tactics_pvp 2020-02-06 04:44 (Edited)
I will bold topics to keep this topic organized.
In case I stumbled into a bug. Here is my iPad Specs:
iPad Pro 10.5 (2017 model)
iOS: 13.3.1 (Latest)
FIRST INCIDENT:
(HAVING TO LAUNCH BG DESIGNER FROM WITHIN BG DESIGNER TO EDIT)
My steps:
I enter BG program in NX
Upon launching...
I stumbled about 10 minutes trying to edit background while I was in “Selection Screen Tab” Took me awhile to acknowledge that’s not the way.
I would tap the palette of colors in front of me, then I would swipe my apple pencil (thinking it was *inked*) on the dark green rectangular strip right there in front of me, above palette - inviting me to edit. Finally after 10-15 minutes or so...
I re-read online instructions. Complicated reading that as a complete noob. Lol.
I finally registered mentally - you have to go to “Background Tab” to edit background.
Ok cool, so I went there... still not able to edit BG. Nothing shows up, no colors, no palette just a bunch of tabs. Went back to re-read online instructions, it said that’s where I have to be.
I was stuck there for like 15 minutes trying to figure out what’s going on.
Somehow it dawned on me... tap the “3 dots” on top right, that’s when I saw open “BG Designer 1.7”
After launching BG Designer 1.7, from within... BG Designer, now I was able to in the “Background Tab” and edit.
Not sure if I misread this extra step in the online manual, but I don’t recall seeing anywhere in there stating: (launch BG Desinger, within BG Designer via the 3 dots) maybe I didn’t read it correctly?
2ND INCIDENT:
SUPREME CONFUSION TO EDIT BACKGROUND
CONFUSION 1:
Now that I am able to finally edit. After going through the steps I listed above.
The confusion here is.. the palettes in the bottom left, inside “Selection Screen Tab” are not the actual colors “that ink” my apple pencil.
Instead, it’s the colors, that appear inside the rectangle on the top left.
At first I thought the colors on the top left (showing the up and down arrows) was an example of what the background may look like with that color scheme should I choose it from below.
This is how that appeared in my mind. Or maybe it appeared that way in my mind.. because I am a complete noob. (first time ever doing this in my life)
CONFUSION 2:
Once inside “Background Edit Tab”
I tried changing the color I was using by tapping on one of the color palettes below the rectangular window I was editing the background in.
When I tapped on the color palette below it, it changed into the color I was using to edit.
Basically, I was coloring over the interface with the color palettes.
That’s when I learned, you have to keep going back and forth between “Selection Screen Tab” and “Background Edit Tab”
The palette inside the “Background Edit Tab” is not working - or I don’t get why it’s there if I cannot interact with it.
See image. (I attached it, hope it went through)
I also did not see this listed the online manual.
(I think it would help newcomers) if this was expressed a little bit better in the manual.
The manual itself is already a goldmine - but for newcomers like myself, I can see how they would disappear with met with this kind of resistance.
I hope I am contributing from a complete noob perspective.
was8bit 2020-02-06 05:11
Ok, here you go...
First, you use things like CHAR DESIGNER, BG DESIGNER, SOUND COMPOSER from within your game via the tool button on your top right panel while looking at your game code, you cannot use these things directly ....
Second, you must first use CHAR DESIGNER to design chacter graphics, as BG DESIGNER simply lets you lay out existing characters like tiles onto a background layout (BTW, BG DESIGNER is only designing a layout, and is not actually putting anything on your game BG 0 or BG 1...more later about how copy parts of your layout onto an actual game BG)
Third, while in BG Designer, go to the palette editor screen and edit any of the #0 to #7 palette color sets.. be sure to SAVE TO PALETEE FILE to save your color changes or you will lose your changes..
Fourth, go back to the palette editor and go to the top where you will select a character graphic, AND also be sure to select a palette color set to color that graphic..
Fifth, go to the background layout editor...
NOW, while here there are 2 important TABS to remember..
The left most tab with arrows lets you drag your view around, as a background layout can be bigger than the screen
The next tab to it looks like a stamp... with this selected, you "STAMP" the character you previously selected, with the color palette you previously selected, onto the background... to erase, select character 0 and stamp that where you want blanks...
