bad_wolf's Forum Posts

  • Thank you so much Dupuqub for your nice and encouraging words. I will try your suggestion and experiment with JSON too. I will post the results and finding in this thread.

    This afternoon I was thinking about the text file structure. I came up with the following structure :

    <chapter> *** This marks the start of the chapter (record)

    <ID:197012242030> *** Chapter ID: YYYYMMDDHHMM

    <ct>A wonderful Christmas evening</ct> *** Chapter Title

    <cb> *** Start chapter body text

    Here comes the chapter body text with HTML styles

    </cb>

    </chapter> *** this marks the end of the chapter (record)

    I also experimented with the iFrame object which looks promising. In this way, each chapter will be its own HTML5 file and based on the choices of the reader will we shown to the user (or not). With this method, I think I can easily integrate the interactive C3 games too.

    I need further experimentation and planning before making my final decision. However, I will follow your advice and use JSON format files. I will share my findings here.

    Thank you again for your input which is much appreciated.

    Chris

  • Last night I experimented with using text files with Construct 3. Actual the Youtube tutorial I watched you can find here:

    youtube.com/watch

    which is made by James Q Quick. It is a very good tutorial. This tutorial is about reading records of scores into an array and extract the individual score.

    In the tutorial, the AJAX object is used. You also need a text file named "TextData.txt" in the following format:

    John;

    10;

    #

    Betty;

    20;

    #

    Kate;

    30;

    #

    Where the ";" separate the fields inside the record and the "#" marks the end of the record. However, you can use any character as long as they are not present inside your text.

    You also need to place a "Text" object onto your layout and name it "FeedBackText". Also, an Array with the name "ScoresArray" with a width of 10 and a height of 2 is needed. Here is a screen capture of the event sheet containing the necessary events:

    In the map "Object Types" you find all necessary objects you have to add. The last event is just a tryout of mine to use JavaScript to end my experimentation.

    When I watch the ScoresArray Inspector when I debug, this is exactly what I need to create and use the timeline for my interactive story. What I observed when making changes to the imported textfile is, that it is not automatically updated when something change and is saved. Also, make sure the imported file is in text format (extension .txt) otherwise you get a lot of unnecessary information which makes a mess of your file.

    Question: Is there any way I can reflect the saved modifications automatically inside the "Text" file? Thank you for your help in advance.

    I am surprised how easy it is to learn Construct 3 and its event system. However, I have still a very long way to go and it will not remain that easy I am sure.

    I share my experiences here in case somebody has the same problem and doesn't know where to start. I do appreciate the very helpful replies.

    Chris

  • Thank you so much Dubuque and Mrcgkh for your advice and suggestions which I appreciate.

    The timeline does not contain any graphic. I am thinking about the timeline as an array, containing references to the linked text. Every event in time has its own unique ID. In this ID is already information about the year - month - day - unique number.

    For example :

    YYYY#MM#DD#unique number

    1350#11#05#0001

    1350#11#11#0002

    1350#11#11#0003

    The array itself will have the following structure :

    Column 1: Unique timeline ID

    Column 2: Chapter title

    Column 3: Reference where the chapter can be found

    I am thinking of storing all the chapters in one text file. Each chapter will start with its unique timeline ID mentioned above. The computer only has to look up the unique timeline ID, look to the reference, show the chapter title to the reader with the accompanying text which is connected by the unique timeline ID.

    I can also connect the inline games and puzzles with a unique timeline ID to the period when they were popular.

    Also when I use global variables for the family, I can create a form where the reader can change the standard names to the ones of their family. So when a reader read the story, he/she read their own names.

    Your input was of very good help to me. I need to work this out more in detail to present it to the project coordinator which has the final decision.

    I am going to look in the tutorial section and also on Skillshare for a C3 course. For this project, I am sure I gonna need more knowledge than my very basic C3 understanding. But we are never too old for learning something new.

    Have a nice day!

    Chris

  • Hi all,

    Can you please give me some advice about the use of a timeline to create an interactive history story of my village Dessel?

    Here is the outline of the story.

    The story goes about the history of my village in 1271 until 300 years in the future. A normal family travels back in time to the birth of the village. Then they follow the path through times to important events, the way of living, wars, how people worked, farmed and so on. In every year an important event happened, the family will be present.

    I want to create a text story where the reader can make interactive choices and based on that choice, takes another part to read in the story. I also intend to include some old games which can be played between the reads at the time they were popular.

    Now Intend to create a timeline in C3 with those important dates. For example :

    1224 --> first people settled in my village

    1271 --> birth of my village

    and so on.

    Can I create this timeline lets say with the dates :

    1221 - 1271 - 1300 - 1400 - 1500 and so on until the year 2300

    in C3?

    I am working (researching, planning and plotting) for more than a year now. Now I start actually writing the story and have to choose my interactive environment.

    I think C3 has many advantages over Squiffy - Twine - Quest because I can mix the text story (interactive book) with interactive games.

    The problem is, I am overwhelmed by the complexity of this project. I taught writing would have been difficult but it seems the easiest part of the project. I want to learn and create this project successfully. It is part of the celebration year 2021 when my village turns 750. I am participating in the official celebration. With 3 other writers, I write for the end spectacle in November 2021.

    I will appreciate your advice, suggestions, ideas and help very much. Can you tell me if this project can be done with C3? It will be part of an HTML website, an app for Android or just for PC.

    Also, pointers to tutorials (Scirra - Youtube) will be very helpful.

