INP() keyboard handling

[jony_basic]

I got fastkey to work now, it works well enough, and I regulated it fine too.

you can see the game I'm putting it into at www.freewebs.com/jony_basic/screenshots.htm
it's an RPG "The Sword Of Arisan"

Thanks again for your help

Jony_Basic

[axipher]

Looks pretty nice. I'm trying it out right now.

[Nemesis]

I got fastkey to work now, it works well enough, and I regulated it fine too.

you can see the game I'm putting it into at www.freewebs.com/jony_basic/screenshots.htm
it's an RPG "The Sword Of Arisan"

Thanks again for your help

Jony_Basic

Checked out a couple of the screen shots...
the graphics suck :barf: but, this dosen't mean the game, story, handling, etc..
Anyways, read up on some pixel art tutorials, here's a good place to start off with...

http://www.petesqbsite.com/sections/tuto...hics.shtml

Cya,

Nemesis

[axipher]

The actual game graphics aren't bad for DOS, but the side bar with gold, etc. is so shitty, I don't even know where to start, although the border to each part is ncie with the fade into another color, but the play area shoyuld have a border too.

[na_th_an]

The actual game graphics aren't bad for DOS

Pixel art quality is not limited by the operating system, that statement makes absolutely no sense.

IMHO, the main issue with those graphics is that they are oversaturated and there's too much contrast on backgrounds. Golden rules are always try to use less saturated tones and use less contrast in the backgrounds than in the sprites, for clarity.

Look at the professionals' work:



Left being the original picture, right being an oversaturated version. Which one looks better? The left one, colours are less saturated (easier on the eyes) and there's less contrast in the background and more definition in the sprites.

[jony_basic]

well, I actually started redrawing the sprites about a month ago, I'll post the new screen shots on my site.
And btw, I did read some pixel art tutorials since those screenshots, so I think my sprites look at least a little better.
I did take to thought about the saturation, and I fixed it up a lot, the grass looks smoother and more like grass, instead of just random green pixels.
I also made the walls of the houses into a log cabin style thing instead of just smooth brown paper
up untill just recently I was using Qbasic's predefined palette, so I made my own palette with more of the colors that I need.

But, I must say, graphics is NOT my main goal in this project,
I am more worried about game play and how the player feels while playing in the world.
I believe emotion plays a big role in the actual way people look at the game and wether or not they even care about the story.

Jony_Basic

[axipher]

The actual game graphics aren't bad for DOS

Pixel art quality is not limited by the operating system, that statement makes absolutely no sense.

IMHO, the main issue with those graphics is that they are oversaturated and there's too much contrast on backgrounds. Golden rules are always try to use less saturated tones and use less contrast in the backgrounds than in the sprites, for clarity.

Look at the professionals' work:



Left being the original picture, right being an oversaturated version. Which one looks better? The left one, colours are less saturated (easier on the eyes) and there's less contrast in the background and more definition in the sprites.

Point taken, although I must say using less saturated backrounds and more saturated sprites is a good effect, in screen 31 for example, using the first 16 colors fot sprites mainly and using the other colors which are darker shades for the background works nicely.

well, I actually started redrawing the sprites about a month ago, I'll post the new screen shots on my site.
And btw, I did read some pixel art tutorials since those screenshots, so I think my sprites look at least a little better.
I did take to thought about the saturation, and I fixed it up a lot, the grass looks smoother and more like grass, instead of just random green pixels.
I also made the walls of the houses into a log cabin style thing instead of just smooth brown paper
up untill just recently I was using Qbasic's predefined palette, so I made my own palette with more of the colors that I need.

But, I must say, graphics is NOT my main goal in this project,
I am more worried about game play and how the player feels while playing in the world.
I believe emotion plays a big role in the actual way people look at the game and wether or not they even care about the story.

Jony_Basic

Me and you would make a great team, I find the graphics can make a game or break a game but I still think gameplay has a big impact and you think the graphics aren't that big of a deal but rather the gameplay is what makes the game.

[jony_basic]

I wouldn't say graphics aren't a big deal, but definatly not as big a deal as some say, just my oppinion of course.
I don't really know what to do, should I tone the vibrance down a little, or should I do some kind of contrast?
I guess it makes sence to make more contrast in the character than in the background sprites.

axipher, I would love be on a team with you.
really, any kind of team is always good, compare and contrast ideas
and the like.
The more the marier.
If you'd like to work on this project with me, or just give suggestions, feel free to tell me so, I'm always hopin' for some help.
also, I always appreciate open critisism rather than flattery and such, so don't worry about makin' me feel bad.
I'm still working on redrawing new sprites in the new palette, but it won't be long 'till I get the new screen shots on my site.

Jony_Basic

[axipher]

Well let's team up then, I've been working on a sprite drawing program, maybe we can use it in conjunction with your program to allow users to create custom sprites. you could still have some pre-made sprites and they could be in the game so they wouldn't deleted and then the user could also create their own sprites.

[jony_basic]

alright, I'll give you the source for all the stuff where ever you want them sent

sounds like a plan, I too am working on a drawing program, it's win16 qbasic with mouse and saving and loading, screen 13h.
unfortunatley no windows BMP or GIF loading function.
I in fact made my own file type that loads really easy in QB 4.5
It basicly stores the color values sequentialy as they appear in the bitmap, pretty basic.
it will have zoom 100% 200% 400% 800%
free hand pencil drawing, line drawing, circle, square, and flood fill
you'll also be able to open a map file and edit it in real view, able to see what spritees are going where(instead of the average bit mapping by hand)
flood fill is kind of difficult to figure out. :S

I don't know if it's a good idea to let the user create his own sprites.
but if you think so, then I guess it's fine.