Zelda-Style Text Scroller

This code has been declared by its author to be Public Domain code.

Zelda-Style Text Scroller by Rob the Great

2011

I'm finally feeling brave enough to post something to the code archives. This is a command set I've designed which will take strings and scroll them in your game, very similar to the Legend of Zelda games. This command set includes many custom functions, as well as embedded string commands to spice up the text (e.g., changing color, pausing, skipping, ect.). Note that for speed reasons, you will need the FastImage library to run this demo. If you don't have it currently, you can check out the FastImage demo, which will show the full effect of my code, but you will eventually need to buy the FastImage library to use my command set in any game (it's a very reasonable price for what it can do).

You will also need to download the media required to run it (images, soundfx). The link is below, which will have everything minus the FastImage library files, but you can just copy those files to the root folder to use. When you download the file, run "Zelda-Text Demo.bb", and it will start the whole process.

Here's the link to the download. To download, click on the link, then go to File-->Download and save it to your computer. From there, just unzip and make sure the program has access to the FastImage .dll files.
https://docs.google.com/file/d/0BzVV3pB-PsxWbldIVU11MkNueHc/edit?pli=1

And, here's the code below. Keep in mind that I'm posting the code here so you can mentally preview what it does, but you will still need the media to run this code. If this is too much to take in, try the download link instead. The demo file uses Includes to break it all up and make it easier to understand.

If you have questions, read the help file I made (Zelda-Text Header Help.bb"). That will explain the whole command set in detail.

And, I ask that you please be kind with any criticism. Keep in mind that I'm a self-taught hobbyist programmer, so my techniques might not be the best approach regarding speed, efficiency, ect. However, I am certainly open to suggestions if anyone has advice to give.

EDIT: I've shortened the code to only show the demo file. This only shows the raw essentials to the demo (no functions, types, ect.). The rest is all in the include files, so try the download link and you're all set!

AppTitle "Zelda-Style Text Scroller 2011"

Graphics3D 1024,768,0,2
InitDraw()

SetBuffer BackBuffer()

Include "FastImage.bb" ;the fast image functions - Comes with the FastImage library.
Include "Zelda-Text Setup.bb" ;the setup file for Zelda-Text
Include "Zelda-Text Functions.bb" ;the functions for Zelda-Text
Include "Zelda-Text Scripts.bb" ;the scripts for Zelda-Text. Add your own scripts to this include file.
;There's no point in Including the Zelda-Text Header Help.bb file since it's all comments, but be sure to read it for help!

Global rupees = 100 ;Just a variable for storing rupees. Not needed outside of this demo.
Global testinteger% = 1 ;This is used to demonstrate the {Data} command later. Not needed outside of this demo.
Global testfloat# = 1.1 ;This is used to demonstrate the {Data} command later. Not needed outside of this demo.
Global teststr$ = "RANDOM STRING VARIABLE" ;This is used to demonstrate the {Data} command later. Not needed outside of this demo.

Global camera = CreateCamera() ;set up a small scene...
Global triforce = CreatePivot() ;What would Zelda be without a triforce?
Local tripower = CreateCylinder(3,1)
Local triwisdom = CreateCylinder(3,1)
Local tricourage = CreateCylinder(3,1)
Local light = CreateLight()

EntityColor tripower,255,255,100
EntityColor triwisdom,255,255,100
EntityColor tricourage,255,255,100
EntityShininess tripower,1.0
EntityShininess triwisdom,1.0
EntityShininess tricourage,1.0

RotateEntity tripower,-90,0,0
ScaleEntity tripower,1.0,0.15,1.0
PositionEntity tripower,0,1,3

RotateEntity triwisdom,-90,0,0
ScaleEntity triwisdom,1.0,0.15,1.0
PositionEntity triwisdom,0.865,-0.5,3

RotateEntity tricourage,-90,0,0
ScaleEntity tricourage,1.0,0.15,1.0
PositionEntity tricourage,-0.865,-0.5,3

PositionEntity triforce,0,0,3
EntityParent tripower,triforce
EntityParent triwisdom,triforce
EntityParent tricourage,triforce
Global hiddentext = 0
MoveEntity triforce,0,0,1

PointEntity camera,triforce

PositionEntity light,EntityX(triforce) + 10,EntityY(triforce),EntityZ(triforce),True
PointEntity light,triforce ;This is the end of the background scene

SetTextScrollingRate(0.6,20.0) ;TAKE CAUTION WITH QUICK SCROLL RATES. PAUSE FUNCTIONS STRUGGLE WITH THOSE

;Here are some variables to know when certain text has finished. I like using Globals in this situation, but use whatever method suits you best.
Global script1done = 0
Global script2done = 0
Global script3done = 0

;Before we start the main, I wanted to include some intro text. Rather than make the Main more complex than it is currently, I've
;just decided to make a mini-loop at the beginning. You can completely ignore this code if you want, it doesn't demonstrate concept at all.
Local continue = 0

While continue = 0

	If KeyDown(1) Then End
	
	RenderWorld
	UpdateWorld
	
	Cls ;don't care about the background scene yet.
	
	continue = DrawScrollingText(7) ;This just draws the intro text. Like I said, ignore this block because it doesn't demonstrate the command set well.
	
	Flip
	
Wend
	

While Not KeyDown(1) ;And the MAIN! Here we go...

	TurnEntity triforce,0,0.5,0,True
	
	If KeyHit(17) ;the W Key, if you push it, it changes the CameraClsColor() so that you can see what the textbox looks like in it's fullest.
		Local clsred
		Local clsgreen
		Local clsblue
		clsred = 255 - clsred
		clsgreen = 255 - clsgreen
		clsblue = 255 - clsblue
		CameraClsColor(camera,clsred,clsgreen,clsblue)
	EndIf
	
	If KeyHit(2) ;all of these quick if's are used to demonstrate the {Data} command later on.
		testinteger = testinteger + 1
	EndIf
	If KeyHit(3)
		testinteger = testinteger - 1
	EndIf
	If KeyHit(4)
		testfloat# = testfloat# + 0.1
	EndIf
	If KeyHit(5)
		testfloat# = testfloat# - 0.1
	EndIf
	If KeyHit(6)
		If Len(teststr$) < 50
			teststr$ = teststr$ + Chr$(Rand(33,126))
		EndIf
		If Len(teststr$) >= 50
			teststr$ = "RANDOM STRING VARIABLE"
		EndIf
	EndIf
	
