Animated Menu Background

[Solstice]

I want my game (this is totally for hobbyist purposes. X) to have a scrolling background with a montage of various places within my game, somewhat like a world map of the places players are most likely to frequent, such as towns or temples etc.. I was also thinking about maybe having a swaying tree with a person sleeping beneath it or some other animated object..

My point is: How exactly would it be done? Do I need to make the image and then just make it scroll in the source? How would I keep it constrained into the menu so it doesn't cover the entire screen and scroll? What are the size limits to such an animated image? I was trying to find a tutorial to create an animated menu but couldn't find one, so I've come to ask on behalf of newbs everywhere.  :P

[Ruins of Hell]

I think this is what you mean:

One way would to be to have a timer set up, so after that time was up the picture would change.

Pseudo-code (won't work):
```
' You would call this once the time switches.
Sub SwitchImages(ByVal CurImage As Byte)
    Dim NUM_IMAGES As Byte
    If CurImage > NUM_IMAGES Then
        CurImage = 1
    Else
        CurImage = CurImage + 1
    End If
    ' Probably better ways to do the below, but let's keep it simple.
    frmMain.picMont.Picture = LoadPicture(App.Path & "\data files\graphics\main\montage\" & CurImage & ".jpg" ' Replace .jpg with extension.
End Sub

```

[Solstice]

Nice bit of quick code there soul, I honestly wasn't expecting an answer so quickly. Thanks man.  :cheesy:

[shadowwulf]

will the image get triggered to load though?
i thought it only loaded on startup.

[Solstice]

Well if it only loads on start up that's just fine. Also while I'm here can I also ask another question - How would I go about making an Introduction that tells a story? Would it be yet more animation except in a specialised window?

[shadowwulf]

that is difficult as EO doesnt support having a flash animation to play.
One thread in the tutorials section suggests making a set of maps with a black fring section that is above the player.
Make a tileset that is basically the map(or screen) picture.
If the player walks right or left they go through the maps(screens).

I myself will just put a story button in main menu and scroll the story up.

[Ruins of Hell]

@Shadowwulf:

> that is difficult as EO doesnt support having a flash animation to play.
> One thread in the tutorials section suggests making a set of maps with a black fring section that is above the player.
> Make a tileset that is basically the map(or screen) picture.
> If the player walks right or left they go through the maps(screens).
>
> I myself will just put a story button in main menu and scroll the story up.

Neither did Evolution or Stable. Both just used the flash control and made a form popup.

[Bloo]

@Shadowwulf:

> that is difficult as EO doesnt support having a flash animation to play.
> One thread in the tutorials section suggests making a set of maps with a black fring section that is above the player.
> Make a tileset that is basically the map(or screen) picture.
> If the player walks right or left they go through the maps(screens).
>
> I thought that one guy made a Eclipse Custom version that supported flash. I saw it the other day.
>
> I myself will just put a story button in main menu and scroll the story up.

[Bloo]

Ooops, My bad I put my answer inside the quote. Here is what I said if you didn't see.

"I thought that one guy made a Eclipse Custom version that supported flash. I saw it the other day"

[ToshiroHayate]

You could make a "Intro" map or something that only new chars spawn to, make the chars invisible, and show sprites or something as text or whatever. That may be more of a pain than anything though. Just a suggestion. I'd prefer Shadowwulf's idea though.