"Script System" Type of Thing

[MajorityCA]

I feel really naive saying this... mostly because I feel like there's something I don't understand. I'm making a game, and I'm working on the engine. It's actually going great so far, I've made a lot of progress and I have a basic engine almost entirely fleshed out! I'm really excited.

But anyway, I'm trying to figure out how something like this could be accomplished in MMF2. I consider myself a fairly advanced user. I understand *most* things about the app (as far as I know), but I generally don't use extensions, and I'm terrible at thinking outside the box, so many many times I feel like I'm over-complicating things (and I'm always right).

What I'm looking to accomplish is a script type of system in which, there's a certain function that runs whenever it's called. A good example, is one I found a long time ago when I was looking at a Cave Story level editor. In the editor you could call functions, or scripts, and give them the variables they need. For example, you could call a "dialogue" script and make custom dialogue appear whenever the player... well, did whatever called it. Specifically I'm looking to make a dialogue system, but I'm not sure how to approach it. I've looked at the dialogue tutorial, but that didn't give me all the ideas I'm looking for to complete my system.

This is kind of difficult for me to explain, but if you have anything to say that might help me at all, it would be appreciated. Thanks in advance!

[Pkeod]

There are many ways to accomplish what you want. I would recommend you just use the ini++ object. Try and figure it out on your own, and if you need help just post again.

[uprize]

if you want to make an awesome script system, learn to use LUA. There is an example over on The Daily Click here: http://www.create-games.com/download.asp?id=7793

[Jaffob]

Or, if you refuse to use extensions, you can always use fastloops for the function triggering:

Start Loop "OpenDialogue" 1 time

[RickyRombo]

Or activate groups and use "On Group Activation"

[xyzzy]

Or activate groups and use "On Group Activation"

however fastloops act more like actual functions since they trigger immediately

but groups can have more than one line which is probably better than having a ton of "on loop" conditions

didn't i suggest triggered groups already i can't remember

[LB]

There is an extension which I am finding VERY useful in my game for calling immediate functions without fastloops and in a separte event as to erase any previous iobject selection, it's called the Fast Function object. The only difference is that loops run the moment they are triggered, and the fast function object runs after all the other actions in the event.

[MajorityCA]

@Pkeod:

I've used INIs before... I'm not really sure how I could use it to accomplish what I'm going for though. Am I missing something?

@bigredron:

This might be more of what I'm looking for. I'm not super-excited about having to learn a new language, but... if it gets the job done, then I don't have a choice. =]

Edit: Wow! I'm doing a little research on LUA and I guess many big titles have used it. I read that Crysis and Far Cry used it a lot... That's impressive!

@Jaffob: (& @RickyRombo)

I'm not refusing to use extensions. I just haven't had to code something that I absolutely need to have one for. Yet. I've thought about using fastloops and groups of events, but I'm not sure it would be the easiest way to accomplish this.

What I'm going for (until I find/think of something better) is a system I can make where I would call the function and give it the line that it will display at the same time. So, something like "call dialogue("Hello world!")" or something. Am I on the right track here? Haha.

@_LB:

Hm... I might look into that and get some more info.


I appreciate all your responses. I went to bed wondering if there'd be any tomorrow... Yep! There is! Haha, thanks guys. :grin:

[uprize]

Trust me, LUA is VERY powerful. World of Warcraft use it extensively. Plus it is very easy to learn the language. Check out www.lua.org! PM me if you got any questions about it

[Jaffob]

What I'm going for (until I find/think of something better) is a system I can make where I would call the function and give it the line that it will display at the same time. So, something like "call dialogue("Hello world!")" or something. Am I on the right track here? Haha.

Try the Fast Function or Func Loop Object. They can take parameters for a function. Fast Function can call functions through expressions, but Func Loop can take multiple parameters and can stop a function in the middle of it.