[DESIGN] Spare button on start screen

[child of Thor]

We have this wonderfull start screen and a space on the right for another game function button - any ideas or suggestions. It looks a bit unbalanced otherwise or not - you decide

[Solver]

A button that takes the user to this forum .

Maybe a Load Scenario, or Scenario Editor button?

[Locutus]

Quick Launch was already suggested, I like that one.

[Peter Triggs]

I think we need to ask Fromafar how viable it's going to be to put all those buttons on one screen. When you push one of those buttons there's a whole bunch of stuff that happens in initializing/loading databases and other things. It's not at all easy to keep track of what's going on and implementing this might require a major amount of work.

[OnePresent]

As much work work, and as many creative game ideas you guys have don't feel constrained with the existing screens. If more button space is needed, no prob. If more screens are needed, no prob. Let the game dictate the graphics.

[child of Thor]

ah 'Tutorial' cheers Locutus - i think thats the best yet

[Maquiladora]

I think we need to ask Fromafar how viable it's going to be to put all those buttons on one screen. When you push one of those buttons there's a whole bunch of stuff that happens in initializing/loading databases and other things. It's not at all easy to keep track of what's going on and implementing this might require a major amount of work.

Thats why i said just add a nice new image on the SP/Options screen, its easier

[child of Thor]

being completely unsure about the technical stuff relating to this, wouldn't it just be a matter of taking the present button links and just activating their commands from this one screen? (god - i can tell i've only played with pc's since windows ).

What i mean is rather than having to mess around with the current database structure, would it be possible to not just move the triggers/links to them?

[Locutus]

Originally posted by child of Thor
ah 'Tutorial' cheers Locutus - i think thats the best yet

Just reused an existing button. There's actually code for a whole bunch of other buttons in the LDL files: Quick Launch, Tutorial, Scenarios and one or two others; they're just placed outside the visible window. I'm not sure if there's also corresponding code in the actual source code though.

Originally posted by child of Thor
being completely unsure about the technical stuff relating to this, wouldn't it just be a matter of taking the present button links and just activating their commands from this one screen? (god - i can tell i've only played with pc's since windows ).

What i mean is rather than having to mess around with the current database structure, would it be possible to not just move the triggers/links to them?

I hope and trust that that is indeed the case, but I haven't really looked into the corresponding source code yet.

[J Bytheway]

Originally posted by Peter Triggs
I think we need to ask Fromafar how viable it's going to be to put all those buttons on one screen. When you push one of those buttons there's a whole bunch of stuff that happens in initializing/loading databases and other things. It's not at all easy to keep track of what's going on and implementing this might require a major amount of work.

I don't think that's necessarily true. The Single Player button, which we are proposing to remove, only does this:

	if ( action != (uint32)AUI_BUTTON_ACTION_EXECUTE ) return;

	if(initialplayscreen_removeMyWindow(action))
		spscreen_displayMyWindow();

So we don't need to worry about any database initialization that will be lost...

I'm looking into what happens with the other buttons, but you're right in that it's a little tough to follow...

[J Bytheway]

It all looks reasonable, and there is already code bound to all the other buttons which don't normally appear.

I think I can set up the code to work with just one screen, and for the moment I think I'll put in a quick start button in the gap (and hope that the code for it works properly).

[Locutus]

I was just looking into this as well but concluded I probably couldn't do anything until I get my version of the code up-to-date, so it would be great if you could try this. Note that I tried the Quick Start option but it just crashed. Of course, I may have made a mistake copying it, or there may be something in the source code itself that only makes in work in the 2nd screen, but I suspect it just doesn't work. The tutorial button seemed to work okay but was disabled for some reason (i.e. it was visible but 'greyed out'). Didn't try the other buttons.

[J Bytheway]

I've just backed up my source tree and am going to try fiddling with it now. More news to follow...

[J Bytheway]

I think the quick start button may not work because it is a c3_button, rather than a ctp2_button, which might be deprecated...

[Immortal Wombat]

I couldn't make it work when I tried tinkering with the UI earlier.

[J Bytheway]

I've got it mostly working (with the tutorial button filling the third spot, which seems to work perfectly) - just a couple more things to tweak .

[Solver]

You work fast John .

[J Bytheway]

Not as fast as I thought it would be - the changes have more far-reaching implications than I anticipated, on the options menu and other such things...

[Locutus]

Couldn't you just completely clean out spScreen and simply just have it call initialplayscreen?

[J Bytheway]

I'm mostly copying code out of sp* into initialplay*. I'm not brave enough to totally clean out the sp* files (although it would probably be a good idea, because it would help to catch other necessary changes...).

[J Bytheway]

Locutus - could you post the string changes you made to the translation centre thread for translation. Thanks.

[J Bytheway]

OK, all done. There is one change I made which I'm slightly worried about because I had to remove code when I don't know what the code did... However, it doesn't seem to cause any problems in my brief test.

I'll upload the changed files to the altered source files thread and then I think I'll upload a new Playtest exe.

Loc: If your changes to the strings were simply uncapitalization I guess I can manage the translated versions myself. Was there anything else?

I think that I could make a quick start button very easily based on the code for the tutorial button, so perhaps we should have a poll about which would be preferred... I guess we should wait a little longer for other suggestions first though.

[Solver]

I'll upload the changed files to the altered source files thread and then I think I'll upload a new Playtest exe.

A stnadard playtest exe, or one with your button changes?

[J Bytheway]

Originally posted by Solver
A stnadard playtest exe, or one with your button changes?

With my changes. Obviously they need to be playtested .

[Locutus]

John, all but the MP button are indeed just capitalization errors. I didn't want to post them in the Translation Centre until it was certain that this was gonna work, which I guess it is now The only real change (not counting changes to lower case) is the translation of 'Multiplayer' to 'Network Game', but that's a very minor issue.

Aside from the changes to ldl_str.txt, you'll obviously need the new image and the ldl file itself, but I'm guessing you already have that one. Don't think there's else. Looking forward to seeing testing the result (not tonight though )

[The Big Mc]

I want a quick start or load mod button,

Or a load skin button for skins when people make more:d

[Uchuu-kun[SM42]]

"Eat CTP2".

No, not really.

Heh. Having an invisible button in the middle of the logo that popped up random messages would be interesting. But that's not something that adds to the game, is it?

[Solver]

Yeah, but an easter egg or two is a must have in any game!

[Uchuu-kun[SM42]]

That's what I was trying to slyly imply.

[Solver]

Well, I'm pretty positive that someone will come up with some very humorous ideas for hidden messages/easter eggs .