2D: General Question Thread.
Posted: Sun Jun 24, 2012 10:36 pm
Hi guys,
I think that very soon, I am going to be attempting to make a game with graphics. Nothing fancy though, just some 2D Stuff. I've already strolled around the net collecting some free resources I can hopefully use directly, or as a base to modify. I also have an idea for the kind of game I'd like to do, its been kicking around in my head for about a week and I think it would be really cool if I ever completed it. It'll borrow lots of elements from different genres (Shooters, Action/Platformers, RPG/skill systems, and of course it'll have a Story).
I'm just trying to collect some information that will help me out as I'm not sure of the best way to approach certain things, or how to do some things at all.
So if there are any threads people know of that might address a solution to a question, that would be great. Or if anyone has general links that might help, or overall just some advice. All will be appreciated.
I'm going to start off with a single question for now, but will definitely ask more as I go.
I think the biggest question on my mind right now (even though I am a long way off from tackling it) is how to control the movement speed of different sprites on the screen at the same time.. i.e Let's say you've got your space ship zooming along at X speed, and then you fire the lasers/guns/missiles whatever.. So you've got a laser bolt / bullet / missile etc that obviously goes very fast across the screen relative to the speed of the ship that fired it.. You also probably have the background scrolling along to simulate the movement in the first place, and enemies coming at you..
It seems like a really complex thing to do, but I just know it can't be? There has to be a simple basis at the heart of it all. But I really don't have a clue to how that kind of stuff works.. Is there a timer at the base of it all (or multiple timers for different objects)? How can you get smooth movement across the X/Y coordinates without it appearing to skip or jump the faster you want it to go? etc..
Having this answered would help me to understand a lot, I think, and help me to better design the game from the start.
I think that very soon, I am going to be attempting to make a game with graphics. Nothing fancy though, just some 2D Stuff. I've already strolled around the net collecting some free resources I can hopefully use directly, or as a base to modify. I also have an idea for the kind of game I'd like to do, its been kicking around in my head for about a week and I think it would be really cool if I ever completed it. It'll borrow lots of elements from different genres (Shooters, Action/Platformers, RPG/skill systems, and of course it'll have a Story).
I'm just trying to collect some information that will help me out as I'm not sure of the best way to approach certain things, or how to do some things at all.
So if there are any threads people know of that might address a solution to a question, that would be great. Or if anyone has general links that might help, or overall just some advice. All will be appreciated.
I'm going to start off with a single question for now, but will definitely ask more as I go.
I think the biggest question on my mind right now (even though I am a long way off from tackling it) is how to control the movement speed of different sprites on the screen at the same time.. i.e Let's say you've got your space ship zooming along at X speed, and then you fire the lasers/guns/missiles whatever.. So you've got a laser bolt / bullet / missile etc that obviously goes very fast across the screen relative to the speed of the ship that fired it.. You also probably have the background scrolling along to simulate the movement in the first place, and enemies coming at you..
It seems like a really complex thing to do, but I just know it can't be? There has to be a simple basis at the heart of it all. But I really don't have a clue to how that kind of stuff works.. Is there a timer at the base of it all (or multiple timers for different objects)? How can you get smooth movement across the X/Y coordinates without it appearing to skip or jump the faster you want it to go? etc..
Having this answered would help me to understand a lot, I think, and help me to better design the game from the start.