GTA2 Font Topic - TXT2GTA2 (Version 3 Released!)

[Cuban-Pete]

How many lines should I support for multi-line input? I could go on forever, but that is no fun. I mean, nobody wants to read a book in this font. So I was thinking about 5 lines max. With max of 300 characters total.

The max length is also something I need to think about, because the preview length/line goes to around 40 characters, however you could keep on typing, but not seeing it on preview. Most beautiful would be that the whole text automatically goes left so you can see what you type... but that is more dream mode (with mouse being able to "grab" and move the text preview, oh yeah ).

test.png (1.83 KiB) Viewed 28627 times

//edit: This opengl way is so much nicer, aaah. For example, the c on line 5 has a little white dot in the center, now I just edit one image (texture) with all the "wrong" C's and everything is fixed. Else I had to search all image files, open them, save them, just to fix it

[elypter]

My suggestion: allow as many lines or characters as it is not negatively affecting the program when using it with an usual amount of letters. Adjusting the interface to 5lines/300characters is a good value. i guess there is not much need to make longer messages.

[Cuban-Pete]

i guess there is not much need to make longer messages.

The initial idea was also for short sentences/words, but it all depends on the users. Where will my program be most used for? Where will you guys use my program for? Please reply.

So far what I have seen is:

* Short names/text for: forum names, download links, menu's on websites.
* Forum posts (long). Like this: http://www.gtatwo.fora.pl/konstruktorzy ... tml#109471

What would be possible:
* Naming/info for on maps or custom cars/mods

[elypter]

i don't know how it will be used in the future
but thats an example how i used it:
http://gtachamber.tk

[Sektor]

I thought about displaying GTA2 chat/network logs in that font. They could be fairly long but usually not much chatting happens during the game.

[Cuban-Pete]

I thought about displaying GTA2 chat/network logs in that font. They could be fairly long but usually not much chatting happens during the game.

That could be nice. But how did you want to implement that? Perhaps command line arguments towards my program or? I could of course always add option that textbox input is "unlimited".

[Razor]

I thought about displaying GTA2 chat/network logs in that font. They could be fairly long but usually not much chatting happens during the game.

Krishna guys chat a lot

[Cuban-Pete]

Alright, new OpenGL test version. This time we are testing shaders and how fast the rendering is. You should see blue font as preview!

This is the test text, you need to paste it into the textbox:

Code: Select all

On the hisdonme couty forayeavin to nothe bion, agaticalt cope
r thill abloses cons loweem loyese forls ustedive delf-gate nety 
ficles emsention).  Emmetue; al to the of the
hathe light bas orrieth yours, hiscubj ecip; God faill givinget.
Spaunk, a con. Terfor to as fiesitecied of es may abial th

I get with my PC around 0ms, so everything is fast and great, but this is on a DuoCore 3Ghz and Ati HD4870.

Please post your results!

OpenGL Test 2.0.zip

(350.26 KiB) Downloaded 613 times

[Sektor]

0ms on my Intel 2.16ghz T3400. It took about 15 seconds to load the first time I ran this version but now it loads instantly.

[elypter]

athlon xp 3400 ht & geforce 8800 gts:
0ms or 16fps(constantly) measured with fraps. thus no performance problems.

but the text is displayed under the window elements

[Cuban-Pete]

Both thanks for testing. It looks to be working fast enough.

athlon xp 3400 ht & geforce 8800 gts:
0ms or 16fps(constantly) measured with fraps. thus no performance problems.

Haha, you measured it with fraps - I never thought about that one. It displays the fps right into the program.

I increased the update rate of the opengl part in the windows form to 25ms, which gives a 32fps. Not sure how that thing calculates stuff, but it's now twice as fast in updating as the test version. This speed it good enough and it doesn't look like it has any seriously effects on the CPU or GPU.

Why all this speed testing? I also once made a version with .net image editing and it was slow as hell when it reached 200+ characters. It were lots of loops and worked crap, this OpenGL method is way faster and better.

but the text is displayed under the window elements

True, but that will be removed with final version/real release.

//edit: Hahah, you can even record the typing with fraps.

[Cuban-Pete]

//edit: Hahah, you can even record the typing with fraps.

Haha, I quickly made this for the fun.

animate_cubanpete.gif (6.61 KiB) Viewed 28586 times

[Cuban-Pete]

Old gta2 font (with already kalim's polish font added). This one already had some minor edits on the "c" compared to original gta2 font.

alphabet3.png (4.08 KiB) Viewed 28575 times

Updated and corrected font by me. It must have over 30 pixel edits. Consistency was a little off, DMA.

alphabet_4_corrected.png (4.03 KiB) Viewed 28575 times

Anybody with objections/suggestions must speak now. Next version will have this font, probably permanent.

What? Where? What did you do?

Examples:
the " character, the shadow is now correct.
the polish A,E have better , (hook)
the reflection on the c is fixed.
...

[Cuban-Pete]

Text centering and new font is working. No test version yet.

test.png (15.41 KiB) Viewed 28565 times

[Cuban-Pete]

I have a problem. I just tested my program on my old PC. P4 with 6600gt nvidia card (opengl 2.1) and it does not show the shaders. It loads them, but it does not color correctly...

I'm not sure what it is, but this incompatibility stuff is very annoying.

I don't know what most polish players have for a pc, but 6600gt is not that bad or old for running gta2 I guess.....

I'm not sure what to do now... perhaps read a book about (opengl) shaders...

[Cuban-Pete]

Not sure if this works on all video-cards, but if you want some freaky ghost effects, try this shader file with the latest opengl test version. Just paste the shader in the folder and overwrite the file.

You will see (moving) stuff like this when you enter text:

wtf.png (31.15 KiB) Viewed 28541 times

// I'm not responsible for damage to your system/hardware. Use on own risk!

[Cuban-Pete]

I'm thinking about making a java applet, so you can do it in the web browser. "Do it" as in make text in gta 2 fonts, perverts...

Any thoughts about this perhaps? Wait, I got one... I hardly know how to program in java, but I do know Python and there is jython... hmm. Another problem is that applets are not allowed to save to the hard drive... anybody with java experience here?

[T.M.]

You should make a PHP Script instead, much more convenient... or i could do it for you if you want XD

[Cuban-Pete]

Is it possible just with PHP or is also ImageMagick needed?

I think I will make it myself, I don't want to use your 'map editor' time.

[T.M.]

Is it possible just with PHP or is also ImageMagick needed?

Yeah, sure, why not. All you need is PHP (with GDlib ofc). But if you want to generate GIF images, i think you need ImageMagick (i never used ImageMagick, but i assume it has some more image output functions) or some other library, OR you just find out the GIF format (which shouldnt be too complicated, i might find it for you since i also am interested in generating GIF images myself ^^).

But PHP's GDlib supports PNG output by default, so it should be doable with PNG too.