	UpdateWorld
	RenderWorld
	;This is one of a billion examples of how to start the text scrolling process.
	;The example below just starts the scrolling once it hits this line, and will quit on it's own once it reaches the end of the group.
	script1done = DrawScrollingText(1)
	;More likely than not, you'll want to wait for an event trigger to start text scrolling.
	;In this situation, I've decided to use the ending of script 1 as the starting trigger for script 2.
	If script1done = 1
		UpdateScriptIntData("testinteger%",testinteger%) ;Used to demonstrate the {Data} command. Have to call this before the DrawScrollingText() function.
		UpdateScriptFloatData("testfloat#",testfloat#) ;Used to demonstrate the {Data} command. Have to call this before the DrawScrollingText() function.
		UpdateScriptStringData("teststr$",teststr$) ;Used to demonstrate the {Data} command. Have to call this before the DrawScrollingText() function.
		script2done = DrawScrollingText(2)
	EndIf
	If script2done = 1 ;If group 2 is finished scrolling...
		UpdateScriptIntData("rupees%",rupees%) ;Update the rupees data in the strings.
		Local currentsection = GetCurrentDrawingSection(3) ;Let's remember the currect section we're on so we can use it to change the game with Yes/No commands.
		script3done = DrawScrollingText(3)
		If currentsection = 6 ;If we were at section 6 of group 3 of the scrolling text (Do you want me to take 10 rupees away?)
			If script3done = 2 ;If we selected "Yes"
				If rupees < 10 ;If they don't have at least 10 rupees
					SetCurrentDrawingSection(3,9) ;Change the text to reflect this scenario
				EndIf
				If rupees >= 10 ;If they have at least 10 rupees
					rupees = rupees - 10
				EndIf
			EndIf
			If script3done = 3 ;If we selected "No"
				If rupees < 20 ;If they don't have at least 20 rupees
					SetCurrentDrawingSection(3,GetMaximumScriptSection(3)) ;Change the text to reflect this scenario. The last section of group 3 is the right text.
				EndIf
				If rupees >= 20 ;If they have at least 20 rupees
					rupees = rupees - 20
				EndIf
			EndIf
		EndIf
	EndIf
	;later, you could reset the scripts and start the drawing over again.
	If script3done = 1 And hiddentext = 0
		script1done = 0 ;Let's reset our trigger system.
		script2done = 0
		script3done = 0
		DrawScriptAgain(1) ;Don't let the function name confuse you. This only resets s\completed back to 0 so that DrawScrollingText(1) will start over.
		DrawScriptAgain(2) ;Same as above
		DrawScriptAgain(3) ;Same as above
	EndIf
	;some extra stuff...
	StartDraw
		SetScale(0.75,0.75)
		SetColor(0,0,0) ;Set the color to black in case CameraClsColor() is white
		DrawText("Hit W to change the CameraClsColor()",50,50)
		DrawText("Rupees: " + rupees,50,70)
		SetColor(255,255,255) ;Set the color to white in case the CameraClsColor() is black
		DrawText("Hit W to change the CameraClsColor()",50,90)
		DrawText("Rupees: " + rupees,50,110)
		SetScale(1.0,1.0)
	EndDraw
	If KeyDown(14) ;debugging stuff...Holding Backspace Delays 1 second
		Delay 1000
	EndIf
	If KeyDown(31) ;Holding 'S' skips to the end of the current section. There's not a function for this, but this is essentially all you have to do.
				   ;Keep in mind that this is very useful, but I wouldn't ever do this during the last section of a group or with an {End Group} command.
				   ;doing so causes one of the dialogue sounds to skip when it should play. Not a major bug, but one to be concerned with regardless.
		scrollingtextpointer = 10000
	EndIf
	If GetCurrentDrawingSection(3) = GetMaximumScriptSection(3) - 1
		If KeyDown(44)
			hiddentext = 1
			ResetScripts()
			QuitTextDrawing(1)
			QuitTextDrawing(2)
			QuitTextDrawing(3)
		EndIf
	EndIf
	If hiddentext = 1
		Cls
		SetTextBoxColor(155,100,255,255)
		Local xtradone = DrawScrollingText(4)
		If xtradone = 1
			SetTextBoxColor()
			Local xtradone2 = DrawScrollingText(5,0,1,True)
		EndIf
		If xtradone2 = 1
			SetTextBoxColor(155,100,255,255)
			Local xtradone3 = DrawScrollingText(6)
		EndIf
		If xtradone3 = 1
			SetTextBoxColor()
			script1done = 0
			script2done = 0
			script3done = 0
			xtradone = 0
			xtradone2 = 0
			xtradone3 = 0
			hiddentext = 0
			ResetScripts()
			DrawAllScriptsAgain()
		EndIf
	EndIf
	If KeyHit(32) ;more debugging stuff...don't need to copy...
				  ;If you push "D", this will dump a lot of information to the log,
				  ;so be patient. Could take up to 30 seconds in some situations.
				  ;Esc will exit...
		DebugLog " "
		DebugLog " "
		DebugLog " "
		DebugLog " "
		Local counting = 0
		Local s.script
		For s.script = Each script
			If KeyDown(1) Then End
			Cls
			Text 0,0,"Please wait. Dumping debug information. Can take over 30 seconds to complete. Esc Key will exit the demo."
			Flip
			counting = counting + 1
			DebugLog "This is pass " + counting
			DebugLog "s\thestring$ = " + s\thestring$
			DebugLog "s\colorr = " + s\colorr
			DebugLog "s\colorg = " + s\colorg
			DebugLog "s\colorb = " + s\colorb
			DebugLog "s\original = " + s\original
			DebugLog "s\pause = " + s\pause
			DebugLog "s\padded = " + s\padded
			DebugLog "s\skip = " + s\skip
			DebugLog "s\entiregroup = " + s\entiregroup
			DebugLog "s\smallgroup = " + s\smallgroup
			DebugLog "s\trimmedlength = " + s\trimmedlength
			DebugLog "s\halign = " + s\halign
			DebugLog "s\valign = " + s\valign
			DebugLog "s\selectedyes = " + s\selectedyes
			DebugLog "s\selectedno = " + s\selectedno
			DebugLog "s\yesjumpto = " + s\yesjumpto
			DebugLog "s\nojumpto = " + s\nojumpto
			DebugLog "s\completed = " + s\completed
			DebugLog "s\currentsection = " + s\currentsection
			DebugLog "s\millisectimer = " + s\millisectimer
			DebugLog "s\theoffsetpos = " + s\theoffsetpos
			DebugLog "s\jumptosection = " + s\jumptosection
			DebugLog "s\rawstring$ = " + s\rawstring$
			DebugLog "s\datareference = " + s\datareference$
			DebugLog "s\storedintdata = " + s\storedintdata
			DebugLog "s\storedfloatdata# = " + s\storedfloatdata#
			DebugLog "s\storedstringdata$ = " + s\storedstringdata$
			DebugLog "s\datatype$ = " + s\datatype$
			DebugLog "s\intdatachanged = " + s\intdatachanged
			DebugLog "s\floatdatachanged = " + s\floatdatachanged
			DebugLog "s\stringdatachanged = " + s\stringdatachanged
			DebugLog "s\groupend = " + s\groupend
			DebugLog "s\stringwihtoutdata$ = " + s\stringwithoutdata$
			DebugLog "s\textboxcolorintensity# = " + s\textboxcolorintensity#
			DebugLog "s\textboxcolorred = " + s\textboxcolorred
			DebugLog "s\textboxcolorgreen = " + s\textboxcolorgreen
			DebugLog "s\textboxcolorblue = " + s\textboxcolorblue
			DebugLog " "
			DebugLog " "
		Next
		DebugLog " "
		DebugLog " "
		DebugLog " "
		DebugLog " "
	EndIf

	Flip
	
	;sinticker = sinticker + 1 ;This is part of being able to use 'sinticker' as opposed to Millisecs() for Sin() values. Uncomment if you prefer this method.
	;If sinticker >= 360
	;	sinticker = 0
	;EndIf

Wend

End

See the codebox above. It's cleaner in a codebox format for the archives, which I can't do in this box.

Comments

Rob the Great

2011

Hmm...Apparently, my code is too large to post in the archives. Try the download link...In the meantime, I'll see what I can do to shorten it.

Guy Fawkes

2012

Awesome! =D Any upgrades? :D

Rob the Great

2012

Haha. Glad you like. No updates, but there is a small bug I've noticed when using it in my game. For some reason, it seems to pause for the set amount of time not only at the intended spot, but also at the end of the section of dialogue. I'm not sure why this is so, and I haven't picked up Blitz in a while since I'm busy playing the official new Zelda title, but when I take a look at the code again, I'll see if I can fix it and change the download source. Other than that, I don't think I'll be adding anything else.

Guy Fawkes

2012

Well, I DID notice. it is HARD to incorperate it into other Blitzbasic projects. is there a way u can make it more simple to incorperate? :) Thanks! :)

Rob the Great

2012

It's mostly hard because it's pretty complex. However, all of the hard stuff is contained in 1 line functions. As long as you have all of the Include files, such as:

Include "FastImage.bb" ;the fast image functions - Comes with the FastImage library.
Include "Zelda-Text Setup.bb" ;the setup file for Zelda-Text
Include "Zelda-Text Functions.bb" ;the functions for Zelda-Text
Include "Zelda-Text Scripts.bb" ;the scripts for Zelda-Text. Add your own scripts to this include file.
;There's no point in Including the Zelda-Text Header Help.bb file since it's all comments, but be sure to read it for help!

you can call any of these functions in your program. If you haven't done so, check out the "Help.bb" file. That has a detailed explanation of how to use my system in your Blitz file. All of the functions except for the co-dependent functions have details on how to use them and what their purposes are.

Essentially, to use my system, you will need the following lines of code:

Include "FastImage.bb" ;the fast image functions - Comes with the FastImage library.
Include "Zelda-Text Setup.bb" ;the setup file for Zelda-Text
Include "Zelda-Text Functions.bb" ;the functions for Zelda-Text
Include "Zelda-Text Scripts.bb" ;the scripts for Zelda-Text. Add your own scripts to this include file.

;Set up your game here (Graphics, meshes, levels, ect.)

Global dialogue = CreateScript("What you want to say",groupnumber,sectionnumber)
;In the function above, the string parameter will be scrolled, the group number
;is the number in which the dialogue belongs, and the section number 
;is the order in which the text should scroll. If you haven't
;seen Zelda's text system yet, you HAVE to see it first to really
;understand what that all means.

;Main Loop Here

   UpdateWorld
   RenderWorld
   DrawScrollingText(groupnumber)
   Flip
;End the Main Loop

;End the Game

This will scroll text. True, the demo is complex, but that's because it really does show everything this system is capable of. I originally designed it as a debugging system when I was designing it, so I had to make a program that would test everything to its fullest.

If the demo is too complex, let me know and I can provide some specific examples of what you are wanting to do. The functions are surprisingly easy to use, it's just a matter of knowing the functions and knowing when to use them.

Basically, what do you mean by "It's hard to incorporate into other projects"? I am seriously glad that you're interested, so I will do whatever I can to help you out.