BE SURE TO SAVE CHANGES TO YOUR BACKGROUND LAYOUT TO THE BACKGROUND FILE, or you will lose your changes.... if you goof up badly you simply exit without saving, and reload the background file again...
tactics_pvp 2020-02-06 05:12
@was8bit
Very detailed. Thank you
was8bit 2020-02-06 05:18 (Edited)
Now, to use your background in your game... if you did NOT change the background size in BG DESIGNER, then that is good as it defaults to a size that matches the viewable screen... which is 20x16 characters in size... use the default size and don't experiment yet with different sizes...
Now, to do a full copy of your saved background layout onto the screen... use
BG 1
BG COPY 0,0,20,16 to 0,0
BG 0
BG 1 being the "layer" farther away, and BG 0 being the "layer" closer to your eyes... so what the code above does is copies your entire background layout to the back layer, and sets you up to use the closer layer to put extra things that will now appear in front of your designed background :)
was8bit 2020-02-06 05:23 (Edited)
I learned Char Designer first... i found BG Designer abit confusing for awhile ... it is actually quite powerful, it takes time to learn all of it ;)
I focused on what would be easy yet quickly rewarding :)
was8bit 2020-02-06 05:29 (Edited)
... as a side note, the button that selects tools also allows you to add "other" tools... as you have discovered, a tool is simply an NX program written with NX code... i have written a few, but it is abit advanced... Tools edit the file data that you see at the bottom of your game, so sometime in the future when you are comfortable with the regular stuff, you can explore maybe making your own tool ;)
Others have made tools too.. one i remember is to create a movement pattern for enemies... like GALAGA does :)
tactics_pvp 2020-02-06 05:33
Very nice. Thank you. Yes, it is supremely confusing.
Can I import pixel images from cloud to here? I would prefer to use my pixel app, make it’s dimensions the size required by NX. Is that possible?
This is the app I am taking Udemy course on for Pixel Art:
https://rizer.co/pixaki/
was8bit 2020-02-06 05:35
NX stores graphic data here....
#2:MAIN CHARACTERS
00000000000000000000000000000000
81002400002400810042240000244200
00000F1F1F1F0702070F0E141618000F
0000E0F8FCF8E040C0F84040207800F0
0000000F1F1F1F0700070F0E14161800
000000E0F8F8F8F000C0F84040207800
00000F1F1F1F0702070F0E141618000F
0000E0F8FCF8F000C0F84040207800C0
00000F1F1F1F0702070F0E141618003F
0E06E0F8FCF8F021C0F84E46227C0CF8
00000000000000000000000000000000
00000000000000000000000000000000
00000000000000000000000000000000
00000000000000000000000000000000
00000000000000000000000000000000
00000000000000000000000000000000
00000000000000000000000000000000
00000000000000000000000000000000
0203373F3F0E1C3C1F3F0D070F0E0000
40C0ECFCFC70383CF8FCB0E0F0700000
0000183F0F7D43030F0F0F0F3F1D0000
903830E0F0C080C0C0C0C0E0F0C00000
01030301130B07071F1F1F1F1C0C0700
80F0F0F0E0E0F0E0E070F0F060E00000
C1E14B3F7F6000003F1F0F0F0F000000
13FFFFFFC0000000F0EC7CFCC0000000
00000000000000000000000000000000
00000000000000000000000000000000
00000000000000000000000000000000
00000000000000000000000000000000
00000000000000000000000000000000
00000000000000000000000000000000
00000000000000000000000000000000
00000000000000000000000000000000
FFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFF000000000000
FF00000000000000FFFFFFFFFFFFFFFF
FFFFFFFFFF000000FFFF000000FFFFFF
FFFF8F80918080807F0F707F7F7F7F7F
FFFFF10189010101FEF00EFEFEFEFEFE
00000000000000000000000000000000
00000000000000000000000000000000
00000000000000000000000000000000
00000000000000000000000000000000
00000000000000000000000000000000
00000000000000000000000000000000
00000000000000000000000000000000
00000000000000000000000000000000
tactics_pvp 2020-02-06 05:38 (Edited)
I will be creating a post later
But the only reason I actually started working on the background is because, I initially was trying to create a simple program to:
* Place my simple character on a basic ground
* move my character (which I already have that code via tutorial)
* have him shoot projectiles
* Jump button
After going through the tutorial, I can’t do any of that. Couldn’t find guides on here for some that like that, tried looking at some code, but I am lost there to.
I tried looking at the Alice program thats on here to see what they did.
But I can’t make heads over tales what they saying in that code.
I don’t even know how to begin.
Then I go to background and I’m being assaulted again.
