PlaneShift
Gameplay => General Discussion => Topic started by: Xanacru on June 25, 2007, 02:40:31 am
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With the .019 being near, perhaps you (PS developers) can take that opportunity to finally update the dreaded and flimsy default PlaneShift icon that's been dragged along for too many years.
This is a .zip file with Windows, Mac and Linux versions of the updated main PS icon, as well as an additional updated "ps-gem.ico" version (the original used no dithering for lower bit depth):
http://www.filefactory.com/file/c3df95/ [icons.zip]
(http://img144.imageshack.us/img144/6568/psiconob4.png)<--- How it was always meant to look
All versions correspond to the correct Windows, Mac and Linux icon specs.
No major work is needed, except putting the proper versions (Windows, Mac or Linux) into "support/icons" for the next compilation. The "favicon" on the main website should also be updated (at this location http://www.planeshift.it/psicon.ico)
Many players have asked for it before, and some developers too (DaveG) in the past. I made this easy for you, so there is no reason not to include it at some point (after fixing all the critical fea... bugs) for the new release.
"General Discussion" seemed like the best forum for this, since it isn't a "Fan Art" or a "Wish" but a technical fix/solution that requires virtually no effort from you to implement.
And that's all, folks. ;)
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I haven't looked at your icon yet, mostly because it would require me downloading it through filefactory which, it appears, you have to download. Anyways I agree with you one hundred percent though, since this 0.019 update seems to be taking so long, it must mean there are a lot of new things to be updated, so why not update the old fashioned icon. Good idea.
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I vote yes!
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Dahoma,
You don't have to download anything. Their downloader is optional. Click the link below it that says "Download for free with FileFactory basic". That is a direct download like any regular file. :)
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I like! I'll see about getting these included ASAP. Good work :)
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Hey, thanks and you're welcome! :)
I don't want to take too much credit for it, as the original icon art was made by PS developers in the first place. At some point, the main icon was converted without dithering to a low bit depth version that is being used now, possibly for some sort of compatibility reasons. However, the icon spec itself is generally backwards compatible and includes alternative bit depths and resolutions within the same file, so this should work correctly.
Now, if you guys still had a higher resolution version of that icon art, it would be possible to make a Windows Vista's new 256x256 (PNG compressed) icon version that is crispy clear, reasonable in size and is still Windows XP compatible, since it would include 48x48, 32x32, and 16x16 versions within it, as icon spec calls for. Of course, Mac has an equivalent and Linux would simply use a 256x256 native .PNG.
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For those who would rather a direct link:
http://vaalnor.mine.nu/Downloads/icons.zip (http://vaalnor.mine.nu/Downloads/icons.zip)
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I wouldn't be against designing a completely new icon, although still following the appearance of this old one somewhat. If you're looking for some high-res source art for possible use:
(http://img444.imageshack.us/img444/8981/planeshiftlogozq0.png)
(http://img150.imageshack.us/img150/7430/planeshiftlogowoodna5.png)
(http://img365.imageshack.us/img365/6842/gemlogolm8.png)
(http://img144.imageshack.us/img144/3154/crystalqx4.png)
* Property of Atomic Blue, yadda yadda.. ;)
The main font is Scurlock, and you can play with Photoshop layer effects to get it looking that beveled gold :)
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Done :) Will be used for the next linux version for sure.
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Thanks everyone for responses so far. :)
While we're at it, what do you guys think about implementing the "Black UI" I posted a while ago as an alternative in the new release as well? It mostly uses the art bits that already belong to Atomic Blue and PlaneShift development team, so there shouldn't be any copyright issues with you implementing it. That is also why I didn't bother typing my alias into the credits. This is the post where I first introduced it:
http://hydlaa.com/smf/index.php?topic=28291.0
Now that I've mentioned the "Black UI", I've also wanted to address a certain issue with some of the in-game icons. Some of the possibly newer items and icons are saved with a black background, so they clash with the rest of the icons. Here is an example with the "Lightning" glyph not using a transparent background like the rest:
(http://img413.imageshack.us/img413/6303/glyphsfv5.png)
And when you look at my "Black UI" thread, you'll notice that the "map" item in the inventory is also using a black background. Whomever has contributed those icons should probably be made aware to save them with a proper transparency.