Guy Fawkes

2012

Will this work with 2D? :)

Rob the Great

2012

2D in 3D only. To my understanding, FastImage makes use of sprites or something of that nature, again, for speed reasons. Blitz's 2D graphics have gone the way of the dodo bird, so I seriously doubt this will work in 2D mode. Plus, I vaguely remember seeing an error message saying "3D Graphics Not Set" when I was designing this.
You're more than welcome to give it a try, though. I don't have access to Blitz at the moment, but just try the following program:

Graphics 1024,768,0,2
Include "FastImage.bb"
Include "Zelda-Text Setup.bb"
Include "Zelda-Text Functions.bb"
;Include "Zelda-Text Scripts.bb" ;I don't think you need this for a small program

Global dialogue = CreateScript("Testing 2D Graphics!",1,1)

While Not KeyDown(1)

   Cls
   DrawScrollingText(1)
   Flip

Wend

End

EDIT: Sorry, I think I've been misleading you a little bit. Looking over what I just posted, I noticed that I made a variable to store what's returned from CreateScript, but CreateScript doesn't return a value. I'm not sure why I did that, I think I'm getting my old scroller and my new one mixed up.
This line:

Global dialogue = CreateScript("Testing 2D Graphics!",1,1)

Should instead be this:

CreateScript("Testing 2D Graphics!",1,1)

Guy Fawkes

2012

As long as it's encrypted into the game itself, can we use this Royalty Free? I'm sure ALOT of ppl would appreciate it! :) Including myself! :)

Guy Fawkes

2012

Sadface.... It didnt' work... :/

Graphics3D 1024,768,0,2
Include "FastImage.bb"
Include "Zelda-Text Setup.bb"
Include "Zelda-Text Functions.bb"
;Include "Zelda-Text Scripts.bb" ;I don't think you need this for a small program

CreateScript("Testing 2D Graphics!",1,1)

While Not KeyDown(1)

   Cls
   DrawScrollingText(1)
   Flip

Wend

End

NOW where am I gonna get a 2D dialogue system as good as this? ><

Rob the Great

2012

If I post it in the archives, I have no choice but to make it free source.

Plus, I will clearly state any of my code as copyrighted should I ever feel the need to do so, so if you see any pieces of my code floating around out there, you can assume that it's free unless I say otherwise. Note that I am referring to my code only. I think Yasha pointed out to you once that you shouldn't assume it's free, so it's good you asked.

Now, I don't know what the setup is for the Fast Library files. You've probably noticed that I can't legally or morally share that .dll file with the rest of Blitz programmers for this system. My stuff is free, but do check that you have a proper commercial license with the Fast libraries as I can't speak on behalf of them. I believe that when you buy the Fast Library, you are granted a commercial license with that, but do be sure to check with them first.

As far as it being encrypted, you don't have to waste your time encrypting my spot of code. I'm sure I'm not the first one to try and mimic the Zelda text styles, and I really could care less if someone "hacks" into my code. At least they spent the time to notice it was there, lol.

Guy Fawkes

2012

I bought the license for all the Fast DLLs :)

Guy Fawkes

2012

Can u recommend any 2D RPG dialogue text systems that are as easy & as good as this? :/ Because I was looking REALLY forward to using this in my upcoming, 2D MMORPG :/

Rob the Great

2012

You changed the command to 3D graphics, not 2D.

I don't know if this was intentional, but remember that "Graphics3D" will setup 3D graphics, and "Graphics" will setup 2D graphics.

Are you using strictly 2D graphics, or are you using 2D in 3D? If you are using "Graphics3D", then this system should work.

Also, you can declare 3D graphics, but you don't have to use them. This:

Graphics 640,480,0,2
SetBuffer BackBuffer()
image = LoadImage("image.bmp")
While Not KeyDown(1)
   Cls
   DrawImage image,0,0
   Flip
Wend
End

will do the exact same thing as this:

Graphics3D 640,480,0,2
SetBuffer BackBuffer()
image = LoadImage("image.bmp")
While Not KeyDown(1)
   Cls
   DrawImage image,0,0
   Flip
Wend
End

I would recommend declaring 3D graphics, regardless of whether or not you intend to use them. Then you can implement my system without a lot of trouble. The only issue is that you might have some performance issues mixing 3D and 2D. I can remember someone saying that there are a lot of problems when you do that.

Or...

If you're interested, I have a really old spot of code on my computer, and if I remember right, it's based on Blitz's 2D command set. I can provide you with that, but it's horribly written and there isn't as much functionality to it as this system.

Guy Fawkes

2012

Sure, I'd LOVE that! :) BUT. First, if there is a way to incorporate this into 2D, I would rather use this Dialogue system :) Is there a way u can trick Blitz?

If so, please let me know! :)

Thanks, Rob! :)

Rob the Great

2012

Let me think about some solutions for a while...I'm looking over the old text scroller now, and I am completely ashamed to share it with anyone. It's bad code...

I'll see if there is any way to make this 2D compatible, but I can't make any promises.

While I'm doing so, I have to ask, how are you using the Fast Libraries WITHOUT calling 3D graphics? It always returns an error when you try to use it in 2D mode.

Guy Fawkes

2012

It DID return an error, even in Debug mode. Memory Access Violation. on SetImage, I think...

Rob the Great

2012

Right, that's the problem. I'm asking how you're able to get around the problem, as that's a great starting point for me.

Guy Fawkes

2012

I have NO idea, Rob. If I knew that, then I wouldn't be asking u about it. LOL! :p

Rob the Great

2012

Lol,

So, I assume that you're not using any of the Fast libraries in this 2D project, is that correct?

Guy Fawkes

2012

I'm TRYING to. I need a working 2D Dialogue system.... :/ Other than ur Zelda demo being the closest, I haven't been able to find one. :(

Rob the Great

2012

I'm re-working some of this code, and it's actually going a lot smoother than I thought it would. In the meantime, have you tried declaring 3D graphics in your game even though you don't need them? If you can do so without any problems or changes to your game in progress, let me know and I'll show you how 2D in 3D works.

Guy Fawkes

2012

Nope. Tried it... :/

Rob the Great

2012

Well, trying to modify what I've already done is going to be a pain. It would actually be easier to start from the beginning and design it from the ground up to work in 2D mode. Sorry, but I don't have that kind of time to dedicate to this problem.

There are a couple of options, though. I just looked at the old scroller, and it's not bad, maybe you could use it. There aren't as many commands as the new version, but it does have the basics, such as changing color, pausing, and inserting button pauses. It works entirely in 2D graphics, but it's not as neat as the 3D version, plus it still has a ton of bugs which you will see once in a while (spaces don't even themselves out for some reason.)

The other option is to send me a link with your entire game in progress. I'm 90% sure you should be able to use my system, but I would have to take a look at your code to know what's going on. If you wanted, I could look at your game and change your code to be able to use my system.

Guy Fawkes

2012

Ok, here's my whole project.

;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;; 
;;;Map API (ME) for Game and Edit Example 
;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;; 
;;;Coded By: mk2y10 (Dragon) 
;;;Version V 0.0.0.8 
;;; 
;;;Reference Map API Functions 
;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;; 

Include "ME_LevelEditor_Lib.bb" 

;First, set the graphics. 
Graphics 800,600,32,2 
SetBuffer BackBuffer() 

;This you do not need unless you do the hide window at start Hack. 
;http://projectoutcast.forumup.com/viewtopic.php?t=7&mforum=projectoutcast#7 
;(This makes every program you run/compile start with a hidden window) 
;Win=SystemProperty("AppHWND") 
;api_ShowWindow(Win,1) 
;//// 

;Now we create a map 
Map = ME_CreateMap ( 128, 128 ) 

;We now must load a tile image! 
;This function is a SMART function for square tiles. 
;That means you can have an image up to 16x16 tiles (256 Tile MAX) 
;It reads the tiles from Top to Bottom and Left to Right! 
;All we need to provide is the image handel and the square size of one tile (32 here) 
Tile=LoadImage("gfx\ZTileset.bmp") 
ME_LoadTiles ( Tile , 32 ) 

;Before loading the player's image, we count the total number of frames in the playersheet

;Player

Global Player_Tiles_Wide% = 32

Global Player_Tiles_High% = 48

Global Player_Frame_Count% = ME_GetTotalFrames%("gfx\bloodelf_male3.png", Player_Tiles_Wide%, Player_Tiles_High%)

;Now we load the player image 
;I will be using one stationary image, but you can load an animation 
;   via the LoadAnimImage() 

Global Play=LoadAnimImage("gfx\bloodelf_male3.png", Player_Tiles_Wide%, Player_Tiles_High%, 0, Player_Frame_Count%) 
ME_SetPlayerImage(Play)

;Set the player's background color to invisible
ME_SetBackgroundInvisible(Play, 255, 255, 255)

;Enemy

Global Enemy_Tiles_Wide% = 32

Global Enemy_Tiles_High% = 32

Global Enemy_Frame_Count% = ME_GetTotalFrames%("gfx\Chu-chu.bmp", Enemy_Tiles_Wide%, Enemy_Tiles_High%)

;Now we load the enemy image 
;I will be using one stationary image, but you can load an animation 
;   via the LoadAnimImage() 

Global Enemy=LoadAnimImage("gfx\Chu-chu.bmp", Enemy_Tiles_Wide%, Enemy_Tiles_High%, 0, Enemy_Frame_Count%)
ME_SetEnemyImage(Enemy)

;Set the enemy's background color to invisible
ME_SetBackgroundInvisible(Enemy, 255, 0, 255)

;Now we set the Map mode and Player mods. Here are the modes: 
;0 - Do not restrict 
;1 - Restrict only X axis 
;2 - Restrict only Y axis 
;3 - Restrict both X and Y 
; 
;~When used in ME_SetMapMode(), it prevents the camera from going of 
;   the grid, no matter where the player/point-of-intrest is (POI) 
;~When used in ME_SetPOIMode(), it prevents the player (POI) from moving of the map. 
; 
;Here we want to use Mode 3 for both: 
ME_SetMapMode(3) 
ME_SetPOIMode(3) 

;Now that the restrictions are in place, we need to place the player (POI) on the map! 
ME_SetPOI(32,32) ;This is in pixels, not grid units! 

