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Sonic Maker

Discussion in 'Fangaming Discussion' started by Lapper, Apr 20, 2010.

  1. Selbi

    Selbi

    The Euphonic Mess Member
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    Sonic ERaZor
    Why did you make this with VB 2010? .NET Framework 4.0 is the gayness (at least on the current days). :flunked:

    EDIT:
    It's pretty nice designed so far, the only I need to complain about is the object and chunk placement. Instead of clicking on it so it apperas at the top left corner is kinda annoying. I would prefer to simply drag'n'drop the object I want from the selection list to the spot I want it.
     
  2. Solaris Paradox

    Solaris Paradox

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    On my butt in front of the computer. Where else?
    I'm working on working up the willpower to work on learning how to make my own Sonic fangames. Not quite there yet.
    EDIT:

    Yeah, I'm definitely going to like this thing once it's operational. Very user-friendly, and with the right additions could make actual technical knowledge an extravagance when it comes to fangame-making. (Granted that'd result in a lot more LittleBigPlanet Syndrome, I.e. more crappy fangames, but...)

    I whipped up a little level chunk of what I imaging the start of my own fangame would look like:

    http://i916.photobucket.com/albums/ad9/Sol...lCoastTest1.png

    http://i916.photobucket.com/albums/ad9/Sol...lCoastTest2.png

    http://i916.photobucket.com/albums/ad9/Sol...lCoastTest3.png

    Unfortunately screencaps are the best I can do; this demo lacks a save feature. =P

    One thing I noticed is that it's impossible to place objects beneath the contents of a tile without the object being totally invisible: the empty spaces within a tile count as part of the tile itself, and thus everything "beneath" the empty space is invisible. So I can't hide monitors in palm trees, nor place a tile on top of another tile to make more complex level designs by combining level chunks. Ideally, the empty space (through which the grid and background are visible) should also allow one to see the tiles and objects beneath that tile as well.

    Also it's kind of annoying how every new tile you select appears at the very top corner of the level, requiring you to drag it to wherever you want it to be. Quite tiresome during ring-placement especially. Also, it'd be cool if you could select and move multiple tiles at once.

    EDIT 2: Also, I notice there's currently no tab for enemy placement...?
     
  3. [​IMG]

    I have died and gone to heaven. Thank you VERY MUCH.

    Shame I can't save or at the very least test the layout...
     
  4. HighFrictionZone

    HighFrictionZone

    Hi. Member
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    This program does not run on linux. Attempting to run it using WINE just gives the error that I need mono (or .NET), and attempting to run it with linux native mono (whatever version is most recent in the Debian Unstable repositories) gives errors. I am attempting to get the windows version of mono inside of WINE and see if that fares any better, but I doubt it.

    Code (Text):
    1. philbert@lappy2-debian:~/Desktop$ wine SonicGameCreator.exe
    2. install the Windows version of Mono to run .NET executables
    3. philbert@lappy2-debian:~/Desktop$ mono SonicGameCreator.exe
    4. WARNING: The runtime version supported by this application is unavailable.
    5. Using default runtime: v1.1.4322
    6.  
    7. ** (SonicGameCreator.exe:22963): WARNING **: The following assembly referenced from /home/philbert/Desktop/SonicGameCreator.exe could not be loaded:
    8.      Assembly:   Microsoft.VisualBasic    (assemblyref_index=1)
    9.      Version:    10.0.0.0
    10.      Public Key: b03f5f7f11d50a3a
    11. The assembly was not found in the Global Assembly Cache, a path listed in the MONO_PATH environment variable, or in the location of the executing assembly (/home/philbert/Desktop/).
    12.  
    13.  
    14. ** (SonicGameCreator.exe:22963): WARNING **: Could not load file or assembly 'Microsoft.VisualBasic, Version=10.0.0.0, Culture=neutral, PublicKeyToken=b03f5f7f11d50a3a' or one of its dependencies.
    15. The entry point method could not be loaded
     
  5. Conan Kudo

    Conan Kudo

    「真実はいつも一つ!」工藤新一 Member
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    According to that, it was compiled with Visual Basic 2010. Mono only supports Visual Basic 8.0 language features, and some of Visual Basic 9.0 features.
    The .NET framework support level is 2.0, with patches of 3.0 and higher.

    To run it in Wine, you need to install Microsoft .NET Framework 4.0.
     
  6. Lapper

    Lapper

    Lappering Tech Member
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    Sonic Studio, Sonic Physics Guide, Kyle & Lucy, Freedom Planet 2
    Visual basic 10 is what it was compiled in, because my VB9 'app properties' editor is non-existent.
    Umm, the like layering is a toughy.. but I guess it's going to have to happen soon.

    Dragging would be very interesting, also selecting a tile and ject clicking on the layout is an option.
     
  7. Solaris Paradox

    Solaris Paradox

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    On my butt in front of the computer. Where else?
    I'm working on working up the willpower to work on learning how to make my own Sonic fangames. Not quite there yet.
    Another option is to have the tile or object you choose appear on the top corner of the portion of the grid the user is presently on, rather than simply on the top corner of the grid itself.
     
