Graphics ETC.

flash · **on:** January 16, 2009, 10:32:16 am

BaDToaD,

Here is an archive with the sprites and boss images.
Sprites are in blocks of 32x32, though we need to keep them in a central position with a size no more than 24x24. This is to keep a bit of FX space for rotation, etc.
Bosses are 64x64 and the full area can be used as wished (Though these may be increased to a massive 128x128).

The photoshop versions are also in the archive along with a palette file. This is imperitive that the palettes stay the same. I you look in photoshop and load the palette as a swatch, you can see the colours used (or set aside)

I have included gifs as requested also.

Thanks mate.

BaDToaD · **Reply #1 on:** January 17, 2009, 02:48:51 am

Will try to have a look in the next day or two.

I have just got back from seeing Bill Bailey in the west end. The train back was late due to the train ahead breaking down... Grrrr. So it's now 3:50 AM and I'm posting here. LOL I must be mad

flash · **Reply #2 on:** January 17, 2009, 09:51:45 am

you ARE mad, and I should know!!!

Bill Bailey - I bet that was great! He is excelent and also has the benefit of looking lots older than me and he is only 3 years older (45) ... Well, It makes me feel better at least! (won't help you though - or will it?)

flash · **Reply #3 on:** January 17, 2009, 06:19:46 pm

BaDToaD,Here are two versions of the game,1 with warhawk orig and the other with yours.I love the ship, it is smart. My only reservation is that it is "not warhawk", if you catch my drift? It has lost it's 'warhawkness' (word (c) 2009 Flash), it just doesn't feel right...It could be me? Please have a look and see what you think!

BaDToaD · **Reply #4 on:** January 17, 2009, 06:45:00 pm

Obviously I like it

LOL! I tried to work with the original sprite but I always did hate that thing! It's worth noting that it's just about the only non bas relief bit of the whole game! ROFL

What I tried to achieve was something Warhawkish (c) BaDToaD 2009

and reasonably retro but within the boundaries of 16 colours not 4 or 3 or whatever the c64 had

I do however share some of your reservations about it losing it's "warhawkness" but I also feel that once there are sounds and bullets flying around the screen much if not al of the warhawkishness (c) BaDToaD 2009

will return. After all the gameplay is what made Warhawk different to the run of the mill shoot 'em up not my graphics even though they were quite good for the time.

flash · **Reply #5 on:** January 17, 2009, 07:09:08 pm

I do agree with you in part...Warhawk was a amalgamtion of it's constitute parts. And I do believe that the graphics gave it the feel as much as the music. This is something that I want to try and capture - that esscence of Warhawkedness (c) Flash 2009, and try not to drift too far from the Warhwarkalikeyloo's (c) Fl (nah - you can have that one) (c) BaDToad.I DO like the ship!!! but I also like the 3 bits on the side of the original!I am keeping all the graphics and stuff in order and will use the ship on builds also. We will see where it goes.Thanks mate...

BaDToaD · **Reply #6 on:** January 17, 2009, 07:48:56 pm

From a designers point of view I prefer the new version. When watching the landscape scrolling below it, I feel it gives a far greater sense of a tiny fighter flying over the huge Alien bases. The original to me always looked more like an insect than a spacecraft. It looks like what it is... a sprite scrolling up the screen. It also has no lighting, no shadows and no shape as a consequence of that.

I will try again to see if I can come up with something based on the original...

flash · **Reply #7 on:** January 17, 2009, 08:11:24 pm

Thanks mate...

We have plenty of time to play with stuff! This is gonna be a long haul from now till completion.

PS. I do LIKE it though!!!

PPS. Perhaps adding shading to the original, so the sides slope away? I like the sides with the 3 'strips', for want of a better word?

headkaze · **Reply #8 on:** January 17, 2009, 10:44:40 pm

I actually prefer the original ship mainly because it's white which stands out better against the level background. The newer model just doesn't look as slick IMHO. It would be great to see the style and shape of the original but with more detail. I'll post a comparson image so we can get some other opinions.

BTW Flash I really like the new horizontal scrolling which responds as soon as you move left or right.

flash · **Reply #9 on:** January 17, 2009, 11:00:39 pm

Quote from: headkaze on January 17, 2009, 10:44:40 pm

BTW Flash I really like the new horizontal scrolling which responds as soon as you move left or right.

You can thank BaDToad for that - he made me!!!

Must admit though (perhaps Cider has killed too many brain cells), but it was a real git to code for me? Looking at the code now - it seems so bloody obvious! Oh well. BT was right, the other worked but did not really suit it. This is much slicker!

headkaze · **Reply #10 on:** January 17, 2009, 11:21:15 pm

I find there are many different factors that can effect coding performace. From how much sleep you've had, how much coffee you've drunk to what time of the day it is. Also I find if I've been coding all night I can get stuck on a problem for several hours and go to sleep wake up and solve it in 5 minutes

flash · **Reply #11 on:** January 18, 2009, 12:00:44 am

I know exactly what you mean!

