ToyLand Graphics Conversion

Rob · Post by **Rob** » 12 Feb 2003 17:37

The graphics in your webpage, are they for the dos or for the windows or for both versions of the game?
If we are to change these graphics, have we to do this in dos,win or both versions?

krtaylor · Post by **krtaylor** » 12 Feb 2003 17:46

Excellent questions.

1. I believe they are from the DOS version.

2. Since the Windows version is the only one that works with XP/2000, which is what most people have (like me), it seems to me that a Windows version is more useful. However, it is my understanding that the converter program is able to convert from the DOS graphics to the Windows graphics, and vice versa. Thus if we just make new graphics using the PCX files (which are on my site), then convert them, we should be able to generate both DOS and Windows versions without too much trouble. I think. Does anybody know any better?

3. Anyway, does my organization make sense? I'm not familiar with Toyland (it gives me headaches) so I don't really recognize what all the buildings actually are; we need to list that so we know what they should become for the new version.

4. Also, I was thinking that it might make sense to replace the Toyland terrain graphics with the graphics from the Temperate set, and then modify them from there. The Temperate set graphics are probably mostly suitable for East Asia, except maybe a slightly bluish tint / light green to some of the grass. That in and of itself would be a huge improvement.

mp3Pro · Post by **mp3Pro** » 12 Feb 2003 17:47

Anyone given any thought as to the basic grass texture?... I think the grass from the arctic set maybe? ... and it would expidite things a little

Rob · Post by **Rob** » 12 Feb 2003 18:05

Converting between dos and windows wasn't a real succes up to now. Well maybe we better say it was a real disaster aerea up til now.

It might therefore maybe better to use only the windows version of the game to make new graphics.
Furthermore it might be more practical to ad screenshots of the buildings as they appear in the game, with the appropriate sprites attached.
Not all the buildings are made out of one sprite, and for the pcx-sprites it is not allways clear how they should be fited together.
I have no experience with the toyland graphics, but for instance the ironoremine of the temparate climat is made out of 32 different sprites. One for the constuction of it and one for the finished mine.(4 x 4 tiles)
It is not directly clear witch sprite belongs at which place.

krtaylor · Post by **krtaylor** » 12 Feb 2003 18:13

OK, well, then, I guess we need a new set of sprites - the Windows ones. Send them along and I'll switch them off. If you want screenshots, that is a good idea too, but that definitely demands the Windows version as someone said elsewhere that you cannot do screenshots from the DOS version.

Using the Arctic grass would work, maybe even just as-is. We wouldn't want the snow though. Maybe a two-tone job, with Arctic grass for the lower altitudes, and Temperate grass for the higher hills, and a "fade" area in between like at the snow-line in Arctic? I've been to Japan several times and I do seem to recall somewhat darker, bluer hues to the grass. Kind of like Kentucky bluegrass maybe.

Sounds like we have definitely decided - Windows comes first, DOS later if at all.

Is there a way to take a poll of users - who is using DOS, who Windows?

I used the DOS version for years since that's all I had, but when I found and downloaded the Windows version I switched everything over to it and haven't looked back.

SHADOW-XIII · Post by **SHADOW-XIII** » 12 Feb 2003 18:15

krtaylor wrote: Is there a way to take a poll of users - who is using DOS, who Windows?

ok .. I'm create new topic with poll:
http://www.tt-forums.net/viewtopic.php?t=2660

krtaylor · Post by **krtaylor** » 12 Feb 2003 18:33

I have a question on the DOS/Windows graphics conversion issue.

What is the trouble with the conversion? I realize that TTD uses its own funny graphics format that took a while to decode originally. But we don't draw graphics in that, we draw them in a PCX or something and then convert them. Why can't we have the original new graphics as PCX, and then convert them into the Windows format, and then also convert them into the DOS format?

Is there something I am missing here?

