Uh... scripting?

[Doj]

I have no idea if this is what scripting is, but I've been trying to create an introduction and character dialogue, but I can't see anything that would allow me to do so.

I just got the game today, and it sadly did not come with the manual.

[Rodak]

Re: Uh... scripting?

Scripting is just going through the lists of provided commands and selecting choices (unlike "real" scripting, you don't type commands, you choose them from a list to prevent typos!) (You can type dialogue though).

To do what you want you'd use camera commands to move the camera to point at who's talking, use a "message box" to display their speech, move the camera again to the next speaker, more message box stuff, then continue until done.

If you have a "max drive" you can donload any of my games and look at the scripts to get ideas on how they're done (I don't password protect anything) (my first demo may be password protected, but I think I have the pass if you want it).

If you need more detailed stuffs, I suggest Prima's "Strategy Guuide" - It has a section on making a quickie game in an afternoon, and it really helps covering the basics.

Also, have a look at "Fu-Ma" - the demo game that it comes with. All the scripts for that game are in there and show a lot of basic techniques.

Good Luck with it!




EDIT - Once again plugging my VFX Editor Guide! - If you look at it, I made a quick scripting tutorial for a very basic thing so people would be able to use the guide with no other experience or reference! It's on how to make a working door, but includes message boxes, sounds, and a lot more!

Also have a look through the tips and tricks thread in this forum for more scripting examples.

[Doj]

Re: Uh... scripting?

Do the commands have to be in any specific order? I looked at Fu-Ma, and all of the scripts just say "Who are you talking to?" and such. I'm wanting to know how to create an intro, without a specific character, that sort of thing. But it is very helpful otherwise.

[Rodak]

Re: Uh... scripting?

To make an intro without any specific character, just hide the main character (display - off). The main character is always there, but you can hide them for cut scenes. Then position other stuff around the hidden character for that scene. It helps to turn on "bypass objects" so the hidden main character can be placed on the same square as the object or character of interest.

It's confusing at first, but once you catch on to how scripts work with events and such, it becomes easier.

What sort of scene did you have in mind?


EDIT - I found the old video from a cool opening I made years ago : http://www.vidilife.com/video_play_3...me_Opening.htm

[Doj]

Re: Uh... scripting?

Well, I was planning to make an intro with possible a lot of "dialogue". A possible picture of space would be cool, too, but apparently there is only one of those.

0.0, how did you do the stars and such?

[Rodak]

Re: Uh... scripting?

The stars were just the standard glow effect from the VFX Editor (my favorite thing in RPGM2). I made an effect with as many as it would allow, then duplicated it around a big empty map.

The space station is a bunch of VFX nailed together, and the crazy psychedelia is ... weird.

Feel free to download the Videogamedrome demo to see how it was all done.

[Doj]

Re: Uh... scripting?

I wish I could, but I do not have a flash drive,

[Rodak]

Re: Uh... scripting?

The Max Drive software comes with one, and you need that to get games to and from a PS2, so it's a nice investment!


They were still available new from codejunkies.com for $20 not long ago.

[Doj]

Re: Uh... scripting?

All right, cool.

On another note, I have finally worked out the dialogue. I am in the process of trying to place my character on a new map, but I do not see an option for that. Would it be event placement?

[Rodak]

Re: Uh... scripting?

If it's for the very first scene in the game, you set it in the Game Settings where you choose where the game begins.

I forget which tab it's under, I think General, but not positive (It's been a while!).

Then every move from map to map is either scripted or done by an event (which is technically scripted, I suppose).

[Doj]

Re: Uh... scripting?

All right, well I have another question, unfortunately.

I'm planning to start with a fairly strong Defender (lvl.60) for the first few moments of the game; after that, I want to have a few lines of dialogue and automatically have the character move up and start a pre-set battle.

Afterwards, I want to change it into another character, much weaker and starting somewhere else.

[Rodak]

Re: Uh... scripting?

There are commands for setting the party members and party leader. Just add the new member, make him leader, then remove the old character (not sure if you can can remove the leader if he's the only member - you probably need to add the new one first) (again - I've been away from this for Years!).

The pre-set battle is what is called an "Event Battle" in the scripts. In your script just do all the switching around after the event battle command. Those commands execute after the battle is over.

Hope that's enough to get you started...

[Doj]

Re: Uh... scripting?

Ah, thanks a bunch! ^^

I've created the prologue, and I have to say it looks pretty nifty! Well, it does until after the battle...