Page 1 of 2

RELEASED: KeyGuard 4.0.0 - The Extreme Interfacing Plugin ?

PostPosted: Sun Apr 05, 2009 7:40 pm
by ShadowHunter
Hello all,

I'm super proud to announce the offical release of Keyguard 4.0.0 :D

Besides several bug fixes and improvements KeyGuard now enables you to easily use any JPG, BMP or GIF as a cursor instead of the old fashioned 32x32 256 color icons...

Image

Image

Features:

1. Rendering real JPG, BMP or GIF cursors in stead of the old 32x32 icon files
2. Support for masking files to easily create transparent bitmap cursors
3. Built-in graphical engine that allows real time rotation of the bitmap cursor to create dazzeling puzzles
4. Allows you to use keystrokes in your project like "S" for poping up the save menu or "X" to exit
5. Allows you to use right mouse clicks
6. Allows you to use the mouse wheel, to scroll trough the inventory for example
7. Forcing the cursor to jump to a certain position for creating demos and tutorials
8. Create mouse hover effects using mouse-in and mouse-out detection of hotspots
9. Add text next to the cursor when hovering over an object to display a description of it
10. Solid error trapping system for peace of mind

So what is new:

1. Bitmap cursor support with only a single line of code
2. Built in bitmap cursor rotation support in 90? steps for creating great puzzles
5. No more buffering of keystrokes
6. No more execution of keystroke events while AdventureMaker is out focus
7. No more mouse hover actions while AdventureMaker is out focus
8. ?R? added in the keystrokes events

Included in the download is:

1. Plugin
2. Complete owners manual with illustrations
3. Demo project with source code

CREATE YOUR OWN EXTREME INTERFACE NOW:

Download your free copy today: www.shadowhunter.co.uk

I hope you'll like this new release of KeyGuard :D

With best regards,

ShAdOwHuNtEr

PostPosted: Sun Apr 05, 2009 8:14 pm
by Mystery
Great news Shadow! :D
Thanks a lot :)

I'm going to play with it (fortunately you have just released it at the beginning of my short vacation) :)
Be prepared for noob questions from me :P

Do we need a key for it?

PostPosted: Sun Apr 05, 2009 8:16 pm
by Vairon
At last! Great news. :D
It's a pity I can not use it in demo of my last project Devil's Sea is well under way,
I have almost finished, but I hope to use it in the final game.

PostPosted: Sun Apr 05, 2009 8:29 pm
by ShadowHunter
Hi,

Thanks Mystery and Vairon :D

A key is needed to remove the limitations... without key you can use a bitmap cursor 10 times per session... all previous keys work also for this release.

Please let me know how it works for you as this plugin is far more complex than what is visible on the surface :wink:

With best regards,

ShAdOwHuNtEr

PostPosted: Sun Apr 05, 2009 8:32 pm
by Mystery
Okay, then I request a key please :)
I'll let you know how I'll get along with it :)

PostPosted: Sun Apr 05, 2009 8:37 pm
by ShadowHunter
Hi Mystery,

The key has been PM'ed :wink:

Thanks for your intrest :D

With best regards,

ShAdOwHuNtEr

PostPosted: Sun Apr 05, 2009 9:02 pm
by Zenoc2
How cool! Shadowhunter, I plan to try all of your plugins as soon as I can get the visuals and sounds of my games down.

PostPosted: Sun Apr 05, 2009 9:45 pm
by Mystery
Wow Shadow, great job on the User Manual, it looks very well structured and I like the pics which make it easier to understand things! :D
I'll be starting to learn to use it tomorrow (now it's too late here) :)

PostPosted: Sun Apr 05, 2009 9:47 pm
by ShadowHunter
Thanks Mystery :D

Should something be unclear please feel free to ask 8)

With best regards,

ShAdOwHuNtEr

PostPosted: Sun Apr 05, 2009 10:17 pm
by reneuend
Wow! You have it ready a lot quicker then I thought you would! :)

I've downloaded it, will toss some coin in your "incentive" pot and ask for a key!

Thanks for getting this ready so quickly, ShadowHunter!

