Moonpearl's Animated Custom Menu System Options

[Moonpearl]

Animated Custom Menu System
Version: 2.00
Author: Moonpearl
Date: March 12th, 2012

Version History

Version 2.00 - 2012.03.12

[Show/Hide] Features

• Graphical improvements
  
  • Scenes overlap (i.e. when switching from menu A to menu B, A's elements
    are being swept away while B's fit into place)
    
  • Animations (as defined in the project database) may be played upon
    various events (selecting/deselecting items, decision button...)
    
  • Background is now composed with any number of layers, each of which
    can exhibit one or more effects (scrolling, flickering, waving...)
    
  • Images replacing text now respond to alignment like regular text
• New scenes
  
  • Title scene
    
  • Shop scene
    
  • Save/load scene
• Code improvements
  
  • Scenes now inherit code from their base version - placing a modified
    version of Scene_<menutype> before the ACMS script will in turn modify
    ACMS's Scene_<menutype>, while it shall retain its ACMS appearance
    
  • Menu items are now subclasses of Window_Base - they can now use any of
    Window_Base's methods, typically displaying methods
    
  • Movements now work with Functions
    
  • For windows used outside the menu (like Window_Item or Window_Help),
    a copy named Window_ACMS_<windowtype> will automatically replace its
    general equivalent in the menus only
• Other improvements
  
  • Added LOTS of options
    
  • Changed folder structure and naming convention

Version 1.11

[Show/Hide] Features

• Broke Constants entry into 3 for easier theme modification
• Added constants to set the movement of the background
• Added gold symbol display in the main menu
• Added a new graphical theme - "Data Vortex"

Version 1.10

[Show/Hide] Features

• Made the code structure more modular using a common root (Scene_Menu_Base)
  for all menus
• Changed handling for graphical digits (a single picture with all of them
  instead of separate ones)
• Added constants to make customization easier
• Added a new menu for actors' biographies
• Added dynamic adaptation of HP and SP bars' size
• Added portrait change when HP is low / status is altered
• Added a new graphical theme - "Summer Breeze"

Version 1.00 - Original release to RPGRevolution.com

Description

You know custom menu systems are not always easy to customize. Or they aren't really visually appealing. Or they can't include new custom menus you need for your project.

Your ideal CMS would feature all that at the same time. And, to your greatest fortune, it's right here.

Video

Features & Screenshots

• Compose your own background with any number of layers, each of which can exhibit one or several special effects
  
  [Show/Hide] Screenshots

  
• Show Animations (as defined in the project's database) upons various events (selecting item, making decision, cancelling...)
  
  [Show/Hide] Screenshots

  
• Windows and buttons are moved in/out when switching scenes, and scenes overlap (elements from the next scene are brought in while elements from the previous scene are being swept away)
  
  [Show/Hide] Screenshots

  
• Special menus
  
  [Show/Hide] Screenshots

  Title screen
  
  
  Party selection menu
  
  
  Biography menu
  
  
  Modified load/save menu
  
• Several themes to choose from as starters
  
  [Show/Hide] Screenshots

  Standard theme
  
  
  Summer Breeze theme
  
  
  Data Vortex theme
  
  
  Moon Pearl theme
  
• Highly & easily customizable
  
  • Change pictures at will
  • Each window type can have its own particular windowskin
  • Customize party max size, main menu options, transition speed between scenes, and much more
  • Minimal to no script edits required - only adjust a few constants, everything else is managed automatically
• Easily expandable
  
  • ACMS only features code that modifies scenes' appearance, they still work using the base code
  • Thus, external custom scenes should be fairly compatible with ACMS - if you're in luck, they'll fit perfectly as is, if not, just minimal tweaking should do the trick
  • Scripters will find ACMS's architecture extremely powerful and reliable to write their own scenes

Known Compatibility Issues

• May clash with scripts which deal with menu scenes, even though every metaprogramming skills I possess were gathered in order to avoid such a dramatic event

Download

Download links and all other information (including terms of use, instructions and FAQ) can be found on my blog.

Author's Notes

I put a great deal of effort into this project. Please provide feedback if you like what you see!

