Hard Light Productions Forums

Modding, Mission Design, and Coding => The Modding Workshop => Topic started by: Flaming_Sword on July 24, 2008, 12:27:36 am

Title: POLL: Interface screen templates
Post by: Flaming_Sword on July 24, 2008, 12:27:36 am
As some people may know, I've been putting together a set of templates, so modders can create their own interfaces. The result is an interface like the retail one (with extra screens/buttons like in the mediavps), but with the backgrounds cleared so the modder can use their own. The question is whether anyone really cares about whether the templates for 640x480 resolution are included or not (simply scaling won't work, as there are a few things with a slightly different shape). This in turn would depend on whether anyone actually plays on a resolution smaller than 1024x768 any more.

I'm mostly trying to see whether it's worth skipping the 640x480 bit so I can get this out the door faster. An example of an incomplete version in use are the screens in my shivan mod here (http://www.hard-light.net/forums/index.php/topic,55031.0.html) (screenshots here (http://www.hard-light.net/forums/index.php/topic,50408.msg1111739.html#msg1111739)).

I'll run this poll for a week, then make a decision (unless there's an overwhelming number of votes one way or another, in which case I'll make my decision faster :))
Title: Re: POLL: Interface screen templates
Post by: blackhole on July 24, 2008, 12:29:46 am
Dude, I haven't seen anyone running at 800x600, let alone 640x480, in years. Skip both.
Title: Re: POLL: Interface screen templates
Post by: Droid803 on July 24, 2008, 12:51:30 am
Yeah, I doubt anyone uses such small resolutions.
Title: Re: POLL: Interface screen templates
Post by: shiv on July 24, 2008, 03:21:26 am
I want 640x480 :D
I want to include all avaible resolutions in my mod.
Title: Re: POLL: Interface screen templates
Post by: Al Tarket on July 24, 2008, 04:06:43 am
well for people who can not afford high tech pc, i would leave it, besides you need as much flexability as possible, not only for the people but it could mark this campaign as one of the best like jad, sync or wing commander.. that way no one can complain that your mod is bad in some areas where you might need to do a 640 version later because you didn't think the idea through enough.
Title: Re: POLL: Interface screen templates
Post by: ShadowGorrath on July 24, 2008, 04:36:50 am
Wait. I think it's pretty pointless. The templates are meant to make the whole interface thing easier to create. Making a 640x480 version is just a simple resize, so why bother making a 640x480 version of the templates, when the one who wants them in that size can simply RESIZE them.
Title: Re: POLL: Interface screen templates
Post by: Flaming_Sword on July 24, 2008, 04:52:27 am
Like I said in the first post, there are a few things with a different shape where a simple resize won't work. Also, there is a chance that a mass resize through imagemagick or something might put some things off by a pixel or so.
Title: Re: POLL: Interface screen templates
Post by: Black Wolf on July 24, 2008, 04:53:19 am
He specifically said it wasn't as simple as a resize. I vote no. Get 1024 out the door ASAP and forget about 640. It's 2008. Who really plays at 640 these days?
Title: Re: POLL: Interface screen templates
Post by: colecampbell666 on July 24, 2008, 09:29:35 am
well for people who can not afford high tech pc, i would leave it, besides you need as much flexability as possible, not only for the people but it could mark this campaign as one of the best like jad, sync or wing commander.. that way no one can complain that your mod is bad in some areas where you might need to do a 640 version later because you didn't think the idea through enough.
That's not a problem. Any, and I mean ANY PC from the last 8-9 years can play higher than 640.
Title: Re: POLL: Interface screen templates
Post by: Cobra on July 24, 2008, 11:49:17 am
well for people who can not afford high tech pc, i would leave it, besides you need as much flexability as possible, not only for the people but it could mark this campaign as one of the best like jad, sync or wing commander.. that way no one can complain that your mod is bad in some areas where you might need to do a 640 version later because you didn't think the idea through enough.
That's not a problem. Any, and I mean ANY PC from the last 8-9 years can play higher than 640.

And computers from the last five and play over 1024x768.
Title: Re: POLL: Interface screen templates
Post by: blackhole on July 24, 2008, 08:43:34 pm
I think a good question would be, could he have implemented both resolutions in the time he spent wondering about whether or not he should? :lol:
Title: Re: POLL: Interface screen templates
Post by: Colonol Dekker on July 24, 2008, 08:57:33 pm
Do the template. Leave the work of creating the interface art to the mod creators.
Title: Re: POLL: Interface screen templates
Post by: Flaming_Sword on July 31, 2008, 08:03:04 am
Well, looks like I can hold off on work for the 640x480 interface for now.

I'll be releasing a beta 1024x768 version soon. The whole thing basically runs off a batch file calling imagemagick commands, thereby creating a whole set of screens/buttons in a matter of minutes. I'll put up a feature list or something later.