I really need a follow along. whether text or video.
I’m about to pay some one here to create one to my liking.
tactics_pvp 2020-02-06 05:40 (Edited)
NX STORES GRAPHICS:
I am confused with what you just posted :0
Is that the pixel coordinates?
Is that what I am looking for in my app? (I thought I could just - import via import button)
no import button?
I have no idea how to even go about finding, let alone placing that in the app.
was8bit 2020-02-06 05:42
It is specific to the restrictions and format that NX uses...
Best bet would be to do what I do... download an app that resizes images, one that trims images, and one that apples an adjustable grid to images..
Then, decide if you want yout image to be 8x8 , 16x16, 24x24 or 32x32 pixels in size... apply the above apps until you have your target image trimmed resized and overlaid with the grid size you chose.. have this viewable in a second device if possible..
Then use character editor to manually fill in the grids on character editor to closely match the target image you set up for the manual transfer...
If leanardo devinchi can do it (that is how he did alot of his work, then painted over it to make it look nice) we can too ;)
tactics_pvp 2020-02-06 05:45
I see, so you’re saying retrace it in. Got it.
was8bit 2020-02-06 05:45 (Edited)
I posted what NX calls the entire character set data file... NX uses this plus whatever palette color you wish to apply to create the final graphic image...
WHAT YOU SEE = RAW CHARACTER GRAPHIC + CHOSEN PALETTE COLOR SET
was8bit 2020-02-06 05:48 (Edited)
Well, some clever people HAVE created their own computer code to render different computer graphic files into the data that NX uses... that is, they WROTE their own converter software!! Well beyond my abilities...
tactics_pvp 2020-02-06 05:50
Ah yes, Data set, sort of like machine learning data sets. Got it.
Can we manually input the data set for the character file ourselves into NX? (by typing it in?)
or does the NX restrictions prohibit that as well?
was8bit 2020-02-06 05:50
..l that NX is by definition LOW RESolution, its graphics are going to not be as finely detailed...
... also, remember that any one character graphic cell/tile is limited to only 3 colors (not counting clear)
tactics_pvp 2020-02-06 05:51
Yes, I recall. I am sticking to:
White, Black, Gray and Light Gray palette - no colors
was8bit 2020-02-06 05:51
"Can we manually input the data set for the character file ourselves into NX? (by typing it in?) "
Yes you CAN edit file data... in fact you can COPY PASTE...
tactics_pvp 2020-02-06 05:52
Well then, that’s a start! Very good to know.
Now we’re cooking.
was8bit 2020-02-06 05:55
Example..
#2:MAIN CHARACTERS
00000000000000000000000000000000
81002400002400810042240000244200
00000F1F1F1F0702070F0E141618000F
0000E0F8FCF8E040C0F84040207800F0
0000000F1F1F1F0700070F0E14161800
000000E0F8F8F8F000C0F84040207800
00000F1F1F1F0702070F0E141618000F
0000E0F8FCF8F000C0F84040207800C0
00000F1F1F1F0702070F0E141618003F
0E06E0F8FCF8F021C0F84E46227C0CF8
00000000000000000000000000000000
00000000000000000000000000000000
So, in order, line one is char#0, next line is char#1, next line is char#2...
So lets say i wanted to copy char#1 from the above game and put it as char 1 in MY game below...
#2:MAIN CHARACTERS
00000000000000000000000000000000
0203373F3F0E1C3C1F3F0D070F0E0000
40C0ECFCFC70383CF8FCB0E0F0700000
0000183F0F7D43030F0F0F0F3F1D0000
903830E0F0C080C0C0C0C0E0F0C00000
01030301130B07071F1F1F1F1C0C0700
80F0F0F0E0E0F0E0E070F0F060E00000
C1E14B3F7F6000003F1F0F0F0F000000
was8bit 2020-02-06 05:59
#2:MAIN CHARACTERS
00000000000000000000000000000000
81002400002400810042240000244200
40C0ECFCFC70383CF8FCB0E0F0700000
0000183F0F7D43030F0F0F0F3F1D0000
903830E0F0C080C0C0C0C0E0F0C00000
01030301130B07071F1F1F1F1C0C0700
80F0F0F0E0E0F0E0E070F0F060E00000
C1E14B3F7F6000003F1F0F0F0F000000
... look carefully and line2 of the data (which is char#1) and you will see that my game now has the code from the other game in MY game data...
