CaTaHaC's Blog

GM Projects: SEA v0.7a Video

2009-02-09T05:35:00.000-08:00

Here's a quick video of my little app SEA v0.7a:

GM Projects: GameScore v0.6a

2009-02-07T09:12:00.001-08:00

Info:

This little utility lets you create simple game review statistics. You can export them into .bmp files so you can later post them wherever you want. Each statistic can have a value from 1 to 10. All statistics are color-coded according to their value from Red, throught Yellow to Green.

Filetype: .zip

Size: 1.3 MB

Date Added: 07.02.2009

Download: YoYoGames Download Page

• How to use •
[Left/Right Mouse Click] - Click on one of the 6 circles beside the stat names to add/subtract to/from the corresponding stat or click on the sidebar to add/subtract 5% to/from the overall score.[S] - Save as transparent .png (Either 100% or 50% of original size). Opens the directory (where GameScore is located) where the files are saved in Windows Explorer.
• Changelog •
v0.5a ---> v0.6a
= Images are now saved as transparent .png files with considerable size reduction. (Thanks to petersvp's png.dll)
= Overall bar can now be manually adjusted by left/right clicking on it. To return it to it's avarage value just click on one of the add/subtract circles. Also the overall value is visible as a percent.
= Images are now saved as *GameScoreGraphX.png* where X represents a number. Files are never overwritten.

GM Code: Enemy Healthbars

2009-01-23T10:00:00.000-08:00

This code will show a healthbar above the enemy.

Create Event:

life=80;

life_max=100;

Draw Event:

draw_set_color(c_black);
draw_rectangle(x-25,y-30,x+25,y-20,0);
if (life>0) {
draw_set_color(c_green);
draw_rectangle(x-25,y-30,x-25+50*(life/life_max),y-20,0);
}

GM Code: Moving according to the mouse

2009-01-23T09:55:00.000-08:00

This code willmake the player move according to the mouse orientation (WASD).

Create Event:

move_speed=5;

Step Event:

image_angle=point_direction(x,y,mouse_x,mouse_y);

Keyboard: A Event:

x+=lengthdir_x(move_speed,image_angle+90);
y+=lengthdir_y(move_speed,image_angle+90);

Keyboard: D Event:

x+=lengthdir_x(move_speed,image_angle-90);
y+=lengthdir_y(move_speed,image_angle-90);

Keyboard: S Event:

x+=lengthdir_x(-move_speed,image_angle);
y+=lengthdir_y(-move_speed,image_angle);

Keyboard: W Event:

if (point_distance(x,y,mouse_x,mouse_y)>32) {
x+=lengthdir_x(move_speed,image_angle);
y+=lengthdir_y(move_speed,image_angle);
}

GM Code: Dragging an Object

2009-01-23T09:53:00.000-08:00

This code will allow the user to drag the object with his/her mouse. This is just a basic way to do it but does the job pretty well.

Create Event:

drag=0;
drag_xoff=0;
drag_yoff=0;

End Step Event:

if (drag=1) {
x=mouse_x-drag_xoff;
y=mouse_y-drag_yoff;
}

Left Pressed Event:

drag=1;
drag_xoff=mouse_x-x;
drag_yoff=mouse_y-y;

Global Left Released Event:

drag=0;

A New Start

2009-01-23T09:45:00.000-08:00

I abandoned this blog 2 months ago because my computer was infected by a virus which my current anti-virus software was unable to remove so I ended up formatting my PC so I lost all of my projects and other stuff. That fact made me quit quite a lot of things because just the notion of all the things I have made are lost forever made me quit everything I used to do at that time. With that behind my back I am ready to give this blog another chance. I'll be focusing on my own creation mostly but there will be occasional news about other stuff so I hope I will get you to check this blog from time to time :]

GM Projects: SEA v0.7a

2009-01-23T09:33:00.000-08:00

Info:

This is a little tool which helps you create pictures out of Skype's emoticons. Current version is v0.7a.

Filetype: .zip

Size: 1.9 MB

Date Added: 15.01.2008

Download: YoYoGames Download Page

(YoYoGames is a site that let's you upload GM games/apps for free)

Features:

• Saves/Opens .txt files

• Automatically copies the output in your clipboard so you can just paste it in Skype and opens the saved file in Notepad

• Supports sizes from 1x1 to 33x27

• Easy resizing, offsetting, choosing and placing emoticons

• Clean, fast and easy GUI that doesn't get in the way

• Uses 165 emoticons (all emoticons + 78 flags)

How to use:

• [Mouse Left/Right Button] - Draw emoticons.

• [Ctrl+Mouse Left/Right Button] - Works like an eyedropper tool - the clicked emoticon is set to your mouse button.
• [Ctrl+N] - New canvas.
• [Ctrl+O] - Open .txt file.
• [Ctrl+S] - Save .txt file. The output will automatically be copied to your clipboard and will also be opened in notepad.
• [Ctrl+F] - Fill the whole canvas with the primary selected emoticon.
• [Arrow Keys] - Offset/Shift emoticons.
• [Mouse Wheel Up/Down] - Change the primary selected emoticon.
• Window captions shows the current mouse position in the emoticon grid.
• Canvas width and height are displayed at the bottom right corner of the emoticon slots.
• Resize the canvas by dragging the red/green arrows at the bottom right corner of the emoticon slots.