;You must set the map as the map to be drawn 
ME_SetMap(Map) 

;The last thing before the loop (optional) is to turn a grid overlay ON/OFF 
;It starts out off. 
ME_ShowGrid(1) 

Global plxspeed#
Global plyspeed#

Global plx#
Global ply#

;Now the loop 
While Not KeyHit(1) 
	Cls
	
	
	;If your not holding down a key, then reset the player movement so the player doesn't fly off the screen
	If Not GetKey() Then plx# = 0 : ply# = 0
	
	
	
	;If your NOT holding down the run button (Shift)
	If Not KeyDown(42) Or KeyDown(54)
		
		
		
		plxspeed# = 1.0
		plyspeed# = 1.0
		
		
	;Otherwise
	Else
		
		
		
		plxspeed# = 2.0
		plyspeed# = 2.0
		
		
		
	EndIf
	
	
	
	playeranimspeed# = .09
	
	
	
	If KeyDown(200) Or KeyDown(17) Then ply# = -plyspeed# : playerdir% = 2
	If KeyDown(208) Or KeyDown(31) Then ply# = +plyspeed# : playerdir% = 8
	If KeyDown(203) Or KeyDown(30) Then plx# = -plxspeed# : playerdir% = 4
	If KeyDown(205) Or KeyDown(32) Then plx# = +plxspeed# : playerdir% = 6
	
	
	
	If playerdir% = 2 Then
		
		
		
		defaultstartframe# = 13.0
		defaultendframe#   = 16.0
		
		
		
	ElseIf playerdir% = 4 Then
		
		
		
		defaultstartframe# = 5.0
		defaultendframe#   = 8.0
		
		
		
	ElseIf playerdir% = 6 Then
		
		
		
		defaulstartframe# = 9.0
		defaultendframe#  = 12.0
		
		
		
	ElseIf playerdir% = 8 Then
		
		
		
		defaultstartframe# = 1.0
		defaultendframe#   = 4.0
		
		
		
	EndIf
	
	
	
	startframe# = startframe# + 1 * playeranimspeed#
	If startframe# > endframe# Then startframe# = defaultstartframe#
	If startframe# < 1 Then startframe# = defaultstartframe#
	
	
	
	ME_SetPlayerImage(Play, startframe#)
	ME_SetEnemyImage(Enemy, 1)
	
	
	
;Movement is simple 
;To move the player (POI,) do the following: 
	ME_MovePOI(plx#,ply#)
	
;This lets you move the player any of the four directions! 
	
;We update the map 
	ME_UpdateMap() 
;Now we set the color of the grid outlines (if you turned them on) 
	Color 100,100,100
;And then we draw it! 
	ME_DrawMap() 
;And then we reset the color of the text!
	Color 255, 255, 255
	
	
	
	enemywidth# = ImageWidth(Enemy)/2 ;Use /2 if the enemy graphic's width is twice as small as the frame
	enemyheight# = ImageHeight(Enemy)/2 ;Use /2 if the enemy graphic's height is twice as small as the frame
	
	
	
	If enx# < enemywidth# Then enx# = enemywidth#
	If enx# > GraphicsWidth()-enemywidth# Then enx# = GraphicsWidth()-enemywidth#
	If eny# < enemyheight# Then eny# = enemyheight#
	If eny# > GraphicsHeight()-enemyheight# Then eny# = GraphicsHeight()-enemyheight#
	
	
	
	DrawImage Enemy, enx#, eny#, 1
	
	
	
	Text GraphicsWidth()/2, GraphicsHeight()/2, "startframe#: "+startframe#, 1, 1
	Text GraphicsWidth()/2, GraphicsHeight()/2+20, "endframe#: "+endframe#, 1, 1
	Text GraphicsWidth()/2, GraphicsHeight()/2+40, "playerdir%: "+playerdir%, 1, 1
	
	
	
	Flip 
	
	
Wend



End

ME_LevelEditor_Lib.bb (Credit: mk2y10):

;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;; 
;;;Map API for Game and Editor 
;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;; 
;;;Coded By: mk2y10 (Dragon) 
;;;Version: V 0.0.0.8 
;;; 
;;; 
;;; 
;;; 
;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;; 
;;;Functions: 
;;;ME_AtPoint ( LocationX, LocationY ) 
;;;ME_CreateMap ( Width, Height, [DefaultTile]) 
;;;ME_DrawMap ( ) 
;;;ME_GetTile ( LocationX, LocationY ) 
;;;ME_LoadTiles ( Image, Size ) 
;;;ME_MovePOI ( XChange, YChange ) 
;;;ME_PickedX ( ) 
;;;ME_PickedY ( ) 
;;;ME_SetMap ( Map ) 
;;;ME_SetMapMode ( Mode ) 
;;;ME_SetPlayerImage ( Image, [Frame]) 
;;;ME_SetEnemyImage ( Image, [Frame]) 
;;;ME_SetPOI ( LocationX, LocationY ) 
;;;ME_SetPOIMode ( Mode ) 
;;;ME_SetTile ( LocationX, LocationY, Tile ) 
;;;ME_ShowGrid ( Bool ) 
;;;ME_UpdateMap ( ) 
;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;; 

;;;Globals 
Global ME_ofx      ;Map Offset X 
Global ME_ofy      ;Map Offset Y 
Global ME_msx      ;Map Width 
Global ME_msy      ;Map Height 
Global ME_poix      ;Point of Interest X (Player) (Camera's Center) 
Global ME_poiy      ;Point of Interest Y (Player) (Camera's Center) 
Global ME_map      ;Current map handle 
Global ME_maps      ;Stores all maps loaded in memory 
Global ME_tiles      ;Stores all tiles in a list 
Global ME_tilesize   ;Srores the tile size (as a square) 
Global ME_grid      ;Used to show the grid 
Global ME_player      ;Used to hold the player's image 
Global ME_playerstartfm   ;This holds the start frame / default start frame number to draw. 
Global ME_playerendfm   ;This holds the end frame / default end frame number to draw. 
Global ME_playermd   ;The mode of restictions placed on the POI (player) 
Global ME_mode      ;This puts movement restrictions on the camera. 
Global ME_pickx      ;The last picked X location 
Global ME_picky      ;The last picked Y location 

;Gets the grid location at a specified point 
Function ME_AtPoint(LX,LY) 
	X=(LX-ME_ofx)/ME_tilesize 
	Y=(LY-ME_ofy)/ME_tilesize 
	If X<0 Then X=0 
	If Y<0 Then Y=0 
	ME_pickx=X 
	ME_picky=Y 
End Function 

;Creates a new map 
Function ME_CreateMap(SX,SY,Dft=0) 
	Re=CreateBank(((SX)*(SY))+4) 
	PokeByte(Re,0,SX) 
	PokeByte(Re,1,SY) 
	If Dft<>0 
		For A=2 To (SX*SY)+2 
			PokeByte(Re,A,Dft) 
		Next 
	EndIf 
	Return Re 
End Function 

;This draws the map 
Function ME_DrawMap() 
	If ME_map=0 Then Return 0 
	SX=PeekByte(ME_map,0) 
	SY=PeekByte(ME_map,1) 
	For X=0 To SX-1 
		For Y=0 To SY-1 
			LX=(X*ME_tilesize)-ME_ofx 
			LY=(Y*ME_tilesize)-ME_ofy 
			If LX>0-ME_tilesize And LX<=GraphicsWidth() 
				If LY>0-ME_tilesize And LY<=GraphicsHeight() 
					Lc=((X*SX)+Y)+2 
					Tp=PeekByte(ME_map,Lc) 
					Im=PeekInt(ME_tiles,Tp*4) 
					If Im<>0 
						DrawImage(Im,LX,LY) 
					EndIf 
					If ME_grid=1 
						Rect LX,LY,ME_tilesize,ME_tilesize,0 
					EndIf 
				EndIf 
			EndIf 
		Next 
	Next 
	If ME_player<>0 
		DrawImage(ME_player,ME_poix-ME_ofx,ME_poiy-ME_ofy,ME_playerstartfm) 
	EndIf
End Function 

;This gets the tile number as a location 
Function ME_GetTile(X,Y) 
	If ME_map=0 Then Return 
	Lc=((X*SX)+Y)+2 
	Re=PeekByte(ME_map,Lc) 
	Return Re 
End Function 