Also, I'm interested into seeing ACMS at work in your own project. With your permission, I might want to display screenshots of it on my blog as an illustration of how extensively it can be customized. Also, if you wish to share your own theme for ACMS, I'd be more than happy to provide a link to it in my gallery.</version>

This post has been edited by Moonpearl: May 8 2012, 08:19 AM

[Night_Runner]

It's a really beautiful menu you've put together

Inside the skills screen, there's a small bug that the Sprite_Status doesn't update when you press Q & W to scroll a new actor, I'm not sure if you were looking for a way to have the cards cycle, like you have when selecting an actor for items (which looks amazing, by the way).

[Moonpearl]

Thank you Night Runner. I know about that bg but there were so many issues to fix with v1.10 that I overlooked that one. I'll give it a quick look for the next release.

[darkhalo]

This is great script Moonpearl. Have been looking for a new animated menu system for a while, and will certainly
find a use for this in the future.
The only thing I see needs looking at is in the skills menu. If I switch to say Lancer, his face stays as Aluxes.
Love that rolling fog effect background btw.

[SoloHero]

That looks absolutely beautiful, I'll give it a try.

[joey101]

I LOVE THIS MENU
makes me want to use XP agian
awsome work

the name of your game reminds me of a song called "rosemary had an accident"

This post has been edited by joey101: Jan 27 2012, 03:38 PM

[Nufuz]

Wow
It's a beautiful CMS
I want to try it

[Moonpearl]

Haven't been around for a while, thanks to all of you for your positive feedback.

The only thing I see needs looking at is in the skills menu. If I switch to say Lancer, his face stays as Aluxes.

I wonder why everyone keeps thinking it's a bug. The widgets displayed at the bottom of the screen are targets for skills. It has nothing to do with the currently selected actor, and that's the reason why changing actors does not change targets as well.

This post has been edited by Moonpearl: Feb 29 2012, 08:55 AM

[Moonpearl]

Rejoice, ye ACMS lovers, for a brand new version has been born!

I've been asked for new features here and there, and since I also had my own plans for it, I thought it was about time I did something. I first came up with a draft for a v1.12, then thought of further improvement for an hypothetical v1.13. Then, I thought to myself, since I'm there, why not do everything I have in mind at the same time. It took me long enough, but here's the result, and I doubt you'll be disappointed with it.

So, here comes v2.00, with TONS of new features and fixes, and also a forth theme - the three older ones still need to be updated to work with v2.00, so please be a little patient. See the main post for more information. Ane please leave a nice comment if you like what you see.

[yamina-chan]

Moonpearl, you excelled thyself!
I loved it before and I do so even more now.
I have not yet read the instructions or any information in the scripts as to find out how you accomplished certain things or how hard it would be to disable certain others (such as the battle system still beeing involved. That will surly start conflicts with some custom Battle Scripts) but I am highly impresse wirth what you did here.
The sparkling curser is just one of many things that amaze me.
Thank you for spending so much time to create this and even more for sharing it.

[Moonpearl]

Moonpearl, you excelled thyself!
I loved it before and I do so even more now.

Thanks! I was hoping for that sort of compliment.

I have not yet read the instructions or any information in the scripts as to find out how you accomplished certain things or how hard it would be to disable certain others (such as the battle system still beeing involved. That will surly start conflicts with some custom Battle Scripts)

The only feature used both by battle systems and ACMS is the HP/SP bars' display. As things are now, you basically have to choose between ACMS's bars and your custom battle system's bars, then put whichever system you wish to keep bars from after the other, so that it is the last to override the draw_actor_hp and draw_actor_sp methods. I have not considered the possibility to use different bars simultaneously, but ayways I have the feeling that it would only make a project look heterogeneous.

Now if you're talking about the item/skill/help windows being overriden bv ACMS and thus clashing with battle systems, this issue is now cleared.

he sparkling curser is just one of many things that amaze me.

Sadly, the features that took me the most time to code are the least impressive to the novice's eye. Including cursor animations took me about 10 minutes.

Thank you for spending so much time to create this and even more for sharing it.

You're welcome. It's a great personal achievement, I'm very glad I could do it.

[Yuu-Mon Musuedo]

Can't download and test it out with my current location right now, so I'm hoping I can get these answered before I get home, but a few quick questions.

Can I use commands from Universal Message System such as " \v[4] " to display variable on biography? As well as changing things like: "Class" or "Race" to something else like Clan?