Karyuu, I agree that a completely new high-res icon would be good. I like your last gem icon. I'll play around with it, as the time allows but can't promise anything, of course. Others should try making a new icon as well, so we can pick the best one for the future releases. :)
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I've already fixed the lightning glyph, I believe. If you could post the name of the other icons that have a black background, I can get to fixing them ASAP as well.
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Well, I only play casually, so I probably haven't come across majority of item icons yet. Other than the "maps", which I already mentioned, everything else seems ok so far. Perhaps someone else has seen other icons with a similar problem and can post here.
EDIT: Wait, I think the new "book" icons at Jayose library have the same problem. I'll double-check.
Yep, here they are:
(http://img47.imageshack.us/img47/6711/booksgk5.png)
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Wil someone take it as offence if i say the books are terribbly done and don't match the style of PS?
Really no idea who made them, but could they be remade. Like make a texture for the already existing mesh and take a screenie of that, cast shadow and done?
Maybe i could even try if i were told what are these books exactly.
I made a Pile of Dust lately, but i got no comment about it. So knowing life, I suppose it wont go in game, whats a bit depressing on the subject, hmm
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Nikodemus, we already have a "pile of dust" item - it just wasn't in the client yet.
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While we're at refreshing things, I have another suggestion that many of you might like. It sounds simple but it gives the game a whole new feel and I would even recommend making it default for the new release.
Do the following:
Browse to your "art/music" folder and rename "Arena2.ogg" to "maintheme.ogg". Then rename "Laanx_Temple.ogg" to "charactertheme.ogg". Start up the game as usual. The whole login and character creation now feels quite different and better, in my opinion. It has much more mystery and greatness about it. :)
PS Also, rename "zzz.ogg" to "jingle_splash.ogg". I never liked that sudden and loud loading sound.
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At Karyuu. \o/
Sometimes when people really see lack of something, they want to make it and as they have motivation, they can really make it and nice looking too.
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What is the current icon for Windows? The Mac icon is a crystal-thingy similar to the last image in that set that Karyuu posted...
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The Windows icon looks like this:
(http://img524.imageshack.us/img524/6083/shot0002xx5.png)
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Ewww... I think I understand why an update is in order. For those curious, the Mac icon:
(http://www.world-of-cha0s.hostrocket.com/PSScreens/MacIcon.png)
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EDIT:
Ok, here's the update. I tried using Karyuu's gem with yellowish "PS" letters as she suggested but I hated the result. I did recreate the correct "Chisel Hard/Soft" bevel and colors just like in examples and slight variations as well but it just wasn't working. The gem is either too light or the letters are too dark. Adjusting the brightness means the gem is no longer remotely "Azure" or the whole thing looks very similar to the original PS icon with higher color. Don't ask me to post those versions. :P
If you still insist on PS" letters, feel free to make your own version and post it (or use it) but you may be disappointed with the result. I've decided to keep it simple and used Karyuu's gem itself with somewhat changed richer color. The original gem had a heavy and wide shadow, which was taking up too much space. That means it would look too small, especially at 16x16 (for "favicon") where maximizing used space is essential. There was a problem getting rid of the shadow smoothly at first, since the source provided was with the shadow already applied but I managed to get rid of it smoothly.
Here's what the icon looks like at its native size (there was no higher res source provided):
(http://img355.imageshack.us/img355/4144/psiconlinuxrd7.png)
Here is the .ZIP file with Windows, Mac, Linux and "favicon" versions:
http://www.filefactory.com/file/90e9b7/
Even though the regular .ico files will work for "favicon" on the website, as it does now, there is no need to use a larger filesize version that is used for the operating systems because it increases the web page download size. I instead made a .PNG "favicon", 1KB in size, already sharpened and resized for 16x16 resolution, as favicons usually are.