;Loads an Image as a set of tiles 
Function ME_LoadTiles(Im,Sz) 
	If Im=0 Then Return 
	SX=ImageWidth(Im) 
	SY=ImageHeight(Im) 
	IX=Floor(SX/Sz) 
	IY=Floor(SY/Sz) 
	If ME_tiles<>0 
		For A=0 To BankSize(ME_tiles)/4 
			Lc=A*4 
			R=PeekInt(ME_tiles,Lc) 
			If R<>0 
				FreeImage(R) 
			EndIf 
		Next 
		FreeBank(ME_tiles) 
	EndIf 
	ME_tiles=CreateBank(256*4) 
	For X=0 To IX-1 
		For Y=0 To IY-1 
			I=0 
			I=CreateImage(Sz,Sz) 
			CopyRect(X*Sz,Y*Sz,Sz,Sz,0,0,ImageBuffer(Im),ImageBuffer(I)) 
			PokeInt(ME_tiles,Lc,I) 
			Re=Re+1 
			If Re>255 Then Goto Done 
			Lc=Lc+4 
		Next 
	Next 
	.Done 
	ME_tilesize=Sz 
	Return Re 
End Function 

;This moves the player by an amount 
Function ME_MovePOI(X,Y) 
	ME_poix=ME_poix+X 
	ME_poiy=ME_poiy+Y 
End Function 

;Returns the last Picked X value 
Function ME_PickedX() 
	Return ME_pickx 
End Function 

;Returns the last Picked Y value 
Function ME_PickedY() 
	Return ME_picky 
End Function 

;This sets a map as the current drawing map 
Function ME_SetMap(Map) 
	ME_map=Map 
End Function 

;This sets the way the program acts when the end of a map is reached. 
Function ME_SetMapMode(Md) 
	ME_mode=Md 
End Function 

;This sets the player's Image / Animation
Function ME_SetPlayerImage(Im,StartFm=0,EndFm=0)
	SX=ImageWidth(Im) 
	SY=ImageHeight(Im) 
	HandleImage(Im,SX/2,SY/2) 
	ME_player=Im 
	ME_playerstartfm=StartFm
	ME_playerendfm=EndFm
End Function

;This sets the enemy's Image / Animation
Function ME_SetEnemyImage(Im,StartFm=0,EndFm=0)
	SX=ImageWidth(Im) 
	SY=ImageHeight(Im) 
	HandleImage(Im,SX/2,SY/2) 
	ME_enemy=Im 
	ME_enemystartfm=StartFm
	ME_enemyendfm=EndFm
End Function

;This sets the Point of Intrest of the Map (The Center of the Player!) 
Function ME_SetPOI(LX,LY) 
	ME_poix=LX 
	ME_poiy=LY 
End Function 

;This sets the Enemy's Point of Intrest of the Map (The Center of the Enemy!) 
Function ME_SetEPOI(LX,LY) 
	ME_eoix=LX 
	ME_eoiy=LY 
End Function 

;This sets the mode for limits on the POI (player) 
Function ME_SetPOIMode(Md) 
	ME_playermd=Md 
End Function 

;This sets the tile as the designed number 
Function ME_SetTile(X,Y,Tl) 
	If ME_map=0 Then Return 
	SX=PeekByte(ME_map,0) 
	Lc=((X*SX)+Y)+2 
	PokeByte(ME_map,Lc,Tl) 
End Function 

;This toggles the grid on and off 
Function ME_ShowGrid(Bool) 
	ME_grid=Bool 
End Function 

;This updates the map 
Function ME_UpdateMap() 
	If ME_map<>0 
		SX=PeekByte(ME_map,0) 
		SY=PeekByte(ME_map,1) 
	EndIf 
	ME_msx=SX*ME_tilesize 
	ME_msy=SY*ME_tilesize 
	ME_ofx=(ME_poix-GraphicsWidth()/2) 
	ME_ofy=(ME_poiy-GraphicsHeight()/2) 
	Md=ME_mode 
	SCX=GraphicsWidth() 
	SCY=GraphicsHeight() 
	If Md=1 Or Md=3 
		If ME_ofx<0 Then ME_ofx=0 
		If ME_ofx>ME_msx-scx Then ME_ofx=ME_msx-scx 
	EndIf 
	If Md=2 Or Md=3 
		If ME_ofy<0 Then ME_ofy=0 
		If ME_ofy>ME_msy-scy Then ME_ofy=ME_msy-scy 
	EndIf 
	If ME_player<>0 
		Md=ME_playermd 
		SX=ImageWidth(ME_player)/2 
		SY=ImageHeight(ME_player)/2 
		If Md=1 Or Md=3 
			If ME_poix<SX Then ME_poix=SX 
			If ME_poix>ME_msx-sx Then ME_poix=ME_msx-sx 
		EndIf 
		If Md=2 Or Md=3 
			If ME_poiy<Sy Then ME_poiy=Sy 
			If ME_poiy>ME_msy-sy Then ME_poiy=ME_msy-sy 
		EndIf 
	EndIf 
End Function



Function ME_GetTotalFrames%(filename$, tileswide%, tileshigh%)
	
	
	
	ME_Tilesheet%  = LoadImage(filename$)
	ME_Frameswide% = ImageWidth(ME_Tilesheet) / tileswide%
	ME_frameshigh% = ImageHeight(ME_Tilesheet) / tileshigh%
	ME_Totalframes = ME_Frameswide% * ME_Frameshigh%
	FreeImage ME_Tilesheet%
	
	
	
	Return ME_Totalframes%
	
	
	
End Function



Function ME_SetBackgroundInvisible(img, R=0, G=0, B=0)
	
	
	
	MaskImage img, R, G, B
	
	
	
End Function

The graphics go in the gfx folder:

http://www.mediafire.com/?8p58d6km7tparmh

Just extract the gfx folder to the main directory of the game :)

With the gfx folder and includes file, it should compile flawlessly :)

Thanks, Rob! :)

Rob the Great

2012

Well, good news for you, IT WORKS!

Here's the changes to the main file:

;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;; 
;;;Map API (ME) for Game and Edit Example 
;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;; 
;;;Coded By: mk2y10 (Dragon) 
;;;Version V 0.0.0.8 
;;; 
;;;Reference Map API Functions 
;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;; 

;First, set the graphics. 
Graphics3D 800,600,32,2 
InitDraw()
SetBuffer BackBuffer() 

Include "ME_LevelEditor_Lib.bb"
Include "Text Scrolling\FastImage.bb"
Include "Text Scrolling\Zelda-Text Setup.bb"
Include "Text Scrolling\Zelda-Text Functions.bb"
;Include "Text Scrolling\Zelda-Text Scripts.bb" You should place all CreateScripts() in a seperate Include file.
;I recommend that you keep all of your scripts in a separate Include file so it doesn't make your IDE look ugly.
CreateScript("You're more than likely going to want to change the default key values, so the easiest way to do this is to use Blitz's Find and Replace ",1,1)
CreateScript("to look for all KeyDown() and KeyHit() values, and change the scancodes accordingly. Note that you can control the player ",1,1)
CreateScript("with the arrow keys like you normally would WHILE the text is scrolling. Press the left Alt button to continue.",1,1)
CreateScript("This is part two of the test. {Color 255,0,0}This is Red.{Color 0,255,0}This is Green.{Color 0,0,255}This is Blue.",1,2)
CreateScript("This is part three of the test. Pause for 1 second now{Pause 1000} before continuing on.",1,3)
CreateScript("This is part four of the test. Press Enter to skip to the end.{Skip}",1,4)
CreateScript("Blahadfadsfaew;rlkajv;dlkfjaio;fja;lkvn;zdklfjaweoirj;zxlkvjnz;ldkjvhaz;dsfj",1,5)
CreateScript("asdfkujhresjnd;vkjsdfhg;aerufj;sdfjnv;sdfkjghs;dfkjghs;dfgjs;dflg",1,6)
CreateScript("You get the idea of what's going on.",1,7)

;This you do not need unless you do the hide window at start Hack. 
;http://projectoutcast.forumup.com/viewtopic.php?t=7&mforum=projectoutcast#7 
;(This makes every program you run/compile start with a hidden window) 
;Win=SystemProperty("AppHWND") 
;api_ShowWindow(Win,1) 
;////

;Now we create a map 
Map = ME_CreateMap ( 128, 128 ) 

;We now must load a tile image! 
;This function is a SMART function for square tiles. 
;That means you can have an image up to 16x16 tiles (256 Tile MAX) 
;It reads the tiles from Top to Bottom and Left to Right! 
;All we need to provide is the image handel and the square size of one tile (32 here) 
Tile=LoadImage("gfx\ZTileset.bmp") 
ME_LoadTiles ( Tile , 32 ) 

;Before loading the player's image, we count the total number of frames in the playersheet

