How to integrate interface hud with scrolling game?

[cathy_1966]

Hello all those experienced game makers. I continue to work on my game and now I am wondering how the game interface is placed on the frame. Is it put outside of the frame so it doesn't interfere with the gameplay? I made it transparent because as is my ship is going over the interface- that is probably not right. I can't wrap my head around what I am to do to make it so it is separate from the game but part of every frame. I haven't been able to find a tutorial that explains this. Please check out my game and help me understand. Thank you! https://www.dropbox.com/s/drmt18nej9...nterf.mfa?dl=0

[schrodinger]

Layers are just perfect for this, just place your hud graphics on a separate layer
(on the right you should see the layers toolbar, click on top, in the "new layer" icon)
anything staying in a layer "above" will be displayed over what's in layers "below"
(being objects in the layer actives or backdrops)

then you can set layer x,y coefficients to 0 if using backdrops (to avoid them scrolling)
or use an active object for GUI and disable "follow the frame" in its properties
and set layer (or GUI active object, if that's the case) blend coefficient to something above 100 to allow for transparency

see modified example:

https://www.dropbox.com/s/5vj18e3tef...ter_1.mfa?dl=0

the GUI size must be the same of screen size though (I've reduced it a bit in the example)

[cathy_1966]

Hey thanks salamanderpants and shrodinger! Especially for the example schrodinger! That is so helpful! I haven't entirely finished with the gui, but now I can work on it knowing how it will look and function. Thank you!

[Del_Duio]

I put my HUD on a layer directly above the main layer, which is almost always an active object set to not follow the frame around.

Layers are awesome and very very useful. You can even use another one specifically to hold an options menu, Subscreen, etc.

[Retrobolt]

Also put your characters on a layer above the HUD which will give it a cool retro effect like in mario and Shovel Knight.



And for fun heres a link to this great shovel knight blog.
http://www.gamasutra.com/blogs/David...vel_Knight.php