News about color customization!

[konidias]

With the help of Cheetos, we now have a program which can generate hundreds of recolored images in mere seconds. What this means is that we now have an enormous array of colors/shades to use.

Basically as of right now, each hairstyle has 64 different colors to pick from.

We only have 14 hairstyles at the moment, but that means there is already a possibility of 896 hairstyles!

These are the following colors currently included:

red
orange
yellow
green
blue
purple
pink
brown
black
gray
white
tan
olive
aqua
gold
tangerine

Each of these comes in four different shades:

light
normal
dark
deep

This same system will be used for clothing/accessories... so really there will be far more possibilities with this system than any other system on Graal to date.

Combine this with the fact that each hairstyle also has a "hat" hair style. (what the hair looks like while wearing a hat) So this means even greater customization still.

But with the thousands of image files we're going to have, I'm thinking Bomy Island is going to need it's own folders in Graal. lol

As for the file size... the size per image ranges from like 470 bytes to 1.47 kilobytes so no need to worry about running out of hard drive space.

[Chandler]

I want a screenshot!! :O

[slay3r89]

sounds great

[Griffyn]

outstanding

[zell12]

Screenshots please...

[Valder]

Set up some kinda of "teaser" so that people can try out some of these features for themselves instead of relying on screenshots.

[Waltz5]

Very nice... that's always been a problem, little customization.

[maximus_asinus]

I want to see customizable skin colors!

[Luda]

yeah it sounds great, screenshots PRONTO!

[Griffyn]

Originally Posted by Valder

Valder

Oh...oh my...

[Sparkplug]

Sounds cool. SS would be bomb.

[konidias]

Here's a quick example that I set up... note that one of the hairstyles is currently messed up. (will be fixed of course)

[smirt362]

Neat!

[zell12]

sexy

[hampy]

Looks v nice

[Chompy]

Amazing!!

[Myomoto]

Looks really cool, how is it going to work for clothing, though?
Do you have to buy new clothes every time you want to change the color of a part of your outfit then?
Or do you buy a cloth item and then just change the colors of it like you want?

[konidias]

Originally Posted by Myomoto

Looks really cool, how is it going to work for clothing, though?
Do you have to buy new clothes every time you want to change the color of a part of your outfit then?
Or do you buy a cloth item and then just change the colors of it like you want?

Each article of clothing has it's own color. Yes you have to obtain the clothes that you wear. I think doing this will be good for player to player trading and also make it so you can't just look however you want the moment you log in the server. It creates value for your appearance so that looking like you want to look actually holds some importance instead of. "I set my body to x # and colors to blah blah blah"

This will also prevent people from easily copying other people's looks.

[Myomoto]

Originally Posted by konidias

Each article of clothing has it's own color. Yes you have to obtain the clothes that you wear. I think doing this will be good for player to player trading and also make it so you can't just look however you want the moment you log in the server. It creates value for your appearance so that looking like you want to look actually holds some importance instead of. "I set my body to x # and colors to blah blah blah"

This will also prevent people from easily copying other people's looks.

It makes more sense and value, I'll give you that.
You were just gonna have 64 fixed colors, or would it be possible to actually mix your own colors as a player? The latter would create quite a fuss at least considering trading, because you might be collecting clothes of a specific color, but you couldn't find clothes that matched each other in color because a few would be 'off' by a few scores in their RGB code.

If you're 'just' gonna have 64 colors, then it's no problem I guess

Edit: One more thing, are long sleeved shirts that cover the entire torso going to be segmented into sleeves and chest/torso in regards of color, or do your current system don't support mixing two different colors on one sprite?

For example, your own char featured in the picture, he's wearing a long sleeved orange shirt and a black vest, right? Not just one clothing article?

[smirt362]

Originally Posted by konidias

Each article of clothing has it's own color. Yes you have to obtain the clothes that you wear. I think doing this will be good for player to player trading and also make it so you can't just look however you want the moment you log in the server. It creates value for your appearance so that looking like you want to look actually holds some importance instead of. "I set my body to x # and colors to blah blah blah"

This will also prevent people from easily copying other people's looks.

Have you checked your PM's lately? I have a question for you

[konidias]

Right 64 colors as of now... If a unique enough color comes around then it can be added as a new color set.

The character in my signature is wearing a red tunic and a black sleeveless coat. There will be some clothing items that have more than one color, but it's mostly going to be one color per item... Since having like... a striped shirt of two colors would mean there would need to be like... 256 different color variations for just one single striped shirt... and that's WITHOUT different shades.

Each clothing item is treated like an individual item and piece of clothing on the character. These are the following clothing items possible. You can wear one of each of these:

Back Accessory
Belt
Coat
Ear Accessory
Face Acessory
Gloves
Hat
Neck Accessory
Shoes
Tunic (tunic is the clothing worn beneath the coat. This will also be the attribute slot for things such as pants/shorts)

There's also Shields which are both a visible accessory and useable object. They fall in the same category as swords.