Can I not use the title main but only the menus?

Is the animated background an GIF image?

Can I make the party menu unaccessible when needed?

For the character's images when you enter status and etc. Is there's a limit to how big I can make my images?

Would you be able to keep being cool and buy me a penguin on Friday?

[Ndoelicious]

Why it has to be XP T.T

[Moonpearl]

Can I use commands from Universal Message System such as " \v[4] " to display variable on biography?

No. Why would you do such a thing by the way?

As well as changing things like: "Class" or "Race" to something else like Clan?

Of course, you'll see it in the bio setup, you can put any sort of text in there, just consider it like a blank sheet of paper.

Can I not use the title main but only the menus?

Yes, simply delete the Scene_Title entry from the ACMS script. Same goes for any other scene, by the way.

Is the animated background an GIF image?

No! There are several images (you'll see it when browsing the image files) that are layered, and the effects are entirely computed by the script, which means you can put any effects on any layers, as see fit.

Can I make the party menu unaccessible when needed?

Not right now, however you can make characters unavailable for selection in the party menu by simple using the command "remove actor from party". Thus, you can ensure that the player can't access particular characters when needed.

For the character's images when you enter status and etc. Is there's a limit to how big I can make my images?

No, as you can see the battlers themselves have different sizes and the script's just fine with it. You might just want to keep them at a size that fits on the screen.

Would you be able to keep being cool and buy me a penguin on Friday?

I'll think about it.

Why it has to be XP T.T

Because VX sucks.

[yamina-chan]

Sadly, the features that took me the most time to code are the least impressive to the novice's eye. Including cursor animations took me about 10 minutes.

I'll freely admit to being a novice at scripting since it is simply beyond my abilities. Sure, I learn due trial and error and can tinker with scripts to a degree but that's about it and thus I can only guess as to how hard it is to achieve certain things in script form.
Which is also a reason why I admire people who are capable of creating new things like this. =)

As for the Battle System being influenced, that was a general thought. Including the bars and the help window as well as the fact that it will override certain 'action' words such as "Skills" in your Demo. And as of yet there is (I believe) no way to remove this or change the other commands to the same style.

[Moonpearl]

I'll freely admit to being a novice at scripting since it is simply beyond my abilities. Sure, I learn due trial and error and can tinker with scripts to a degree but that's about it and thus I can only guess as to how hard it is to achieve certain things in script form.

Well, playing an animation would be fairly difficult to script if RGSS didn't already do it by itself. I just re-used core features (in a hopefully smart way). The most difficult thing to do is completely invisible though: maximizing compatibility with other scripts. The rest was not that hard, mostly time-consuming because there was a lot to be done (or redone).

As for the Battle System being influenced, that was a general thought. Including the bars and the help window as well as the fact that it will override certain 'action' words such as "Skills" in your Demo. And as of yet there is (I believe) no way to remove this or change the other commands to the same style.

Yes there is. Just make pictures called "Attack", "Guard", "Escape" and so on, put them into the Graphics/ACMS/Texts folder, and see for yourself.

This post has been edited by Moonpearl: Mar 12 2012, 01:41 PM

[yamina-chan]

I stand corrected then.
In this case, my opinion has just improved once again XD

I will give this a trough-out test either tomorrow or the day after, seeing if I can find anything that might be worth mentioning but I trust that the time was well spent =)

[Yuu-Mon Musuedo]

No. Why would you do such a thing by the way?

Thought I could cheat and change that part to: "Smarts: \v[4]" A second mini-status related to my game's variable. XD

And yeah, I checked it out. I'm amazed you can make a wave effect like that. Thanks for answering.

[Moonpearl]

Thought I could cheat and change that part to: "Smarts: \v[4]" A second mini-status related to my game's variable. XD

Well, use the status scene then. (which makes me think, what about a customizable status screen for future versions?) The bio is intended to display static info only (though it does so in a particularily flexible way).

And yeah, I checked it out. I'm amazed you can make a wave effect like that. Thanks for answering.

Actually, programmging a wave effect is not a big deal, math just does wonder. What's amazing is that it does not slow down the game, considering how flawed the RGSS graphic engine is - and that's what makes my wave effect script different.

[XerX]

Looks really cool. Can't wait to try it.