  8. Lapper

    Lapper

    Lappering Tech Member
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    I'm pretty sure I've done that! I'll have a look...

    Also, implemented 'new game' function. :S

    Edit:
    I'm pretty sure I've done that! I'll have a look...
    Yes, I have.

    Well, It works for me, anyway.

    Edit 2:
    Adding labels to all tiles and objects, even the metablocks. o_0
     
  9. Solaris Paradox

    Solaris Paradox

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    I'm working on working up the willpower to work on learning how to make my own Sonic fangames. Not quite there yet.
    "Metablocks?"

    Pardon my ignorance, but I'm not sure what that means.
     
  10. Afti

    Afti

    ORIGINAL MACHINE Member
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    A tile in an 8x8. A block is 16x16, made of four tiles. A chunk is 128x128 or 256x256, made of an asston of blocks.

    I would guess that, from that grid, he is referring to metablocks as an intermediate between the block and the chunk. Since he doesn't need to fit as much as possible in very little RAM, this makes sense; he doesn't need to build levels with 256x256 monsters, and a 32x32 maintains convenience without limiting options the way a 256x256 system does, wherein measurable chunks of level (roughly 3/4 a screen, horizontally, if 256x256) are repeated.
     
  11. Solaris Paradox

    Solaris Paradox

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    On my butt in front of the computer. Where else?
    I'm working on working up the willpower to work on learning how to make my own Sonic fangames. Not quite there yet.
    Oh, I see.

    Again, pardon my ignorance. I'm really new to design terminology and I still think of things more in terms of "pieces" and "things" than blocks, tiles, and all that.
     
  12. MainMemory

    MainMemory

    Kate the Wolf Tech Member
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    I might as well say it here too...
    I may be able at some point to modify the engine that I'm using for WindowsZone to be able to play levels made by this program, instead of using open windows.

    Maybe.
     
  13. Solaris Paradox

    Solaris Paradox

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    On my butt in front of the computer. Where else?
    I'm working on working up the willpower to work on learning how to make my own Sonic fangames. Not quite there yet.
    I haven't had a chance to try WindowsZone, as it won't run on my computer. What's the engine like?
     
  14. MainMemory

    MainMemory

    Kate the Wolf Tech Member
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    The engine is based on the information in the Sonic Physics Guide and is pretty much the same as the original games.

    And I don't quite believe that it simply "won't run on my computer". You probably just need the DirectX stuff.
     
  15. Solaris Paradox

    Solaris Paradox

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    On my butt in front of the computer. Where else?
    I'm working on working up the willpower to work on learning how to make my own Sonic fangames. Not quite there yet.
    That's exactly it, and unfortunately I don't speak Error Message Gibberish, and can't be arsed to learn for what is essentially a novelty. So it won't run on my computer.
     
  16. Lapper

    Lapper

    Lappering Tech Member
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    WindowsZone runs fine on my computer (well, laptop), and that sounds great. In fact, you could write the loading system (well, I wouldnt be able to in your engine). (don't worry, sonic maker just saves text files like this:
    And that is just the x&y of Sonic's feet, then all the code name, x and y of all tiles and gimmicks. :) )

    But thats only if you do it though...
     
  17. Lapper

    Lapper

    Lappering Tech Member
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    I don't know the double posting rules, because the guidelines say nothing about it, and no one has posted on this topic for a long time
    Soo...


    I am developing SonicMaker's saving and loading capabilities.
    I am using the GM engine at the moment, but in case any other choices come up, I've made the perfect soloution!
    [​IMG]
    Multi-engine saving!

    I am just getting the GM engine to construct the levels, then I shall upload a new demo.
     
  18. Solaris Paradox

    Solaris Paradox

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    On my butt in front of the computer. Where else?
    I'm working on working up the willpower to work on learning how to make my own Sonic fangames. Not quite there yet.
    Will this also solve the problem of levels made with older versions potentially being incompatible with newer versions?
     
  19. Lapper

    Lapper

    Lappering Tech Member
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    Could do. Also if newer versions are not compatible with the saved levels, I could release a converter, or have it built in. It can be that hard, the saved files are simple as they are.

    Funnily the hardest save/load system to do in Sonic maker is opening saved files, actually in the program... But loading in GM is fine (exept a bug where odd tiles appear).
     
  20. Lapper

    Lapper

    Lappering Tech Member
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    Sonic Studio, Sonic Physics Guide, Kyle & Lucy, Freedom Planet 2
    The I've Already Done That list
    -I have already (nearly) finished the GM engine to run the data files produced by Sonic Maker.
    -I have already fixed the 'it wont appear at the top of the view, it appears at the top of the map instead' bug.
    -I have nearly got all the gimmicks and objects done.
    -I have already made enemies in the GM engne, so you can now put enemies on your levels
    -I have already added a 'decoration' tab at the bottom, for waterfalls and whatnot.

    The I Can't Right Now list
    -I can't make an undo/redo system, but there isnt much need to right now.
    -I can't make other tilesets, or other gimmicks for other levels.