gamefont.tga editing

[Teodosio]

In attachment there are the edited gamefont files with the correct religions icons. I will work now on inserting the right icons for algae and rare metals resources.

 

[Maniac]

Thanks, you're the man! I'll try it out asap.

 

[Teodosio]

I have modified the GameFont_75.tga file adding the Alien Artifact resource icon (for city screen). At the moment only the 75% icon is added... is the 100% icon used in-game??

 

[Teodosio]

I have added the algae icons in the the GameFont_75.tga file (the 100% icons don't seem to be used in game).
Now the correct icons will appear in the city screen.

 

[Maniac]

Thanks, I'll check it out in-game!

 

[Maniac]

They look great!
Btw, do you have any inspiration on how the Manifold Nexus icon could look? I have a feeling its current button shrunk down to gamefont_75 size would be unrecognizable.

 

[Teodosio]

They look great!
Btw, do you have any inspiration on how the Manifold Nexus icon could look? I have a feeling its current button shrunk down to gamefont_75 size would be unrecognizable.

If I am to think about it, first I should have clear in my mind another point: what is the Manifold Nexus??
I remember it was in SMAC too, but I never understood what it is. If you can explain this I would have a surer footing to think about an icon!

 

[Maniac]

In short, a control and communication center for the Manifold experiment(s). Of course, what the exact goal of the 'Manifold Experiment(s)' was, has never been stated.

The human and progenitor interludes:

Spoiler :

^ The ‘speeder trip to the alien building is alternately dry, dusty, wet, and
nerve-wracking--and an awfully long way to come to view a long-dead
temple--but your assistant was quite adamant that you view the ruins for
yourself.
^ At least the building is spectacular and interesting-looking; formed from
rock and metal, it looks quite unlike any other alien structure you’ve found
so far, and quite unlike any human structure as well. The most prominent
features are the rippled carvings covering the outer walls, especially around
the entranceway.
^ Inside, the motif continues: the walls are covered with grooves of
various depths and patterns. Some portions of the wall are bare; most are
decorated.
^ "A temple?" You say aloud. "Votive carvings? They almost look like
depictions of sound or radio waves."
^ Your assistant gives you an admiring look.
^ "Very close, $TITLE0. They’re
not [depictions] of sound waves, though--they [are] sound waves. The
carvings distort the localized air patterns--the sounds--in specific ways. Once
we realized what they were, we were able to do some crude translation."
^ "Fascinating." You run your fingers over a rough stone surface, trying to
imagine what it might ‘mean’. "So what do they say?"
^ "Keep in mind that this is rough computer decryption, $TITLE0.
Very rough. For example, that far wall there
with the concentric rings: we believe that
it's a command center of some kind. The grooves around it cause most of the
sound in the room to be focussed on that area, giving it dominance."
^ "And you’re assuming this is a language rather than a simple functionality."
^ "It’s essentially the same thing, $TITLE0. Language is a way to convey
abstract thoughts and ideas in a concrete fashion. Here, the function is to concentrate
information from..." He trails off.
^ "From where?"
^ "From...elsewhere, $TITLE0. We’re not sure."
^ "Can't we trace back the pathways to discover their source?"
^ "Not exactly, $TITLE0. Some of the pathways come from Planet itself--specifically
from large fungal masses. The emanations have given us a greater understanding of the
Planetary fungal cycle, which is a nice side-benefit.
But some pathways come from outer space, $TITLE0. We have no idea where. Or why."

Spoiler :

^ Imagine six Progenitor in a room. They would alter the resonance of the room,
and alter the alterations, in a smooth and free-flowing conversation. The sheer
complexity of it gives you a pleasant feeling in the brain pan.
^ As you gaze out on the weathered walls of the Manifold Nexus, you get that
same feeling, magnified a million times. You imagine not six Progenitor, but six
Planets--six minds almost godlike in their powers, but almost infantile in their
knowledge of the world, and of Progenitor ways.
^ "Almost like being a nursemaid to a god," you resonate softly. Your assistant,
standing nearby, gives you a quizzical wave of the mandibles. "What did you alter,
Leader?"
^ You flap your neck lightly, cupping the assistant's words, altering them, and
sending them back. "That," you resonate, pointing at the Nexus. "During the First
Era, it was built to be the control center for the Manifold Experiment."
^ Your assistant looks in awe at this relic of the past. "Does it still function?"
^ "Yes." You shake your neck at the report you've just been handed. "It still
works perfectly. Our harmony with Manifold Six is even greater now than it was
before." You look in silence at the temple, then turn away. You've gained a
small measure of power over six gods. You must be careful.

