Mockups for MODE 1 minimalistic graphics platformer

[mr_lou]

That sounds great Optimus!

I've managed to compile the version of GrafX2 from PulkoMandy, and I think I understand how it's supposed to work. Just haven't tried to create anything yet. I'm no where near as good as Blue when it comes to graphics, so I'd rather see what she can come up with. She's mostly leaning towards Photoshop though.

EDIT: Well I'm not having any luck with Graf2X. 25% of the times I'm trying to draw on the layer, it has somehow deselected itself despite it still appears to be selected on the GUI. You can't copy/create a brush and draw with that, unless you deselect the 8-bit FX, and when you do that, again it only draws anything like 50% of the time. And finally it crashes on me so my work is lost. I'm dropping Graf2X. I hope it works better for others.

It would be ideal to draw another way too though. Select pen, then select color, then draw - and all the layer stuff should happen automatically in the background.

[mr_lou]

I'm bumping this thread to let everyone know I'm still hooked on working on this project.

Optimus showed interest in doing some of the coding, but I haven't heard from him in a while.
ralferoo has also expressed an interest in the coding part, but only after his fpga project is completed.

Meanwhile it would be awesome if musicians and graphics artists would do mockups with ideas for level graphics and music.
I'm still working on multiple tracks myself, which I imagine will be put in some of the levels at some point.

I imagine the first thing to do coding wise, is to make some experiments to find out what's actually possible. Can we show a "MODE 5" screen (also known as "MODE 1 + rasters" to those who hate the MODE 5 term), while playing a 100hz or 50hz STaRKos track and control our character on the screen. Is there enough CPU power in our CPC to do that? If yes, then groovy, graphics artists can use "MODE 5" screen - if they want to.
Otherwise everything will be plain MODE 1 screens.

Everyone interested in this project should go play "Within a deep forrest" by Nifflas for inspiration

[Gryzor]

Really nice to see this still alive

[Sykobee (Briggsy)]

EDIT: Well I'm not having any luck with Graf2X. 25% of the times I'm trying to draw on the layer, it has somehow deselected itself despite it still appears to be selected on the GUI. You can't copy/create a brush and draw with that, unless you deselect the 8-bit FX, and when you do that, again it only draws anything like 50% of the time. And finally it crashes on me so my work is lost. I'm dropping Graf2X. I hope it works better for others.

Yeah, grafx is a bit quirky, and the UI doesn't help it. I see no reason to keep the UI low-resolution just because the art you are doing may also be low-resolution.

[Carnivius]

Yeah, grafx is a bit quirky, and the UI doesn't help it. I see no reason to keep the UI low-resolution just because the art you are doing may also be low-resolution.

I dunno.  I don't use Grafx2 but the UI isn't a reason why because I often load up good ol' Deluxe Paint and it has a very similar UI (I'm sure Grafx2 was based on it amongst other classic pixelling programs).  I kinda like the low res UI.  Maybe it's a comfort thing for those of us who are old enough to have learnt to do 2D graphics on programs of that era.   I tend to use Pro Motion though because while it too is inspired by Deluxe Paint it's presented more as a Windows program which means I find it easier to flick between other stuff I may be working on at the time (I do basic layouts in Paint Shop Pro 7 for example) and make use of other features proper Windows programs have.  I certainly understand why some of my pixel artist friends use Grafx2 though.

[mr_lou]

I do find GraphX brilliant for pixel graphics. Just not the "MODE 5" plugin for the CPC.