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Project forums => Team Avalanche => Topic started by: sl1982 on 2010-10-23 20:22:13

Title: GUI v2.0
Post by: sl1982 on 2010-10-23 20:22:13

Hey guys here is a release of version 2 of the gui. Most things are fixed, there are a few outstanding things to do. Mainly cait sith's slots and battle square stuff. Should be fully compatible with DLPB's menu mod.

Anyways here it is
http://www.megaupload.com/?d=E7C0IE1K (http://www.megaupload.com/?d=E7C0IE1K)

Note: Only fully compatible with english right now. Dialogue should work fine with french, spanish, and german as well.

Many thanks to titeguy3 for allowing the use of his main title screen :D

Title: Re: GUI v2.0
Post by: DLPB_ on 2010-10-23 20:33:54

Cheers!  and yes it is. (Remember to install the Avalanche mod first)

 8)

Title: Re: GUI v2.0
Post by: philman on 2010-10-24 04:06:31

i no have menu mod, this will work for me? uhmm anyone can post screenshots for i know the changes of gui 2.0? :-(

Title: Re: GUI v2.0
Post by: willis936 on 2010-10-24 07:57:23

I'm not sure if anyone else is noticing this but the new font has some serious spacing issues that weren't there before.
Also I know this is about half a year too late but I have a bit (huge) affinity for nixie tubes and though there technically they never made krypton nixies my quarrel comes with the brightness rather than color.  They seem too dim for nixie tubes and the hue seems slightly off from the original (I could be wrong here).  I know sticking to the original is more important that adhering to realism (final FANTASY etc.) but I think visually the timer could use a helping hand in sticking out.

Title: Re: GUI v2.0
Post by: AlbusJC on 2010-10-24 10:55:17

The file is temporarily unavailable  :'(

Title: Re: GUI v2.0
Post by: Cyberman on 2010-10-24 15:49:50

Quote from: willis936 on 2010-10-24 07:57:23

I'm not sure if anyone else is noticing this but the new font has some serious spacing issues that weren't there before.
Also I know this is about half a year too late but I have a bit (huge) affinity for nixie tubes and though there technically they never made krypton nixies my quarrel comes with the brightness rather than color.  They seem too dim for nixie tubes and the hue seems slightly off from the original (I could be wrong here).  I know sticking to the original is more important that adhering to realism (final FANTASY etc.) but I think visually the timer could use a helping hand in sticking out.

<HUMOR_MODE>So you want the font to be 3d?< /HUMOR_MODE>
Perhaps screen capture both screens font output and cut out that section of the image that shows the time, for each. Then do a pixel test to see how far off it is (HSV or RGB based either way). I would be sure to use the identical time for both examples. You may want to also see if it is different per background as well.

Cyb

Title: Re: GUI v2.0
Post by: sl1982 on 2010-10-24 16:50:44

The new font is pixel perfect to the original. The old one was not. It was the only way to avoid graphical glitches. If you do not like the new one you are free to use v1.

Title: Re: GUI v2.0
Post by: BlitzNCS on 2010-10-25 19:02:46

http://screencast.com/t/x7svfEjIdD2
There's definitely something going on here. You might have lined up all the pixels right, but it doesn't look spot-on to me D:

EDIT: Just realised, the screencap I took says 'it', whereas the shot from the youtube walkthrough says 'this'. Strange.

Title: Re: GUI v2.0
Post by: sl1982 on 2010-10-25 19:54:34

I just looked at something and it seems i made a major error with the new GUI. Field text is using the wrong font sheet, it should be using the wider one. I will try to get a new version up as soon as i can. For now i will leave the one up as it is better then nothing.

Title: Re: GUI v2.0
Post by: philman on 2010-10-25 20:22:35

I already uninstall the GUI v2.0 but when i install,my main menu don't worked...the png don't worked  :? anyone knows why this happened? (i already uninstalled but only want know why this happened)

Title: Re: GUI v2.0
Post by: DLPB_ on 2010-10-25 20:51:25

Probably because modpath isn't working properly.  Open FF7_opengl.cfg and make sure the modpath is set to Avalanche and that the files are in the mods folder in folder called "Avalanche"

Title: Re: GUI v2.0
Post by: sl1982 on 2010-10-25 21:20:49

The installer should take care of this for you. Make sure you have a version of aali's driver that runs modpath. Preferably the latest version.