 

[Teodosio]

In short, a control and communication center for the Manifold experiment(s). Of course, what the exact goal of the 'Manifold Experiment(s)' was, has never been stated.

I think I get it. It is a kind of temple built by ancient Progenitors to communicate with six sentient-planets, by focusing sound waves.
Maybe we could use a stylized sound wave as icon??

Anyway, I have a problem with the Manifold's icon. In my game I can't see it in the city screen. I can see it only if I disable its "+ 1 planet" attribute (<iCityPlanet>0</iCityPlanet>).
In the screenshot the attribute is disabled so the icon shows, just below there is the Monolith whose +1 planet is enabled so the icon doesn't appear.
Is it just me or is there an issue?
I strongly suspect this happens because there is not enough space to show both the resource icon and the planet icon, so only the latter is shown.

 

[Maniac]

I think I get it. It is a kind of temple built by ancient Progenitors to communicate with six sentient-planets, by focusing sound waves.

For the communication resonance/psi is probably used, but of course that can also be represented in waves.

Maybe we could use a stylized sound wave as icon??

Great idea! Makes me think of the Subspace Generator icon. Perhaps the icon could be a triangle with two ripples emanating from it. Did you have something like that in mind? Could the idea still come across at such small size?

Is it just me or is there an issue?
I strongly suspect this happens because there is not enough space to show bot the resource icon and the planet icon, so only the latter is shown.

Yeah, there's an issue. I guess I'll have to try to display the Planet bonus resources in the health column. As you say, there isn't enough room to display Planet resources in the left column.

 

[Maniac]

Yeah, there's an issue. I guess I'll have to try to display the Planet bonus resources in the health column. As you say, there isn't enough room to display Planet resources in the left column.

This will be fixed in the next patch. The monolith doesn't have a gamefont icon at all though at the moment.

Which also leads to the question how to make the Monolith and the The Ruins icon look different, considering The Ruins are basically just a bunch of monoliths together.

 

[Teodosio]

New Gamefonts attached. I added the 100% versions for the algae too, because I discovered that they ARE used in game (inside the Civilopedia).

Great idea! Makes me think of the Subspace Generator icon. Perhaps the icon could be a triangle with two ripples emanating from it. Did you have something like that in mind? Could the idea still come across at such small size?

This will be fixed in the next patch. The monolith doesn't have a gamefont icon at all though at the moment.
Which also leads to the question how to make the Monolith and the The Ruins icon look different, considering The Ruins are basically just a bunch of monoliths together.

In truth I had in mind something much simpler for the Manifold Nexus ( ), like that:
http://www.cui.com/images/Sound-wave.gif
and doing maybe some editing about shape and colors.
Very good if the issue will be solved in the next patch: as soon as the patch is available I will try to create some icons and I will show them to you!

 

[Maniac]

New Gamefonts attached. I added the 100% versions for the algae too, because I discovered that they ARE used in game (inside the Civilopedia).

Thanks again!

In truth I had in mind something much simpler for the Manifold Nexus ( ), like that:
http://www.cui.com/images/Sound-wave.gif

Sounds good to me! (pun intended)

Very good if the issue will be solved in the next patch: as soon as the patch is available I will try to create some icons and I will show them to you!

Hmm, since no one has reported a crashbug with the latest patch, I was actually thinking not to release a patch this weekend. But I can attach the file which fixes the problem. It belongs in Assets/Python/Screens. Is that all right, or do you want a full patch?

 

[Teodosio]

Hmm, since no one has reported a crashbug with the latest patch, I was actually thinking not to release a patch this weekend. But I can attach the file which fixes the problem. It belongs in Assets/Python/Screens. Is that all right, or do you want a full patch?

It doesn't work here, I have attached the problem I get.
Is it just me?
But if it is too much of a problem I can wait for the full patch, I will do buttons in the meanwhile!

 

[Maniac]

Hmm, I also needed to include an update text file.
And I'll need to see why there's a comma after every health resource. I only tested if a Planet resource was working right now...

I'll attach a new fix asap.

 

[Maniac]

LOL

 

[Maniac]

This should do the trick.

TextPlanet.xml belongs in Assets/XML/Text

 

[Teodosio]

What do you think of this for the Manifold Nexus?

 

[Maniac]

Looks great to me.

 

[Tssha]

I like, I like!