For "favicon", simply change this line of code:
http://www.planeshift.it/psicon.ico
to this:
http://www.planeshift.it/ps_favicon.png
Question is whether this is a better choice over the higher color old icon or "ps-gem.ico" used for Mac or not. Who knows. But I certainly don't have the time to perfect it now. I wish I did but I don't. Perhaps someone else can post their versions, if they have some ideas.
Anyway, that's all. :)
EDIT2:
Hmm, maybe a possible version that looks decent to me... Maybe a tad bit too bright for the letters but it goes well with the gem.
(http://img516.imageshack.us/img516/14/psgemlinuxcn9.png)
Not perfect but it looks fairly clean as a "favicon".
Alternative versions:
http://www.filefactory.com/file/e41cfc/
That's it. Don't ask for more. :P
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Here's something I put together with the other gem... Not the greatest, but I just thought I'd see how it looked...
(http://www.world-of-cha0s.hostrocket.com/PSScreens/PS%20Icon.png)
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If that crystal is supposed to represent the azure sun, I have to say it is not at all the shape I expected. I expected something more elongated such as this:(http://www.users.muohio.edu/rakovajf/RIqtz5.jpg) only inverted.
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There we go! Now that I can see it! Heh....lol woops thanks for helping me with the not being smart enough to skim the page lol. Umm... I like it. But I really like the one with the azure gem and the PS letters which are silver, they're so much better. But choose which one you like, personally the silver one really catches the eye. Hopefully you use that instead.
Edit: Bilbous I think the crystal could be more of a birds eye view? It's not really anything but a backround, plus it looks good too. Anyways, Karyuu did you say that one of Xanacru's will be used for 0.019, and if so, which?
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Mmm... I kind of like it with the gold lettering, myself:
(http://img517.imageshack.us/img517/9537/logotestwr9.png)
With larger letters:
(http://img513.imageshack.us/img513/7550/logotest2wd8.png)
Bilbous, I think the crystal is more of an abstraction.
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Karyuu's Gold big letters has my vote. The silver one from Xanacru in close second.
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You're going to have to ask the developers about the why but I think a gem is just a symbolic representation of a crystal. A gem is a polished crystal after all.
Most people associate PlaneShift with the "Azure Sun" or the Crystal when it comes to a symbolic representation but there is also this (nevermind the outline, didn't mean to leave it):
(http://img177.imageshack.us/img177/7818/yliakumny2.png)
And a tiny 16x16 version --> (http://img502.imageshack.us/img502/6779/yliakumsmallau5.png)
Don't use this one. This is just an example. It's a minute job from the graphic on the main site, which is already compressed and has quite a few artifacts.
Looks funny actually.
Karyuu,
Well, if you guys like that version, by all means, of course. However, keep in mind also, that while it looks detailed at that res, look at how it scales:
This is what it looks like in 32x32 (sharpened when resized), in other words what it will look like on Windows XP desktop:
(http://img354.imageshack.us/img354/3147/klogo32vk8.png)
Fairly ok so far, I guess.
And this is at 16x16 (in QuickLaunch bar, Start>All Programs, and as a "favicon" on the website) -- > (http://img149.imageshack.us/img149/3125/klogo16ki0.png)
Now this looks way too tiny and golden starts to really clash with blue. And this is with sharpening applied. Without it, it's even more of a blur.
This is why I made the letters go outside the crystal (so, it's still detailed at 16x16) but I still didn't like the clashing between the two colors. To get rid of clashing, you can darken the crystal or lighten the letters or both. But it seems you wanted to preserve the light azure for the crystal, did you not?
Try with larger "PS" letters maybe.
Another solution might be to simply use the gem icon without the letters for 16x16 and "favicon". However, it will still use version with the letters under Linux, since its icons are just .PNG files, so it'll read from the main large version.