Title: Re: GUI v2.0
Post by: philman on 2010-10-25 22:12:52

yeah the gui v2.0 care of create a folder named ''avalanche'' for me and my aali's custom graphics driver is the recent version (0.7.8b)...i think i don't need say what mods i have installed (only if you guys want for solve this problem but i think i don't need say :-()

Title: Re: GUI v2.0
Post by: sithlord48 on 2010-10-26 02:05:12

looking good SL :)

Title: Re: GUI v2.0
Post by: BlitzNCS on 2010-10-26 20:16:58

Just whipped up a quick upscale of the original wide font, looks much better in regards to spacing!
http://screencast.com/t/2rn1eEoKi

Can't wait, Sl!

Title: Re: GUI v2.0
Post by: sl1982 on 2010-10-26 20:25:30

Quote from: NCS on 2010-10-26 20:16:58

Just whipped up a quick upscale of the original wide font, looks much better in regards to spacing!
http://screencast.com/t/2rn1eEoKi

Can't wait, Sl!

Yes you can :P or at least you will.

Title: Re: GUI v2.0
Post by: Cyberman on 2010-10-26 20:36:24

Quote from: NCS on 2010-10-26 20:16:58

Just whipped up a quick upscale of the original wide font, looks much better in regards to spacing!
http://screencast.com/t/2rn1eEoKi

Can't wait, Sl!

It's too bad that can't be a true type font so it could be made dimensionless. This makes rendering the texture for the font a snap if you want to scale it to any resolution you want. In addition you can add alpha data for the AA around the edges as well. Having made some renderings using free type to generate bitmaps. That scheme might work. As for making the font heh, lots of people have made fonts on the net, and there are lots of tutorials. While you wait for sl1982 you could twiddle with that idea.  As I said this allows you to make it dimensionless and scale to a texture as needed using freetype (which can render to a bitmap). The hard part might be font placement in generating the output data.
You would have to look at the original texture that the font is loaded into to tweak that kind of thing. Then be sure the rendering point (XY coordinate) relates to the XY coordinate in the font data. I don't recall how that map data is utilized within the game it's been 2 years since I've played FF7 (too many other games like Front Mission 4 From Mission 5 and From Mission CE). Anyhow a lot of twiddling but you only have to do it once, after that your font can be rendered for the final user resolution and always look correct.

Cyb

Cyb

Title: Re: GUI v2.0
Post by: sl1982 on 2010-10-26 20:49:17

Quote from: Cyberman on 2010-10-26 20:36:24

Quote from: NCS on 2010-10-26 20:16:58

Just whipped up a quick upscale of the original wide font, looks much better in regards to spacing!
http://screencast.com/t/2rn1eEoKi

Can't wait, Sl!

It's too bad that can't be a true type font so it could be made dimensionless. This makes rendering the texture for the font a snap if you want to scale it to any resolution you want. In addition you can add alpha data for the AA around the edges as well. Having made some renderings using free type to generate bitmaps. That scheme might work. As for making the font heh, lots of people have made fonts on the net, and there are lots of tutorials. While you wait for sl1982 you could twiddle with that idea.  As I said this allows you to make it dimensionless and scale to a texture as needed using freetype (which can render to a bitmap). The hard part might be font placement in generating the output data.
You would have to look at the original texture that the font is loaded into to tweak that kind of thing. Then be sure the rendering point (XY coordinate) relates to the XY coordinate in the font data. I don't recall how that map data is utilized within the game it's been 2 years since I've played FF7 (too many other games like Front Mission 4 From Mission 5 and From Mission CE). Anyhow a lot of twiddling but you only have to do it once, after that your font can be rendered for the final user resolution and always look correct.

Cyb

Cyb

I am sure this is doable, but would require a lot more magic from aali.

Title: Re: GUI v2.0
Post by: Cyberman on 2010-10-27 02:28:52

Quote from: sl1982 on 2010-10-26 20:49:17

I am sure this is doable, but would require a lot more magic from aali.

Aali magic I hear is in short supply.

Just like I don't have a lot of time to learn a whole new modeling system. LOL

You get busy and the business makes your life frustrating at times I guess.

Cyb

Title: Re: GUI v2.0
Post by: sl1982 on 2010-10-27 02:30:01

Indeed, either way I am in the process of revamping the font for the 3rd time.

Title: Re: GUI v2.0
Post by: Aali on 2010-10-27 03:36:38

The main problem with that is that there's not a single text rendering process you could just replace. Field does its text on its own, battle has maybe 5 or 6 different routines for it, worldmap I have no idea how it does it and menu has one or two of them aswell.