;Player

Global Player_Tiles_Wide% = 32

Global Player_Tiles_High% = 48

Global Player_Frame_Count% = ME_GetTotalFrames%("gfx\bloodelf_male3.png", Player_Tiles_Wide%, Player_Tiles_High%)

;Now we load the player image 
;I will be using one stationary image, but you can load an animation 
;   via the LoadAnimImage() 

Global Play=LoadAnimImage("gfx\bloodelf_male3.png", Player_Tiles_Wide%, Player_Tiles_High%, 0, Player_Frame_Count%) 
ME_SetPlayerImage(Play)

;Set the player's background color to invisible
ME_SetBackgroundInvisible(Play, 255, 255, 255)

;Enemy

Global Enemy_Tiles_Wide% = 32

Global Enemy_Tiles_High% = 32

Global Enemy_Frame_Count% = ME_GetTotalFrames%("gfx\Chu-chu.bmp", Enemy_Tiles_Wide%, Enemy_Tiles_High%)

;Now we load the enemy image 
;I will be using one stationary image, but you can load an animation 
;   via the LoadAnimImage() 

Global Enemy=LoadAnimImage("gfx\Chu-chu.bmp", Enemy_Tiles_Wide%, Enemy_Tiles_High%, 0, Enemy_Frame_Count%)
ME_SetEnemyImage(Enemy)

;Set the enemy's background color to invisible
ME_SetBackgroundInvisible(Enemy, 255, 0, 255)

;Now we set the Map mode and Player mods. Here are the modes: 
;0 - Do not restrict 
;1 - Restrict only X axis 
;2 - Restrict only Y axis 
;3 - Restrict both X and Y 
; 
;~When used in ME_SetMapMode(), it prevents the camera from going of 
;   the grid, no matter where the player/point-of-intrest is (POI) 
;~When used in ME_SetPOIMode(), it prevents the player (POI) from moving of the map. 
; 
;Here we want to use Mode 3 for both: 
ME_SetMapMode(3) 
ME_SetPOIMode(3) 

;Now that the restrictions are in place, we need to place the player (POI) on the map! 
ME_SetPOI(32,32) ;This is in pixels, not grid units! 

;You must set the map as the map to be drawn 
ME_SetMap(Map) 

;The last thing before the loop (optional) is to turn a grid overlay ON/OFF 
;It starts out off. 
ME_ShowGrid(1) 

Global plxspeed#
Global plyspeed#

Global plx#
Global ply#

;Now the loop 
While Not KeyHit(1) 
	Cls
	
	
	;If your not holding down a key, then reset the player movement so the player doesn't fly off the screen
	If Not GetKey() Then plx# = 0 : ply# = 0
	
	
	
	;If your NOT holding down the run button (Shift)
	If Not KeyDown(42) Or KeyDown(54)
		
		
		
		plxspeed# = 1.0
		plyspeed# = 1.0
		
		
	;Otherwise
	Else
		
		
		
		plxspeed# = 2.0
		plyspeed# = 2.0
		
		
		
	EndIf
	
	
	
	playeranimspeed# = .09
	
	
	
	If KeyDown(200) Or KeyDown(17) Then ply# = -plyspeed# : playerdir% = 2
	If KeyDown(208) Or KeyDown(31) Then ply# = +plyspeed# : playerdir% = 8
	If KeyDown(203) Or KeyDown(30) Then plx# = -plxspeed# : playerdir% = 4
	If KeyDown(205) Or KeyDown(32) Then plx# = +plxspeed# : playerdir% = 6
	
	
	
	If playerdir% = 2 Then
		
		
		
		defaultstartframe# = 13.0
		defaultendframe#   = 16.0
		
		
		
	ElseIf playerdir% = 4 Then
		
		
		
		defaultstartframe# = 5.0
		defaultendframe#   = 8.0
		
		
		
	ElseIf playerdir% = 6 Then
		
		
		
		defaulstartframe# = 9.0
		defaultendframe#  = 12.0
		
		
		
	ElseIf playerdir% = 8 Then
		
		
		
		defaultstartframe# = 1.0
		defaultendframe#   = 4.0
		
		
		
	EndIf
	
	
	
	startframe# = startframe# + 1 * playeranimspeed#
	If startframe# > endframe# Then startframe# = defaultstartframe#
	If startframe# < 1 Then startframe# = defaultstartframe#
	
	
	
	ME_SetPlayerImage(Play, startframe#)
	ME_SetEnemyImage(Enemy, 1)
	
	
	
;Movement is simple 
;To move the player (POI,) do the following: 
	ME_MovePOI(plx#,ply#)
	
;This lets you move the player any of the four directions! 
	
;We update the map 
	ME_UpdateMap() 
;Now we set the color of the grid outlines (if you turned them on) 
	Color 100,100,100
;And then we draw it! 
	ME_DrawMap() 
;And then we reset the color of the text!
	Color 255, 255, 255
	
	
	
	enemywidth# = ImageWidth(Enemy)/2 ;Use /2 if the enemy graphic's width is twice as small as the frame
	enemyheight# = ImageHeight(Enemy)/2 ;Use /2 if the enemy graphic's height is twice as small as the frame
	
	
	
	If enx# < enemywidth# Then enx# = enemywidth#
	If enx# > GraphicsWidth()-enemywidth# Then enx# = GraphicsWidth()-enemywidth#
	If eny# < enemyheight# Then eny# = enemyheight#
	If eny# > GraphicsHeight()-enemyheight# Then eny# = GraphicsHeight()-enemyheight#
	
	
	
	DrawImage Enemy, enx#, eny#, 1
	
	
	
	Text GraphicsWidth()/2, GraphicsHeight()/2, "startframe#: "+startframe#, 1, 1
	Text GraphicsWidth()/2, GraphicsHeight()/2+20, "endframe#: "+endframe#, 1, 1
	Text GraphicsWidth()/2, GraphicsHeight()/2+40, "playerdir%: "+playerdir%, 1, 1
	
	DrawScrollingText(1) ;And, here's the command to scroll text. Read up on the Help Files for more information.
	
	
	
	Flip 
	
	
Wend



End

This is important, so pay attention: In order for you to use my system, you will need to:
A) Create a new folder in your game's root called "Text Scrolling".
B) Inside that folder, drop all of the text scrolling related files. You can get them from the link above. This should total 3 folders called "Fonts", "Images", and "SoundFX", as well as 3 .bb files, the Zelda text functions and the Zelda text setup. I've chosen to put FastImage.bb inside this folder, but if you want to change it, be sure the Include command in your main file reflects the new location.
c) Eventually, you should consider adding a new file in this folder called "Zelda Text Scripts.bb" and keep all of your text-to-be-scrolled inside this file. Then just include this file in the Main (there's one already commented out in there for you), and your IDE will look a lot cleaner.

If you can get it to work, your next step is to read through the help file I've included. I know it's tedious, but there's some really good explanations of how the entire system works.

Let me know if you have any questions.

-Rob the Great

Guy Fawkes

2012

OMG!OMG!OMG! HOW DID U DO THAT?! O_O U ROCK ROB! :D THANK YOU THANK YOU THANK YOU! =D

Is there a way I can control which text comes up for which NPC? :)

Take that Chu chu jelly in the corner for instance ;)

Rob the Great

2012

Do you really think I would spend months on end designing a text scrolling system and forget to make the text interchangeable? lol.

Check this out: I'm just going to modify the code in the main file again, but look what happens:

;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;; 
;;;Map API (ME) for Game and Edit Example 
;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;; 
;;;Coded By: mk2y10 (Dragon) 
;;;Version V 0.0.0.8 
;;; 
;;;Reference Map API Functions 
;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;; 

;First, set the graphics. 
Graphics3D 800,600,32,2 
InitDraw()
SetBuffer BackBuffer() 

Include "ME_LevelEditor_Lib.bb"
Include "Text Scrolling\FastImage.bb"
Include "Text Scrolling\Zelda-Text Setup.bb"
Include "Text Scrolling\Zelda-Text Functions.bb"
;Include "Text Scrolling\Zelda-Text Scripts.bb" You should place all CreateScripts() in a seperate Include file.
;I recommend that you keep all of your scripts in a separate Include file so it doesn't make your IDE look ugly.
CreateScript("You've found {Color 0,255,0}Green Chu Chu Jelly{Color 255,255,255}!",1,1)
CreateScript("This jelly has unique properties that everyone in ",1,2)
CreateScript("Hyrule is absolutely c{Pause 100}r{Pause 100}a{Pause 100}z{Pause 100}y{Pause 100} about. You'd better put it in your pack for later.",1,2)

;This you do not need unless you do the hide window at start Hack. 
;http://projectoutcast.forumup.com/viewtopic.php?t=7&mforum=projectoutcast#7 
;(This makes every program you run/compile start with a hidden window) 
;Win=SystemProperty("AppHWND") 
;api_ShowWindow(Win,1) 
;////

;Now we create a map 
Map = ME_CreateMap ( 128, 128 ) 

