Coming Soon: AGS MiniDemos. Whaddaya think?

TerranRich · Thu 26/08/2004 23:55:15

I plan on making AGS mini-demos based on snippets of code found in the Tech Archive and other sources. What do you guys think? I will be starting off wth the "mirror" code in the Tech Archive. I will also include a step-by-step illustrated small tutorial with each MiniDemo.

I guess I will constantly update this thread with new MiniDemos as I make them, about one every week or perhaps more frequently than that. This post will contain links to the web site I will make with the MiniDemos, as well a list of the individual ones as well.

Al_Ninio · Fri 27/08/2004 00:00:50

Wonderful idea, Rich, I salute you.
Are you going to release the games with the code, or let people figure it out from the appropriate thread?

TerranRich · Fri 27/08/2004 00:24:26

Oh, sorry, source code only. Users can compile it themselves to test it. It's easier that way. Forgot to mention it.

Evil · Fri 27/08/2004 00:50:52

I think it would be a lot more helpful if you made a game. Something like the AGS show but where chris walks around and explains how the codes work. IMO...

"Hello, I'm AGS's Chris Jones. I'm here today to explain how to use mirrors in your game. *CJ walks to mirror and reflection is casted**. This is a very useful code. You see when the character walks infront of the mirror the X thing messes the other thing, blah blah blah."

He would continue to walk around and show examples of how it is used, like puddles, mirrors, shiney objects, etc. Then include the code into the folder, and the kids will go wild and rejoice! Yay!

TerranRich · Fri 27/08/2004 00:58:16

Even better idea! Thanks, Evil! I'll see what I can do!

All I need are free characters to use. I can't be bothered to make my own!

Evil · Fri 27/08/2004 01:01:20

Well, I'm sure someone would kindly make CJ sprites if nobody already has them. And then there always is Roger for other characters, like AGS fighting. Sprites you could easily ask anybody for, even myself.

TerranRich · Fri 27/08/2004 02:33:51

I'll ask in ACR, but could you do some CJ sprites? I'm trying to alter some RON character to look just like CJ. It's coming along all right, but perhaps somebody could do better.

scotch · Fri 27/08/2004 03:25:16

This is how the demo quest should have been done. Having all the code in one game makes it confusing even for an experienced scripter. If they are all in seperate little demos then the code will be much easier to work out. Keep them as simple and focussed as possible and it's a good idea.
Perhaps people could add their own demos covering topics that are requested. I'm not sure how well the new demo quest is doing, this could possibly replace that.

Moox · Fri 27/08/2004 03:35:44

How about ones for plugins aswell, shoing how to make them work etc...

Gilbert · Fri 27/08/2004 03:47:35

Actually in my opinion (although I myself am against all engine plugins) whenever someone made a plugin, he should make a quick demo alongside with it demonstrating how it works (somone did this already, like the parallax plugin, etc., but someone did not I think).

TerranRich · Fri 27/08/2004 03:53:54

I am planning on covering plugins as well. Now, I never meant to go over RickJ's head in replacing Demo Quest II, but this might become very popular. And I would make available the Chris Jones sprites and views, as a .CHA file, for other people to use. Any more ideas?

Darth Mandarb · Fri 27/08/2004 07:45:44

I think this sounds like a pretty darn good idea!

It's about 2:30 am and I can't seem to find sleep ... so I took a crack at a CJ character:

I think it's a rather good likeness ... I couldn't get the mouth quite right.

Anyway ... if you like it, I can probably find time to animate it for you.

TerranRich · Fri 27/08/2004 07:51:19

I modified a RON character to look like this:

Doesn't look much like him. Your sprite looks better actually. Could you do a walk animation for him?

Darth Mandarb · Fri 27/08/2004 08:47:55

Do you want the character more in the RON style? My style of character ... well it might not fit well in your backgrounds? I can try to make it more RONish if you'd like?

If not, I'll see about animating him tomorrow (meaning after I sleep).

DGMacphee · Fri 27/08/2004 08:51:11

Rich's looks a lot like Guybrush.

Gilbert · Fri 27/08/2004 08:55:03

Actually I once drawn a CJ statue in the RON style long time ago (it was originally for Jannar's Bluecup on the RON, but seems that the game won't come out to the light in short time), I may put that in public for reference. Unfortunately I don't have it in my hand at the moment, I may need to do some search at home later.

Hollister Man · Fri 27/08/2004 18:18:14

Actually, we were considering a similar concept in DQ3, having a game that implements many of the tough concepts, but also linking mini-demos of each function/plugin externally. That way its fun and useful at the same time. Perhaps you wouldn't mind us using the mini-demos for that purpose, rather than making new ones?

By the way, RickJ is either pissed off at us or has amnesia, we haven't heard a word from him since December.

AGSFanatic · Fri 27/08/2004 19:24:56

Great... I was just thinking about asking in the forum if someone of the big ags game producers would release the source of their game to help new and unexperienced users (not able yet with scripting). Your idea could be even more helpfull!!!!

TerranRich · Sat 28/08/2004 05:02:00

Hollister Man: No problem, I'll donate them to you.

And yeah, RickJ was probably abducted by aliens. Damn ~~Mexicans~~ Klingons.

I didn't want any style, really. My room is just a basic floor, wall, and mirror, wth some crappy textures. Any style is fine, Darth, I really appreciate it.

However, I'm having some problems with matching up the frames between mirror and subject (http://www.agsforums.com/yabb/index.php?topic=16335.0), so I might either wat until I can fix it, or start something else in the meantime.

prowler · Sun 29/08/2004 22:26:18

you realize that instead of putting cj into the game, having him walk'n'talk around and showing all these features, you could have created a simpler game ( in template form, maybe? ) to show the basic functionality of a feature (such as the mirror), which is what people are really after.
by now you'd have completed that small demo, released it, and gone over to the next.

what i'm saying is that your original idea of releasing mini-demo's was way more efficient than that of, like some others noticed, creating another demo quest.

i hate to say it, but, as a newbie, the tech forums helped me far more than demo quest did, and they continue to help me, while demo quest is still incomplete.

oh well, the idea of illustrating tech topics and such is a good one.. whatever you choose to do, good luck

Coming Soon: AGS MiniDemos. Whaddaya think?

AGSFanatic