[Riven]

eck,first problem... Flash 5 doesn't like AVIs... can someone send in another format please? and to make it easier (so i don't have to do it, i;'m not sure i know how) could they also send me a reverse of each animation? like, when the user moves the mouse off the 'button'

Either use flash mx and embed the avi or just extract each frame as a jpg and put one in each frame. For the reverse just stick the frames in the opposite order.

[Goober5000]

I finished converting all the FS1 main hall animations to GIFs.  Download them here.

[Stealth]

Originally posted by Riven


Either use flash mx and embed the avi or just extract each frame as a jpg and put one in each frame. For the reverse just stick the frames in the opposite order.

don't tell me how to use flash!

EDIT:  How do i extract each frame as a JPG!?  i don't know anything about that, and flash won't do it, so what program do i use!

[Stealth]

those GIFs...i can't open the ZIP file

[Goober5000]

You can't?  Umm...why not?  Do you get an error message? Did you try opening both ZIP files?

What program are you using?  I used WinZip and I can open them just fine.

[Stealth]

the first one... the galatea GIFs.

[Goober5000]

Um, well I don't know what happened - but I ZIPped the files using maximum compression the first time.  I just redid them using normal compression and re-uploaded them.  Try downloading them again.

http://www.geocities.com/ipw47/temp.html

[Stealth]

haHA!!!  got it to work!  i wasn't using a function (in actionscript) so that's why i was getting the errors.  the main problem (which i got done, figured out) was when you roll over it plays the animation (opens the door) then when you roll out (mouse) it closes the door, BUT, if you move the mouse over, then move the mouse away BEFORE it's completely opened, it will jump to the 'completely opened' position, then close... which looks stupid. i got it to work exactly like Freespace, by simply calling

gotoandplay
totalframes-current frame

you see, if i have 60 frames, the first 30 frames are the door 'opening' the last 30 are the door 'closing' i have three stop actions, one in the beginning, one in the middle (frame 30) and one in the end)

then if i'm on frame 23 when the user rolls out, it takes total minut current frame. (60-23) which is identical to the frame it was playing, but on the 'closing' part.  i don't know, it's hard to explain, but i'll post the FLAs for people to look at it.  i'm not going to copyright it or anything  i'll probably finish the galatea today, and possibly even the Bastion.  does someone want the FS2 main halls done?  if so, post the main hall, and all animations in GIF format.  also, should the background have sound?  i believe it's possible to have a background with sound on 'active desktop' or whatever, and there could be a switch to toggle sounds on/off.  i dunno.  also, does anyone have any information as to how this will work exactly?  i'll make the flash, someone figure out how to make it a desktop

[Solatar]

I should think that you could make it into an HTML file, then use it as the desktop, it would work. Not entirely sure about this though.

[Riven]

I should think that you could make it into an HTML file, then use it as the desktop, it would work. Not entirely sure about this though.

Should do, just make all file paths absolute.

[Stealth]

there's only one way that i know of to do this... and that's incorporating Flash... there's no way to do without it.

Two ways to do it with Flash though.  i know the first way will (should) work, not sure about the second though

A)  Have the buttons link to absolute file paths.  if the user wants the buttons to link to a different path, they edit a text file (which i'll make "user friendly" and change the link)

B)  Have the Flash movie with no buttons, just playing, and have it in an HTML file, which assigns certain "spaces" links (this can be done in dreamweaver)... hotspots .... (i think that's what they're called... it's been a while since i've had to use them!) i don't know or even think this will work though.  i'll post the Galatea one in a few seconds

[Goober5000]

It's been a few seconds...WHERE IS IT?!?!?!?!?!?

It's entirely possible to do most of the main hall in pure HTML and JavaScript.  You can implement hotspots as well as direct absolute linking to files.  However, I'm not sure if you can start a GIF at a specified frame.

[Galemp]

You probably know by now, but I was inspired.

Freespace Desktop Theme Thread

So after you get the desktop to work you have all the other stuff you need.