PostPosted: Sun Apr 05, 2009 11:00 pm
by Vairon
Ok Shadow, a small question:
I used the version 3.0.7 in my last project, if I install this new version I will have problems with the script done?

Thanks in advance.

PostPosted: Mon Apr 06, 2009 7:22 am
by ShadowHunter
Hi Vairon,

4.0.0 should be 100% backwards compatible with 3.7.0 and all other versions. There should be no issues at all :wink:

With best regards,

ShAdOwHuNtEr

PostPosted: Mon Apr 06, 2009 7:31 am
by mercedes
I can't wait to use this..I already have a puzzle in mind for it..I"m getting a new keyboard..If that doesn't work..i'm gonna scream..:shock:

I have a feeling it might have something to do with my battery pack..because its low..or its getting low..Default options are loaded only..[pc does it automatically] I can choose otherwise..but i had better not till I get a new battery pack...and while i'm at it..a keyboard..:P

Can't help but think that it affects keyboard hardware as well..~

Will let u know..:D

Adieux~

PostPosted: Mon Apr 06, 2009 7:39 am
by ShadowHunter
Hi Mercedes,

Thanks for your intrest :D

I am really eager to learn more about the keyboard issue, please let me know how it turns out...

With best regards,

ShAdOwHuNtEr

PostPosted: Mon Apr 06, 2009 12:02 pm
by Lyberodoggy
Thanks for this plugin, gonna use it definitely...

PostPosted: Mon Apr 06, 2009 12:10 pm
by ShadowHunter
You're very welcome Lyberodogy... I hope it will proof useful :D

Next, I'll be working on an update for P+ so it can be used also on top of hotspots and will no longer show a pixel shift... will be a lot of recoding involved :D

With best regards,

ShAdOwHuNtEr

PostPosted: Mon Apr 06, 2009 9:25 pm
by Vairon
Shadow thanks for the info. I will try to implement it on the demo. :wink:

PostPosted: Tue Apr 07, 2009 4:48 am
by reneuend
For a fun test, I changed out the wimpy crosshair trigger with a gun in my "award winning" :wink: game, Once Bitten Twice Shy!

Image

I like the results, but hotspot order matters, because most of the hits are above the gun layer.

What's really cool is the recoil that I put in the game really shows up with this new gun cursor! :)

Thanks ShadowHunter!

(edit)
I'll upload the game when I get a chance to extract it from "Once Bitten Twice Shy" game. Although, I'll would like to enhance it with some other features. I have it available sometime this coming weekend.

(edit)
I've decided to build a whole new game using the shooting gallery idea. I've spent this weekend just drawing. I have yet to do any coding in AM. I thought yall would find it boring just shooting the alley wall or the barrel. I'm not sure how long it will take to code this. There really isn't anything too difficult. I think my main concern is where the hotspots will end up in the order of things. Will the cursor end up behind any hotspots? That would be a disaster!



Image
Texas Shoot Em
Shooting Gallery
- The targets will pop up randomly at different locations. I will include friendlys that you don't want to shoot. The rifle is for long range shots. The cursor will be a challenge because it will be scoped.

PostPosted: Tue Apr 07, 2009 5:29 am
by mercedes
Shadow...is there another way to start the demo? Cause that really is my only issue..is the keystrokes..X S and stuff..Other than that I should be able to use this plugin right..? I probably can't enjoy the demo, but the plugin i should be able to use..

Then once I get my issue fixed..--there should be no problem..other than maybe i may have to re-download..or something..but i doubt it..but that would be just for the demo..

Cause i use keyguard..I just don't use keystrokes..

what do u think..? This demo doesn't namely use keystrokes does it..

Is that the only part of the demo u use keystrokes..is the start and exit?

Sorry this just occurred to me..so i thought i'd ask..~

PostPosted: Tue Apr 07, 2009 6:08 am
by reneuend
Hi Mercedes,

If you want to bypass the keystrokes, then add hotspots on the "demobackground" frame to start the game.

then on the other frames, you'll need a hotspot to replace the spacebar (put back in inventory) option basically removes the cursor image and changes a variable so it shows up in the custom inventory.

