Thanks for your lenghty answer. I will try to have a look at Blender and see how it can help me.

3D modeling itself is interesting enough already.

And yes, I'm only looking for a way to speed up the process of having a character, in multiple animations, in different angles.

I don't know if your answer is going to change if I tell you that the result I am looking for would be something like:

<img src="http://images.suite101.com/553546_com_reinerstil.png">

Relatively simple (compared to unreal engine 3 models, with high-detailed facial expressions).

Also, remember that we've got 3d software now and that we could create those characters in 3d (and use flat shaded pixel art as textures) and just render out the different perspectives for each animation type.

This is not as tough anymore as it used to be when we really needed to paint each pixel from scratch. Creating 2d with the help of 3d is a very viable option these days, especially for stuff like this.

I used to fucking hate the fact that in 2d games my character never changed in appearance when I equipped a new set of armor or weapon. It just wasn't feasible back then to create dozens of animation phases for each and every set of equipment. But that sorta stuff could be done pretty easily with todays tech - batch setup your scene with the equipment and batch render it out over night.

Thomasmahler, what programs do you recommend me to start using (preferrably free software) to create something in 3D (relatively easy - if possible) and ultimately ending up with having sprites for Construct?

Or what do you recommend me to start searching for in search engines?

Blender perhaps?

Would you buy it if it's a cool game? Would you pay 5 EUR for a cool experience?

One thing I'd love to see in the future are simpler, episodic games that really focus on story and character development - and to sell each episode for something cheap, like 5 bucks. I think that'd be a win / win.

You'd get to play a short, but great game for a small amount of cash and if you liked it and want to know how the story develops further / develop your character further, you get the new episode for another 5 quid.

Would that business model be attractive to anyone here?

yeah

> After playing through GTA IV that game looks rather sterile.

>

On the contrary. This game kills gta 4. Graphics arent quite as nice as gta but gameplay is superior... Plus more stuff to do and way better missions. Also you can do up cars and you dont lose them if they blow up or whatever. Clothing is a cool feature too so you dress up your character.

If you liked gta 4 then chances are you will love saints row 2.

~sol

I get angry with friends when they choose SR2 over gta 4

Both games have their strong points.

But it's more like, GTA is like a Lord Of the Rings billion-dollar-production, while SR2 is like a 100-dollar Blair Witch Production. - exeggerated.

Saints Row 2 (quality of graphics, story, voice-acting, engine) is good... in its own league.

GTA 4 is in a "higher" league.

Then comes gameplay.

Ok, GTA 4 doesn't offer much. Saints Row 2 wins on replayability (especially coop missions!)

I like and play both games.

Personally I enjoy GTA 4 more, while driving around and doing nothing special (great graphics/lightning from time of day and weather that gives the city a mood).

Oh 1 last thing:

GTA 4 has ragdoll (euphoria-)engine.

But you can't grab or throw pedestrians

SR 2 has "regular" ragdoll effects

But you can grab and throw pedestrians

Sounds good, and will probably be done, but these competitions are for people who don't have much time and just want to create something quickly; surprisingly a lot of good concepts come from things like this too, so we may see some games evolve out of the results.

And ideas and concepts should be weigh a bit more heavier than a finished product, that perhaps offers nothing new, for example: mario bros 1 replicate, with mario in a yellow suit.

"DirectX 9.0c will help improve multimedia experiences on most PCs. This latest version of DirectX offers better security, updated graphics, faster frame rates, and support for massively multiplayer games."

support for mm-games ? Does anyone know what this support means? And wasn't this support included in previous versions of directx?

I think he means add all the default animations, so the standard 8; top, top right, right, bottom right, bottom, etc.

Correct, that is what I am talking about.

May I add this request: "set animation speed to all angles".

Now I have to do this manually.

I've got it to show other players but the grid movements jumps. So I'll stick with pixel movement.

Ok.

Feel free to let us try some epic online battles, in an early version of your game.

rogerty, all i have to say is whaaaa......

sorry, my mistake. Wrong weezer album.

<img src="http://www.punknews.org/images/covers/weezer-pinkerton.jpg">

so why bother?

it's gonna hurt me... this happened to me twice before, won't happen to me anymooore

^^

<img src="http://www.artistdirect.com/Images/Sources/AMGCOVERS/music/cover200/drc000/c034/c03480sovb9.jpg">

The new control system should make it possible, but it's not too hard to reproduce with events.

To let your sprite walk around, does it require editing/tweaking to an older Construct-project when the new control system is implemented, or is it added next to the already existing 8dir-control behaviour?

In the Animation-pane, when pressing right button, it's possible to add an angle.

I'm requesting to add the option: "add all angles".

So that all angles from the pull down (0, 45, 90, 135, etc degrees) menu are added, when selecting this option.