This is very lengthy, but I think it's worth the read! (Why wouldn't I?)
Right, so one day I was sitting at my computer and I had this image of something in my head, and thought it was pretty cool, so I started making a pixel image of it. Well that image (Pixelled Concept) didn't turn out as well as I liked, it was too big and bulky, and the spherical shape wasn't doing it for me, so I started again on a smaller version. I think it came out okay.
First I'll show you a quickly sketched concept to give you an idea of what I tried to Pixel (I'll show that in a bit):
Image explanation:
Far left: This is how the grenade is when you buy it/are handling it. The purple bit is the core (The part that explodes/implodes/shocks/shoots confetti) A purple core means it's inactive, a red core means it's active (ready to detonate), and a grey/black core mean's the core has already detonated (Dead). The blue parts are the shell, and the silvery bit is the framing for when the grenade opens.
I've done a bit of rudimentary shading to hopefully give a better idea of what the grenade is shaped like. As you can see (I hope) it has a sort of egg shape. This causes it to wobble during flight (when you throw it) but it's mainly to ensure that the grenade lands up-right. It works sort of like a
Weeble-Wobble. It must land up-right to properly detonate.
Middle: This is how the grenade looks when it's open, and inactive. The shape isn't how I'd like it, and it's not shaded, but it's only an example sketch... In-game you would only see this for a split second. Once the grenade lands on the ground, and up-rights itself, it opens... a few split-seconds later, the core begins to activate, flickering from purple to red a couple times, until the core stays red, and you end up with...
Far right: This is the grenade right before it detonates. Again, you would only see this for a split second, then KABOOM!... or "Foosh!" (That's a confetti sound)
Okay, I hope you understand what I tried to make. Here's the pixelled version:
Image Explanation:
Old (Concept): It's just that, it's the old version that I didn't like and used as a concept. The first frame has the grenade closed with an inactive core. The middle is open with an inactive core, just before the grenade activates, and the last has an active core.
After I got this far with this version, I realized that it was too big, and the sphere was ugly. It looked more like a mine than a grenade... So I started over. Eggs are so much cooler than balls.
New (WIP): This is the newest version, a WIP (Work in Progress) although, I suppose it could be finished now, if I don't find any flaws with it, and it's suitable to use here.
Left Group of Sprites: These sprites are for the animation you would see if the grenade were thrown... I think there's enough there, if not I could try to make some more... Anyway, if you can imagine them animated, you can tell that it would appear that the grenade is wobbling, which is exactly what it should do. It's an egg-shape. It's going to wobble.
Right Group of Sprites: The first two on the top are explained above... but the third one is new. The third one has a black core, which means it's been spent. Someone has thrown this grenade, and it has detonated... This is the sprite you would see as soon as the dust settles from the explosion made by the grenade...
Below are the last two sprites you would see after the grenade has detonated. Here's how it would go:
1. Throw grenade (Left group of sprites)
2. Grenade lands and opens (Top-First in Right group)
3. Grenade begins activated (Flashing Top First to Top Second in Right Group)
4.Grenade activates fully (Top 2nd, Right)
5. Detonation (Top 2nd, Right... Plus Flashy light effects/particle confetti)
6. Aftermath (Top 3rd, right -> Bottom 1st, right -> Bottom 2nd, right)
The spent grenade closes, then falls over a tiny bit. (It becomes unbalanced due to mass loss in the core)... The dead grenade should be left on the ground until someone picks it up, or the match ends. (I'll explain why it should later)
I know that's a lot of writing... I'm rather long winded. Sorry. I hope I explained everything about the graphics well enough.
How could this grenade be used?
Something futuristic. Something like, an energy bomb, or gravity charge, or an earthquake grenade...
One thing I thought of is this.
Energy Wave Grenade
When an energy wave grenade detonates it does what the name suggests... Emits an energy wave... This wave is circular and only goes so far (Zone staff should choose the max radius) Anybody can be hit by the wave including the thrower, and their teammates.
If you're hit by the wave, you get knocked over, you're very vulnerable here, as you can't move for a second or two... When hit by the wave there's also a
chance you'll receive damage. Once you get up from the fall you become disoriented. Your walking controls become scrambled... Up isn't up anymore, it could be right, or left... or down! This happens to every direction key... You can never have two keys move in the same direction though. This key scrambling lasts for a number of seconds (10-12?) and during that time, the keys rescramble again a few times.
Example:
If you're disoriented for 12 seconds, your keys would scramble once at the beginning, then every 4 seconds afterwards until your 12 seconds is up, and the effect wears off and your keys return to normal. Thus scrambling your keys 3 times over.
Regardless of what it's used for:
Here's where I explain why the used grenades should be left on the ground for people to pick up... The shells should be reusable. You can buy whole grenades at the store for so many dollars, but you can also buy the cores separately for a discount! So if you're swift enough you can pick up your (or someone else's) grenade shell and just replace the cores to save money!
Tangent ideas:
- Limit the number of grenade shells the player can carry at any given time
- Make different kinds of cores available for use in the grenades.
Conclusion:
That's all I can think of for now, in ideas, and in how to improve the graphics. If you have anything to add to the ideas of how to use this grenade, or if you see any problems with mine, post it here! If you notice any problems with my sprites, you should also post it here. I will look into the problem, and hopefully correct it ASAP!
Thanks to those who took the time to read this.
This post will probably be edited several times over as I may notice errors in spelling/grammar/etc later on.
07-09-2005, 01:33 AM
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Linear Mode