Its still possible though, its just a lot of work for relatively little benefit (what we have now works and already looks much better than original)

Title: Re: GUI v2.0
Post by: sl1982 on 2010-10-29 23:12:15

New version 2.0.5 out now. Now supports other languages in field and menu. Also fixes the spacing problem. Check first post for link.

Title: Re: GUI v2.0
Post by: sl1982 on 2010-10-30 23:48:18

2.0.6 out. Fixes problem with the installer. First post updated with link.

Title: Re: GUI v2.0
Post by: Covarr on 2010-10-31 00:15:47

Nice. This'll complement the latest custom driver nicely.

Title: Re: GUI v2.0
Post by: willis936 on 2010-11-02 19:43:10

Okay so while playing around I found a few things.  The limit animation looks like it's taking different fonts for different colors.  Look at the "L", "m", and "t" and you'll see what I mean.  Second the heal spell looks low res but I'll try reinstalling the overhaul and see if that clears it up.  Lastly the field text may be lined up perfect with the original but it still feels off in some places like between the two Ms in "Umm" and "LOVE" and "with", "Let", "me", etc.

EDIT:  Okay so the spell problem went away with a fresh install but when I applied GUI 2.06 I noticed Microsoft Security Essentials put up a red flag immediately after saying it stopped one problem or something.  Thoughts?  Theories?  Also, haven't tested for the limit font problem again yet but the field text is still screwy.
(http://i53.tinypic.com/2mmfifc.png)

Title: Re: GUI v2.0
Post by: BlitzNCS on 2010-11-02 20:17:59

You must be using a older version, it looks perfect for me

Title: Re: GUI v2.0
Post by: willis936 on 2010-11-02 20:18:58

GUI 2.06 is the latest.  That means it's a problem on my system.  I'll take this to the problem thread.

Title: Re: GUI v2.0
Post by: sl1982 on 2010-11-02 20:22:24

Try turning off the cache and see if that clears it up.

Title: Re: GUI v2.0
Post by: willis936 on 2010-11-02 20:29:58

Aha!  Interesting.  That did solve the problem.  Though I think I'll have to end up reinstalling FFVII again because I've tinkered with battle models and cloud's actually missing his mouth texture for some reason.  Also I take it back about the restore spell, it's still low res.  I'm going to take a look into setting that up in my modpath folder.

Title: Re: GUI v2.0
Post by: DLPB_ on 2010-11-04 10:43:22

Quote from: sl1982 on 2010-11-02 20:22:24

Try turning off the cache and see if that clears it up.

Might be a good idea to make the installer delete those files (using bat file could do this easily).  Also where is the corrected version of the mod?  2.07

Title: Re: GUI v2.0
Post by: willis936 on 2010-11-04 13:26:23

2.06 works perfect.  Also you can turn caching on without problems if you upgrade to aali's .7.9b.

EDIT:  Looking down below I can see I'm clearly wrong and will stop talking.  :mrgreen:

Title: Re: GUI v2.0
Post by: sl1982 on 2010-11-05 01:09:48

New release: http://www.megaupload.com/?d=WJA5MSRN

v2.0.7 fixes a glitch with the materia in slots in the menu.

Title: Re: GUI v2.0
Post by: DLPB_ on 2010-11-05 07:31:09

 8) I love this mod.

Title: Re: GUI v2.0
Post by: BlitzNCS on 2010-11-07 21:02:34

Right so I figured Verdana isn't 100% close to the FF7 font, but as a standard font it's the closest to the original you can get.
So out of sheer boredom, I went over the old fonts in Flash with the line tool, the results aren't bad:

http://screencast.com/t/IteDB79Lhk
http://screencast.com/t/jq8wwCmI8HU

Still a little glitchy, but I think it's more accurate than verdana is. Thoughts?

Title: Re: GUI v2.0
Post by: sl1982 on 2010-11-07 21:10:00

It seems to look cartoony, like comic sans.

Title: Re: GUI v2.0
Post by: Covarr on 2010-11-07 21:10:53

IIRC, it was determined that the PSX font was probably based on Verdana, and the PC font was upscaled from the PSX font without regards to what it may originally have looked like. The PC font is pure Eidos, not S-E, and probably not a good basis for accurately guessing their intent.

