T2D Animation Datablock Editor Video update 10-31-05

#1 Welcome Back :)

#2 Be my personal hero:

- Ability to import multiple image files of a variety of formats and combine them into one legit POT PNG
- Ability to autogenerate firelinkpoint code (this should be easy)
- Ability to autogenerate particle engine code (placement of thruster, plus direction)
- Have a set of photoshop like tools available for corrections of rogue pixels
- A standard win32 interface and not something exotic to make it easy to use
- Ability to view multiple animation sequences at once
- Say I want to view every animation for every bad guy in the game at once to find weirdness
- Ability to have predefined keys to test out an animation sequence (up,down,left,right)
- Ability to slow/speed up and tweek animation sequence
- Ability to assign different type of physics to an animation set (for example, to see rain drops fall from the sky and splat)
- Triggered animations if one animation set stops, then this one starts
- Support for an idle animation
- A better preview window then stuff on the shelf
- Filters from photoshop
- Ability to place sprite parts on default animation models
o For example, place hair on a core animated structure
o Ability to import directly from a scanner
- Onion Skinning
- Autogeneration of code to assign keys to an animation sequence (again, the common every day ones of up,down,left,right,etc)
- A custom toolbox that lets me put sprite part images in the toolbox to be placed on a sprite currently being edited
- Vector and tweening support
- Ability to take multiple PNG files and combine them all into one master sprite sheet

#3 @ Eric
Some of these are great ideas and will add them in, but some of these go way beyond what i was going to do for this project.
This tools job is to visulize the process of setting up animations in T2D, right now you have to set up the animation datablocks by hand.

datablock fxAnimationDatablock2D(walkup)
{
	imageMap = playerbackImageMap;
   animationFrames = "2 3 4 5";
   animationTime = 0.5;
   animationCycle = 1;
   randomStart = 0;
 };

This editor will be run in-game like the other T2D editors. Its not going to be a sprite sheet maker or an image editor like photoshop.

#4 No problem, you never know who reads these things. Perhaps there's a company, group, or individual out there looking for ideas for their next product/project.

As with most folks here, I've got ideas and they're all principled around the following: I have very little time; I need productivity tools. E.g., a little tool that lets me put virtual postit notes on a given scene or map during the testing phase. I click on "Notes", "Add" click where I want it, and write "The animation sequence here needs redone." And then I can go back to the ntoes menu and click "Notes Menu Report".

As for in-game tools: The more the merrier :)

Thanks for doing this, Chris. It's great to have people like you out there!

#5 Quote Eric: "Thanks for doing this, Chris. It's great to have people like you out there!"

Yes... it is... Thanks Chris

#6 Lol
I feel so loved :)
well in some wierd kind of way.....

Hey Eric
Have you checked out my last tool
www.garagegames.com/index.php?sec=mg&mod=resource&page=view&qid=7484

#7 I started some work on this, check out my .plan
www.garagegames.com/blogs/23403/8393

#8 Video Update above

#9 No comments on this from anyone?
Is this tool not a good idea?
Am i putting my time into something noone wants?

#10 I'll have to check out the updated video (unless its the one I've already commented on) but I personally love the editor :)

#11 Lol same vid

And i know you do :)
I like to watch it over and over....

Back to work on that soon.

#12 Definitely not a waste of time. I think you're not getting a lot of responses because there's nothing to actually play with yet. I am very much looking forward to it.

#13 Video dont work

#14 This is sooo sweet!!! I want to have it now, Now, NOW!!!!

#15 OK vid link is now working again!

Thanks guys this is the love this lonley programmer was talking about. :)

#16 This'll save me hours of tinkering with animations! Great job Chris. Now, um, when can we have it?

-Peter

#17 Hehe, still needs more work!!
hell i havnt even wrote the load save functions yet.
Probaly get back to it on Saturday. I have way to much other work to do right now.

Whan it's done... :)

#18 Thank you! I look forward to this very much. It'll be a great help!

#19 Hehe, ive been off of game programming again. But now im back on this. Made some progress today, new video coming in a few days too.
I cant help myself, i love watching my own video. lol Doom guy!

#20 chazcross.phase9studios.com/files/torque/t2d/animationdatablockeditor/animatione...


New Video and pics above!!!!