Hello Guys

This may be a stupid question, but where can I find a good screen 2 editor (running on msx or pc)? I want to create both screens as well as characters / tiles 8x8 and 16x16.

Alternatively, is there a alternative to editing screen 2 stuff, like using a drawing program and then converting everything to VDP screen 2 data ?

Honestly, I'm designing my characters using binary data, but this method is slowing down my development too much.

Thx

Polka! 1.2

It allows 8x8 editing for 256 tiles, it exports asm and raw, it has palettes, it's been used for Universe Unknown.

Polka, although it could use some more features, is the best way to go at the moment.

The problem with Polka2 is that it'll be really based on experiences in game development. Gamedev is so broad and demanding that a program like that really needs a lot of different things and parts. Creating the most flexible interface for that (I don't want zillions of menus and mouse actions) is quite tough. I might have a go at fullscreen foldable panels, such as those in 3Dstudio..

I found another screen 2 editor: http://www.geocities.com/newcoleco/tools.html -> ICVGM 3.03.

Impressive. This will save me some work (and could have).

hm.. funny, never seen it before, tho some functionality matches that of Polka

(I like Polka more tho, and that's not because I made it)

The CV paint "free mode" is very valuable for big gfx (bosses, titles and so on).

I did recently visit this page but didn't give the tools a go....

A great MSX tool (which was used by 9 of 10 Brazilian developers back in the day) was Graphos III pro - an awesome tool, you can create fonts from some graphics screens, import "loading" screens from spectrum (reading them directly from spectrum tapes), create "shapes" (colored / b&w)

Of course, drawing on PC is much easier nowadays... but Graphos III is always a nice tool

You know, these Coleco Vision tools are very nice! Very intuitive. In fact, that's what I don't like about Polka. No offense wolf_, but Polka's interface is a bit... hum... I don't know. I don't usually like to have to read too much about how to use a program, and there are things in Polka I just can't figure out. Tooltips would've been enough help, I guess.

The Coleco Vision ones, on the other hand, have a standard windows interface, and things actually do what you'd expect them to. I just felt so much more confortable with it, since after only 30 seconds I had already figured everything. This is just my opinion, of course.

You are working on a new version of Polka, aren't you wolf_? What are your plans, usability-wise? Do you plan to make it more intuitive (and maybe add some tooltips)? I'm sure that this new version could bring many improvements!

I agree with tokumaru, Polka is really not intuitive. I'm sure its very powerful, especially seeing the result in Universe Unknown and knowing its developed by wolf_ which means that its been designed by a good developer. But I wouldn't mind getting an update with something more standard, not sure what really, but maybe more like Photoshop or something.

Yes yes, buttontips etc. is a part of P2 .. I made a nice new button that supports LMB and RMB, and responds to the keys Z and X, and it emits two events: one for a quickhint, and one full helptext when your mouse is idle for 2secs on a button.. OR if you press F1 on a button, so, maximum choice!
I somewhat have an idea on how to present the tons o' different parts, this was actually the bottleneck sofar. P2 will be so big it'll almost be some kinda gamedev tool. Many different parts, and sometimes you need part x and y together on a screen, but you never know which parts x and y are. And since these parts all have some minimum size, it's very hard to find a proper screenlayout. At least I don't want oodles o' floating windows everywhere.

Standard vs nonstandard: Windows (or any GUI for that matter) is made as a jack-of-all-trades GUI, and master-of-none. I require Polka2 to be a master-of-gamedev, so in some cases I'll go beyond conventions.
All these GUIs seem to have been based on the point&click idea.. hotkeys are still underappreciated, and I'm not talking standard stuff like Alt-F + o/s/a/c for file stuff. That's only in use once per half hour, I'm talking navigating and being creative/productive.

(^_^( "Oh, and don't be surprised.."
)o_O) "..if we are the paperclip!"
(^_^( "..or that annoying dog.."
)o_O) "..or anything else annoying!"

Release early, release often...

dvik:

Quote:

its been designed by a good developer.

But a good developer isn't necessarily a good designer (or vice versa, for that matter)

wolf_:

Quote:

Standard vs nonstandard: Windows (or any GUI for that matter) is made as a jack-of-all-trades GUI, and master-of-none. I require Polka2 to be a master-of-gamedev, so in some cases I'll go beyond conventions.

which means, dropping normal conventions. Then users will have to learn how to use that non-intuitive (because it's non-standard) UI of yours and raise their arms in despair instead of being creative and productive.

The only conventions here would be colors orso and some keys, for the rest.. how difficult can a button be? 'Press it' perhaps? The only differences are additions which you don't have to use, like having 2 keyboard keys corresponding with the LMB and RMB. And why? Get a tablet, and you'll find out!