2D GUI HUD Creator - Available next week
by Jules · 02/29/2012 (10:03 am) · 22 comments
Its been a while since I last blogged an update, and after a bout of illness I'm back! With an update:
2D GUI HUD Creator will be available next week.
2D GUI HUD Creator will help you to rapidly create 2D GUI and HUDs for your game using a library of stock artwork and effects. Most of the artwork within the library can be combined with other library elements to create and enhance on even more designs.
2D GUI HUD creator helps to increase the productivity workflow by saving you valuable time/money and if you're no artist it will help you to create a basic or professional looking GUI or HUD in no time at all.
You can combine elements together, add a glow/drop shadow/bevel/alpha or color filter effect and export your results into a transparent PNG file and with a licence to use them in your own games. Alternatively, you can save your work into a temporary template to use later.
Take a look at the screenshots below (just some of the artwork elements shown are included; in kit form) just add, drag and drop to create.
Ok, Ok.. loving it, but what about the cost?
The launch price at version 1.0 of 2D GUI HUD Creator will be just $29.99 (full price $49.99) for Indie Game Developers.
More good news! Any NEW stock artwork added to the Creator versions will be a free update. This means that as we sell more and more licences, we'll keep adding more artwork and licence holders will continue to benefit from this. On the official website launch there will be a breakdown list of all the available artwork components in the library and walkthrough video tutorials on how each artwork category is put together.
Is there a version with more tools, bells and whistles in the future?
There is a Designer version in the works, however this will not be a free upgrade. There will be an upgrade path and it will be for those that want to create their own custom elements with an advanced toolset, or enhance on the existing library of artwork. No fixed date for release yet. Keep an eye out for a future blog.
Does it create the scripts for my game?
No. 2D GUI HUD Creator is more of an artwork tool with a large library of art resources in drag and drop kit form (If you can't do art? Want to save yourself some time/money, or quickly prototype your game? Then this is for you!). There are plenty of script resources on the GG site that you can use it with, and from time to time we'll release some of our own scripts and tutorials to help you. In many cases, you may already have the code in place.. all you need to do is update the artwork.
Other News
Stay tuned for a Game Ranking System (GRS) and Game Membership & Management (GMMS) update, they will be around the corner with Torque v1.2 support and further enhancements. Apologies to those who have been waiting for a GMMS update - it has been long overdue, and you will get a copy of 2D GUI HUD Creator free for being so patient.
Thanks.
www.indiegamedevelopertools.com
2D GUI HUD Creator will be available next week.
2D GUI HUD Creator will help you to rapidly create 2D GUI and HUDs for your game using a library of stock artwork and effects. Most of the artwork within the library can be combined with other library elements to create and enhance on even more designs.
2D GUI HUD creator helps to increase the productivity workflow by saving you valuable time/money and if you're no artist it will help you to create a basic or professional looking GUI or HUD in no time at all.
You can combine elements together, add a glow/drop shadow/bevel/alpha or color filter effect and export your results into a transparent PNG file and with a licence to use them in your own games. Alternatively, you can save your work into a temporary template to use later.
Take a look at the screenshots below (just some of the artwork elements shown are included; in kit form) just add, drag and drop to create.
Ok, Ok.. loving it, but what about the cost?
The launch price at version 1.0 of 2D GUI HUD Creator will be just $29.99 (full price $49.99) for Indie Game Developers.
More good news! Any NEW stock artwork added to the Creator versions will be a free update. This means that as we sell more and more licences, we'll keep adding more artwork and licence holders will continue to benefit from this. On the official website launch there will be a breakdown list of all the available artwork components in the library and walkthrough video tutorials on how each artwork category is put together.
Is there a version with more tools, bells and whistles in the future?
There is a Designer version in the works, however this will not be a free upgrade. There will be an upgrade path and it will be for those that want to create their own custom elements with an advanced toolset, or enhance on the existing library of artwork. No fixed date for release yet. Keep an eye out for a future blog.
Does it create the scripts for my game?
No. 2D GUI HUD Creator is more of an artwork tool with a large library of art resources in drag and drop kit form (If you can't do art? Want to save yourself some time/money, or quickly prototype your game? Then this is for you!). There are plenty of script resources on the GG site that you can use it with, and from time to time we'll release some of our own scripts and tutorials to help you. In many cases, you may already have the code in place.. all you need to do is update the artwork.
Other News
Stay tuned for a Game Ranking System (GRS) and Game Membership & Management (GMMS) update, they will be around the corner with Torque v1.2 support and further enhancements. Apologies to those who have been waiting for a GMMS update - it has been long overdue, and you will get a copy of 2D GUI HUD Creator free for being so patient.
Thanks.
www.indiegamedevelopertools.com
#2
In the Designer version there is an animator, with lots of tools to create/export effects like this - not available yet tho. Creator version is more add->drag and drop, apply effect if needed. For example; if you had a fantasy rpg type game and you wanted some potions that had different liquid colors in them you could apply this easily. Most of the artwork has been stripped down, so you can add effects to most of components that make up that potion bottle. You can even mix up the artwork from various categories..
