In need of graphics

[Drighton]

I was surprised to find this place. 2D artists are kinda scarce.

Well, I'll get to the point. I'm programming an RPG in Visual Basic 6 using DirectX 7. I've chosen to use a 32x32 tileset, and a 32x64 characterset, since it will allow for more detail in the graphics.

This project is mainly for my own education and not intended to make any profit, however i don't want it to look like crap either  

I have seen some nice work done by the many people contributing to this utility, which I must say has inspired me to ammend my character creation procedures (luckily, I've just started making them, so only my theories changed).

Currently, as placeholder graphics, I'm using character sets from RPGMaker 2k that have been doubled in size to meet the 32x64 set, which you can imagine looks like crap (1 pixel before = 4 pixels after).

Basically, I'm looking to acquire the assistance of an artist, though not at this exact moment. I am starting my search now because I'm beginning the character creation process, and will soon move onto the battle system, for which I have no enemies.

Here is a little insight to the game so I know what I'm looking for:
This game will be playable by either a single player, or multiple players over a network. The game is made of multiple large maps (about 1000x1000 is as big as I plan to make a map). I am opting for a live combat system rather than the fizzle/dissolve-to-battlescreen used in Final Fantasy or RPGMaker, so the mobs will be similar to the character sets (bad guys are people and animals (bear, lion)... none of the minotaur stuff).

The player will customize the skin and eye color, and hair style of their character, and the armor they wear will change their appearance (clothing) accordingly.

If your interested, send me an email. I will post some screenshots of what it looks like currently, hopefully tomorrow.
Just for info, I have the Map Editor semi-completed (it updates as the game does), and the game (currently untitled) loads a map and npc file. The npc's move randomly will execute a script upon activation (Enter key). I just finished the item editor and I am now moving onto the character file (made during character creation) and inventory screen.



Hopefully I can find some help in this community and give some as well. I've been playing around with VB (VB3.. lol) since I was in 7th grade (long since graduated highschool and moved on to VB6) and have taken a course or two in C++ (though I'll admit its VERY rusty).

Still I'll offer any help I can. Also, I wasn't too sure where to post, so I will be linking to this post in other Charas forums. Sorry for any irritation.

[Drighton]

I was experimenting last night with a screen capture utility that would make an avi file that I could put on my website for viewing. It didn't work too well, and I messed with it a little longer than I should have...

So, I'm just gonna go with good ol' still screens. When I get to work I will upload them to my site. I'm waiting till then because the maps I currently have are for testing and debugging purposes, and nothing too fancy.

So I'll be putting something together to show the work I've done. Keep in mind that this is just a demo map and probably won't be included in the finished product, and that the graphics will look familiar, and pixelated (due to the scaling).

I certainly hope to get some response afterwards.

P.S. I'm settling in for a long stay.

[Osmose]

Hmmmm, do you know anywhere that has a good tutorial on sprite operations in DirectX, any version (though preferrably above 6 ). So far all the ones I've found assume you have prior experience with the different methods and such. So far the only graphics method I know in VB is bitblt, and bitblt is nice for some applications, but directX is just way more flexible.

[Drighton]

The BEST site I found for DirectX was Lucky's VB Gaming site, which he has since stopped updating. He provides a link to another site on his which serves the same purpose, but thats not what you want.

You want Lucky's tutorials. The best I've ever seen. This first version of my game was made with the tutorials (i later redid the game after I became comfortable with DX, and again when I wanted to organize my code), and I'll even be using a DirectDraw/Direct3D Hybrid tutorial there to add some nifty alpha blending to my game.

Enough chat, heres the link:  Lucky's VB Gaming Site

The new website he created, Game Programming Wiki (gpwiki.org) is like Wikipedia in that people can edit the site and upload their own tutorials. I haven't visited it myself, but it sounds cool.

[Drighton]

Ok, here are the screenshots I promised.

Screenshots

[PyroAlchemist]

I know you like proggraming with VB and all but this would be so much easier if you use RPGMaker 2003.

[Moosetroop11]

Agreed.

[Drighton]

Think of this as a 2D MMORPG, though not MMO... more like Lan-RPG. Skills, classes, and item fabrication included, and a Diablo-esque battle system. Correct me if I'm wrong, but I don't think you can acheive those things with RPGM2k3 (I started doing this project before 2k3 was out)

[GaryCXJk]

Yes, you can't do that in RPG Maker.