;We now must load a tile image! 
;This function is a SMART function for square tiles. 
;That means you can have an image up to 16x16 tiles (256 Tile MAX) 
;It reads the tiles from Top to Bottom and Left to Right! 
;All we need to provide is the image handel and the square size of one tile (32 here) 
Tile=LoadImage("gfx\ZTileset.bmp") 
ME_LoadTiles ( Tile , 32 ) 

;Before loading the player's image, we count the total number of frames in the playersheet

;Player

Global Player_Tiles_Wide% = 32

Global Player_Tiles_High% = 48

Global Player_Frame_Count% = ME_GetTotalFrames%("gfx\bloodelf_male3.png", Player_Tiles_Wide%, Player_Tiles_High%)

;Now we load the player image 
;I will be using one stationary image, but you can load an animation 
;   via the LoadAnimImage() 

Global Play=LoadAnimImage("gfx\bloodelf_male3.png", Player_Tiles_Wide%, Player_Tiles_High%, 0, Player_Frame_Count%) 
ME_SetPlayerImage(Play)

;Set the player's background color to invisible
ME_SetBackgroundInvisible(Play, 255, 255, 255)

;Enemy

Global Enemy_Tiles_Wide% = 32

Global Enemy_Tiles_High% = 32

Global Enemy_Frame_Count% = ME_GetTotalFrames%("gfx\Chu-chu.bmp", Enemy_Tiles_Wide%, Enemy_Tiles_High%)

;Now we load the enemy image 
;I will be using one stationary image, but you can load an animation 
;   via the LoadAnimImage() 

Global Enemy=LoadAnimImage("gfx\Chu-chu.bmp", Enemy_Tiles_Wide%, Enemy_Tiles_High%, 0, Enemy_Frame_Count%)
ME_SetEnemyImage(Enemy)

;Set the enemy's background color to invisible
ME_SetBackgroundInvisible(Enemy, 255, 0, 255)

;Now we set the Map mode and Player mods. Here are the modes: 
;0 - Do not restrict 
;1 - Restrict only X axis 
;2 - Restrict only Y axis 
;3 - Restrict both X and Y 
; 
;~When used in ME_SetMapMode(), it prevents the camera from going of 
;   the grid, no matter where the player/point-of-intrest is (POI) 
;~When used in ME_SetPOIMode(), it prevents the player (POI) from moving of the map. 
; 
;Here we want to use Mode 3 for both: 
ME_SetMapMode(3) 
ME_SetPOIMode(3) 

;Now that the restrictions are in place, we need to place the player (POI) on the map! 
ME_SetPOI(32,32) ;This is in pixels, not grid units! 

;You must set the map as the map to be drawn 
ME_SetMap(Map) 

;The last thing before the loop (optional) is to turn a grid overlay ON/OFF 
;It starts out off. 
ME_ShowGrid(1) 

Global plxspeed#
Global plyspeed#

Global plx#
Global ply#

;Now the loop 
While Not KeyHit(1) 
	Cls
	
	
	;If your not holding down a key, then reset the player movement so the player doesn't fly off the screen
	If Not GetKey() Then plx# = 0 : ply# = 0
	
	
	
	;If your NOT holding down the run button (Shift)
	If Not KeyDown(42) Or KeyDown(54)
		
		
		
		plxspeed# = 1.0
		plyspeed# = 1.0
		
		
	;Otherwise
	Else
		
		
		
		plxspeed# = 2.0
		plyspeed# = 2.0
		
		
		
	EndIf
	
	
	
	playeranimspeed# = .09
	
	
	
	If KeyDown(200) Or KeyDown(17) Then ply# = -plyspeed# : playerdir% = 2
	If KeyDown(208) Or KeyDown(31) Then ply# = +plyspeed# : playerdir% = 8
	If KeyDown(203) Or KeyDown(30) Then plx# = -plxspeed# : playerdir% = 4
	If KeyDown(205) Or KeyDown(32) Then plx# = +plxspeed# : playerdir% = 6
	
	
	
	If playerdir% = 2 Then
		
		
		
		defaultstartframe# = 13.0
		defaultendframe#   = 16.0
		
		
		
	ElseIf playerdir% = 4 Then
		
		
		
		defaultstartframe# = 5.0
		defaultendframe#   = 8.0
		
		
		
	ElseIf playerdir% = 6 Then
		
		
		
		defaulstartframe# = 9.0
		defaultendframe#  = 12.0
		
		
		
	ElseIf playerdir% = 8 Then
		
		
		
		defaultstartframe# = 1.0
		defaultendframe#   = 4.0
		
		
		
	EndIf
	
	
	
	startframe# = startframe# + 1 * playeranimspeed#
	If startframe# > endframe# Then startframe# = defaultstartframe#
	If startframe# < 1 Then startframe# = defaultstartframe#
	
	
	
	ME_SetPlayerImage(Play, startframe#)
	ME_SetEnemyImage(Enemy, 1)
	
	
	
;Movement is simple 
;To move the player (POI,) do the following: 
	ME_MovePOI(plx#,ply#)
	
;This lets you move the player any of the four directions! 
	
;We update the map 
	ME_UpdateMap() 
;Now we set the color of the grid outlines (if you turned them on) 
	Color 100,100,100
;And then we draw it! 
	ME_DrawMap() 
;And then we reset the color of the text!
	Color 255, 255, 255
	
	
	
	enemywidth# = ImageWidth(Enemy)/2 ;Use /2 if the enemy graphic's width is twice as small as the frame
	enemyheight# = ImageHeight(Enemy)/2 ;Use /2 if the enemy graphic's height is twice as small as the frame
	
	
	
	If enx# < enemywidth# Then enx# = enemywidth#
	If enx# > GraphicsWidth()-enemywidth# Then enx# = GraphicsWidth()-enemywidth#
	If eny# < enemyheight# Then eny# = enemyheight#
	If eny# > GraphicsHeight()-enemyheight# Then eny# = GraphicsHeight()-enemyheight#
	
	
	
	DrawImage Enemy, enx#, eny#, 1
	
	
	
	Text GraphicsWidth()/2, GraphicsHeight()/2, "startframe#: "+startframe#, 1, 1
	Text GraphicsWidth()/2, GraphicsHeight()/2+20, "endframe#: "+endframe#, 1, 1
	Text GraphicsWidth()/2, GraphicsHeight()/2+40, "playerdir%: "+playerdir%, 1, 1
	
	If ImagesCollide(Play,plx#,ply#,startframe#,Enemy,enx#,eny#,1)
		DrawScrollingText(1) ;And, here's the command to scroll text. Read up on the Help Files for more information.
	Else
		DrawScriptAgain(1) ;DON'T GET CONFUSED. THIS JUST MEANS WE WANT TO ENABLE THE TEXT TO DRAW AGAIN IF THEY COLLIDE, OTHERWISE IT WILl NEVER DRAW AGAIN
	EndIf
	
	
	
	Flip 
	
	
Wend



End

Wow, I haven't used 2D in forever. The ImagesColide() command is glitchy, but notice how the text only comes up if you are touching the Chu Chu.

Guy Fawkes

2012

NICE! :O Is there a way to make it so that the player cant go through the Chu chu jelly, and when the player is touching the Chu chu jelly and u press enter, then make the Chu jelly face u, THEN the text comes up? & allows the story to reset itself each time the NPC faces the player, so that the user can read over the text as many times as they choose? :D

Thanks, Rob! =D

Rob the Great

2012

Yes, there is. However, I'm about Blitzed out for the day, and on top of that, this isn't related to the text scrolling process, it's related to programming 101.

Put what you just said into pseudo, and you've got it:

;If the player is touching the chu chu on the chu chu's right side
   ;And the player is walking left
      ;Stop the player from walking left
   ;End that situation
;End that situation

;Repeat the above for each of the four direction.

;If the player is touching the chu chu anywhere
   ;And if the player pushed (ENTER)
      ;Turn the chu chu to face the player
      DrawScrollingText(whichgroup) ;OK, I'll give you that one
   ;End that situation
;End that situation

;Finally, if the player is not touching the chu chu
   DrawScriptAgain(whichgroup) ;this will allow you to talk to him again
;End that situation

There you go. I did the logic part, now you just replace my words with Blitz commands and you're set.

Guy Fawkes

2012

Thanks Rob! :) One more question. How can I tell if the Chu chu is on his right side? =D

Rob the Great

2012

You know, it's been (thinking..........) about 7 years since I've programmed anything in pure 2D. I honestly can't remember how the whole command set works because I'm in complete 3D mode right now. Now, if you happen to know where the master sword is, I can place it in the pedestal of time and go back 7 years to see how it's done, but if not, I'm afraid I'm not the right person to answer that. I'll bet someone on the BlitzPlus forums could answer it, though.

Guy Fawkes

2012

Thanks again, Rob! :) I GREATLY appreciate ur submission to the community! :D

Rob the Great

2012

No problem. I'm glad you enjoy it, it's totally made my day.

Guy Fawkes

2012

Hehe, I'm glad I could make ur day! ^_^ Ur awesome, Rob! :) This is TRUELY the BEST Text system for both 2D & 3D in the HISTORY of Blitz3D! :D Respect, Rob! :) Respect! B)

Blitzplotter

2012

Very nice piece of coding - looking forward to having a good play with this, cheers Rob and Thundros.

