Objects & Effects in GUI's
by George Ison · in Torque Game Builder · 11/18/2011 (8:10 am) · 4 replies
Hello all,
I have a question about adding effects and other objects to GUI screens. For example, lets say on our menu GUI we wanted to have a particle effect playing, is there a way to do this via the GUI controls? If so which one? What if I wanted a 3D object rotating in a GUI?
Secondly, if features like this cannot be implemented in the GUI, is there an issue with designing GUIs as levels technically, which we could then just overlay button controls on to from the GUI?
A good example would be an interactive map of sorts. A topical view of the entire map and as you mouse over islands on the map they glow, when you click the island it then displays and new map of this particular island at full scale and detail along with various particle effects and such. Is building this type of system possible with the GUI? I built exactly what I am talking about above as a real level, which Im wielding like a dialog now, which works ok, but down the road swapping back and forth between levels to just view a map seems wrong some how, but that maybe perfectly fine to do. So in the end can the GUI handle features like this or in the future, dont spend 2 weeks in the GUI trying to do stuff you can do in a level in 5 minutes..
I have a question about adding effects and other objects to GUI screens. For example, lets say on our menu GUI we wanted to have a particle effect playing, is there a way to do this via the GUI controls? If so which one? What if I wanted a 3D object rotating in a GUI?
Secondly, if features like this cannot be implemented in the GUI, is there an issue with designing GUIs as levels technically, which we could then just overlay button controls on to from the GUI?
A good example would be an interactive map of sorts. A topical view of the entire map and as you mouse over islands on the map they glow, when you click the island it then displays and new map of this particular island at full scale and detail along with various particle effects and such. Is building this type of system possible with the GUI? I built exactly what I am talking about above as a real level, which Im wielding like a dialog now, which works ok, but down the road swapping back and forth between levels to just view a map seems wrong some how, but that maybe perfectly fine to do. So in the end can the GUI handle features like this or in the future, dont spend 2 weeks in the GUI trying to do stuff you can do in a level in 5 minutes..
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Love to engineer and develop just about anything. Our primary focus though is that of computer games and software tools.
#2
12/17/2011 (11:14 am)
Thanks for this info, we have developed entirely new methods now based on this. Really opens things up... 
#3
It's one of those things I can never seem to get working properly, specifically resolution changes seem to screw with everything I try :-/
12/17/2011 (2:56 pm)
Happen to have any chunks / samples you're willing to share? ;-) It's one of those things I can never seem to get working properly, specifically resolution changes seem to screw with everything I try :-/
#4
Well I don't know right off what your looking for per'se but we have successfully learned to wield this method now to create just about whatever we want GUI wise, in all honesty, I'd rather use this than the GUI controls them self especially for more complex systems. Its a little more work to get up and running but the freedom is remarkable. You can create whatever you wish...
We have used it for complete level interfaces, we have used it for interactive dialog pop ups and are learning more ways to utilize it. As I said this really opened things up for us.
If you would like to discuss specifics and further methodology shoot me an email bryan@sgmediasoft.com. Always nice to start up a good discussion.
12/17/2011 (6:10 pm)
Hey Simon,Well I don't know right off what your looking for per'se but we have successfully learned to wield this method now to create just about whatever we want GUI wise, in all honesty, I'd rather use this than the GUI controls them self especially for more complex systems. Its a little more work to get up and running but the freedom is remarkable. You can create whatever you wish...
We have used it for complete level interfaces, we have used it for interactive dialog pop ups and are learning more ways to utilize it. As I said this really opened things up for us.
If you would like to discuss specifics and further methodology shoot me an email bryan@sgmediasoft.com. Always nice to start up a good discussion.
Associate William Lee Sims
Machine Code Games