You can experiment copying and pasting one line at time in this file, the run CHAR DESIGNER to see your changes ;)
was8bit 2020-02-06 06:03
In fact, you can start a new game with no code, copy paste ANY of the above sets and view with CHAR DESIGNER ... but remember you may only have ONE #2 file in a game....
was8bit 2020-02-06 06:07
... here is some mario images you can play with :)
#1:MAIN PALETTES
1B383024053834000024100800000000
00000000000000000000000000000000
#2:MAIN CHARACTERS
00000000000000000000000000000000
81002400002400810042240000244200
00000F1F1F1F0702070F0E141618000F
0000E0F8FCF8E040C0F84040207800F0
0000000F1F1F1F0700070F0E14161800
000000E0F8F8F8F000C0F84040207800
00000F1F1F1F0702070F0E141618000F
0000E0F8FCF8F000C0F84040207800C0
00000F1F1F1F0702070F0E141618003F
0E06E0F8FCF8F021C0F84E46227C0CF8
00000000000000000000000000000000
00000000000000000000000000000000
00000000000000000000000000000000
00000000000000000000000000000000
00000000000000000000000000000000
00000000000000000000000000000000
00000000000000000000000000000000
00000000000000000000000000000000
0203373F3F0E1C3C1F3F0D070F0E0000
40C0ECFCFC70383CF8FCB0E0F0700000
0000183F0F7D43030F0F0F0F3F1D0000
903830E0F0C080C0C0C0C0E0F0C00000
01030301130B07071F1F1F1F1C0C0700
80F0F0F0E0E0F0E0E070F0F060E00000
C1E14B3F7F6000003F1F0F0F0F000000
13FFFFFFC0000000F0EC7CFCC0000000
00000000000000000000000000000000
00000000000000000000000000000000
00000000000000000000000000000000
00000000000000000000000000000000
00000000000000000000000000000000
00000000000000000000000000000000
00000000000000000000000000000000
00000000000000000000000000000000
FFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFF000000000000
FF00000000000000FFFFFFFFFFFFFFFF
FFFFFFFFFF000000FFFF000000FFFFFF
FFFF8F80918080807F0F707F7F7F7F7F
FFFFF10189010101FEF00EFEFEFEFEFE
00000000000000000000000000000000
00000000000000000000000000000000
00000000000000000000000000000000
00000000000000000000000000000000
00000000000000000000000000000000
00000000000000000000000000000000
00000000000000000000000000000000
00000000000000000000000000000000
00000000000000000000000000000000
00000000000000000000000000000000
00000000000000000000000000000000
FFFFFFFFFFFFFFFF0000000000000000
0000000000000000FFFFFFFFFFFFFFFF
00000000000000000000000000000000
80808080918080807F7F7F7F7F7F7F7F
0101010189010101FEFEFEFEFEFEFEFE
0000000011000000FFFFFFFFFFFFFFFF
0000000088000000FFFFFFFFFFFFFFFF
was8bit 2020-02-06 06:15
Remember that regular computer graphics are static... beautiful, but set in stone..
NX graphics are DYNAMIC, created on the fly and editble at anytime in real game time with code...
... check this out :)
https://lowresnx.inutilis.com/topic.php?id=118
Download this and use Char Designer... will you be suprised it HAS NO GRAPHICS!! ;)
Yet i have used math to create a color strobing recreation of the ATARI running man animation :) without ANY traditional graphics ;)
tactics_pvp 2020-02-06 06:45
That’s insane. Just wow! Talented indeed.
So on the fly real time dynamic rendering. That is impressive.
So is NX 30fps or 60fps? (not that it matter, but I am curious)
tactics_pvp 2020-02-06 06:55 (Edited)
First did you create that?
Holy shit you are talented!!!! Especially if you did that on NX, that’s just insane to do that on that little red square of space and have to create it into different blocks like that. Dude - I am seriously impressed. Wow 😯
This QOUTE confuses me:
“but remember you may only have ONE #2 file in a game....”
You explained clearly, but here is where my confusion is setting in.
I’m thinking a file is a pixel block?
Mario is made up of several different pixel blocks.
It seems as if it took 4 pixel blocks to create just one of Mario character models.
When you say ONE #2 FILE in game, is that only one pixel block? (Would that mean I have to create save files for each Mario body part? (totaling 4 - for the four pixel blocks)
In my mind I will be running around with a Quarter of mario’s body because I couldn’t save his entire model on one file save? (is this making sense or am I confusing you?)
