Sprite sizes reduction - suggestion?

[Albert Cuandero]

How can I reduce the KB size of my sprites?

E.g. I have a bunch of sprites using just black lines on transparent backgroud. As GIFs those would be very small files, even if they are fullscreen pixel-size.

My imported sprites however are all the same file size, relating only to the screen size (according to the sprite-properties button)

Can I have GIF-like compression on sprites? (as is done with the backgrounds)

If not, can I place it as a suggestion? Thanks.

(a search didn't return any results - can it be none asked this before?)

[Privateer Puddin']

I don't think AGS compresses sprites due to a speed issue

[Gilbert]

As cus... pudding pointed out, sprites are never compressed because of speed issue (no matter what format they're originally in, they occupies the same space after import). Backgrounds are, however, compressed to save space.

Normally it wouldn't be much of a problem, as when you distribute a game you may compress it first (ZIP, RAR, etc.), which should reasonably reduce the game size. Though when people uncompress the game in their computers it may be larger, most people should has harddisks large enough to hold it already (compared to those zvarily-awesome-looking commercials that would install GBs in your harddisks).

But if you're really concerned about the game size (like for example you're only creating a short/medium length game, which doesn't worth using that much space), you may consider more on how you make your game, like using less sprites if they're not necessary, etc.

[Moox]

You could use png for importing them

[Gilbert]

LT, read carefully.

(no matter what format they're originally in, they occupies the same space after import).

[Albert Cuandero]

Too bad... thanks anyway

I really have do sprites (pages of and such) which PS compreses to 15KB gifs, but AGS makes the 400+KB. Maybe I will try to make each line of the book a single sprite, thus saveing the space between them...

Yeah, zipping will hopefully help - my real concern is the DL-size as a 75-100 MB game would be wuite limited in distribution by this (plus the bandwith costs).

[Rui 'Trovatore' Pires]

Sprites compress very easily. I always cut down on a lot of space when I use RAR's "Best Compression" setting, on any given game. And as I recall, I once playd a game that got reduced to it's third when compressed - an AGS game.

So if you're concern is download size, you don't have to worry.

[Pumaman]

You'd be surprised at how similar the compression ratio is for images using standard zip/rar compared to lossless image formats (eg. GIF, PNG).

There's very little advantage download-size-wise in AGS compressing the sprites, but it would impact run-time performance.

[SSH]

How about if AGS unpacked the sprites during a games intro sequence or while waiting for the user to select which savegame, etc. Certain sprites to be used in the intro could be designated as non-compressable?

[Pumaman]

I just don't see the point, to be honest. For game distribution, compressing it with WinZip is just as good as if AGS compressed the sprites internally; and for installation, even the largest AGS game doesn't even make a dent in today's huge hard drives.

[monkey0506]

Ah... But WinZip doesn't read RAR files, now does it? Get the trial version of PicoZip. It reads every type of compression that I know of. Don't worry about the "This is only for evaluation" disclaimer. So who cares if it takes you 20 years to decide if you like it...

[Gilbert]

Or, use free programmes to extract RAR files instead, like 7Zip...

[BorisZ]

I use WinAce, but I compress it in ZIP format (best compression option). As you can check, ZIP format I uploaded is about 2,8 MB and uncompressed game is 8,7 MB (as I recall). That's about 3 times smaller ZIP.

WinAce is not free, but it is shareware with unlimited using time (only shows pop-up's on opening), and it reads ZIP,RAR and other formats.