[Goober5000]

[Stealth]

Originally posted by Goober5000
However, I'm not sure if you can start a GIF at a specified frame.

it's not possible as far as i know... that's why Flash was invented

[Stealth]

christ that's a big file... at least once it's on the computer it won't be too long a loading time, and once it's running it shouldn't be too bad...

oh well, it's your system resources, not mine

i haven't linked anything, just test it out and see what you think, if there's something wrong or anything then let me know.  i haven't even tested it yet, i just put it all together, exported it, and uploaded it.  

it's in 640x480 because that's the size the picture originally was, but it can be expanded, ah the wonders of Flash.  it should work well, i experimented with different GIFs, and i started working on it at around 3:30 today, and it's done now

it's still about 30% uploaded (i'm on 56K today) so if you try to download it and it doesn't work, then try again in a few minutes and it'll be done downloading.  

EDIT:  Screw those of you that don't have the flash player installed... you'll just have to click the link below and open it up in your broswer window.

for those of you with Flash Player (which also comes with Flash (program)) installed, who want to see it in all its glory:
http://www.3dap.com/hlp/hosted/stealth/galateav2.swf

i haven't uploaded the FLA file, it's too large.  if there's no problems with the SWF, then i'll upload the FLA.  also let me know what you guys think each 'button' should link to

Let me know, i'll start the Bastion main hall tonight when i get back from work or sometime tomorrow.  i already have the pics, etc.

should i put sound in it?  i think sound can be used in a background, and perhaps i can add a 'toggle sound' button

i dunno, it would probably work, but anyway

someone please post the FS2 main halls

regardless, let me know, i'm off to work now, peace out

[Knight Templar]

Great Frolicking llamas stealth!

[Stealth]

ima reupload it >>>>

[Goober5000]

Excellent work.

I've found a couple of bugs, though.  First, that animation with the guy on the elevator shouldn't run constantly.  This is partly my fault; I shouldn't have made that GIF loop continuously.  He looks like he's doing laps going up and down that elevator.

Second of all, nice work making the doors start closing on the specific frame when they stopped opening.  However, it's also possible to move the cursor back on the hotspot when the doors haven't completely closed, and in this case the doors jump completely closed and start opening.  Do your current frame trick with the door open routine as well, and it'll be all set.

Will your final release have a text file where you can configure where the hotspots link to?

[Stealth]

Originally posted by Goober5000
Excellent work.

I've found a couple of bugs, though.  <1>First, that animation with the guy on the elevator shouldn't run constantly.  This is partly my fault; <2>I shouldn't have made that GIF loop continuously.  He looks like he's doing laps going up and down that elevator.

Second of all, <3>nice work making the doors start closing on the specific frame when they stopped opening.  <4>However, it's also possible to move the cursor back on the hotspot when the doors haven't completely closed, and in this case the doors jump completely closed and start opening.  <5>Do your current frame trick with the door open routine as well, and it'll be all set.

<6>Will your final release have a text file where you can configure where the hotspots link to?

Answers to questions:
1)  It shouldn't?  remember that it's the longest of the 8 animations... it has about 40 frames of the guy going down the elevator then back up again... then it's got about 300 frames of nothing, then he goes down again, etc.  i can either make him do it once and then never again, or i can make him do a "lap" like, once ever 5 minutes or so.  it's your call

2)  GIFs looping constantly doesn't make a difference... when i export them into Flash, flash gives me every frame of the GIF (i think most of them, except for the elevator one, were 31 or 32 frames long)... i have to work with each individual frame, placing them, etc.  so whether they loop or whatever makes it no more easier or more difficult for me

3)  Thanks  took me a while to do that

4)  Eck. this is still giving me trouble.  you see, i called a function that when the user rolls out it subtracts the current frame from the total number of frames in the animation.  for example, the ready room door has 62 frames... the first 31 i made the door opening, the last 31 is the door closing.  i have a stop action in the beginning, middle (frame 31) and end (frame 62).  then when the user rolls over the door, i tell it to add a frame number... thereby making it frame 0+1, or frame 1... where it continues to play until it gets to frame 31, where it stops.  then when the user ROLLS OUT, it takes the totalframes minus current frame... this allows for the 'smooth' effect.  however, i know what you're saying about if you quickly roll back over when it's closing it jumps closed then starts opening again.  i am working on this problem as we speak.  it's going to have to consist of if/then statements, which i was trying to avoid.

5)  unfortunately it's a bit more complicated than that

6)  yes, i'm hoping to have an alternate text file the user can edit... i'll make it very user-friendly.

If anyone would like to try to solve my problem that i have in number 4 (see #4 above) then please PM me or post here, and i'll send you the link to the FLA file, which i've got uploaded...