Aside from those attributes, you can also change your skin color from eight different colors (so far), your hair style/color, your face/eye style and color, and also a face attribute such as a tattoo, scar, bruise... or whatever... which is actually on the face and not an item.

[Crono]

sweat sweat

[zell12]

What about making vials of dye available? could be possible to make a job out of it too.

[Myomoto]

Originally Posted by zell12

What about making vials of dye available? could be possible to make a job out of it too.

Yea, I was thinking of some large coloring shop with pots filled with dye all over the place, which you could then throw your clothes in, the darker the color, the longer they'd have to soak :P

Anyways, the amount char of customization sounds really sweet

[Sparkplug]

nice hair styles, keep up the good work . cant wait to play

[Personal Jesus]

Head 26 hair?

[konidias]

Originally Posted by Myomoto

Yea, I was thinking of some large coloring shop with pots filled with dye all over the place, which you could then throw your clothes in, the darker the color, the longer they'd have to soak :P

Anyways, the amount char of customization sounds really sweet

It's an interesting idea, but would kind of take away from having to hunt down the exact color clothing you're looking for. Also how exactly would the dying work? Could you dye any shirt any other color? Would there be a specific "colorless" set of clothing which you could dye? Could you only dye lighter colored shirts to a darker same color? I'd need more of an explanation of this idea before I could think about implementing it... =p

Originally Posted by Personal Jesus

Head 26 hair?

I'd love to add it but right now there is the problem of the big red hair band thing that throws in the "two sets of color" problem. I can either:

a) Add the hairstyle in all of the colors/shades and leave the hairband red... or
b) Add the hairstyle in all of the colors/shades and adjust the hairband color/shade to compliment the hair color/shade... or
c) Add the hairstyle in all of the colors/shades and the hairband in all of the colors/shades as well... resulting in thousands of variations for one hairstyle... or
d) Add the hairstyle in all of the colors/shades and the hairband in all of the colors but only the normal color shade so it would be 3x less stuff to be made.

I'm thinking option d is the best bet... But still that would be like a set of multicolored hair for each color... meaning like 15-16 sets of the same hair.

As for possibly making the hairband into an item of some sort... that might be possible... but then I'd have to make a special hairband graphic for each hairstyle, and it would take away an attribute... meaning you might not be able to wear a hat or face accessory.

So I'm thinking something like option b or d.

[Valder]

Originally Posted by konidias

It's an interesting idea, but would kind of take away from having to hunt down the exact color clothing you're looking for. Also how exactly would the dying work? Could you dye any shirt any other color? Would there be a specific "colorless" set of clothing which you could dye? Could you only dye lighter colored shirts to a darker same color? I'd need more of an explanation of this idea before I could think about implementing it... =p

I'd love to add it but right now there is the problem of the big red hair band thing that throws in the "two sets of color" problem. I can either:

a) Add the hairstyle in all of the colors/shades and leave the hairband red... or
b) Add the hairstyle in all of the colors/shades and adjust the hairband color/shade to compliment the hair color/shade... or
c) Add the hairstyle in all of the colors/shades and the hairband in all of the colors/shades as well... resulting in thousands of variations for one hairstyle... or
d) Add the hairstyle in all of the colors/shades and the hairband in all of the colors but only the normal color shade so it would be 3x less stuff to be made.

I'm thinking option d is the best bet... But still that would be like a set of multicolored hair for each color... meaning like 15-16 sets of the same hair.

As for possibly making the hairband into an item of some sort... that might be possible... but then I'd have to make a special hairband graphic for each hairstyle, and it would take away an attribute... meaning you might not be able to wear a hat or face accessory.

So I'm thinking something like option b or d.

Just make the headband the basic colors. No variations, just yellow, blue, red, green, black, white, orange, purple, and pink.

[Crono]

Originally Posted by konidias

b) Add the hairstyle in all of the colors/shades and adjust the hairband color/shade to compliment the hair color/shade...

i like this one

[Devil]

Originally Posted by Gerami

sweat sweat

Don't drip everywhere

Nice addition koni.

[Myomoto]

Originally Posted by konidias

It's an interesting idea, but would kind of take away from having to hunt down the exact color clothing you're looking for. Also how exactly would the dying work? Could you dye any shirt any other color? Would there be a specific "colorless" set of clothing which you could dye? Could you only dye lighter colored shirts to a darker same color? I'd need more of an explanation of this idea before I could think about implementing it... =p

There would have to be some sort of charge for using it, of course, maybe you'd even have to bring your own dye?
There could be a big tank of bleach that you could throw the clothes in at first, so it'd go white, and then you would gradually color it the light, normal, dark and deep variation of the basic colors by letting it soak 1 to 4 times in the color tanks, black could be a bit different, because anything could be dropped into the black tank and just become black, unless it is white, then it'd go more and more gray, I guess.

