Frictional Games Forum (read-only)

Heya, sadly no time yet to try it out and post an example (Also 64-bit and DDS tools hate each other.), but I had an idea for the main menu.

The main menu itself is also a map I noticed, and can be edited (Always back it up.) So was thinking about placing an extra light with a Gobo. And to use a Gobo that projects a silhouette of a Grunt or Brute, the texture for this I hope to make myself soon.

Also, but I do not know how to script that yet and it would perhaps require to mod the main menu map a lot IF one wants the monster to come from or go to the stairs through the opening. It would perhaps be cool if a monster randomly patrolled through, perhaps walking so that he can't be seen too well as to not spoil it too much for those who may download this alternative menu and not have played the game yet.

Anyway, what do you guys think of this small and simple idea?

Edit: Seem nVidia finally made a 64-bit compatible DDS plugin!! :o

I think it's a pretty interesting idea, but maybe only once you get farther into the game or complete it. I think the unknown plays a large part of the fear in game and you wouldn't want to give anything away, even if subtle. Perhaps if this idea came to fruition, it could be very very subtle, almost on the level of being an easter egg. That might be pretty cool.

Alright, that got me thinking, and was able to make the Gobo texture, how about if the shadow was only temporarely cast? (i.e. Thunderstorm?)

Sadly, the menu doesn't load script files -> no patroulling grunts

Oh, that's a bummer. Guess only adding lights will work then. Think animated Gobo's would work then?

Well i just had to go and try doing this. Didn't go to the trouble of doing anything sophisticated (read: hacked it together), but did manage to make an appearing and disappearing grunt silhouette, giving the illusion it has moved. link. Sounds like a neat idea though, if you can get some more complex stuff going on it'd be nice to see it.

could you upload a video/picture of it? It sounds pretty dang cool, But I like to see things before I get them.

(04-03-2011, 02:49 AM)XxRoCkBaNdMaNxX Wrote: [ -> ]could you upload a video/picture of it? It sounds pretty dang cool, But I like to see things before I get them.

I agree.

Pictures
The thunder occurs every 50 seconds (approx). The monster will only appear on every second thunder & lightning. Using the approach I did you could change that to whatever though (note the thunder sound is controlled by a box light under the grunt as it was the only way I could think of to hack in a delay but keep it in sync (at least within a 30 minute time-frame)).
Probably could have picked a better gobo, but well, that is trivial to change - this was just to see if I could do the effect without any new files other than the map.

I actually made a custom Gobo with the Brute's shadow if you'd like to use it.