More Survival Tools + Modded MShock Tileset [Merged]

[Random_dragon]

There is an Mshock tileset thread, but it’s been buried in the depths of the forum for a while due to MShock not being very active these days. ^^;

[egomassive]

This stuff all replaces ASCII in the tileset.

t_machinery_light, t_machinery_heavy, t_machinery_old, t_conveyor, t_covered_well.
Below is the code for the 3 conveyor pieces I thought were needed. The numbers may not work out for you, but it shows how I intended the pieces to be used. Except for corners and T-joints, the straight piece should be used.

{ "id": "t_conveyor", "fg": 3052, "bg": 534, "rotates": false, "multitile": true, "additional_tiles": [ { "id": "corner", "fg": 3053 }, { "id": "edge", "fg": 3052 }, { "id": "end_piece", "fg": 3052 }, { "id": "t_connection", "fg": 3054 } ] }

[Random_dragon]

Meep. Ah, should get on that soon.

Now, that reminds me…that image with the yellow radio. What all are those replacing? o.o

[egomassive]

Now, that reminds me…that image with the yellow radio. What all are those replacing? o.o

That was the first sample I ever made. I just re-posted it as an example of how tileset curators, like yourself, are at liberty to refuse my contributions. At the time I was using Coleen’s set and hadn’t found MShock’s branch yet. Although many of the sprites were added to his official set, he already had sprites for a few of them. He did replace the rags he had with mine though. The ones that didn’t make the cut were pool ball, hair pin, automatic teller machine, black box, water purification tablets, and radio. I prefer some of mine to the sprites in this version, but since MShock’s name is on it maybe you shouldn’t overrule his decisions. shrugs

[Random_dragon]

Ah, I see. ^^"

In any case, thank you.

[BeerBeer]

Oh jeez. I just noticed my primitive trunk graphics made it into the build. Looks worse in the game than I expected, IMO. Not necessarily worse than the original, just different kind of bad. Maybe the outlines are too bright? Maybe the trunk graphics should be the same as the aisle graphics, just an identical dark square? You could then still tell that there are items by the two yellow dots but basically you wouldn’t know there was a floor trunk in another car unless you’d actually examine the vehicle.

…Secret compartments?

We need an artist here

[Random_dragon]

Meep. Both looked okay to me, but not sure what the best alternative would be. Making it look hidden might be a tad rage-inducing though. XP

[egomassive]

Before I make chipped and broken versions, I thought I’d see if you like these wooden walls.

[Random_dragon]

Hmm. Looks interesting. I would at least hope that the 32x32 half-built walls looks better after I retweaked it, but oh well. o3o

[egomassive]

You tweaked the half-built wooden wall!? Sorry, but I didn’t notice. … Maybe I’m looking at the wrong tile. It looks the same to me. Anyway, I only ever look at the 32x32 set, so it’s possible that these low-detail tiles don’t look as out of place in other scales. A lot of your sprites fit in quite well with the general look of the tileset. Your wood halfboard sprites influenced the design of my covered well (that was you right?) Keep up the good work.

[Random_dragon]

You tweaked the half-built wooden wall!? Sorry, but I didn’t notice. … Maybe I’m looking at the wrong tile. It looks the same to me. Anyway, I only ever look at the 32x32 set, so it’s possible that these low-detail tiles don’t look as out of place in other scales. A lot of your sprites fit in quite well with the general look of the tileset. Your wood halfboard sprites influenced the design of my covered well (that was you right?) Keep up the good work.

Ah, thanks. I did tweak the 32x32 version. At least I think it was the half-built one. The only change was how low-res it was, just scaling up the 24x24 version gave one that looked slightly more detailed.

[BeerBeer]

A question for local pixelsmiths:
Is it easier to A) draw up an item image from scratch or B) to grab an image via Google’s image search, then squeeze it down to 32x32 pixels and deal with the item’s background?