It's up to you, of course. With larger golden letters, it might be ok, once you get used to it. :)
EDIT:
It seems you edited your post with a larger version. Here are the results:
Windows XP Desktop --> (http://img516.imageshack.us/img516/1602/logolargedesktopyb2.png)
16x16 --> (http://img513.imageshack.us/img513/1112/logolargefavicongr8.png)
I don't know. A little better, I guess but gold still clashes with blue at lower res - something that I didn't like in my tests.
The white/silver "favicon" --> (http://img519.imageshack.us/img519/7183/psfavicon2ic4.png)
Once again, it's up to you guys. If you like it, by all means. I don't mean to discourage anyone. :)
EDIT2:
Karyuu,
Can you make an even larger version with letters as large as possible without being clipped? Also, leave only 2 pixels max on each of the widest sides of the gem to maximize the used space, so it looks larger at 16x16. Also, minimal 2 px shadow or just an online (for those 2px on each side) only, if you can manage it.
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(http://img516.imageshack.us/img516/1602/logolargedesktopyb2.png) Yum yum, I like how that one looks. The silver lettering has a really nice appearance, but it doesn't work for PS - our logo needs to keep a certain style :)
How's this one?
(http://img186.imageshack.us/img186/2924/logotest3sx4.png)
48x48: (http://pHosted.com/0706/icon48.png)
32x32: (http://pHosted.com/0706/icon32.png)
16x16: (http://pHosted.com/0706/icon16.png)
I think the 16-pixel one's text shows up more as yellow rather than white, myself. But it's also not an icon that is going to be the most prominent. The 32-pixel looks sweet IMO. Could someone take it to icon format?
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Why all these has purple light refleccting from its sides?
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Ok, because you need to keep a certain styling I will agree with you Karyuu, it's really good looking now too. Your last ones that you put look perfect to me, size it up with 16x16 and with 32x32, so we can see how it looks. But I like the style, it's fresh....that's right I went there. \\o//
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Why all these has purple light refleccting from its sides?
Why's the crystal blue? :)
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When looking at 16x16 icon in the actual address bar and in Firefox tabs (or similar browsers), the golden-yellow-purple version seems too dark with too heavy outline and the text appears blurrier. I like the white-silver style better for 16-pixels, personally.
When posting against a brown background on the forum, it's not quite the same effect. Click these links and look at the icons as they appear on the tabs and in the address bar:
http://phosted.com/0706/icon16.png (golden)
http://img519.imageshack.us/img519/7183/psfavicon2ic4.png (silver)
Perhaps we just have different tastes. Don't get me wrong, I like the "golden" font by itself. My main problem was with a combination, which, in my opinion, clashes somewhat with the blue gem.
However, PS has traditionally used golden-yellowish font, even since the early days, so it's not surprising that you want to keep it. I wanted to break that "tradition" a little with something new. ;)
Both versions look decent enough, though I'm not really satisfied with either one. Perhaps I'm a bit too picky. I would prefer to actually use a gem icon by itself for 16x16, as I recommended before. The 16x16 icons are tricky. Many popular sites design unique ones that take maximum area within 16x16 (usually square looking icons) with sharp and simple images.
Either way, you guys have both versions now, so if you like golden-yellow-purple, that's fine. At least we tried out different ideas, which was fun in itself. :)
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Why's the crystal blue? :)
Coz i suppose it is made of blue material ;P Why are the golden like "PS" purple, besides they look gold? Because gold has golden color, but not really purple, unless it would be hardened with nitrogen steel, but it is gold ;s So i still don't know. Why the purple light?
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Just in case you guys don't have any means or methods that save icons into correct spec for Win and Mac or if some people already want to use these icons with PS, here is a new download .ZIP with Karyuu's golden-yellow-purple icons, including the "favicon":
http://www.filefactory.com/file/382198/
I also applied sharpen filter for lower res, so 16x16 looks a little better now. All you have to do is implement them into the next release and update the website as well. :detective:
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Why the purple light?
1. Because yellow and purple are complementary colors, and they create an awesome contrast. Every shadow, whether in art or real life, can display a color that is complimentary to the object casting it.
