Most of you saw my C3 thread, but now that C3 is over, I wanted to discuss more and work more on this sprite. Mostly because I want this to be an ongoing project and work on it over time to improve it. The NPC is a fun sprite. I like working on it and figuring out new things. It's also a lesson in ASM for me. I've done a few things with it I had to teach myself how to do, and there's more ahead. It's more fun and more meaningful to me than just working on simple, minor sprites. I'll keep this thread updated with progress on the sprite and new releases.
As such, if you have any ideas, suggestions, or recommendations for things to add to the sprite, speak up and I'll consider it. I'd like a lot of feedback for the sprite on ways to improve it and make it more useful.
If you're unfamiliar with the sprite, it's an all-purpose NPC sprite for SMW. You can use it for people chatting you up in town levels, as signposts, or as friendly characters who follow you. In time, I hope to make it useful for anything an NPC might be used for. I have a few videos that show off how it works.
This video shows off the basics of the sprite. With just one config file, the sprite allows for 32 unique messages per level. You can further customize with randomized messages (up to 16 per NPC) and double messages (two messages appear instead of just one).
<object width="425" height="344"><param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube.com/v/wkwb4bbEs9k&hl=en&fs=1"></param><param name="allowFullScreen" value="true"></param><param name="allowscriptaccess" value="always"></param><embed src="http://www.youtube.com/v/wkwb4bbEs9k&hl=en&fs=1" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" allowscriptaccess="always" allowfullscreen="true" width="425" height="344"></embed></object>
The NPCs are further customizable with "wander mode" which causes them to drift along and turn at random intervals. Although this doesn't seem much more interesting than their normal movement pattern, it creates more realistic NPCs who don't all walk in sync.
<object width="425" height="344"><param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube.com/v/OSD-i42kbss&hl=en&fs=1"></param><param name="allowFullScreen" value="true"></param><param name="allowscriptaccess" value="always"></param><embed src="http://www.youtube.com/v/OSD-i42kbss&hl=en&fs=1" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" allowscriptaccess="always" allowfullscreen="true" width="425" height="344"></embed></object>
I've also begun work on more interactive sprites which follow Mario and offer help. So far, the sprites only follow Mario, but I plan to add more abilities to them, and perhaps even enhance their following capabilities (something like Tails from the Sonic games).
<object width="425" height="344"><param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube.com/v/45PgecGuw4g&hl=en&fs=1"></param><param name="allowFullScreen" value="true"></param><param name="allowscriptaccess" value="always"></param><embed src="http://www.youtube.com/v/45PgecGuw4g&hl=en&fs=1" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" allowscriptaccess="always" allowfullscreen="true" width="425" height="344"></embed></object>
If you want to download the latest version, go here:
http://www.smwcentral.net/download.php?id=962&type=sprites
Here's a brief history and feature list for the NPCs.
v1.0:
* Unkillable
* Sprites walk back and forth with configurable distances
* Sprites display one of three messages
* Configurable button to press to display messages
v2.0: (created by InvisibleCoinBlock)
* Configurable to allow more messages than previously allowed
v3.0:
* Several improvements to movement and detection code
* Several configurables like staying on ledges and making sounds
* Message system upgraded to support 32 messages per level
* New message options like random messages and multiple messages
* Sprites can be configured to stop when walking back and forth
v4.0: (unreleased)
* "Wander mode" which gives sprites more realistic movement
* Follow mode (with jumping!) for friendly NPCs who follow Mario
Features not yet added:
* Option to have the NPC walk in a straight line without stopping (very easy)
* Option to have the NPC talk to Mario without pressing a button (very easy)
* NPCs that give Mario power-ups (very easy)
* Allow the NPC warp Mario somewhere else (easy)
* NPCs that can fly, hover, or hop (easy)
* Pick-up-able NPCs (easy to moderate)
* Have NPCs only display message or only give power-ups once (moderate)
* NPCs whose behavior changes based on items/levels beaten (moderate)
* Have NPCs do more meaningful things like kill enemies (moderate to hard)
As such, if you have any ideas, suggestions, or recommendations for things to add to the sprite, speak up and I'll consider it. I'd like a lot of feedback for the sprite on ways to improve it and make it more useful.
If you're unfamiliar with the sprite, it's an all-purpose NPC sprite for SMW. You can use it for people chatting you up in town levels, as signposts, or as friendly characters who follow you. In time, I hope to make it useful for anything an NPC might be used for. I have a few videos that show off how it works.
This video shows off the basics of the sprite. With just one config file, the sprite allows for 32 unique messages per level. You can further customize with randomized messages (up to 16 per NPC) and double messages (two messages appear instead of just one).
<object width="425" height="344"><param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube.com/v/wkwb4bbEs9k&hl=en&fs=1"></param><param name="allowFullScreen" value="true"></param><param name="allowscriptaccess" value="always"></param><embed src="http://www.youtube.com/v/wkwb4bbEs9k&hl=en&fs=1" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" allowscriptaccess="always" allowfullscreen="true" width="425" height="344"></embed></object>
The NPCs are further customizable with "wander mode" which causes them to drift along and turn at random intervals. Although this doesn't seem much more interesting than their normal movement pattern, it creates more realistic NPCs who don't all walk in sync.
<object width="425" height="344"><param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube.com/v/OSD-i42kbss&hl=en&fs=1"></param><param name="allowFullScreen" value="true"></param><param name="allowscriptaccess" value="always"></param><embed src="http://www.youtube.com/v/OSD-i42kbss&hl=en&fs=1" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" allowscriptaccess="always" allowfullscreen="true" width="425" height="344"></embed></object>
I've also begun work on more interactive sprites which follow Mario and offer help. So far, the sprites only follow Mario, but I plan to add more abilities to them, and perhaps even enhance their following capabilities (something like Tails from the Sonic games).
<object width="425" height="344"><param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube.com/v/45PgecGuw4g&hl=en&fs=1"></param><param name="allowFullScreen" value="true"></param><param name="allowscriptaccess" value="always"></param><embed src="http://www.youtube.com/v/45PgecGuw4g&hl=en&fs=1" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" allowscriptaccess="always" allowfullscreen="true" width="425" height="344"></embed></object>
If you want to download the latest version, go here:
http://www.smwcentral.net/download.php?id=962&type=sprites
Here's a brief history and feature list for the NPCs.
v1.0:
* Unkillable
* Sprites walk back and forth with configurable distances
* Sprites display one of three messages
* Configurable button to press to display messages
v2.0: (created by InvisibleCoinBlock)
* Configurable to allow more messages than previously allowed
v3.0:
* Several improvements to movement and detection code
* Several configurables like staying on ledges and making sounds
* Message system upgraded to support 32 messages per level
* New message options like random messages and multiple messages
* Sprites can be configured to stop when walking back and forth
v4.0: (unreleased)
* "Wander mode" which gives sprites more realistic movement
* Follow mode (with jumping!) for friendly NPCs who follow Mario
Features not yet added:
* Option to have the NPC walk in a straight line without stopping (very easy)
* Option to have the NPC talk to Mario without pressing a button (very easy)
* NPCs that give Mario power-ups (very easy)
* Allow the NPC warp Mario somewhere else (easy)
* NPCs that can fly, hover, or hop (easy)
* Pick-up-able NPCs (easy to moderate)
* Have NPCs only display message or only give power-ups once (moderate)
* NPCs whose behavior changes based on items/levels beaten (moderate)
* Have NPCs do more meaningful things like kill enemies (moderate to hard)