usecode et al

[suraimu]

Is the introduction to Serpent Isle or BG controlled by usecode or
what? If someone were to try to start making a new game with
the U7 engine, would they be able to change that?

Additionally, how much ability do we have at the moment to edit
usecode and such? (I haven't really looked into it yet.)

[wjp]

The introduction movie isn't handled by usecode, but currently hardcoded in exult. We have some plans to change this to some kind of scripting in the future.

Usecode editing: AFAIK, Jeff's compiler is reasonably complete. We already support 'patching' usecode, so if you write a replacement function for some usecode function you can easily make exult use it.

[XxVenomxX]

Will in game cut scenes be able to be made? I would guess it wouldn't be difficult, given that looking into crystal balls/telescopes puts the focus on an invisible cat Just having something similar where it focuses on the person/spot of choice, right? Just seemed like a question that fit in here, since not everyone making their own games would have the ability to construct a 3d movie intro

[Andy]

Also, has anyone thought about incorporating the orginal SI intro on Denis Loubet's page into SI. Yes, I know it would be some work (adding audio, and putting the Guardian's face in. Just wondered if anybody thought about it? I suppose resolution would be a problem also.

[nadir]

And you would need a cross platform AVI player, or a way of converting it to MPEG2.

[drcode]

In-game scenes: Those are done in SI with a Usecode function called 'set_camera_actor()'. So it can be done, but it's a bit tricky (and primitive). Certainly, though, we can add new functions like 'play_mpeg()'.

[Andy]

Actually, looking at both pieces again, one could simply take the entire scene from inside the castle in the released game version, and paste it over the unreleased version. There doesn't appear to be any additional graphics to the in-castle scene in the unreleased version. That would eliminate alot of work in trying to import the Guardian (face only) into the unreleased version. The full audio track of the released game version could then be recorded over the composit video.

The only significant amount of different graphics between the two versions is outside LB's castle (rain drops and flickering light from the windows), and when the ship was on the ocean. So, in theory, it shouldn't be too hard for someone to do provided the right equipment. Unfortunately, I don't have that equipment :0(

[Vigil]

Could someone fork out the URL for this original intro?

[Andy]

The intro is at

http://www.io.com/~dloubet/

click on "Gallery." Then click on "Animations."