2. A secondary light source always makes an image far more interesting than if it only has one. Three is even better - nearly every shot you see in professional television and films makes skillful use of the 3-light setup - but for an icon it is too complex.
3. The letters don't have to be made out of the gold we know in real life, so it doesn't need to display correctly every known property of gold materials. Analyzing it that far may be taking it too far. It's a logo, it looks good, and you don't have to break it down to its chemical structure ;)
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Well, it's partially true about the multiple light sources. It depends on a specific situation and context in an art. Sometimes keeping it simple is best, which is why I preferred the platinum/silver look to "PS" when combined with the blue gem. And sometimes, indeed, multiple light sources can help.
I think the purple tint on gold is ok in this case, when viewed in a high res especially. It's not so much about what gold is made of, as it is about a light being cast on it. What is purple cast from? Who knows but it is there.
Here's an interesting link for complimentary colors:
http://www.colorschemer.com/online.html
And here's me playing around a bit, making a strange looking PS icon (no, this isn't really meant as a suggestion for PS icons):
(http://img151.imageshack.us/img151/7820/psiconstrangewg4.png)
Don't you go on using it! :P
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1. Because yellow and purple are complementary colors, and they create an awesome contrast.
It's exactly this what is bugging me! That they are complementary. They indeed create strong contrast, but i always thought its for adverts, where they care exactly about contrast and clear message, not really artistic effect.
While the secondary light was dark blue (contrasting with crystal) the effect was worse? I would even go for green-blue light.
But maybe purple is the way to go ;D
(http://crimsonorder.freepgs.com/things/planeshiftlogozq0-1.png)
What did i do?! A red light. It starts looking like (http://www.lapismont.de/wh_logo.gif)
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The golden font effect isn't exactly new. Many RPG and MMORPG games have been using it for years. It does look nice by itself with or without different tints. However, I'm not quite fond of it when used in a combination with the PS gem for some reason.
However, Nikodemus, the example you posted looks closer to World of Warcraft than to Warhammer:
(http://www.tothegame.com/res/game/4677/logo.jpg)
(http://uk.games-workshop.com/warhammer/warhammerhome/images/warhammer-logo.gif)
This would be more Warhammer-like:
(http://img413.imageshack.us/img413/6924/planehammer3gz7.png)
(http://img530.imageshack.us/img530/3996/planehammer2qf8.png)
Except the "chrome" effect is more wavy in WH. :P
I do like the WoW and Warhammer logos quite a bit, by the way.
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You forgot to add all these pointy banners, spears and sticks visible at the hilly horizon ;P hehe, that's what i like the logo for at most theeeere \o/ (http://fr.games-workshop.com/telechargement/logos/warhammer.jpg) , >.> , but we are talking about PS i gues ;>
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Oh, I didn't forget, they are still there. You just have to really like Warhammer to be able to see them. :P
Actually, it was just a quick approximation in Photoshop to illustrate that the overall effect is quite different to your example. ;)
EDIT:
Muahahahaha!!
(http://img527.imageshack.us/img527/2200/planehammerspikeycy5.png)
Ok, enough of that. Shuddup! :P
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What I'm interested in now are better icons for the updater and setup ;)
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Hah, Karyuu's already handing out new assingments. :P
Here's what I came up with:
Setup --> (http://img520.imageshack.us/img520/9541/setuplinuxoh7.png)
Updater --> (http://img140.imageshack.us/img140/9008/updaterlinuxka6.png)
Setup was made from a graphic embedded into the PlaneShift "setup" background. There didn't seem to be anything good for the updater, so I created a fairly generic but ever popular crystal ball icon, and used Verdana's "U" to indicate "Update". Keep in mind, however, that these icons will most likely never be used in their full resolution but rather at 16x16 from within PlaneShift program group. These look good at 16x16.
