year if I do not post again before then. (If anybody wants to hear more about the histories of such, or simply wants to chat, I am happy to do so via emails.)
And please, do vote on the poll and leave comments as you like!
9 comments:
Hi Steve,
Thanks for the invite.
I only tend to follow (via blogger) other "game" related sites, but do ADD TO FAVOURITES sites like yours to read from time to time.
I did notice, however, that you have a lot of information to look at and it may take me some time to read and work out your standing. You certainly raise some interesting points.
One point, however, that I did pick up on straight away, is that you appear very "strict" on the requirements involved to be "saved". Yet, and this is the point I am not clear about in your position yet, is whether you believe this is something that God will enable the Christian to be able to do or whether you see it as a required "chosen activity" of the believer? For, I believe God has already chosen before birth who will be saved and who will not. Therefore, being "baptised", *if it is required*, (regardless of the arguments raised for or against) will take place anyway.
Speaking for myself, I felt that I should be baptised as an outward sign of my conversion - and did so many years ago. If, however, God had chosen to end my life before I actually managed to be baptised, then I do not believe it would changed my salvation ... otherwise, we are saying that an "activity" is required to fulfil something that God is in control of, which is wrong.
From a purely crazy argument, if a man was dying in a desert and showed all signs of "conversion" but could not ge to water for a baptism, would he be lost? My point is, God already knows His elect or not even before they are born, and how that person lives their life thereafter has nothing to do with it ... although we would expect good fruits. Although, even this is not always as obvious as one might expect. E.g. David murdering and commiting adultery. Jacob stealing Esau's birthright.
Anyway, it is good to discuss these points and I will join in where God enables me to.
As a sure clarification of your continued interest in this conversation, I will await for you to respond to this comment before taking any further action.
Yours In Christ,
Lance.
And a happy new year to you sir!
Thanks Amraphael,
It's good to know you are still around and reading!
That is most encouraging!
Lance.
Well I had a more detailed comment but it was declined.
The readable books visually should have been far more widely used; they can change the entire dynamic of modding and make the player do a lot of reading with the attractive and large fonts and visuals as opposed to the horrible description window.
On the other hand the use of one long string variable to do everything would make designing them take hours on end, guessing and testing. Hopefully you found a better way?
Hi EE,
Declined? Too much text? That's a shame, as I do like reading your comments. :)
The upgrade to the Readable books is actually a way to include all different types of fonts (as images) as well, so it could replace the text string altogether.
That said, I still use the text string method, but have updated the code to make it much simpler to use. (I cannot recall if I updated the Vault version of the code or not with respect to that improvement.)
All the improvements mean adding texts (with or without images) is very straight forward now. And I have tried to make good use of them in my own modules, so players (and potential builders) can see the overall improvements.
Be sure to check out the code again when I release this module.
Lance.
when will u release it? :)
Hi EE,
I won't be releasing it as a standalone package to allow me time to do this module. The problem is, I could lose a week's work (the rate I work at) just putting the thing together in a format I am happy with. Therefore, it is something I can do *after* I release this mod. However, by then, people will have access to the code and can use it then anyway.
I cannot recall all the differences that I have in place since the last update on the Vault, but as an example, this version also does not require the books to be numbered in the include file. (It works the numbers out itself.) This means I can update a book and include it anywhere in the script without it failing for one reason or another. It also works better with companions (but I think I did upload that fix last time).
This new picture fix is very simple, but builders would have to include a new background image for every different looking page. That's why I still us ethe text version as well, else it could mean a lot of images. :)
Lance.
And a Happy year 2012 to you! Enjoy the Olympic Games spotlights ;-)
Herrjeff
Hi Herrjeff,
Good to hear from you again, and to see you are still around. :)
I won't have time for *any* olympics. ;)
Lance.
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