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Sandbox Adventure - Engine development - MAJOR UPDATE: INTERNATIONALISATION

Posted: Mon Mar 28, 2016 3:57 pm
by DrSchizo
:!: Since more and more games are being released, I'm going to post Sandbox Adventure's updates in two different thread: game releases and engine development (this post)

Sandbox Adventure is a new online visual novel engine. It is responsive and works on any device connected to internet (desktops, tablets and mobiles).
Most games made with Ren'Py can be easily converted to Sandbox Adventure (between half a day and two/three days of work).
Soon, all games made with Sandbox Adventure can be converted in Ren'Py in one-click. You will still have to make the GUI though!

You will find in this thread all the information updates regarding the engine and its new features.

Todo list:
  • Adding a small particles engine
  • Jump directely to one specific moment in the game from the editor (so you can check immediately how it looks in game)
  • One-click exportation to Ren'Py (there is no hurry since all game available have already a Ren'Py version)
Completed tasks:
  • Layered characters: Renpy's LiveComposite equivalent (read more).
  • Optional pay-what-you-want button (read more).
  • Content warning: a popup with a warning message when the game is rated (ex: The game contain some nudity. You must be over 18 to play it.)
  • Iframe integration: to display a game directely on any website
  • Kongregate integration
  • GameJolt integration
Some useful links:
Sandbox Adventure is a new engine still on active development. New features are added regulary. Don't hesitate to contact me if you think an important feature is missing.

Don't hesitate to make Honest Critique. Constructive feedbacks are always welcome, even negative ones!



Image

Re: Sandbox Adventure - Engine development

Posted: Mon Mar 28, 2016 8:49 pm
by DrSchizo
Layered characters [DONE]

A displayable character is separated in different nested elements:
  • sprites: the basic displayable with a complete set of elements.
  • layers: a sprite contains on or several layers. Ex: body, clothe, hair, face...
  • elements: for each layer, only one element can displayed at the same time. Eex: normal face, happy face, sad face...
Exemple for a werewolf that has a human form and a werewolf form:

Human [sprite]
-- body [layer]
---- base.png [element]
-- clothes [layer]
---- casual.png [element]
---- classy.png [element]
-- face [layer]
---- normal.png [element]
---- happy.png [element]
---- sad.png [element]

Werewolf [sprite]
-- body [layer]
---- base.png [element]
-- blood stains (optional) [layer]
---- stains.png [element]
-- mouth [layer]
---- normal.png [element]
---- happy.png [element]
---- sad.png [element]
-- eyes [layer]
---- normal.png [element]
---- happy.png [element]
---- sad.png [element]

How to use it:

Code: Select all

# display the character with the default elements
show e
# switch to werewolf form
show e werewolf
# show a sad face
show e face sad
# show a happy face with classy clothes
show e face happy, clothes classy
# shortcut: check all layers and change to sad if exists
show e sad
# shortcut: switch to werewolf form + check all layers and change to stains if exists + check all layers and change to happy if exists
show e werewolf stains, happy
# remove stains
show e stains none
Shortcuts

Take a new character with even more layers: body, hand, mouth, eyes, swet.
When the character is angry, his fist is closed, his eyebrows frowned, his mouth opened and he is swetting.
One solution would be to change all layers separately

Code: Select all

show e hand fist, mouth open, eyes frown, swet
But it would be really long and complicated! That's why I've added the possibility to define shortcuts. Ex:
  • happy: hand open, mouth smile, eyes normal, swet none
  • angry: hand fist, mouth open, eyebrows frown, swet
So, both instructions will be the same:

Code: Select all

# long way
show e hand fist, mouth open, eyes frown, swet
# short way
show e angry
Summary

The parameters of the show function are the following:

Code: Select all

show [character] [sprite] [shortcut]
show [character] [sprite] [layer] [element]
The character parameter is compulsary. All the other ones are optional.
If you write "show e sad", the script checks first if "sad" is the name of a sprite, a shortcut or a layer (in this order). If not, it check all layers and change to happy if exists
The system is therefore really versatile.

Don't hesitate to tell me if you think it could be improved.

Re: Sandbox Adventure - Engine development

Posted: Tue Mar 29, 2016 6:49 pm
by DrSchizo
Optional pay-what-you-want button [DONE]

I'm thinking about adding the possibility to display a donation panel at the beginning and the end of a game.

