Custom Area Display Names

[Nutty171]

I've received a few compliments on my custom area display names that I used in my project, so I decided to make a tutorial for it! In this tutorial, I will show you the eventing side of my custom display names, plus I will show you how to make two separate areas in one map! Enjoy! (If any of the images don't work, try refreshing the page. If the problem persists, let me know.)

STEP 1: Initial setup:
First you need some maps to display the names of, obviously. For this tutorial, I'm going to be using a made-up world of mine known as Tagrya. There will be three areas: East and West Tagrya on the same map, and Tagrya Tunnel accessible from West Tagrya.
Next you need images for the areas themselves:

Now it's important to note the height of your images. Mine are 164 pixels tall.
Also, you need one switch and one variable. The switch will be the trigger for the common event you'll need, and the variable to keep track of what area the player is in.

STEP 2: Event setup:
You need one event for each time the player changes areas. For map switching, the event should look like this:

Spoiler: Map switching event

Also you need an autorun event in each map that turns on the AreaImage switch, thus activating the common event:

Spoiler: Autorun event

For area changes in the same map, you will need two events, one for each area:

Spoiler: Where to put the events

"West event" is the event that triggers the area image for area #0, the western area.
"East event" is the event that triggers the area image for area #1, the eastern area.

Spoiler: "East event"

STEP 3: The common event:
Now for the common event:

Spoiler: Common event

And that's it, you're good to go! Now you can have your very own custom map display names, and even have multiple areas in one map! This is my first tutorial, so any and all feedback is appreciated.

P.S. If you want to know how I made my area images themselves, let me know, and I'll make another tutorial for it! <(^-^<)

 

[Doktor_Q]

It looks like you could put the "Area = #" and "AreaImage = ON" in the same event most of the time- either both at the end of the entrance to the map, or both on an autorun inside it. Is there a reason you have them in separate events all the time?

 

[Nutty171]

Actually, it does matter. If the "AreaImage = ON" event is in the transfer event, then it might show up before you go to the other map. I don't know for sure, though, as I haven't tested it.

If the "Area = #" is in the autorun event, then you can't have multiple areas in that map. Suppose for example that I split the tunnel into "North Tunnel" and "South Tunnel." North is area #3, and South is area #4. The autorun event is for the whole map, and so it needs to either set the variable to 3 or 4, and it can't easily tell which side of the tunnel you're entering the map from.

 

[Doktor_Q]

If you set the AreaImage = ON after you finish the transfer it should likely work fine. I've done similar patterns for post-move transition effects.

 

[Nutty171]

That's what I did. I'm saying that if you do it BEFORE the transfer, then it might not work properly. (Still haven't tested it.)

 

[Doktor_Q]

I meant inside the same map-changing event, after the teleport- unless that's also what you meant. Even if you move to a new map inside an event, it keeps running until the end. Useful for transitions where you fall down a hole, for example.

 

[Nutty171]

Oh, I didn't know that! Thanks for the tip! It probably would work fine, then.

 

[The Stranger]

Nice tutorial, @Nutty171. I was doing something similar but with individual events on each map I wanted to show a map name. Your way is definitely a lot tidier.

Oh! I'd like to know how you made your map name images. I always enjoy learning new ways to create images in GIMP, Photoshop, etc.

 

[Doktor_Q]

Just put this into practice, and it works excellently! You can get quite a few styles, based on what move image commands you use, and adding things like sound effects. I basically made the Dark Souls area intros while playing around with the setup.