If it’s not that.. I am definitely confused about the whole FILE concept.
was8bit 2020-02-06 10:06
... confusion understood ;) my brain kept going thru the total melt downs as i tried to learn how it all worked :)
So lets break it down...
#2:MAIN CHARACTERS
00000000000000000000000000000000
81002400002400810042240000244200
00000F1F1F1F0702070F0E141618000F
0000E0F8FCF8E040C0F84040207800F0
#2: is a specific format that tells NX that the data on the following lines all belong to file #2
MAIN CHARACTERS is rather ignored by NX, it is for OUR reading benefit as a name for the file so we kinda know WHAT this file is storing... but NX reallu doesnt need it, but WE need it ;)
00000000000000000000000000000000 Is the first line, and the first character, specifically it is char#0... it is all zeros so it is blank...
81002400002400810042240000244200 is char#1
00000F1F1F1F0702070F0E141618000F is char#2
0000E0F8FCF8E040C0F84040207800F0 is char#3
...etc.....
tactics_pvp 2020-02-06 10:16 (Edited)
Yes, very clear.
I was just discussing with @mwallen in my other post. I was not asking this question in particular there, but he broke part of this down in another way.
This rather clears things up nicely, Gave me perspective from both of your minds. Very, very good. I do see a horizon.
I think you helped me evade my meltdown. It’s 4:12am and I have been here since 8pm last night and just now seeing the light.
But yes that REALLY clears things up. I will definitely be copying and pasting some these in my personal database and I hope I don’t repeat the same questions later. This definitely clears out my confusion.
I am glad you understood what I perceived as confusing talk on my behalf. I felt I couldn’t articulate my expression into understandable context. Glad you caught on!
I am going to sleep!
was8bit 2020-02-06 10:19
Now, lets go into a game, even an empty one... select CHAR DESIGNER
Tap the DISK Button in the upper right corner....
Now, what do you see, a list with numbers, and if you scroll up and down you will see it has numbers #0 thru #15 ....
THIS is a visual representations of ALL the total number of data files you may have, what #s they are, and what order they have to be in...
... normally, if you are using only the TOOLS from the tool list, and saving your data via the tools, NX will handle this all for you automatically :)
BUT, if you are experimenting with COPY PASTE, then YOU have to be careful to handle these rules so as not to cause your game to crash...
Here is the file list...
#0: never use (we can discuss this file later)
#1: MAIN CHARACTERS
#2: MAIN PALETTES
#3: MAIN BG
#4: anything
#5: anything
#6: anything
#7: anything
#8: anything
#9: anything
#10: anything
#11: anything
#12: anything
#13: anything
#14: anything
#15: MAIN SOUND
Now this is just a reference list... in your game each would have data underneath, and only files with data should be typed in... empty files dont need to be seen in your game, BUT if you manuall type them in for whatever reason, you have to follow the format NX would have automatically done....
was8bit 2020-02-06 10:20
Get ur sleep and read later ;)
was8bit 2020-02-06 10:24
... get ur sleep and read my remaining posts later ;)
NX graphic speed is 60 FPS...
So WAIT VBL = WAIT 1 which is 1/60 of a second, and WAIT 60 is 1 second, and WAIT 60*10 is 10 seconds...
was8bit 2020-02-06 10:32
So, RUNNING ATARI MAN uses a ton if different tricks
TRICK#1... char #0 is usually kept EMPTY so as to be used as a BLANK... NX has 2 screen layers, BG 1 and BG 0, and by default they both start out completely filled with CHAR#0....
Now if CHAR#0 is blank, this is good as everything is empty as you would expect..
... start a new game, and using CHAR DESIGNER, try drawing something into into char#0, save it... now exit CHAR DESIGNER... you should now see something like this
#2:MAIN CHARACTERS
00003C242C3800000000000000000000
But your data will look different than mine....now run the game.... since both layers are by default filled with char#0, and you just drew something into char#0, it how appears EVERYWHERE ;)
was8bit 2020-02-06 10:40 (Edited)
Trick#2: i use POKE to directly put data into NX memory... just like FILE can load data before the game starts playing, POKE can load date dynamically in real time while the game is playing... it is advanced so wait until you learn the basics before you dive into POKE ... but if you look i use 8 graphic frames that i have created to be loaded into NX memory via POKE
Is also use POKE to insert color data directly into NX memory... math creates the strobe effect...