We have futuristic HUDs, sniper scopes, potion bottles, menu panels, backdrops, splatters (blood or paint), spheres, compasses, compass needles, weapon silhouettes, mini-map HUDs and more included. With more being added.
An example (Compass): All you need to do is create the style and add the components from the library (backdrop, shell, needle, glass cover), add the effects where needed and export them in allocated segments so you can add them to your game, code the compass needle to move and job done.
02/29/2012 (2:17 pm)
Thanks Kory. In the Designer version there is an animator, with lots of tools to create/export effects like this - not available yet tho. Creator version is more add->drag and drop, apply effect if needed. For example; if you had a fantasy rpg type game and you wanted some potions that had different liquid colors in them you could apply this easily. Most of the artwork has been stripped down, so you can add effects to most of components that make up that potion bottle. You can even mix up the artwork from various categories..
We have futuristic HUDs, sniper scopes, potion bottles, menu panels, backdrops, splatters (blood or paint), spheres, compasses, compass needles, weapon silhouettes, mini-map HUDs and more included. With more being added.
An example (Compass): All you need to do is create the style and add the components from the library (backdrop, shell, needle, glass cover), add the effects where needed and export them in allocated segments so you can add them to your game, code the compass needle to move and job done.
#3
02/29/2012 (2:23 pm)
Just to help you out.. on that effect you wanted.. all you'd need is a long sequence image with the wave lengths on and use Torque to animate it on a shape within the game. So having said that we'll include some wave lengths in the release so you can do this :) and create a tutorial for it. If you are any good at art, then you should be able to follow the tutorial without our help :) 
#4
02/29/2012 (2:30 pm)
Thanks
#5
02/29/2012 (2:47 pm)
No problem. We just added one wavelength, but will add more before the end of the week so we can create a tutorial on it. 
#6
02/29/2012 (6:22 pm)
Can this product make GUI HUD for T3D 1.2?
#7
02/29/2012 (6:35 pm)
Hi Robert. It's an artwork tool with a library of art resources that you can use in developing your games. The artwork can be used in Torque 3D, but you would still need to create the script and engine code to make things work (plenty of resources on the GG website) that can be used with this artwork. There will be tutorials on how to add the artwork into T3D, and we may include some TorqueScript examples of our own in the next release with artwork used from 2D GUI HUD Creator. 
#8
02/29/2012 (6:41 pm)
great to see you back and with what looks to be another great product! I can't wait to try it out.
#9
Mini Map HUD1 artwork added in T3D - still needs the mini map code and health/energy bars configured to make it work. So, an artwork tool for programmers (not both - at least for now!)
02/29/2012 (7:01 pm)
Thanks Greg. Good to be back! Mini Map HUD1 artwork added in T3D - still needs the mini map code and health/energy bars configured to make it work. So, an artwork tool for programmers (not both - at least for now!)
#11
03/02/2012 (3:00 pm)
This tool looks nice but there's little justification for its existence if it cannot build the actual Torque script GUI files. I can already do UI design and mockups easily enough in my paint program or 3D modeling program.
#12
We're carefully thinking about adding a button to create generic gui/scripts for Torque in a later release (without having to modify the engine source) and would need to see if we need permission to do this from a non-torque product or make sure we have a separate version with Torque Support and include it within the store, but then if we go down this route we'd need to do this for every other game engine on the market that we're aiming this product at. Currently - it's just a generic art tool with a growing artwork resource library for programmers who are not artists, cannot afford the luxury of tools, or do not even know where to start with an art package even if it's free.
Programmers may use their own scripts or resources submitted by others and would like to replace the stock artwork with new artwork. With the amount of artwork we're planning on adding to this tool, creating fully functional scripts (not using the resources others have submitted) may bump up the cost. So if we do go down this route we'll provide it as a bolt on package at an extra cost, or throw it in for free - depending on the demand. It also depends how far we want to go with this and we have no problems in adding some script/tutorials as a starting point for the newbies.
We're going to cover as many bases as we can with the artwork as not all the current artwork will be for every developer out there. It depends what they are working on, what components they can use, and how much time and money it can save them.
edit: added a bit/changed a bit (spelling)
03/02/2012 (3:37 pm)
@Kevin - If you can already do this, then this tool may not be for you. We're carefully thinking about adding a button to create generic gui/scripts for Torque in a later release (without having to modify the engine source) and would need to see if we need permission to do this from a non-torque product or make sure we have a separate version with Torque Support and include it within the store, but then if we go down this route we'd need to do this for every other game engine on the market that we're aiming this product at. Currently - it's just a generic art tool with a growing artwork resource library for programmers who are not artists, cannot afford the luxury of tools, or do not even know where to start with an art package even if it's free.
