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What is used to display animations and graphics such as the one in the top left in the main game shown here: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=571bZP-ZI uc&feature=related ?
animated .gif s?
.swfs?
what???

It looks almost like a looping animation that is also rotating.

The answer is in the title to the youtube entry. OpenGL is a library that makes it easier to use a bunch of different devices and use device specific graphics acceleration through the same API. I would guess that they have a bitmap and use OpenGL to do the rotations. For more about what OpenGL is and how it use it with any of several different programming languages check out wikipedia or google.

At 5/26/08 11:09 PM, mofongo9 wrote: What is used to display animations and graphics such as the one in the top left in the main game shown here: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=571bZP-ZI uc&feature=related ?
animated .gif s?
.swfs?
what???

As mentioned, the title says they use OpenGL. Weird choice, if you ask me, for a 2D game like this.

As for the animation, it may not be an animation at all. I would guess that there's some sort of algorithm (probably a scrolling displacement map-like setup, or exactly that) to distort the image. For the actual game, in particular the meiosis-like stuff, it may be some sort of 2D version of the metaballs algorithm thing...

At 5/27/08 05:05 AM, DougyTheFreshmaker wrote: As mentioned, the title says they use OpenGL. Weird choice, if you ask me, for a 2D game like this.

why would it be weird?? it's the only API that runs on all OS's

why would it be weird??

It's a 3D library, and the game looks like it's 2D. I mean, it isn't completely uncommon for people to write 2D games using OGL or whatever, but it just seems like it'd be more trouble than it's worth for this particular game. I dunno.. maybe it's not THAT weird.

it's the only API that runs on all OS's

There are tons and tons and tons of APIs for different things that are cross platform, so I'm assuming you don't actually mean exactly what you wrote.

If you mean 3D graphics specifically, then it's a 2D game as mentioned above.
If you mean graphic/game libraries, then that's just wrong (SDL, for example).

yes i know there are libraries like Allegro & SDL, but those are more like toys if you're looking to get into the business...kinda jumped the gun with the comment, but you know what i mean. openGL & direct3D are the standard, anyone who's serious will be using these. i mostly see hobbyists using other stuff

SDL cant do those woobly things to an image and be nice with the resources. SDL is a hobby library were one can do simple 2d applications. but if you want to manipulate the image better then you need to have more tools and direct x and open gl has those tools, people use those to do simple 2d games as well to addapt some of the image handling techniques.
for instance directx can rotate an image without wasting so much resources, sdl cant really do that on its own.

anyhoo
/bitching
take care ^^

Talk to deathcradle here and post in the programming section there. The c++ developers there have over 15 years experience combined. Not to mention all of there other experience in other languages.

Theyve helped me out heaps of times before.

SDL cant do those woobly things to an image and be nice with the resources.

What does this even mean? SDL can certainly create those effects on modern systems without much trouble.

SDL is a hobby library were one can do simple 2d applications.

What does "hobby library" mean? SDL has been successfully implemented in plenty of commercial games.

but if you want to manipulate the image better then you need to have more tools

What are "more tools" and what does "manipulate the image better" mean?

and direct x and open gl has those tools, people use those to do simple 2d games as well to addapt some of the image handling techniques.

"people use those to do simple 2d games" is the only part that makes sense here, and that's true (as is evidenced by the posted video, for example).

for instance directx can rotate an image without wasting so much resources, sdl cant really do that on its own.

What's "wasting resources"? Offloading stuff to the GPU may increase processing times (or it may not!), but the difference for such a game on modern systems would be minimal. I can go dove hunting with a 12-gauge shotgun or a nuclear warhead. Which one do I choose and why?

I find it strange that you suggest SDL in another thread, and then knock it down in this one when shown 2D game which appears to use raster graphics only.

@dreadwhatever:

I realize you're spamming a link to a fledgling forum with no posts and will probably be banned and not even get a chance to read this, but your code sucks. In fact, I've registered on the other forum and will go ahead and tell you there as well, just so you don't miss it. You could win an ugly contest with that garbage.

If you're claiming to be a product of the community you're linking to, as you've done in other threads, then you're doing that community a huge disservice, which I don't think is your goal.

At 6/1/08 04:23 AM, DougyTheFreshmaker wrote:

SDL cant do those woobly things to an image and be nice with the resources.

What does this even mean? SDL can certainly create those effects on modern systems without much trouble.

SDL is a hobby library were one can do simple 2d applications.

What does "hobby library" mean? SDL has been successfully implemented in plenty of commercial games.

but if you want to manipulate the image better then you need to have more tools

What are "more tools" and what does "manipulate the image better" mean?

and direct x and open gl has those tools, people use those to do simple 2d games as well to addapt some of the image handling techniques.

"people use those to do simple 2d games" is the only part that makes sense here, and that's true (as is evidenced by the posted video, for example).

for instance directx can rotate an image without wasting so much resources, sdl cant really do that on its own.

What's "wasting resources"? Offloading stuff to the GPU may increase processing times (or it may not!), but the difference for such a game on modern systems would be minimal. I can go dove hunting with a 12-gauge shotgun or a nuclear warhead. Which one do I choose and why?

I find it strange that you suggest SDL in another thread, and then knock it down in this one when shown 2D game which appears to use raster graphics only.

Im sorry but how was my post unclear?
People Use either opengl or directx for better image manipulation. sdl isnt as powerful and effective as either of those. And are you sure that those proffesional games have ONLY used SDL and not a mixture of SDL and openGL/Directx ?
As far as i know and what ive seen when i tryed SDL i couldnt manipulate the images (yes i choose the word manipulate) like rotating scaling or even adding effects as in the youtube link suggested ( the wobbling thingy in the upper left corner)

I have no idea whats so unclear with my post
i recomended SDL because its easy to use for simpler 2d games, and i recomend either openGL or Directx for something thats using a bit more detailes and more special effects

and if you had checked the youtube link you would have seen that its made with openGL AND SDL

More tools well what does it sound like ?
yes more tools, more prebuilt graphical functions you can simply call on to get a certain effect
and manipulation is a valid word to use here.

what is this "modern system" you keep talking about so deerly ? do you think everyone has a "modern system" wich you are talking about ? what you fail to recognize here is that your not aiming to make a state of the art game if your using SDL, and the fact that your actually implying that its ok since most computers can handle it is a wrong attitude

the hobby library , well here i can admit it might have been a fuzzy expresion. i should have said something like a "open" library.

But if your going to bash me at least do it properly and in a way that actually makes sence.
it just sounds like your trying to bash my english