When you start a new game:
This game is free but the developer accepts your support by letting you pay what you think is fair for the game.
- Yes, open the donation page on a new tab
- No thanks, just take me to the game
When you finish the game:
We hope you enjoyed the game. It is free but the developer accepts your support by letting you pay what you think is fair for the game.
- Yes, open the donation page on a new tab
- No thanks, just take me to the main menu
- No thanks, show me other visual novels
At first (and I think for a long time), it will link to any donation system decided by the author. It could be the itch.io donation page for instance.
So Sandbox Adventure will not be involved in the paiement process.

Re: Sandbox Adventure - Engine development

Posted: Sat Apr 23, 2016 9:21 pm
by DrSchizo
Major update: character sprites can now be multi-layered, like explained here.

Re: Sandbox Adventure - Engine development

Posted: Fri Jun 10, 2016 9:49 pm
by Neeka
That's awesome!! I can't wait to be able to use it ^^ I think you included all the major features for a visual novel.

Re: Sandbox Adventure - Engine development

Posted: Fri Jul 08, 2016 11:12 pm
by DrSchizo
I've just finished converting a VN that includes a video, so I had to add this as a new feature.

From now, it is therefore possible to display videos in any game =)

Re: Sandbox Adventure - Engine development

Posted: Sun Jul 10, 2016 8:23 pm
by DrSchizo
A donation panel is now displayed when starting and finishing a game.

The money donated will be redistributed to the game authors.

Re: Sandbox Adventure - Engine development

Posted: Tue Sep 06, 2016 7:07 pm
by pinto minto
Really impressive stuff here! The fact that people don't have to download is a huge, huge plus. Thanks for making this!

Re: Sandbox Adventure - Engine development

Posted: Wed Sep 07, 2016 4:42 pm
by DrSchizo
Thanks a lot! It is indeed a really good thing. I know many people that don't play to VN because they are too afraid to download a software from an author they don't know.
More people can also try your VN, without having to download a large archive file ;)

Re: Sandbox Adventure - Engine development

Posted: Mon Sep 26, 2016 6:54 pm
by DrSchizo
A content warning panel can now be displayed at the beginning of a game.

It can be a simple warning message or include an age verification.

Re: Sandbox Adventure - Engine development

Posted: Sat Oct 08, 2016 11:19 am
by DrSchizo
Games on Kongregate

It is now possible to publish a game on Kongregate! :D

The first published visual novel is Colors by ppppantsu
If you have a Kongregate account, don't hesitate to rate the game or to talk about it ;)

Embed a game on any website

Moreover, it is now possible to easily embedded a game in any website. For instance, in order to embedded Hierofania 2 in your website, simply add the following code:

Code: Select all

<iframe width="800" height="600" src="http://sandbox-adventure.com/hierofania-2/iframe/" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen></iframe>
To embed another game, simply replace "hierofania-2" by the right folder.
Of course, you can modify the width and the height to match your website design.

There are two differences between the embedded version and the regular one: less links on the navigation bar + all external links are opened in a new window and not in the same, so only the game can be displayed in the iframe. If a visitor want to visit the author website or the engine home page, it will be opened in another tab and not inside the iframe.

Re: Sandbox Adventure - Engine development

Posted: Mon Oct 31, 2016 1:39 pm
by DrSchizo
Games can now be published on GameJolt =)

The first available game is Romance is Dead. Perfect for the scary season!

Re: Sandbox Adventure - Engine development

Posted: Mon Apr 24, 2017 1:26 pm
by DrSchizo
I've made few small updates on the game portal:

1/ Games can be sorted by category: http://sandbox-adventure.com/

2/ It is now possible to comments game with Disqus. I'm not sure about this, but nobody was using the old comment system so I hope this one will have more success. I hope this can draw as well some traffic to the games. The disqus comment can be reached on the game file (exemple here) or through the feedback menu on the game home page (exemple here).

Re: Sandbox Adventure - Engine development

Posted: Wed Aug 29, 2018 1:23 am
by Formedras
Is Sandbox Adventure dead? I'm getting an HTTP 500 error that apparently didn't occur a few months ago. (At least, the Archive.org's Wayback Machine had an archive.)

If not, will there ever be a standalone version that doesn't require the Sandbox Adventure website? (For example, publishing to one's own website or likely-compatible, but unsupported sites like itch.io.)

Re: Sandbox Adventure - Engine development

Posted: Wed Aug 29, 2018 1:53 pm
by DrSchizo
Of course, the server crashed while I was away on holidays =/
The problem is solved and the website works now properly.
Thank you a lot for warning me about this!!!!

I would love to make a standalone version, but that would need a lot of work and without the help of other developer, I don't think a will have a time for this in the future. But the program could be definitely installed on another server if needed.