Not that I personally care all that much about the DOS version, in some ways I feel we'd be better off if we just announced we were abandoning DOS development and concentrating purely on Windows, more would get done faster. But as long as there are still people that care about the DOS version we might as well try to help them, if we can.

SHADOW-XIII · Post by **SHADOW-XIII** » 12 Feb 2003 19:12

DOS and WIN version are diffirent cuz they using other colors palette ,,, anyway it GrfoCodec should save in both types but nearly can't know how (only Josef knows and noone can't do it) ...

Dinges · Post by **Dinges** » 12 Feb 2003 19:32

Most of all those graphics can be copied from other landscapes, exept for the buildings and industries!

krtaylor · Post by **krtaylor** » 12 Feb 2003 19:41

Well, most of the landscape can be BASED off of existing versions. But I think we want different "bonsai" Oriental-looking trees at least. And I do think the grass should be subtly different, if only for variety's sake. But that wouldn't take long if we started with something close.

Daid · Post by **Daid** » 12 Feb 2003 20:29

I picked the windows GFX, and i'm splitting it up in usefull chucks at the moment.

I'll be back later, when i'm done.

Daid · Post by **Daid** » 12 Feb 2003 22:16

Ok, Back, done. How does this look:

http://members.lycos.nl/schoolwerk1/dai ... Index.html

(BTW: you can download this consept at: http://members.lycos.nl/schoolwerk1/dai ... oyLand.zip)

SHADOW-XIII · Post by **SHADOW-XIII** » 12 Feb 2003 22:19

maybe I will even try do something ... (hope I will create something good)

krtaylor · Post by **krtaylor** » 12 Feb 2003 22:21

OK. No need for competing organizational sites. Shall I take your changes and put them on my site? My site doesn't have ads, you'll notice, and also has more flexibility since I own it. Otherwise I'll take mine down if you'd rather.

SHADOW-XIII · Post by **SHADOW-XIII** » 12 Feb 2003 22:26

I will try first do it at home .. and I see what I will create

Petaja · Post by **Petaja** » 12 Feb 2003 23:10

Ther must be traditional achitecture within.
Btw, here's few images about the idea we are discussing about.

Daid · Post by **Daid** » 12 Feb 2003 23:17

krtaylor, i didn't want competing sites

(I've just updated my with Grass, in stead of Green/Red/Grey boxes) And I wasn't planning to keep mine up, so Take it all! (if you wish)

It as more about the pictures, it's more orginized this way. And how about adding some PHP, not that i can do it, but wouldn't it be usefull to have people instantly say what they are busy with? (But I bet that was your plan already

)

And guys, what about the sounds? Can we change those?

mp3Pro · Post by **mp3Pro** » 13 Feb 2003 00:48

Rob wrote:I have no experience with the toyland graphics, but for instance the ironoremine of the temparate climat is made out of 32 different sprites. One for the constuction of it and one for the finished mine.(4 x 4 tiles)
It is not directly clear witch sprite belongs at which place.

its assembled from random elements I think

krtaylor · Post by **krtaylor** » 13 Feb 2003 03:13

GORGEOUS pictures of rice terraces, that's EXACTLY what I had in mind. THANKS Petaja!

Also the pagoda is nice, but remember, the houses they live in don't look like that. We'd want maybe one building that looked like that. You get a decent impression of modern Asian architecture from the Asian buildings in Sim City 2000, if anyone has it (I do, somewhere...)

Daid, are you able to just zip up your entire site and give me a link to download it? Then I'll unzip it and post it on my server and you can take it down, no need to burn up your space, I've got plenty.

As far as PHP, what were you suggesting? I was thinking of having the table as static (I would update it regularly myself) and using this forum for communications. If somebody wanted to do one section, they would say so here, and I would make a note of it on the site shortly thereafter. I haven't used PHP myself, although some of my colleagues have. I'm open to suggestions. I'm not sure if that server does PHP, I know it does CGIs using Perl.

Petaja · Post by **Petaja** » 13 Feb 2003 08:08

Maybe we can replace the church with pagoda?

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