Author Topic: Program preferences (Read 7195 times)

Nick · « **on:** March 09, 2012, 01:02:38 pm »

hi

I saw a lot of topics on this forums about the same questions: 3/4-level greyscale, savegames, extra's, keypress choices etc etc...
They are in fact all the same, but each and every one of them for a different game, while they're in fact useful for every programmer to know.

Therefor i'll try to cover polls that are useful for a wide range of programs/games made for any type of calculator (like said before).
I'll post a new poll every week (if it has enough votes of course) for everyone to be useful, so please vote, and tell us why you voted for that specific choice if you want to.

This might be useful for everyone, even for yourself. I'll keep track of every poll created and i'll post the results in this first post when they finish.

Should Nspire LUA games use single tab, or mutliple tabs?
One single tab (60%)
Multiple tabs (40%)

General comment:
Depends on the program. If the parts are completely separate, then it can better be used in different tabs, but otherwise, one tab is best.

This weeks question: 3 or 4-level grayscale?

There's only one thing i ask: think before you vote!

I really hope this is going to be useful for a lot of programmers around here, if not, at least i tried

Nick

DJ Omnimaga · « **Reply #1 on:** March 09, 2012, 05:48:03 pm »

I prefer that when I launch the program, I can play immediately, not be greeted by the readme. Otherwise it's incredibly annoying when using an emulator and you forgot what is the key combination to switch between tabs. I am fine if there are multiple tabs, just as long as tab 1.1 starts directly with the game and that switching between tabs doesn't impair gameplay.

Scipi · « **Reply #2 on:** March 09, 2012, 05:54:36 pm »

It would have to depend on the game and options for which is better. Imo, at least.

Spyro543 · « **Reply #3 on:** March 09, 2012, 07:39:37 pm »

Now, a game with an extra program, it's great. Take jim's Logo interpreter. I know it's not a game, but it's nice the script runner and editor are separate tabs.

cyanophycean314 · « **Reply #4 on:** March 09, 2012, 10:22:15 pm »

I just include instructions in the program, but that probably just makes the quality of the instructions worse...

DJ Omnimaga · « **Reply #5 on:** March 10, 2012, 12:23:24 am »

IMHO even if you include instructions in game you should still include them in your program description too or a standalone readme.txt file so we know what we are dowloAding to our cAlc

Nick · « **Reply #6 on:** March 10, 2012, 03:01:49 am »

i think it depends on what program it is, as homer-16 said. Sometimes it might be useful to simply switch tabs to go to another point in the program, but imo it loses a bit of the beauty of the program if it is like that. Another problem with that is that id a user opens it and by accident closes one tab and then save"s it, the program is ruined, since it's gone when you close it...

so it's a hard decision to make, but i'm glad a ot of already responded

Jim Bauwens · « **Reply #7 on:** March 10, 2012, 04:02:49 am »

I think most games don't need multiple tabs.
However, I think non games can use it perfectly.
As Spyro stated, I have the interpreter and editor of LogoMagick on different tabs.
I think it's fine like that

That's why I'm not voting

Adriweb · « **Reply #8 on:** March 10, 2012, 04:58:36 am »

I'd say for most of the time, scripts don't really need multiple tabs.
If they do, it's because it's different parts that don't need to be together (indeed, LogoMagic is a good example).

For a game, for example, though, one tab is enough I guess

Nick · « **Reply #9 on:** March 17, 2012, 03:32:22 am »

I updated the poll question to grayscale. So if someone's interested to answer, go ahead

Stefan Bauwens · « **Reply #10 on:** March 17, 2012, 05:08:16 am »

2-level is black and white, right?
Also most people will probably like 4 level(or even more) grayscale in a game. But is this question meant for the programmer or for the program executer?

Nick · « **Reply #11 on:** March 17, 2012, 01:39:40 pm »

for both of them.

If you like something more than the other one for a specific reason (it doesn't matter which one, but it would be nice to share it with us) then vote!

Like when you love 4-level to see those graphics for example, or you prefer 2-level because the more easy code or anything else...

edit: and 2-level is just black and white yes, but i had to include it

DJ Omnimaga · « **Reply #12 on:** March 17, 2012, 01:55:24 pm »

4 level, but only if grayscale doesn't hinder gameplay and doesn't flicker like mad (I saw games before where grayscale scanlines moves at around 10-12 FPS and the result was not really pretty). If your game cannot be fast enough to sustain grayscale, you might be better off with none at all.

3 level is fine too, but making 3 level grayscale sprites is a major PITA because most image editors on the computer only supports multiples of 2 color palettes (monochrome, 4 shades of gray, 16, etc) and this makes converting pre-made sprites nearly impossible. In other words, with 3 level, you must make most of your sprites yourself.

Scipi · « **Reply #13 on:** March 17, 2012, 11:47:52 pm »

I would say either 3 or 4, personally. Although I can't quite visualize the difference between them atm.

I think it would be pretty hard pressed to express a whole lot of detail with 2 level and most programs are fast enough to handle 3 or 4, I think.

Deep Toaster · « **Reply #14 on:** March 18, 2012, 12:08:41 am »

I think it really depends on the program. If it's a game that focuses on graphical detail, of course more grays are better. But for many games—especially games with a lot of motion—having fewer grays is actually a good idea.

In fact, I'd say that the more motion there is, the fewer grays the better. If things are flying around fast enough and smoothly enough, you wouldn't get much better graphics than with monochrome, and having more grays can actually blur the game. Ever notice that neither Portal X nor Graviter nor Futility—nor the vast majority of calculator games before Axe Parser was released—had any grayscale in gameplay? And Fruit Ninja is only black-and-white, but it looks like it's got a gray or two, doesn't it?