Hm, maybe the dyes would have to be 'rare' items that you would be able to trade with each other.
Also, you could introduce new colors from time to time that you could only get from using the color shop, thus keeping the 'hunt for looks' idea alive

[James]

Originally Posted by Myomoto

There would have to be some sort of charge for using it, of course, maybe you'd even have to bring your own dye?
There could be a big tank of bleach that you could throw the clothes in at first, so it'd go white, and then you would gradually color it the light, normal, dark and deep variation of the basic colors by letting it soak 1 to 4 times in the color tanks, black could be a bit different, because anything could be dropped into the black tank and just become black, unless it is white, then it'd go more and more gray, I guess.

Hm, maybe the dyes would have to be 'rare' items that you would be able to trade with each other.
Also, you could introduce new colors from time to time that you could only get from using the color shop, thus keeping the 'hunt for looks' idea alive

I think dye should be some sort of special rare item. Perhaps from events? Or scratch the idea entirely from clothes, and distribute it to hair! Make the default hair colors natural ones (black, brown, blonde, red/orange, etc). You need certain ingredients to make certain colors. I think that'd be pretty interesting, and make hair colors a lot more unique. Just to put it in perspective, here's an example of what I'm thinking.

Light Blue Hair
1 empty vial + blue dye + rare item

Blue Hair
1 empty vial + (2) blue dyes + rare item

Dark Blue Hair
1 empty vial + (3) blue dyes + rare item

I dunno, just my two cents!

Edit: Hmm, I just noticed Myomoto said dye should be rare....I concur as stated above!

[Valder]

I also think that if Dye does become a rare item that the price of it should be regulated by the staff. Hopefully the economy can be kept in balance with that kind of staff-support.

[Infernix]

I SEARCH FOR THE RARE HAIR DYE...come on now guys. I think you can think alil harder than that.

[James]

Originally Posted by Infernix

I SEARCH FOR THE RARE HAIR DYE...come on now guys. I think you can think alil harder than that.

It's a game man? Graal has always been about customization. If people want to look "their way" on a certain server, it makes it more enjoyable to earn it. It also makes it so you can't just easily copy the looks of other players. I guess it gives you the feel of some kind of status/achievement.

It's not like it's going to be the main feature of the friggin playerworld.

"PLAYERS! YOUR MAIN OBJECTIVE IS TO FIND THE HOLY HAIR DYE, YOU CAN DO IT! BE SURE TO FIND THE RIGHT ONE, OR I SHALL BESTOW ETERNAL DAMNATION ON YOU ALL!"

[maximus_asinus]

Dying hair should not be as difficult. It should be as simple as going to your local convenience store and purchasing the hair dye. Not everything has to be this difficult.

[Valder]

Originally Posted by James

It's a game man? Graal has always been about customization. If people want to look "their way" on a certain server, it makes it more enjoyable to earn it. It also makes it so you can't just easily copy the looks of other players. I guess it gives you the feel of some kind of status/achievement.

It's not like it's going to be the main feature of the friggin playerworld.

"PLAYERS! YOUR MAIN OBJECTIVE IS TO FIND THE HOLY HAIR DYE, YOU CAN DO IT! BE SURE TO FIND THE RIGHT ONE, OR I SHALL BESTOW ETERNAL DAMNATION ON YOU ALL!"

Couldn't have said it better myself.

[James]

Originally Posted by maximus_asinus

Dying hair should not be as difficult. It should be as simple as going to your local convenience store and purchasing the hair dye. Not everything has to be this difficult.

It is that simple, in the real world ; games are meant to challenge you. It's just an idea, but I fully support is because it would make players unique.

If nothing was difficult to obtain in a game, no one would play. Think about all the huge MMORPGS that make little things complicated to obtain, there's a lot of them. I'd list the top 3, but I don't think I need to.

Here's a simple scenario for you:

Your idea of not having hair dye hard to get
+There's a veteran player sitting on a bench with shiny blue hair and a sweet looking sword.
Newbie: hi how do u get blue hair?!!
Veteran Player: just use the "sethaircolor" command
Newbie: o sweet!!! hmm....o and how do u get that sword?
Veteran Player: say "setsword sweetultrassj454564sword.png"
Newbie: COOL!!!

Twenty minutes later

Newbie: *thinking to himself: hmmm...what the heck, everything is so easy to get...i'm bored...there's no challenge to this game*

I mean, I've been in a position on other games where I have access to all the items...it just takes the fun out of the game in my opinion. Challenge is what makes games great! The harder they are, the better they are, but there definitely is a level of difficulty where it just gets rediculous...I've played a few extremely challenging games that just take way too long to get anything. I mean, they're still great and all, but some people have lives.

[WanDaMan]

Lovely!

[konidias]

Originally Posted by James

I mean, I've been in a position on other games where I have access to all the items...it just takes the fun out of the game in my opinion. Challenge is what makes games great! The harder they are, the better they are, but there definitely is a level of difficulty where it just gets rediculous...I've played a few extremely challenging games that just take way too long to get anything. I mean, they're still great and all, but some people have lives.

I agree wholeheartedly. I believe that is why staff on servers who get everything handed to them do not appreciate anything there and end up wanting staff toys and such.

Like right now when I hire someone they get access to all the items, abilities, staff boots, warping, etc... It takes away from the fun of having to earn the items.