Here is what it looks like in Windows XP "Start>All Programs..." so far:
(http://img444.imageshack.us/img444/2039/startallprogramsab5.png)
To tell you the truth, Karyuu, I would rather PlaneShift took a tried-and-true approach with simply making a launch console. The console has the main PlaneShift icon, you click it, it launches a window with a nice background, latest news, setup and update buttons. And, of course, a "Start" button to start the game. This way you only need two icons - PlaneShift and Uninstall. In a way, it would be a more elaborate version of the current "Updater" program.
Also, if you still want to use "Player Guides", I recommend to use a user's default browser icon for web links, if such a guide is in .html format, like it is now. People should know right away that it's an .html page and that it will open with their default browser. Some companies make a mistake of using Internet Explorer icon and forcing their guides to open in it, when Firefox is already set as default. That is an awful mistake. It should always use your default browser.
Doing this you save yourself a lot of work in customizing additional icons, and everything looks nicer too. :)
EDIT:
Here's the .ZIP file with "Setup" and "Updater" versions for Win, Mac and Linux.
http://www.filefactory.com/file/dec9fe/
As usual, use at your own risk, I take absolutely no responsibility for any issues or problems it might cause you (and that's regarding any graphics or anything I posted on PS forums and in this thread so far), yadda yadda...
That's all. :P
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Eeeexcellent.
I'm in total agreement with you about a launch console, but it's not a trivial thing to code I believe. So we'll have to make do with this for now :]
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I'm in total agreement with you about a launch console, but it's not a trivial thing to code I believe. So we'll have to make do with this for now :]
I don't believe it's that difficult really. It just requires some good planning.
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Ok, here's a mod for the PS updater that makes it look a little more like a launch console:
(http://img518.imageshack.us/img518/1566/psupdaterfy7.png)
http://www.filefactory.com/file/8b02f1/
Read the "README!!.txt" file, the instructions are inside.
A lot of little things needed to be painstakingly aligned, especially in the .XML file but the result is great. Perhaps, this can give you (PS devs) a good start and inspiration to improve the "Updater" and eventually turn it into a full launch console.
As usual, I take absolutely no responsibility for this modification or any problems it might cause you or others. Use only at your own risk. And, of course, feel free to include it into the next PS release.
EDIT: Changed the launching button to "Play" label, as I like it better. Download link is updated, of course.
Cya! ;)
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wooooow, why didn't i think about something like that too? it's so simple.
I gues i just don't really use updater.
Amaizing idea, good work.
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Why isn't there a button for the setup program? If you are going to consolidate the functions it would seem odd to leave it out.
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It's not odd. The "Setup" button never existed there in the first place. You can't just grab it out of thin air, you'd need to change the source code and define "SetupButton" to be able to use it as a widget in the .XML.
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*** 2007-04-29 by Andrew Robberts
Added a pawsSimpleWindow factory. The purpose of this is to be a base window
widget so that it's possible to create a paws window that completely utilizes
paws scripts and the pub/sub system (ie, no C++ code needed at all).
Added a data file (data/gui/customwidgetslist.xml) that allows users to specify
extra paws widget .xml files to load without needing to recompile the client
I'm guessing that means we(the "users") will be allowed a lot greater leniency with editing xml in the next release and will no longer be stuck just moving things around and even be able to create our own windows.
The updater mod looks great and hopefully with the next release , can be turned into a full PS launcher(setup button and all).
I guess I am the only one that doesn't like the new crystal design. It seems too elongated to me. The old one is a lot more rounded.
(http://www.world-of-cha0s.hostrocket.com/PSScreens/MacIcon.png)
(http://img355.imageshack.us/img355/4144/psiconlinuxrd7.png)
Maybe it is just me.
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A reasonable explanation. Obviously, I knew nothing of the details of your efforts. Thank you for the answer.
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All right, thanks for the compliments and support, everyone, past and present (and bilbous, no problem).
Sounds like the new release will have some goodies for everyone. I'm sure that with the new modding abilities, the "Updater" will eventually be turned into a full featured launch console with the "Setup" ability, if not by me, then by someone else for sure.
I'm going to take a break from modding now. I need to work on some other projects. However, feel free to discuss further or make new topics for your contributions in appropriate forums.
Cya! ;)