Programmers may use their own scripts or resources submitted by others and would like to replace the stock artwork with new artwork. With the amount of artwork we're planning on adding to this tool, creating fully functional scripts (not using the resources others have submitted) may bump up the cost. So if we do go down this route we'll provide it as a bolt on package at an extra cost, or throw it in for free - depending on the demand. It also depends how far we want to go with this and we have no problems in adding some script/tutorials as a starting point for the newbies.
We're going to cover as many bases as we can with the artwork as not all the current artwork will be for every developer out there. It depends what they are working on, what components they can use, and how much time and money it can save them.
edit: added a bit/changed a bit (spelling)
#13
More clarification of what this tool can do and what is contained within its contents will be on our website when it launches next week, and a follow up blog. Just to go over things from a view point...
If you are an artist already, and there are components in this kit available for you to use, it saves you time and money by adding placeholders, until you have more time or the revenue/money to replace them. We looked at both sides of the coin..
From a new startup/hobbiest to indie developer point of view
Programmer spends time programming, but cannot do the artwork - has to hire an artist, it costs money to develop because they do not have a product out there already (depending on their circumstances), and money to hire an artist which they may not be able to afford. Unless they work for free. Add in some placeholder artwork from this kit, saves them money and some time, generates revenue from selling the game and the programmer then hires an artist to create new artwork (optional).
Hope this helps to cover the purpose behind this artwork library and non scary tool a bit more. Not everyone can do art, and are reliant on art packs to help them, this also adds a bit of help into the mix (breaking down the artwork, so that effects/colors and combinations can be added) and piece it together like a jigsaw.
From experience.. Starting out as a Hobby/Indie developer without any art skills, having a nice library of artwork resources at your disposal always helps. We've all been there.
03/02/2012 (3:43 pm)
It's a fully customizable art kit with an easy to use tool for helping make those changes.. take this example of one of the categories for sniper scopes. Before adding any effects or color changes to them.More clarification of what this tool can do and what is contained within its contents will be on our website when it launches next week, and a follow up blog. Just to go over things from a view point...
If you are an artist already, and there are components in this kit available for you to use, it saves you time and money by adding placeholders, until you have more time or the revenue/money to replace them. We looked at both sides of the coin..
From a new startup/hobbiest to indie developer point of view
Programmer spends time programming, but cannot do the artwork - has to hire an artist, it costs money to develop because they do not have a product out there already (depending on their circumstances), and money to hire an artist which they may not be able to afford. Unless they work for free. Add in some placeholder artwork from this kit, saves them money and some time, generates revenue from selling the game and the programmer then hires an artist to create new artwork (optional).
Hope this helps to cover the purpose behind this artwork library and non scary tool a bit more. Not everyone can do art, and are reliant on art packs to help them, this also adds a bit of help into the mix (breaking down the artwork, so that effects/colors and combinations can be added) and piece it together like a jigsaw.
From experience.. Starting out as a Hobby/Indie developer without any art skills, having a nice library of artwork resources at your disposal always helps. We've all been there.
#14
03/02/2012 (8:12 pm)
I'm a programmer and sometimes even finding placeholder art is hard, especially for GUI. The art quality looks great in this software and you can customize it! Please update this thread when this is ready. Thanks! 
#16
03/12/2012 (3:38 pm)
I didn't initially see that it comes with a bunch of images to use out of the box. That does indeed make it worth using. Still need a way to save out to a .gui file though; otherwise duplicate work will be required to build the actual in-game UI.
#17
We will be looking at export options for game engines to help save time, even if just saves time adding them to gui layers, after a chat with GG.
We're almost ready to release v1.0 (it's ready!), just the website being finished off.. another day at most.
03/12/2012 (5:27 pm)
yes, version 1.0 will have a fair amount of artwork included, all broken down so that colo(u)rs and some effects can be added to each piece to make custom changes to them. All artwork updates will be included free and the artwork is royalty free to use in your games. There is still quite a bit more artwork to add before we start creating more and this will be ongoing for as long as this product is in demand. The Designer version with advanced GUI/HUD tools will be developed on the success of the Creator version, and will require several developers to create it.We will be looking at export options for game engines to help save time, even if just saves time adding them to gui layers, after a chat with GG.
We're almost ready to release v1.0 (it's ready!), just the website being finished off.. another day at most.
#18
03/12/2012 (5:44 pm)
Almost forgot, there is no auto artwork updater at the moment, we'll work on this in another release. You'll then only need to download the full version when there is a software release, unless we include that also in the updater.
#20
I'll be posting an official blog on GG tomorrow. If you need to ask any questions you can contact me via Our main website - contact us link at the bottom of the page.
03/14/2012 (10:15 pm)
Hi guys, if you've been following this blog.. the website is up at www.2dguihud.com along with a couple of mini tutorials.I'll be posting an official blog on GG tomorrow. If you need to ask any questions you can contact me via Our main website - contact us link at the bottom of the page.
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