[Edit] Truly awesome slice of code - brilliant fun.

Rob the Great

2012

It's a pretty ugly piece of code, but it does some really nice things. It wasn't too ugly at first, but then I decided to add the ability to change stored variables in the strings. When I added the command, I was about 2/3 of the way finished with the entire project, so I had to make a function which would take the formatted string, de-format it, remove the old data, reinsert the new data, and reformat the string to basically what it was before. The function turned into a lot of copy-pasting with tiny changes in data values, and by the end, it was perhaps the longest and ugliest code I've ever written.

But, it does what it's supposed to do, and as long as it can scroll text efficiently, I don't care what the final code looks like, lol.

Guy Fawkes

2012

@Rob, can u add an image NEXT to the text window, so that it appears as if a character is talking?

Rob the Great

2012

What kind of image? Are you talking about moving the one that I have already, or using your own?

If you are using your own, just draw it over top of my text system:

DrawScrollingText(1)
StartDraw
   DrawImageEx(image,x,y)
EndDraw

That's quite literally all you have to do.

To change or reposition the image built in, you will need to modify the lines of code inside "Zelda-Text Functions.bb", inside the function "DrawScrollingText()". The lines that are responsible for this are:

		If drawdialoguebutton = 1 And scrollingtextcanskip <= 0 And tempdrawyesarrow = 0 And tempdrawnoarrow = 0 ;Draw the next section button
			Local tempalphavalue# = (Sin#((MilliSecs() Mod 720)/2.0) + 1.0)/2.0 ;just a simple way to make it blink on and off. I picked this method to avoid
																				;extra Globals, but note that this is inacurate if Delay is used or if there is
																				;too big of a jump from the time taken to get back to this point. Hold 'Backspace'
																				;when at the end of a section to see what I mean. For a more accurate method, 
																				;uncomment all lines regarding the global variable "sinticker", and also coment
																				;out this line to replace it with the one below. "sinticker" is just a number
																				;that increases by 1 every loop, and it's variable I use all the time for a much
																				;more acurate Sin() value as opposed to Millisecs().
			;Local tempalphavalue# = (Sin#(sinticker*9) + 1.0)/2.0 ;Uncomment to use sinticker rather than Millisecs() (more accurate).
			SetAlpha(tempalphavalue#)
			DrawImageEx(scriptnextimg,512,710)
			SetAlpha(1.0)
		EndIf
		If drawdialoguebutton = 2 ;Draw the end of dialogue button
			tempalphavalue# = (Sin#((MilliSecs() Mod 720)/2.0) + 1.0)/2.0 ;just a simple way to make it blink on and off. Read comments above for more info.
			;tempalphavalue# = (Sin#(sinticker*9) + 1.0)/2.0 ;Uncomment to use sinticker rather than Millisecs() (more accurate over long render-periods).
			SetAlpha(tempalphavalue#)
			DrawImageEx(scriptdoneimg,512,710)
			SetAlpha(1.0)
		EndIf

They are located towards the end of the function. If you want to change the image location, just change the x,y coordinates in the DrawImageEx() commands, and base it off of a resolution of 1024,768. Don't worry if your game uses a different resolution, the system will adjust the position and scale to match the same layout.

Blitzplotter

2012

But, it does what it's supposed to do, and as long as it can scroll text efficiently, I don't care what the final code looks like, lol.

- It certainly does that well - I was able to digest your code in no time at all - testament to a well written modular approach to coding.

Which is more than I can say for a 'little' project that I've been working on for a while - at times when I go back to it I'm like - now how the hell did I implement that?

Back to your text scrolling code - I'm using it to record my progress towards some goals - yeah I could just use word but it'd be nowhere near as nice to behold as your text scroller ;)

Rob the Great

2012

Glad you like it.

What is modular programming? I just program as a hobby, so I really don't know what all of these terms mean. I tried a Wiki search, but it's worded so complex that I really don't understand it.

Yasha

2012

What is modular programming?

Where you don't need to know anything about how it works, just call the functions and trust it to do its thing, and to not affect the rest of your application beyond what you request from it. It's a great way to build an application.

While some languages (notably BlitzMax) have formal support for it, you can really do it in any language as long as you have sensible naming conventions and clean includes.

Rob the Great

2012

Ah, I see. Yeah, that definitely sums up my whole programming premise, as I prefer to not think about what's going on under the hood when I call a function, whether I've written it myself or someone else did.

Blitzplotter

2012

Yeah, the 'include' function in Blitz 3D is great for breaking down a large project into easily digestable chunks.

Guy Fawkes

2012

<3 I love this dang thing =D

Guy Fawkes

2012

Sorry to bump an old thread, but Rob. Real quick question. Why is my text window glitching up, and not letting me exit it? Also, why does it change text colors at the end, and plays no sound for the letters?

Graphics3D 800,600,32,2 
InitDraw()
SetBuffer BackBuffer() 

Include "FastImage.bb"
Include "Zelda-Text Setup.bb"
Include "Zelda-Text Functions.bb"
;Include "Text Scrolling\Zelda-Text Scripts.bb" You should place all CreateScripts() in a seperate Include file.
;I recommend that you keep all of your scripts in a separate Include file so it doesn't make your IDE look ugly.
CreateScript("You've found {Color 0,255,0}Green Chu Chu Jelly{Color 255,255,255}!",1,1)
CreateScript("This jelly has unique properties that everyone in ",1,2)
CreateScript("Hyrule is absolutely c{Pause 100}r{Pause 100}a{Pause 100}z{Pause 100}y{Pause 100} about. You'd better put it in your pack for later.",1,2)

	While Not KeyDown(1)
	
		UpdateWorld()
		RenderWorld()

		;If ImagesCollide(Play,plx#,ply#,startframe#,Enemy,enx#,eny#,1)
			DrawScrollingText(1) ;And, here's the command to scroll text. Read up on the Help Files for more information.
		;Else
			;DrawScriptAgain(1) ;DON'T GET CONFUSED. THIS JUST MEANS WE WANT TO ENABLE THE TEXT TO DRAW AGAIN IF THEY COLLIDE, OTHERWISE IT WILl NEVER DRAW AGAIN
		;EndIf
			
		Flip
		
	Wend
	
		End

Thanks for the help! :)

Rob the Great

2012

From what you've provided, I haven't the slightest idea. My guess is that the include files have been tampered with too much and it's changing the way the scroller works. If the window is glitching, try downloading the file from above again and replacing it with the version you have. This will ensure that the code in the include files is how it was released. If it's just not letting you exit, remember that I defaulted the "Action Button" to the left Alt key on the keyboard. Also, the game window needs to be active to accept any input from the keyboard. As far as changing colors at the end, you do realize that I intentionally changed the color to green at the end of the first section, right? Also, remember that when you change the sections of a text (going from 1 to 2), the color is reset back to white. To override this, just add in another {Color} command at the beginning of the section. Finally, if it is not playing a sound and the include files are untouched from when you downloaded them, then make sure the sound files are in the correct folder to load. If they don't load, I believe that Blitz ignores the missing files and just doesn't play the sounds. I can't remember off of the top of my head where the sounds should be located at, but you can open up the Zelda-Text Setup.bb file and see where the sounds should be located relative to your game's root.

Aside from that, there should be no reason at all that the text is messing up. Everything above is formatted as needed to make it work. If the steps above do not solve the problem, please be more descriptive about what the problem is.

Guy Fawkes

2013

Rob, I hate to bump an old thread, but I have one more question. Is there a way to control which model reads what text?

Thank You!

celticpiping

2013

nvmd prob solved

Guy Fawkes

2014

Does anyone still have a copy of this? Thanks!

Rob the Great

2014

I think I still have the original source for this. Somewhere...I take it the link died? It was one of those free ftp sites, I wouldn't be surprised if it's gone now.

Rob the Great

2014

Yep, I just tracked it down and ran through the whole demo. It's amazing how much my coding skills have improved since I wrote this. It's almost to the point where I want to give myself a face-palm because of its design flaws. But it still looks cool.

Unfortunately, I have to leave for work in about thirty seconds, but I'll update the broken link later when I get home. I'll let you know when it's updated.

Guy Fawkes

2014

Thanks alot, Rob! :) And hey! Don't be so hard on yourself, mate. We all get better with age! :)

Rob the Great

2014

Ok. I've updated the link above and copied it here as well. This is uploaded via Google Drive, so I doubt the link will go bad anytime soon. All you have to do is click on the link, go to File-->Download and save it to your computer, unzip it, and then make sure you have the FastImage library DLLs in the appropriate folder to run it. Remember that I cannot share the FastImage library files with this project, so I have removed them from uploaded folder.

https://docs.google.com/file/d/0BzVV3pB-PsxWbldIVU11MkNueHc/edit?pli=1

Guy Fawkes

2014

THANK You, Rob! :D I was scouring my entire hard drives looking for it! :D

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