How to make an animated menu

[Heirukichi]

Spritesheets can be used as animations (using the Animation tab in the database), as characters or even as normal sprites with custom animations. Depending on the option you pick, the solution is different.

EDIT: Ninjed by Theo.

 

[motman]

Even if you said spritesheet, we still need the detail of how the spritesheet is formatted. We're waiting.

What do you mean exactly by formatted?
I'm sorry i'm not really good with some english words, and google doesn't translate good.

@Heirukichi, since your Italian can we start a conversation in Italian tomorrow please?

 

[Heirukichi]

I think he means the way you handle the position of each frame.

 

[motman]

I think he means the way you handle the position of each frame.

well I was trying to use GraphicsGale drawing there each frame since it's fast easy and precise, but since I found out it ain't supported by RPG Maker, I'm kinda trying to choose either exporting to GIMP and try to see what I can make, or restart from zero with another program.

And that's just part of the thing I wanna do, because after I made the animation I want to make it work when the player clicks new game or load game

 

[TheoAllen]

What do you mean exactly by formatted?

For example, the character spritesheet is formatted in 3x4 sheet. Cell size doesn't matter.
The animation sheet is formatted in 5 rows with 192x192 cell size, how many columns doesn't matter.
The icon sheet is formatted in 24x24 cell size (I forgot how many column per row, and I don't bother to look at it).

because after I made the animation I want to make it work when the player clicks new game or load game

You keep mentioning this, and as all of us told you, we can handle that. In case you don't know, it's going to be a script code. And this will go nowhere until you actually provide the sample animation asset.

 

[Heirukichi]

but since I found out it ain't supported by RPG Maker

Nobody told you that Graphics Gale is not supported by RPG Maker. What you have been told is that the .gal file extension is not supported and that Graphics Gale is not directly supported, but Graphics Gale does allow you to export your files in PNG, and PNG files are supported by RPG Maker.

The only thing that matters is how you format your sprite sheet, as Theo explained above. But until you provide further details I am afraid we cannot help you. Nobody can read your mind, if you do not provide enough information it is impossible to help you. When somebody helping you asks for more information, it usually means that the person itself needs that kind of information in order to help you.

In relation to this particular topic, what you are trying to achieve is quite simple, but you are keeping the most crucial information for yourself, and this nobody is able to help you.

 

[motman]

Nobody told you that Graphics Gale is not supported by RPG Maker. What you have been told is that the .gal file extension is not supported and that Graphics Gale is not directly supported, but Graphics Gale does allow you to export your files in PNG, and PNG files are supported by RPG Maker.

The only thing that matters is how you format your sprite sheet, as Theo explained above. But until you provide further details I am afraid we cannot help you. Nobody can read your mind, if you do not provide enough information it is impossible to help you. When somebody helping you asks for more information, it usually means that the person itself needs that kind of information in order to help you.

In relation to this particular topic, what you are trying to achieve is quite simple, but you are keeping the most crucial information for yourself, and this nobody is able to help you.

You mean that until I make the sprite sheet, you can't understand well what I have in mind, right?

Ok understood, I'm gonna make the sprite sheet in PNG and png and show it to you;
it's gonna take a week or 2.

 

[Andar]

You mean that until I make the sprite sheet, you can't understand well what I have in mind, right?

no
we understand what you want to do.
what we're trying to tell you is that you can't do what you want to do until you get your animation elements into PNG pictures.

 

[Heirukichi]

@motman as Andar told you, we all understood what you want to do, but we have to see your PNG file to be able to help you. What you have in mind is quite clear.

Programming-wise you could put all your frames in a single line or you could put them in a single column or you could use a different index for each frame, it does not change much, but we have to be able to see it and the engine has to read it in order for it to work.

 

[motman]

@motman as Andar told you, we all understood what you want to do, but we have to see your PNG file to be able to help you. What you have in mind is quite clear.

Programming-wise you could put all your frames in a single line or you could put them in a single column or you could use a different index for each frame, it does not change much, but we have to be able to see it and the engine has to read it in order for it to work.

does the animation itself count as a PNG file?

 

[Heirukichi]

does the animation itself count as a PNG file?

If you export it and put every frame in a PNG file and its extension is .png then yes, it counts as a PNG file. If you export it as a GIF then no, of course a GIF is not a PNG.

 

[motman]

If you export it and put every frame in a PNG file and its extension is .png then yes, it counts as a PNG file. If you export it as a GIF then no, of course a GIF is not a PNG.

Ok, I'll make and show u as soon as possible every frame as a PNG file.

Thanks, and sorry if I bothered you all too much.

See ya.

 

[motman]

Hi guys, I finished the frames, it took me more than I thought but I did it.

here's the frames:

 

[motman]

If you export it and put every frame in a PNG file and its extension is .png then yes, it counts as a PNG file. If you export it as a GIF then no, of course a GIF is not a PNG.

here's the frames

 

[Heirukichi]

I am going to post the easy and obvious solution here for other users, but I have sent you a more detailed PM in Italian to explain everything. I would do it by using an Autorun event as soon as the game starts (same map as the player's starting position).

Pseudocode:
@> Show Picture (1st image file name)
@> Wait (number of frames)
@> Show Picture (2nd image file name)
@> Wait (number of frames)
@> etc.

As long as you use the same image ID there is no need to erase the pictures when showing a new one and you can only use the "Erase Picture" command at the end of your event. However, you should know that VX Ace cache has to be cleared manually when you no longer need those pictures. To do so, you can use the following script call:

Cache.clear

 

[Thorgaaz]

Well you could use a skip titlescreen script. Than on your first map you do autorun or parallel events which shows the pictures and animations. After the animation is finished the event switches and show your selfmade picture which look like an menue, and another one which looks like your cursor. Now you have some work to do to make the pictures simulate a menue, but it is possible.

 

[motman]

Well you could use a skip titlescreen script. Than on your first map you do autorun or parallel events which shows the pictures and animations. After the animation is finished the event switches and show your selfmade picture which look like an menue, and another one which looks like your cursor. Now you have some work to do to make the pictures simulate a menue, but it is possible.

Really? Then could u give me more details about it please?

 

[Thorgaaz]

Well here is an Tutorial but as you see, its over 20 minutes long so explaining it all here would probably be an little much.
Its sadly in german, but maybe it helps. If not, im pretty sure someone did something similar in English too you only need to find it.



wow, didnt expect that posting it here would implement it completely..

 

[motman]

Well here is an Tutorial but as you see, its over 20 minutes long so explaining it all here would probably be an little much.
Its sadly in german, but maybe it helps. If not, im pretty sure someone did something similar in English too you only need to find it.



wow, didnt expect that posting it here would implement it completely..

Thanx anyway, any little help is always great for me.