Anyway, good luck. I don't think I have time to help you with the graphical part of it, unfortunately. Know any Visual Basic tutorial sites, ones which are good? I'm working on a remake of Charas.EX (downloadable on the site, under Charas.EX, or just follow the link given below), and I don't really know a lot about Visual Basic. Oh, and it would be nice to know a PNG module, preferably not using any DLL (if you don't know any, I'll just stick with FreeImage).

Charas.EX:

http://charas-project.net/charas_ex.php?lang=en

[Drighton]

Well Gary, perhaps we could come to an agreement concerning Charas.EX and my graphics problem. I don't know anything about PNG files off the fly, I will need to look through some resources before I can give a definate answer on that.

and about VB tutorials:

Originally posted by Drighton
The BEST site I found for DirectX was Lucky's VB Gaming site, which he has since stopped updating. He provides a link to another site on his which serves the same purpose, but thats not what you want.

You want Lucky's tutorials. The best I've ever seen. This first version of my game was made with the tutorials (i later redid the game after I became comfortable with DX, and again when I wanted to organize my code), and I'll even be using a DirectDraw/Direct3D Hybrid tutorial there to add some nifty alpha blending to my game.

Enough chat, heres the link:  Lucky's VB Gaming Site

The new website he created, Game Programming Wiki (gpwiki.org) is like Wikipedia in that people can edit the site and upload their own tutorials. I haven't visited it myself, but it sounds cool.

Ever see someone quote themselves?  :p  I sure feel weird doing it.

Anywho, Lucky's original site is great. I haven't tried his wiki site though, but his reputation is high with me.

[Drighton]

I hate to double post (I'm a heavy Edit Button user), but I updated the screenshots with captions so you know exactly what I'm showing you. Sorry, won't so it again.

Screenshots

I'm thinking of actually creating a sort of journal at this URL (i usually just use if for storage) about my progress.

[GaryCXJk]

Originally posted by Drighton
Well Gary, perhaps we could come to an agreement concerning Charas.EX and my graphics problem. I don't know anything about PNG files off the fly, I will need to look through some resources before I can give a definate answer on that.

and about VB tutorials:



Ever see someone quote themselves?  :p  I sure feel weird doing it.

Anywho, Lucky's original site is great. I haven't tried his wiki site though, but his reputation is high with me.

Well, I've been to the site, and it isn't really for intermediate users. So... meh.

Anyway, I think I might use VisualBasic for Charas.EX.

[Osmose]

Originally posted by PyroAlchemist
I know you like proggraming with VB and all but this would be so much easier if you use RPGMaker 2003.

For shame! Only a fool would run to RPG Maker because it's so much easier when they have the resources to make something way better than that horribly limited program themselves with some more work.

And thanks for the link.

[Drighton]

My website (could you call that one page a website? :p ) has been completely redone.

The Conecpt and Design page will explain EVERYTHING I am planning to do with my project, including all concepts for each system/engine.

The Development page will keep visitors caught up with my current progress, and how each individual element of the game is coming along. It also serves as a sort of schedule for me, though certain elements may be shifted around or new ones inserted if necessary to the development.

And, of course, the Screenshots page will provide the visual element to my progress, so I can actually show the changes as I advance through the game.

(Forgive the shoddiness of the website. I'm a programmer, not a webdesigner )

Take a look!

Originally posted by GaryCXJk
Well, I've been to the site, and it isn't really for intermediate users. So... meh.

Anyway, I think I might use VisualBasic for Charas.EX.

I found two source examples that use DLLs (i think one is a specialy made DLL). I've been meaning to read up on them, so I will see just how easy it is.

BUT (big but), I found an example that loads a PNG file without DLLs, a class constructed by the person themselves. I'll look at it and see if PNG files can be created with this class as well. The least you might have to do is give the guy credit for that portion of the code if cannot be used without plagerizing. I think from here on out I'll just PM you with updates.

Keep your fingers crossed.

[WarxePB]

You could try using RMXP charsets. They're larger than the RM2K/3 sets, so they might work.

Since we don't have much to do with RMXP on this board, you'll have to Google it for the RTP and such.