Empty black screen with some text (as an intro screen)

[Magus]

Hello all, I am a beginner from Russia (that's why I can have problems with English from time to time). I have started my first game and read through a dozens of topics here (including the Manual and the FAQ), but I still don't seem to be able to understand how to do one simplest thing... I am real ashamed of myself, but still hope that you'll help me.

I have a main intro (with the game's title), right? Now, before jumping into my first room (with graphics and stuff), I want to insert some blank screen with the text running across it (or even more preferably - appearing in interchanging boxes). This way I want to create some kind of a prehistory for a player - an only then jump to the first room. But how? As far as I am concerned, the action should be triggered somehow. But on which event should I start this text? Is there some 'start new room and run the text immediately' command? Please, don't laugh at me.

I also - being an old fan of Sierra and LucasArts games - want to thank the creators of this marvellows program and greet with respect all the members of this forum!

[Buckethead]

- Open you gobal script
- at

Code: ags

function game_start() // called when the game starts, before the first room is loaded

put

Code: ags

DisplayMessage(500);

- I find it the most handy to put the messages I need in the Global message, 500 is an example here. Replace it with the number you used.

I tested it so it must work , good luck 

[SSH]

If you're going to use scripting, then why not just do:

Display("Text directly here rather than using global messages");

but anyway, you can make your first room actually not a room but just a place to do your intro in. It doesn't have to be the first-numbered room either, so don't worry if you already have a room 1 (although you can create a room 0 if need be): the room your player character is set to start in will be the room you game starts in.

[Magus]

Thanks a lot - i've learnt a new trick!

And yet, the problem is not completely solved... What I've got is that firstly the blank screen shows my text, and then the intro screen follows (with the game title).

What I need is vice versa: the first screen to appear is the intro screen, and only then (after a click) the text on a blank screen must follow. So that a player watches the intro, clicks a mouse button, reads the text and goes to the first room, where the game starts.

Any ideas?

[Khris]

Put this in the first room's player enters screen (after fadein) interaction:

WaitMouseKey(40*60);Ã,  Ã, // wait for 60 seconds/mouse click
RawSetColorRBG(0,0,0);Ã,  // black 'ink'
RawDrawRectangle(0,0,319,199);Ã,  Ã, // adjust bottom left coords if necessary
Display("Text1");
Display("Text2");
...
player.ChangeRoom(2);Ã,  // move to starting room

[SilverWizard_OTF]

I hope you will understand what i will write, because i am from Greece and my english are also not so goodÃ, 

Well, you can have a room1.crm, where it will be displayed your intro (anyway, it would be better to tell us exactly how do you want your intro to beÃ,  ).Ã,  First with the help of the script, type script command mouse.visible=false; to hide the cursor (interaction editor--> player before fade in-->run script) . Then in room1.crm fill all the area with a specific hotspot e.g. hotspot1. Then in the interaction editor of this hotspot, to "anyclick to hotspot" select "go to a new room-->2" . Oh, don't forget to check the option "hide player character" both to room1 and room2.
Ã,  Now, to room2.crm,Ã,  in the interaction editor, to "player enters screen (after fade in), type "display a message..." and then "go to a new room...". Don't worry, command "display a message..." pauses the game until you pass the text (with a click or with a key-press). Or if you don't want that, room2.crm can be a room where its image will be text (using e.g. window's painting program) and with the same trick (hotspot e.t.c.) player with a click he will be transported to the rest of the game.
I hope i helped a bit

Note: This is a simple solution which uses almost no script. If you want to learn from now scripting and not wasting time with interaction editor, try the other suggestions.

[Magus]

Guy, thanks a lot to you all for your replies! I combined all this info and found what I was lookin for.

Now that I have progressed a lot, this problem seems so distand and... shallow. I have another one now - but I will post it as a new topic.

Thank you again!