Graphics Capabilities Question

[Digital Haruspex]

Hi all!

Like most of you, I'm sure, I've been an adventure game fan for years and I miss the old LucasArts and Sierra adventures.  Many of my best gaming memories come from their adventure games.

Anyway, I've been aware of AGS for some time now, but I've only just begun to seriously think about developing an adventure game but I have a question about the graphics capabilities of AGS first.  I'm aware this is probably not a brilliant answer, but I'll ask anyway.  I know that the backgrounds can, with some artistic talent and sufficient time, look extremely good because they're basically just a static painted image.  However, I was wondering if there's any sort of limitation (file size, number of frames of animation, etc) to what your characters can look like?  I'm all for the old style pixellated characters like you find in the early Sierra adventure games, but I was hoping to be able to approach something with some polish to it.

I've included some examples below from the game "Runaway: A Road Adventure" (which I highly recommend if you haven't tried it).  Would I be able to get something of this quality using AGS, or would I be confined to the blocky pixellated look of the old school games?

(Click the links for full size images, but you knew that already.)

http://www.gmxmedia.net/runaway/screens/RUNAWAY78.jpg


http://www.gmxmedia.net/runaway/screens/RUNAWAY99.jpg


http://www.nlgaming.com/showPic.asp?ShowPic=/games/1912/RUNAWAY72.jpg


http://itpro.no/images/omtaler/Spill/runaway1.jpg

Thanks in advance for the answers!

[Dan_N]

Hmmm...

To best my knowledge, ProgZMAX tried to make an 80 frame animation and AGS crashed, so you should keep your loops' frames below that...

Now, because of how AGS works, you can make Runaway and Broken Sword style graphics and environments. You must remember that graphics are all just images, so it depends on your art skills if you can immitate those styles. Also, regarding size, i think if you make image that don't exceed you game's resolution (backgrounds don't count because they can be larger, as they become scrollable) everything'll be fine. Also, background animations can only contain 5 frames, so don't forget that as well.

Hope I helped, cheers!

[scotch]

Compared to Runaway, AGS has mainly one limitation, and that is that it doesn't do 1024x768. The highest resolution is 800x600. Note that the images you linked to aren't full size in game images, they've already been scaled down to around AGS resolution. As long as you're ok with that drop, then AGS is fine for these sorts of graphics.

[Akatosh]

Also, background animations can only contain 5 frames, so don't forget that as well.

You can bypass that via placing an object rather than drawing the to-be-animated spot directly on the background. Also, there is no hard coded size limit on sprites, but if I remember the AGS tidbits right, it can't be bigger than the room size or something like that.

Also, AGS does not support lens flare yet (NOOOOOOOOOO!)

[Digital Haruspex]

Hmmm...

To best my knowledge, ProgZMAX tried to make an 80 frame animation and AGS crashed, so you should keep your loops' frames below that...

Exactly the kind of thing I was looking to know!

Now, because of how AGS works, you can make Runaway and Broken Sword style graphics and environments. You must remember that graphics are all just images, so it depends on your art skills if you can immitate those styles.

I'm a bit of an artist so that style isn't really a concern.  It's something I'll just have to work at until I'm happy with it.

Also, regarding size, i think if you make image that don't exceed you game's resolution (backgrounds don't count because they can be larger, as they become scrollable) everything'll be fine.

I was aware of this since I'd read it somewhere else, but I'm glad you reminded me because I'd forgotten until I read your post.

Also, background animations can only contain 5 frames, so don't forget that as well.

Another good tip!

Hope I helped, cheers!

It certainly did help.  Thanks for the reply!

Compared to Runaway, AGS has mainly one limitation, and that is that it doesn't do 1024x768. The highest resolution is 800x600.

I'm aware of the resolution limitation.  It's not a major concern of mine; I think 800x600 should be plenty to work with, though I could very well find that constraining once I get started.  Who knows?

By the way, anyone know if there are any plans for higher resolutions?  It would be nice, but not mandatory if it means a lot of extra work that could be better used to improve AGS somewhere else.

Note that the images you linked to aren't full size in game images, they've already been scaled down to around AGS resolution. As long as you're ok with that drop, then AGS is fine for these sorts of graphics.

They looked fine to me at the scale they're at.  Obviously if they were larger it would be better, but they weren't too shabby considering the cost of AGS.

Thanks for the response!

You can bypass that via placing an object rather than drawing the to-be-animated spot directly on the background. Also, there is no hard coded size limit on sprites, but if I remember the AGS tidbits right, it can't be bigger than the room size or something like that.

Excellent tip!  I'll have to remember that...

Thanks for the reply.

[Dan_N]

Er... don't double or triple post. Just edit your last post, or just write up everything in one post.

Double or more posting is a cause for banning.

Oh, and w00t, I finally gave some good beginners' tech advice!

[Ashen]

Well, it's not a cause for banning - you really have to make a nuisance of yourself for that - but it IS against the forum rules. As Dan said, please use the 'Modify' button in the future. (Unless a significant amount of time - i.e. more than a day - has passed, of course.)

[Digital Haruspex]

Well, excuse me for attempting to be polite and reply to people as individuals.

If I wanted to edit a post I would have.  It's not like I reposted my entire topic just to add something I forgot to mention.  I was replying to more than one person so I figured I should use more than one post and speak to each person out of courtesy rather than lump it all together.

Ban me if it makes you feel better.  It's no skin off my nose.

[Ashen]

Like I said, you won't get banned for double posting. At most you'll get a severe frowning at, and your posts merged (as above).

Being polite is admirable, but it clearly says in the forum rules:

• Don't double post. If you think of something to add to your post and nobody else has replied DON'T post again  - this is what the "Modify" option is for. An exception can be made if a reasonable amount of time (more than 24 hours) has past since your last post.
  

So that form of politeness, isn't really appropiate here (although it's a nice thought).

[Da_Elf]

my game uses 640x480 and the quality blown up full screen on my monitors is still good. alot ofmy backgrounds are larger than the 640x480 to give me my scrolling rooms. I havent noticed and slow performance or anything