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I just realised that there is a way to implement this with the existing AGS. It relies on the fact that if there is only one enabled dialog option, then that one only will be played automatically.

However, I haven't tested this! It may not work, depending on what happens if you try and access non-existent dialog options with the GetDialogOption and SetDialogOption functions... maybe CJ could provide a GetTotalOptions(int dialog) or a global variable/array...?



function RunDialogOption(int topic, int option)
{
  char saveopt[30];
  int i=0;
  // Keep record of current dialog option state
  while (i<30) {
    saveopt=GetDialogOption(topic, i);
    SetDialogOption(topic, i, 0);
    i++;
  }
  SetDialogOption(topic, option, 1);
  RunDialog(topic);
  // Now restore saved dialog options
  while (i>=0) {
    SetDialogOption(topic, i, saveopt);
    i--;
  }
}

I have no idea of the function in AGS but yes, with Alpha Channels you can keep or create "soft" edges with transparency.
You have to be careful though, as this can often cause unwanted effects for the amateur user.

When you export the file make sure the background colour is the same as the edge of the graphic that will be cut out using the alpha channel.  If you character has an anti-aliased black outline, make sure the background of the rest of the image is black.
If it is pink, for example, you'll see pink artifacts, dirty pixels, when the "cut-out" image is placed over a background.
Alternatively, make the background of the image a colour approximate to the avarage colour of the background. E.g., if you graphic is supposed to be shown over a water background, make the image background blue, so the artifacts are less visible.

It's a bit difficult to explain, sorry. But with extended use you'll see what I mean.
One thing to remember is: it's not as clean as, say, a photoshop layer. You will have to do a bit of tweaking and forward planning!

This bordering problem will not apply with AGS2.6 (currently in beta - see technical forum) if you use 32-bit colour with alpha channel, as the alpha information will be included and those transparent pixels that were giving you the wierd border will now work properly. However, if you want to use 8 or 16-bit colour then you need to eliminate them This can be done in Paintshop Pro by getting the magic wand, turning select mode to Opacity, click in the middle of your sprite (over a solid bit) and then Invert selection and hit Delete to get rid of all semi-transparent pixels. Generally, an image will require some cleaning up after such an operation.

Quit trying to contradict me you Insignificant larva

I might have to change my "best quote" nomination for the Ergos...  

Given that my plot is so compelling that one person has submitted any kind of entry, I hereby resign as project manager in a huff. Maybe someone else can come up with something more inspiring! Or maybe Yufster wants to select one of  the other plot entrants or maybe she wants to go into hiding to avoid the derision and hate that comes with this kind of failure.

In some games, I have seen the feature that if there is only one dialog option left, the game automatically chooses that option without presenting a list of dialog options to the player. Is it possible to have a switch for enabling/disabling this feature in AGS?

Thanks!

My game is going to have quite a long opening sequence. I am wondering if I should make it more interactive, to make it more interesting for the player? The interaction would be pretty linear, because it would just be having a dialog with a couple of characters. Of course, if it was played as a movie rather than interactive, it would be skippable and individual lines of dialog would be skippable, to allow the whole thing to go quicker if you are a fast reader and don't care about the voice sound (if I do do a voice pack)

So: choice is :

Skippable intro scene that plays as movie*
Or two very linear dialogues at the beginning of game

I did think about making it a game option to have one or the other, but the way dialog scripting works doesn't make that easy...


EDIT:
* by movie I mean you sit and watch without clicking, rather than AVI or anything...

I wanna get my final versions uploaded before nominations begin! Will this weekend be too late?!?!?! I REALLY wanna give my babies the best possible chance this time around!

You might want to add them to the AGS games page, too, where they are conspicuously absent...

DM- yes, that and lots of other spiffy features. If you're doing a custom GUI at 640x400 res, then I'd wait for 2.6 to go to release, as it makes it much easier...

Maybe this isn't as funny to you, but I got this picture of me dressed in a black catsuit

Don't let m0ds read this thread...!

Well, this is one of those threads that ppl will either love or hate. It may be locked or it may be teh 1337est thread ever!!!111!one!

What's behind the door on your advent calendar today? Mine's a pretty traditional one my mum gave me so it was Mary, but yours may be some kind of chocolate, or something amusing or rude... share it with us

Or, if you're a moderator... lockity lock!

[Prediction:]

Prediction:
When the aliens invade the planet, and all of human-kind must unite to fight off the alien hordes.  I predict that finally we'll realize how petty and insignificant all this bullshit we've fought over truely is and we'll all realize that every man woman and child on this planet is inherantly the same.  Skin color, religious differences, all that doesn't mean shit when you realize that we're all humans ... end of debate.

We need a race us humans can unite against in order to get rid of racism? Brilliant.

Based on human history, we'd probably obliterate 90% of them and steal most of their planet before realising that they only had peaceful intentions originally, at which point we'd stop taking more, but still wouldn't give back what we had already taken.

This has been going on for around a month, resulting in a neverending itch, sleepless nights and minus five points in charisma.
You never think about how much you need sleep until you miss it. One night is okay, two can be endured, but after a while the constant lack of rest really gets to your nerves; not only do you get physically fatigued,

Ha! You don't know what tiredness is.

In the year-and-a-bit since my daughter was born, I have slept for 6 hours in one go ONCE. Generally, I sleep by 11.30, wake up at 2, 4 and 6 and then maybe have to get up between 6.30 and 7.30. I look after my daughter until 11.30 and then work until 8pm. My wife sleeps less than I do. So, look on the bright side: there's always someone worse off than you.

On the other hand, the reason for my lack of sleep makes it all worthwhile. I suppose that your reason doesn't...

Seeing a doctor sound like a good idea: or even a pharmacist might be able to give some advice.

bumped up for C&C on my walkcycle

bump: update on main page (Horemheb walkcycle)

Best retard?

How about "Best Awards Organiser"?

Or even "Best Awards Organiser who's signature still points to the old awards website?"

Vel reminded me that I forgot:

Best game written by a Bulgarian


Best backgrounds in a game with "forever" in the title


Best character art in a MAGS game with two sets of double letters in the title

Well,

I think that the reason people get offended is not just "you used the word slave" but  rather the underlying assumptions in the analogy:

For example, a slave on my embedded system bus is so called becasue it is entirely under the control of the master and should not do anything without being told to first. The analogy is obvious. But with real slaves, they were  people who did think for themselves and want to do their own things and have hopes and dreams for their future and for that of their children. That is where the analogy falls down and that is where the descendant of a slave might feel that an offensive over-simplification of the master-slave relationship has been introduced.

On the other hand, the chip I was designing the other day had a revolt becasue the master had raped one of the slaves and the bus slaves tied up the master and escaped the system. So maybe it IS a good analogy!  

How about the following categories:

Best sub-game:

For any adventure games that have an action sequence or any kind of sub-game, to encourage these to be good, too!

Best script:

If game-makers coded up an incredibly handy function or sequence for their game, they can publish it so that others can benefit and learn and this would allow them to be entered for this award. This would encourage people to share any cool scripting they did rather than keep it to themselves.

Most technically helpful:

Person who has helped out others a lot in the forums or on IRC, be it on scripting or art or music


It seems to me that the awards could maybe have a "constitution" that says they are to encourage innovation and excellence in all parts of the AGS community and encoyrage people to help each other, too. Or maybe it could say that its just a mutual appreciation exercise...  

If the awards are trying to encourage "good" things to be done with AGS, then maybe a best voice pack would be good, as it might encourage more people to do them. Even if there are only 2 or 3 games with them a year, that effort should be rewarded.

What do you folks think?

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