[Random_dragon]

Not sure. I tend to pick option C, sprite editing. ;w;

[egomassive]

[quote=“BeerBeer, post:132, topic:9198”]A question for local pixelsmiths:
Is it easier to A) draw up an item image from scratch or B) to grab an image via Google’s image search, then squeeze it down to 32x32 pixels and deal with the item’s background?[/quote]
The danger of converting a photo into a sprite is that you end up with something that looks like a photo converted into a sprite. There are quite a few such sprites in this set and they don’t fit with the overall look. Depending on the item I’m trying to draw I have many approaches. Sometimes I’ll draw straight from my mind’s eye. Sometimes I use an existing sprite as a reference. Sometimes I convert an existing sprite. Sometimes I use one or more photos as reference. Sometimes I scale those reference photos down to the size I want, but still only use them for reference. Each object is it’s own challenge, and how you approach it will depend on your personal skills and experience.

I caution you against violating the copyright of any photo you use. A simply scaled and cutout photo doesn’t constitute a new work in my opinion. At the very least you should clean it up a bit, darken the border, that sort of thing. Also, if you convert an existing sprite try to avoid basing it on one of Waldo’s. He wants his work removed and the high-up devs are inclined to see that it eventually is.

[Random_dragon]

Hmm. I didn’t know that the devs actually said that. I thought Kevin at least outright pointed out that the licensing means you technically can’t, plus it would be rather impractical to implement. :V

[egomassive]

I was referring to what I’ve highlighted here.

[quote=“KA101, post:113, topic:7270”][quote=“egomassive, post:112, topic:7270”]I like the standard characters. I would like to see a few more choices for race, but that would require programmers to be on board with the idea. Clothing changes would be neat, but the idea of spriting them is overwhelming.

@KA101: I want the tileset to have cohesion. That’s why I’m so interested in what the art direction for this set is. I’ve been considering Waldo’s work to be the key examples of what this set should look like. Maybe I’m wrong, but I thought “Share Alike” meant that derivative works must be shared under the same license which implies that derivative works are acceptable. If you think our work needs to be distinct enough from his that they wont get mixed up then how can we handle a situation like this…
[/quote]

I’d be pleased with more ethnicity/race options. Option would be nontrivial for me to code but I’d fast-track it for merge.

Derivative works are acceptable, yes. Problem is that attribution needs preserved, and Waldo asked that we work his stuff out as he claimed he didn’t realize derivative work was acceptable. He doesn’t want his stuff used in other sets or as a template, IIRC. To be clear: he doesn’t have the right to insist on that, which is why his stuff is still present.

To that end, sure, you can emulate his work where it’s needed for consistency, but I’d not get hung up on maintaining it as a standard. [glow=red,2,300]He’s gone, and ultimately I’d like to be able to drop him from the credit line: if he’s not participating, doesn’t want to be involved, and wants his work removed, I see no reason to make an effort to keep him.[/glow]

In order to do that, we’d need to replace all his work though, and make sure nobody thinks we’re using it. Hence, the style check.[/quote]
I went overboard saying devs in plural. KA101 is the only one I know of who has shown such a sentiment. I think it’s a good point. Certainly it was released under the CC license, so we aren’t obligated to remove any of Waldo’s work. I like to champion the issue, but it’s your tileset branch Random_dragon.

[Random_dragon]

Hmm. I see. Though KA101 kinda left too, so all I had to go on was Kevin’s objection to that. And…hmm. I’m not sure then. I’ll maintain my stance that I have no problem replacing the old sprites when better alternatives are provided, as you’ve been a big help with that. XP

[egomassive]

Sounds good. I don’t know about all that fall out stuff. I wasn’t around. I just do my thing and try not to get too involved. I’ve got other projects I’m committed to.

[BeerBeer]

Cheap, quick and dirty versions of inactive turrets (turns out there are TWO models used for turrets). Can these even be used? Inactive turrets have so far been presented as lime semi-colon, and I didn’t see one in the tileset. Anyway, I just keeled them over and “turned off” the light. Not sure how these would look in the game. Pls test.

I thought about just “turning off the light” without rotating the turret but then thought it might not be obvious enough, but then again that just might make it fun… >:D

Another idea might be to turn off the light and lower the barrels to a 30-45 degree downward angle to signify the unpowered state.

[Random_dragon]

Meep. I should see whether to use those, yus. o3o