BaDToaD · **Reply #12 on:** January 18, 2009, 07:12:31 am

Quote from: Flash on January 17, 2009, 08:11:24 pm

PPS. Perhaps adding shading to the original, so the sides slope away? I like the sides with the 3 'strips', for want of a better word?

I did attempt that yesterday before I created the new one. I will have a go later today. I only had 4 hours kip after the Bill Bailey gig so maybe today my fresher brain will figure out what to do with the old shape

I will also try adding extra reflective highlights to the new one to improve it's visibility.

Edit: Maybe people should be able to chose which ship to fly at the beginning of the game. Either original or new style LOL

Mmmm in fact that gives me an idea. You could have different types of ship with different specs... Nah... It's been done to death before LOL

flash · **Reply #13 on:** January 19, 2009, 11:05:24 am

BaDToaD,

You may enjoy this??

This is the ship from the title screen, and it does need some work. I have edited it resolution wise, but do not have the skills to go much further. Perhaps you would like to play?

All it has to do is stay the same size and contain 256 colours, any colours can be used except pure white/black (pure black for the background though - this is for the star code, it uses full white and black to know where to plot them).

You are free to do what you want with the mothership (that was never used in the game??)

It is up to you! Play with it if you want!

BaDToaD · **Reply #14 on:** January 19, 2009, 01:13:36 pm

I've had a tinker with the main warhawk ship today at lunchtime. Only on MS paint as I don't have my Amiga here but it was enough to convince me that a version of the original ship is doable

I have printed my hasty version out and will re do it properly on the Amiga tonight if I have time.

I may well have a go at the Start page mothership at some point too. Could be fun

As for the pallete rethink can't you just use that bright green for the Energy Bars?

flash · **Reply #15 on:** January 19, 2009, 01:30:06 pm

I have not go bright green in the tile palettes. These are seperate from the sprites

SADLY! The palette on the toles is mostly taken up by the background with the planets in. This could be reduced to 128 colours leaving 128 free. But this would mess up the pallette on the stars unless the first 16 were the same colours as the 4bbp star tiles...
All could be made as 256 colour tilesets sharing the same palettes, but - this would be a waste of memory!

AaarrrggggHHHH! nothing is simple in this world - except Betts!

BaDToaD · **Reply #16 on:** January 19, 2009, 03:32:58 pm

Surely there must be a colour you can use. It doesn't have to be yellow. There must be something in the tile pallete bright and noticible. Even white would suffice.

flash · **Reply #17 on:** January 19, 2009, 03:48:43 pm

This is the palette - mostly constructed from the star background and reused on the others. As you can see, the first line is what we are using for the main level and fore-stars.I will have to re-work it! It will be easy to do once all the levels are converted... (hmmm). I need more colours to support the other levels anyway..

flash · **Reply #18 on:** January 19, 2009, 05:19:41 pm

Modified the palette to work with these 6 levels. The only downside it that the levels (though only using a handful of colours) will have to be 256 colours..
Mind you, this does open the possibility of tweeking them to add details and marks!

Levels 2-6 need work to remove stars and sprites.. I will get round to it later!

flash · **Reply #19 on:** January 19, 2009, 06:27:43 pm

I have managed to do the levels with a reduced c64 palette. I could only use 15 colurs as i need one for transparency...

I will see how it works when I get home!

flash · **Reply #20 on:** January 19, 2009, 09:08:49 pm

Sorted the palettes - this should make things easier!

BaDToaD · **Reply #21 on:** January 19, 2009, 09:10:15 pm

You have mail Flash

If you don't like this version of the main sprite I'll top myself ROFL

flash · **Reply #22 on:** January 19, 2009, 09:27:29 pm

Quote from: BaDToaD on January 19, 2009, 09:10:15 pm

You have mail Flash

If you don't like this version of the main sprite I'll top myself ROFL

Ok, Let me know what you think!!!??!!

I really like it, my only (small) concern is that is does blend a bit with the background - but that could be my colourblindness

BaDToaD · **Reply #23 on:** January 19, 2009, 09:34:58 pm

I like it a lot but I'm biased obviously LOL. I think the visability is fine but then I thought the other one I done was fine too... I do however prefer this one. I blame my previous failure on lack of sleep

I tend not to look at the ship much when I'm playing shoot 'em ups. I'm more or less watching the bullets stream personally. I kind of take in the whole screen a once.

flash · **Reply #24 on:** January 19, 2009, 09:37:04 pm

It is nice to have the graphics "gel"! Looking good!!!

Did you see the new level tests I posted, just prior to your "you have mail" message?

Just for comparison;

BaDToaD · **Reply #25 on:** January 19, 2009, 09:45:05 pm

Yeah they look really nice

flash · **Reply #26 on:** January 19, 2009, 09:47:19 pm

I did level 2 as an executable DS file so you can see how it looks!

BaDToaD · **Reply #27 on:** January 19, 2009, 09:53:47 pm

I'll have a look tomorrow when you remember to attach it.

I need to hit the sack the Girlfriend beckons!

flash · **Reply #28 on:** January 19, 2009, 09:56:29 pm

Ok, take care mate!

ps. It is attached!

flash · **Reply #29 on:** January 19, 2009, 10:02:15 pm

Scroll up from here!