    Thank you in advance for your time spent on my request.

    Have a nice day!

    Chris

  • If this is the first tutorial you make, I would keep it simple. I create tutorials and believe me, what seems a simple tutorial gets complicated very easily. Make sure the subject you choose for your tutorial, you know it inside out. Creating a tutorial and still learning the subject will not go well together.

    Whatever tutorial you create, make sure you design your outline first. Then workout that outlines and start scripting your tutorial. When the outline itself is finished, that will give you a very good idea about the tutorial and what is necessary.

    I look forward to knowing your decision about which subject you will make your tutorial. Choose something you like to do, not what we like you to do. Something you can put your heart and soul in! Remember, it is YOUR baby!

    Keep up the good work!

    Chris

  • I agree with Bartalluyn, C3 is a great game development tool. By the way, those Youtube tutorials look great. Make sure you follow the link.

    Chris

  • Thank you again. My favourite adventure game is the Medievil - Primal series on PlayStation one (Medievil 1 and 2), Primal (Playstation 2) and Medievil (PS4). Also, Atlantis for PlayStation One comes to mind.

    Medievil the hero Daniel Fortesque has to defeat the evil sorcerer Zarok. He has to make his way through 20 levels full of corpses, enemies which he has to defeat with swords, bow, hammers, axes. There are also puzzles to solve. Every time he kills an enemy the chalice is filled until full. Then after finishing successfully he goes to the hall of heroes to get extra weaponry.

    A better candidate is Atlantis which is a graphics/text-based adventure full of weird puzzles. In this adventure there are enemies but they are not killed by weapons but by solving puzzles or riddles or search for alternate paths.

    Hope this helps to get your ideas.

    Chris

  • Thank you so much. Can I suggest a tutorial about an Adventure game with puzzles, keys to open doors, hidden rooms and defeating enemies and solving the logic?

    Whatever tutorial you create, your efforts will be appreciated.

    Keep up the good work!

    Chris

  • I am sure you safely can buy a C3 subscription. A subscription means that there is a regular flow of cash to the company, which is a better guarantee for the future than a lifetime license like C2.

    When I was using C2 which I also like very much, I taught about the lifetime license much often. I find the subscription system Scirra chose, very reliable. Even when I have no internet connection, I can use C3.

    I hope at the end of this year to go back home to Botswana. When I am here in Europe, I am too busy and have too much work. However, at the end of the year, when everything goes according to plan, I will write my own adventure game which I dreamed of doing since my C2 license.

    It is more important to be persistent in the goals you pursue than worrying about the tool you use to accomplish that goal. There is also a complete offline version of C3, which is installed as an exe on your local hard disk. You only need to login once a week. I am sure whatever happens, Scirra will make sure at least you can remain using that.

    Last week I received an email from Scirra about the end of life for C2. Still, there are people using it and it is still on this laptop too. We can regret this but we have to move forward. C2 was nice but C3 is nicer.

    Chris

  • For the fourth time in a row, since the release of C3, I will renew my C3 license. I do not see any reason to cancel my subscription.

    I am not concerned about the future of Scirra. C3 is also moving towards the educational markets which in my opinion, is a very good move.

    I trust if Scirra decides to end development on C3, they will inform us and give us time enough to find another solution. However, I do not see any reason for concern now.

    Instead of feeding such concerns, just feed your creativity and create nice interesting games with C3. That is your best guarantee for a bright game development future.

    Be creative!

    Chris

  • Hello Dop2000,

    Thank you so much for your advice, which is much appreciated. Exactly what I need, just to go from box to box onto the board.

    It seems Scirra filled the gap Rex Rainbow left.

    Wish you all the best.

    Chris

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  • Hi all,

    Can you help me find a tutorial for Construct 3 how to create a board game. I found some tutorials but they are C2 based and use the RexRainbow MoveTo plugins.

    I cannot find what I need here on the forum.

    Thank you so much for your help.

    Chris

  • Hello Ashley,

    Thank you so much for your reply which is very usefull.

    What I did, was just uploading all the images I needed to a directory on Google Drive from my browser. Then I saved the C3 project also to Google Drive.

    However, I was misunderstanding the whole Cloud principle. I was trying within the project, to create a sprite and then importing an image on Google Drive. I could not find the particular image on Google Drive.

    Now I will import the image from my local disc into the project. then I save my project to Google Drive and my problem is solved.

    I do appreciate your support.

    Chris

  • Hi again,

    I ran in another problem connected with Google Drive. I have the images and resources directory fully copied to Google Drive.

    Now I create a new sprite and want to use an image stored on Google Drive. However, I cannot access any of the images on Google Drive.

    Can you tell me how I can use my images stored on Google Drive with objects in my Construct 3 also stored on Google Drive.

    Thank you again.

    Chris

  • Hi all,

    Please, can you explain how I can use my Construct 3 project saved in the cloud with the images and sounds which are on my local disk? I like to work on several remote locations on this project. However, the images and sounds are not present on those remote computers. I just start the C3 browser, log in to my account and then open the file stored in Google Drive.

    Now I uploaded all the images and sounds onto a separate directory on Google Drive. When I create a sprite (for example) I will use an image which is stored on that directory on Google Drive.

    Now I can work on whatever place on this planet where I have the internet on my project without losing the links to the image.

    Is this correct? Am I right in my assumptions? Is this the correct way to use Construct 3.

    Thank you for your input which is appreciated.

    Chris