Who ever made Roger?

[SSH]

Or maybe I already did

[EagerMind]

I went ahead and made a rough draft new gui ... .... Stop the negativity and start the creativity! ^_^

Does this signify a relaunching of the demo quest project?

I hope this isn't a dumb question, but is the source available somewhere? I guess a working version isn't around anymore. I might be willing to help out a bit, if I could see what I was getting myself into.

[big brother]

I'm not sure I see the connection between the alien GUI and the human Roger.

If the goal is to attract more users, we'd be better off using ripped graphics from a popular game like KQ for the defaults. This would reinforce nostalgia and provide a graphical interface that is immediately recognizable to fans of the genre.

[Ali]

I'n not sure I agree, perhaps because I haven't played a KQ game, but not just for that reason.

The advantage of a human Roger is that he can be used as a generic walkcycle template. The great advantage of ProgZmax's alien GUI is that it looks nice, but it's so highly stylised that people are unlikely to want to use it.

While the current defaults encourage people to create their own graphics. ProgZ's work would demonstrate AGS's potential, help people create their own player character and encourage people to produce unique graphics.

[R4L]

There are people who will use these templates and put no time into work of their own. I think its a good idea to use a template like Prog's, but if a person is going to base a game just because of a template, thats kind of pathetic.

So I change my mind again, I think its a good contribution, but like I said, you won't be seeing this template in any game you would want to download (would you?), unless produced by Prog himself.

Besides, if anyone who was actually serious about making a game, would want their own style, and would work to achieve it.

[Rui 'Trovatore' Pires]

Yowza, this has been one heck of an argument. Now it's calmed down, here's my two cents: the default template is the default template. It has been updated before - remember the old default inventory GUI, and the new one (well, the one that comes with the template)? It all comes down to whether it warrants an update.

What do I think? A template is supposed to be a *base* upon which to build. Animations and graphics should be, and for the most part ARE, placeholders, merely practical. Not artistical. There are artistic templates, like the Simon the Sorcerer one. Should the default template be an artistic one?

At any rate, Prog's made some wonderful graphics. Why waste them? Distribute AGS with the Blank template, the Default template, and the Revised Default, or something. Or better yet, put the Revised Default online, like all the other templates are. That's just what it is - an user-created template that makes things easier for those that want to use it, but is nevertheless dispensible.

[Tuomas]

I think I agree with Sir Pires. And I don't see why it wouldn't be possible just show pictures of AGS games as a intro or as an introduction thingie that comes with the package. It's not like AGS makes you a good artist or anything, you still have to draw them yourself, but a little fooling and eyecandy could make people think otherwise.

Or maybe I already did

You can't win in this silly thing

[Nacho]

So... Two final questions (which should be answered by Chris):

1) Are we going to change Roger?
2) If "Yes", are we going to use ProgZmax' sprite, or will we do a contest?

Because I'd like to give a try... ^_^

[R4L]

You can't win in this silly thing

Aww, then your gaming skills are sorely lacking.

[Shane 'ProgZmax' Stevens]

The great advantage of ProgZmax's alien GUI is that it looks nice, but it's so highly stylised that people are unlikely to want to use it.

While the current defaults encourage people to create their own graphics. ProgZ's work would demonstrate AGS's potential, help people create their own player character and encourage people to produce unique graphics.

Precisely.  The goal here is to make something visually appealing that people aren't going to want to use over and over for obvious reasons.  Roger Wilco is a space janitor so a sci-fi alien gui is ideal for him, while the alien icons will throw people off from abusing the gui for generic humanoids.  I'm not saying people still won't do it, but more people than now will certainly pursue their own gui designs with a specific, non-universal gui.  Also, all I need to do now is make save/load guis and this will be complete.  I could even make a demo game with it (or someone else, I don't care) to illustrate the various ags features.

[Helm]

So then I would suggest replacing roger with a non descript template character that one can easily paint over and not Roger Wilco from Space Quest.

dunno how I missed this post, but I think it's what should be done as well. A character that is few colors, good keyanimation, not too many frames, and which is absolutely nondescipt so it just psychologically forces the designer to go in and edit his base frames.

If nobody else is willing to do this, I can.

Nondescriptor in Plain Quest

Ideally, the character should be naked.

[FSi++]

So, pr0n in default template?
Maybe use that awful hide deapers from TES?  :

[Helm]

a nude guy is porn? I guess I should put some clothes on!

[Erenan]

Well, although a nude guy might encourage the user to design his own player character sprite, don't you think some people will see a nude guy and start thinking about deleting AGS from their hard drive?

[MrColossal]

if a default character without clothes stops them making a game, they weren't cut out to make an AGS game.

http://kafkaskoffee.com/images/games/tutorials/template/templatesideviewanim.gif
this is a nude character.

[monkey0506]

zomg! pr0n! MY VIRGIN EYES!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Anyway...I'm an avid supporter of the 1 color default character. No outlines or anything...just...one solid color. That would create true inspiration to make your own character.

[Erenan]

if a default character without clothes stops them making a game, they weren't cut out to make an AGS game.

http://kafkaskoffee.com/images/games/tutorials/template/templatesideviewanim.gif
this is a nude character.

Okay, sure. I'd figured he meant nude including genitalia.

[Layabout]

That is because sir, you are a pervert!

[m0ds]

Changing Roger?

A more sparkly blue cup?

Yes, I hate change.

I like Progz' versions, fo sure. But they should never be the defaults, IMO.

[Gilbert]

* Gilbot V7000a teams up with m0ds.