The Dink Network

While I don't have the power to announce official DN contests, I do have the power to announce official Windemere contests:

The goal: Design a new user interface (UI or HUD) that will be integrated in the new engine. Completed interfaces with graphics are always nice, but if you don't have those (just the idea and design), I'm sure Ric would be happy to make them.

Requirements:
1) Must not be identical to the old interface. That was kinda icky.
2) Must contain at least some form (any) of the following:
* Life value indicator
* Experience indicator
* Current Level indicator
* Atk/Def/Mag value indicators
* Current Weapon/Spell display
3) Extra indicators may be added.
4) Do not feel constrained that the any of the above widgets must be in the same form as they are currently (e.g. the life indicator a bar). They do not.
5) Any part of the screen may be used, providing that it does not interfere with other gameplay elements (Don't put something right in the center of the screen).

Mail entries to aerea@users.sourceforge.net. The winning entry will be used with the person's name in the credits.

DEADLINE: 7 MAY, 23:59 GMT. (Weird day, yes)

NEW DEADLINE: 14 MAY, 23:59 GMT

How about... you make them scriptable, so to speak. Anything hardcoded whatsoever, sucks, in my opinion. There should be a default of course, but dang thee if you don't make it configurable.

Yeah, make the engine skinable and include as many of the good skins you'll receive

Phoenix: I thought I already announced that some time ago? The interface is scriptable and configurable via DinkC++ scripts.

It is no problem making a variety of ability names and images to include with the basic graphics. Eg; attack, def, magic, thief, esp, ect... The mod maker will just need to decide which ones he wants. The challenge may be in how many abilities you want on the status bar before it looks cluttered.
And if you want to complicate the interface with an additional page for abilities.
Good contest idea Merlin. Hmmmm...
BTW, the new engine will have higher resolution. Remember if the new interface wraps all around the screen it may take away the ability to change res. for mods designed for other resolutions. I suppose 800*600 might be safe. But it is a consideration.

It's being designed in 640x480. If a user chooses a higher resolution, the objects are placed relatively to 640x480.

Also, it doesn't have to be a bar at all. You may put stuff in the two top corners for example.

Oh.
Will the bars and stuff be sprites (like in dink)?
If so, it could be resize and moved on the fly. I also thought of interior rooms being in lower res. for a 'zoom in' effect.
All just ideas. Lets see what people come up with.

Bump.

stfu n00b

edit: i really wish i was better at this internet insult crap

If you are going to bump a post, do it wil some quality stuff in it to reply to. Else it is back the the original point to why no one replyed to it, they had nothing to post about

If someone does have and idea but want it rendered with Blender, just email me (or mabey SimonK) with the layout specs and mabey a picture image that you want it covered with. (Yes, blender can texture with images, and even bumpmap to the texture.)

You don't really have any authority here anymore, but, you do raise a good point.

*nod*

WC doused his flames, didn't you notice

Now he'll become the village wise one who gives out weirdass proverbs to children on the street

Merlin, will the engine be able to use mouse control to push buttons on the screen to open inventory and things like that?

i believe that i can answer that question for you...yes, that will be able to be implemented in some form or fashion. not sure about first release though

Both of them, yes, and on the first release.

How about a spell charge-up indicater, you'll need that too, right?

Any way you want to make it.

the deadline was yesterday? Well, I'm back from Florida

Alright, it seems that I have not received any entries. Due to this, the release of Windemere will be delayed one month (guesstimating that that is the time until I get motivated again). The more someone else does, the less I have to do and the faster progress goes, but it's apparent that I have to do most everything (excluding graphics). The status page will not be updated to reflect this change anytime soon. I will extend the deadline to 14 MAY 23:59 GMT and see if I get any submissions. I hope I do, but most likely I will be greatly disappointed.

aww, here's a cookie.

+says in "the ring" style telephone voice+
two days...

I have a bunch of graphics done, but it would be good to see a bunch of entries to choose from. Cmon guys, make some stuff!

i'm in the process of creating a basic interface. nothing too big, but something impressive i guess

i'll remind everyone that the contest ends tomorrow (or today in some countries), and that, in the case that no one submits any entries, merlin will purposely devote his life to other things than the project for about a month, delaying the release of Windemere by God-knows-how-long.

Contest is over. No entries.

Well, I must say, thanks for the extra time everyone.

Why is this thread still sticky, if the contest is over?

BTW, first time I see a sticky thread in the DN boards. Has there been others?

There haven't been way too many, but, yes, when something important comes up, it becomes sticky.

I certainly hope you weren't really expecting many entries. I mean, I have a hell of a time trying to eck 3 D-Mods out of this community for a contest with a real tangible prize, and when we had a sticker contest quite a while ago (simply e-mail me what you would do with a Dink Network Sticker if you won it), we only got like 5 or 6 entries over a month.

There were a few flaws in the contest itself...

1) Your first rule, "Must not be identical to the old interface. That was kinda icky." just started things off completely wrong. People have been staring at the old interface for many a day, and it is ingrained in many a monitor. To say its 'icky' is simply insulting.

2) The Dink Network has few, if any, people who have any motivation to create an interface. Of all of the D-Mods ever released, only a very few have even tried to create a new interface based on the old one, a relatively simple task when compared to creating a wholey new one.

3) Lack of requirements. Were we just supposed to supply a written description of the interface? Were we supposed to simply create all of the background, item, number, etc. graphics and zip them up and send them to you without really telling you where everything went? Or were we supposed to open up VB.net, create a 640x480 Windows Form, and put drop down boxes all over the place as a template for an interface design? And how are we supposed to know what is supported? What if I want a life indicator being several hearts on the bottom of the screen, ala Zelda. Nothing in your contest description says that is possible, or would be supported, and because everyone is lazy around here they really wouldn't be too motivated to ask.

Conclusion: in the future, try to gauge a response to a contest before announcing it. Post a message saying something like "Yo, is anyone interested in creating an interface for Windemere?". If you get no serious replies, a contest probably isn't a good idea. If someone can't even take the time to reply to a message, chances are they aren't going to spend time creating an interface.

Edit: Also, trying to make an interface when you can't really see it in use is frustrating and demoralizing. Maybe start the contest up again when some version of Windemere is released and the scripting support for the interface is in it, then we can actually see what can be implemented and try things out, see what works and see what doesn't.

I think they call that the Redink Smackdown.

On a lighter note, I would gladly use my stickers to cover my crotch (how many would I be supplied with? And what shape?) while dancing naked around a burning effigy of Seth.

So, if those stickers are in the post, I'll be sure to tell you how quickly I get arrested/committed.

i wanna cast... magic missle!

do i have to know c\c++ to join in this contest?

No, but uh, you should read the rules first... which contain the contest deadline... which you clearly missed.

did he?

ok then

I wasn't trying to do a 'smackdown', just trying to point out why there were no entrants and what to do in the future if he wants another similar contest.

I know, I'm just messing.