Changelog:
v0.6 ---> v0.7
= New Graphical User Interface (GUI).
= Errors are now automatically saved in game_errors.log file.
= Eyedropper functionality key has been changed from Alt+Click to Ctrl+Click.
= Greatly imrpoved .txt file readability and file error/corruption detection.
= Revised a major part of the program code and removed unused/old images to lower file size (lowered by more than 30%).
= User can now resize the canvas by dragging the red/green arrows at the bottom right corner of the emoticon slots.
= User can now offset/shift emoticons with the arrow keys.
= Emoticons are not centered according to the workspace anymore.
= Canvas width and height are now displayed at the bottom right corner of the emoticon slots.
= Added the (myspace) emoticon.
= Added 78 flag emoticons.
= Window caption now shows "Performance: X%". If it continuously stays bellow 100% then either there is a problem with the application or your computer is busy with other heavy applications. This is just for debugging and detecting performance issues - it will be removed in the final version.

GM Examples: Light/Dark

2008-11-18T12:58:00.000-08:00

Info:
This example shows how to create a simple light/dark (day/night) effect.
Size: 280 KB
Date Added: 18.11.2008
Download: Link

GM Projects: SEA v0.6

2008-11-15T09:04:00.001-08:00

Info:

This is a little tool which helps you create pictures out of Skype's emoticons. Current version is v0.6.

Filetype: .zip

Size: 1.0 MB

Date Added: 15.11.2008

Download: Link

Features:

• Saves/Opens .txt files

• Automatically opens the saved file in Notepad so you can easily copy it into your Skype chat

• Supports sizes from 1x1 to 35x35

• Clean, fast GUI that doesn't get in the way

• Uses 86 emoticons (more coming in the next version)

How to use:

• Mouse Scroll Up/Down - Show/Hide sidebar

• Mouse Left/Right Button - Draw emoticons

• Alt+Mouse Left/Right Button - Works like an eyedropper tool - the clicked emoticon is set to your mouse button

• Space - Show/Hide Menu

• Ctrl+N - New canvas

• Ctrl+O - Open .txt file

• Ctrl+S - Save .txt file. The output will automatically be opened in notepad and will be copied into the clipboard

• Ctrl+F - Fill the whole canvas with the primary selected emoticon

GM Project: Pandemonium Castle Defence

2008-11-10T08:53:00.000-08:00

Info:
This is an isometric tower defence game inspired by various Warcraft III maps. The current version is v.0.3h with map editor v.0.1b.
Filetype: .zip
Size: 4.6MB
Date Added: 10.10.2008
Download: Link

GM Example: Healthbars

2008-11-10T08:49:00.000-08:00

Info:
This example shows how to add numerous healthbars with many options.
Size: 8KB
Date Added: 10.11.2008
Download: Link

GM Example: Shatter Effect

2008-11-10T08:47:00.000-08:00

Info:
This example shows how to shatter an image into little square pieces.
Size: 8KB
Date Added: 10.11.2008
Download: Link

GM Example: "Deal or No Deal"

2008-11-10T08:42:00.000-08:00

Info:
This example shows how to imitate the 22 boxes with random sums from the famous TV show "Deal or No Deal".
Size: 8KB
Date Added: 10.11.2008
Download: Link

GM Example: Stats Graph

2008-11-10T08:39:00.000-08:00

Info:
This example shows how to add a stats graph for your RPG.
Size: 8KB
Date Added: 10.11.2008
Download: Link

GM Example: Credits

2008-11-10T08:38:00.001-08:00

Info:
This example shows how to add a fading credits screen.
Size: 8KB
Date Added: 10.11.2008
Download: Link

GM Example: Target Restrain

2008-11-10T08:31:00.000-08:00

Info:
This example shows how to restrain the pointer to a given maximum distance.
Size: 8KB
Date Added: 10.11.2008
Download: Link

GM Example: Countdown

2008-11-10T08:15:00.000-08:00

Info:
This example shows how to add a countdown to your GM project.
Size: 8KB
Date Added: 10.11.2008
Download: Link

The Prologue.

2008-11-08T01:21:00.000-08:00

This is the start of CaTaHaC's Blog and I hope that it will last more than a week or two :]

The Reason:
The last few days I was browsing the web for new PCs' prices because currently I'm stuck with my *box* which can't properly run anything published after the year of 2002.
Specs:
• 2.8Ghz Celeron
• 1GB of DDR @ 333Mhz
• nVidia FX5500 with 128MB
• Some cheap crappy Motherboard
• Other cheap crappy stuff
The biggest obstacles in buying a new PC are the high prices of PC components in Bulgaria (where I live), the fact that I'm in University (costing a little fortune) which is not in my hometown resulting in paying a rent, occasional transport to home, another internet bill etc.
So the real reason is that I was searching a way to get extra cash so I can buy a new PC on which not only games run properly but development software as well - tired of Photoshop loading 10 minutes (not to mention that CS3 doesn't even want to install on my PC o.O), Game and Software related building and compiling takes at least 2 minutes every run etc. I've tried (and I'm still trying) to get a part time job, tried tons of Pay-per-Click services that don't pay and I've come to this - creating a site/blog that gets visited. Don't misunderstand me - I really don't expect getting rich or something like that - this is basically what's left on the bottom of Pandora's box - Hope :] ...
and AdSense ^_^ - so please help me and do some Clicky-Clicky :)

So what will this blog be about:
Simple - everything that I am interested in (duh!) and, hopefully, what you are interested in as well. So here's a *short* list of probable topics:
Games, Game creation, Game Maker by Mark Overmars, The Bulgarian GM Community, Blizzard Entertainment, Warcraft III, DotA, Garena, Diablo III, Starcraft II, Team Fortress 2, Tons of MMORPGs and MMOs (mostly those which are free for obvious reasons), Music, Photos, Stupidity, Game Info, pre- and reviews, ZeroPunctuation, Newgrounds.com, Anime and everything I come up with ^_^

Thank you for reading and I hope you enjoy visiting my simple blog :]
Have a nice Day :]