You'll also need to have a hotspot for an exit.

or I guess you could go out and buy a new keyboard? :wink: is that the issue?

PostPosted: Tue Apr 07, 2009 7:36 am
by mercedes
If you want to bypass the keystrokes, then add hotspots on the "demobackground" frame to start the game.


Ohh... i forgot i can now view the demo as a game in AM noww..u couldnt' do that before..with previous version of demo..Now it's available with the plugin..I forgot about that..yes yes of course..Ok..THanks..!~

and yes it's my keyboard and batterypack thats in your computer..I'ts low..I gather that's what it is..default options are loaded..



Yes cause the games i've played like this..U didn't need the spacebar-[either/or]..U only used right click to change the image around--to make it fit--Then if it didn't fit in the right place in the jigsaw..--when u attempt to click it..It simply went back into the space it come from..Or you could use the spacebar..:) I could play those games..wierd..Oh well..~ :D



Thanks Again..!~

Later..~

PostPosted: Tue Apr 07, 2009 7:54 am
by ShadowHunter
Hi,

Glad to learn it turned out well with the keyboard Mercedes.

@reneuend: looks like a fun demo, any change that you could put it online?

With best regards,

ShAdOwHuNtEr

PostPosted: Tue Apr 07, 2009 3:29 pm
by Imari
I'm really looking forward to trying this out, ShadowHunter. Thanks.

PostPosted: Wed Apr 15, 2009 6:12 pm
by Chromegloss55
Would it be possible for me to have a key PM'd to me as well.

I can't wait to try this. :)

PostPosted: Wed Apr 15, 2009 9:14 pm
by ShadowHunter
@Chromegloss55: DONE :D

PostPosted: Sat Apr 18, 2009 4:09 pm
by reneuend
Texas Shoot Em is available for download.

I call this a pre-release because there is a lot more I need to work on.

I think it shows one good example for using KeyGuard 4. :wink:

You can download it from the new games forum or from my website.

PostPosted: Sat Apr 18, 2009 5:45 pm
by ShadowHunter
Hi Reneuend,

Yeah, looking nice :D

Few remarks:

1. After shooting the gun moves to the upper left corner... I gues you want to simulate the backfire... Its a bit strange IMHO
2. There is a small pixelshift sometimes, this happens when the a timer used for drawing the villans, this will be gone when you go to full screen or you can increase the timer a bit too
3. When playing again "via go back to main menu" link all hotspots are above the gun, you need to clear KeyGuard on next frame
4. The key processing sub is not disabled, if your press X for example an error pops up... remove the routine in the PL1 file

The rest seems to work excellent... looking forward to play the whole game.

PS: did you get my mail with the rendering limits and flare included?

With best regards,

ShAdOwHuNtEr

PostPosted: Sat Apr 18, 2009 9:32 pm
by reneuend
Thanks for the response, ShadowHunter. I'll work on it. :)
I'm having issues with the recoil. It's too much, but no matter what I try, the mouse cursor seems to have a mind of it's own. I'm wondering if there is just too much processing going on.

I didn't get your email. Could you try sending it again! :?

PostPosted: Sun Apr 19, 2009 7:48 am
by ShadowHunter
Hi reneuend,

You are very welcome :D

The set mouse cursor function has (and always had) a bug but this was not visible in full screen mode...

It used to take 0,0 as top left of the monitor, not the AM area (hence it worked in full screen)

This is now fixed in the beta of KeyGuard 4.1.0 (which I will mail you again) a next update should fix the issue that after a transition the frame gets blanc.

So don't worry, your code is probably correct, but due to this bug wrongly processed by KeyGuard.

Please let me know should you still not received the mail.

With best regards,

ShAdOwHuNtEr

PostPosted: Sun Apr 19, 2009 8:23 am
by 3dgamer
Hey reneuend,

reneuend wrote:Texas Shoot Em is available for download.

I call this a pre-release because there is a lot more I need to work on.

I think it shows one good example for using KeyGuard 4. :wink:

You can download it from the new games forum or from my website.


I went to your website, but couldn't find the link. :cry:

I'll try the new games forum. I really want to play this thing! :)

Cya!