Title: Re: GUI v2.0
Post by: BlitzNCS on 2010-11-07 21:24:12

Verdana it is then xD

There are a few differences with Verdana though, I just wonder why they'd go to the trouble of making the bar of the 'e' higher etc.
And yeah, it does look quite cartoony, it's more rounded than the original, but that's one of the limitations of using flash D:

Title: Re: GUI v2.0
Post by: sl1982 on 2010-11-07 21:35:11

Do people have a problem with the new font? I havnt really heard any 'i like it' 'i hate it' etc.

Title: Re: GUI v2.0
Post by: BlitzNCS on 2010-11-07 21:44:20

Well, I dunno about these so called 'people', but I love it =D

Title: Re: GUI v2.0
Post by: Covarr on 2010-11-07 21:54:37

I already told you in IRC that I like it. It works a lot better than the old one, and is a lot smoother than the built-in one.

Title: Re: GUI v2.0
Post by: DLPB_ on 2010-11-07 22:18:43

Quote from: sl1982 on 2010-11-07 21:35:11

Do people have a problem with the new font? I havnt really heard any 'i like it' 'i hate it' etc.

I hate it....  Get's on my nerves.  We need change now.

Thanks for all your hard work but no thanks, as it is a thankless job.  ;)  :evil:

Title: Re: GUI v2.0
Post by: sl1982 on 2010-11-07 22:39:02

You would hate it with all the work i made you do testing it :P

Title: Re: GUI v2.0
Post by: DLPB_ on 2010-11-07 22:42:43

Quote from: sl1982 on 2010-11-07 22:39:02

You would hate it with all the work i made you do testing it :P

I had more fun testing it, than you did with my test results.  So ha!   ;D

Title: Re: GUI v2.0
Post by: indrema on 2010-11-08 19:59:17

Microsoft security essential found a trojan in FFVIIBarCorrectionPatch.exe in version 2.07, but I think is a false positive :).
sl1982 if you want I can translate my windows interface in english to ad it in Avalanche project :).

Title: Re: GUI v2.0
Post by: DLPB_ on 2010-11-08 20:41:55

It is a false positive...
make sure you disable antivirus while installing the patch (you will prob have to run installer again to correct the limit bars).

@sl1982, You will probably have to use the 300KB version of that patch I have you.

Title: Re: GUI v2.0
Post by: sl1982 on 2010-11-08 21:59:17

Quote from: indrema on 2010-11-08 19:59:17

Microsoft security essential found a trojan in FFVIIBarCorrectionPatch.exe in version 2.07, but I think is a false positive :).
sl1982 if you want I can translate my windows interface in english to ad it in Avalanche project :).

What do you mean about windows interface?

Title: Re: GUI v2.0
Post by: indrema on 2010-11-08 22:27:45

Quote from: sl1982 on 2010-11-08 21:59:17

What do you mean about windows interface?

I mean my semi-transparent italian battle interface:
(http://www.indrema.it/img2/ffvii_rel_3.jpg)

Title: Re: GUI v2.0
Post by: sl1982 on 2010-11-08 22:30:02

Ah, I am planning on doing all those at some point. If you could get me a copy of your menu lgp I can add italian to the list.

Title: Re: GUI v2.0
Post by: Red46 on 2010-11-09 10:47:53

I personally like a lot the two screen of the original font upscaled that NCS posted. It's way closer to the original than the font currently being used. I think it's what basically the font should have been since the start, a polished and upscaled version of the original one. The letters width, shadowing, looks and spacing are just spot on. Would be awesome to see NCS effort continued and perhaps, offered as an alternative in the future to the current font. Great job NCS!

Title: Re: GUI v2.0
Post by: sl1982 on 2010-11-09 11:05:03

If that is what people wish maybe you can convince NCS to do it. I do not plan on redoing the font a third time. People do not realize how much time it takes to do this.

Title: Re: GUI v2.0
Post by: Roxas on 2010-11-09 13:42:22

I personally have no qualms with the current font. As it is, it works quite nice for an upscaled/HD version of the game. More importantly, even if this project wasn't about bringing the PC version up to today's standards, the text is now much clearer/cleaner than it's ever been.

Title: Re: GUI v2.0
Post by: DLPB_ on 2010-11-09 16:54:05

Quote from: Red46 on 2010-11-09 10:47:53

I personally like a lot the two screen of the original font upscaled that NCS posted. It's way closer to the original than the font currently being used. I think it's what basically the font should have been since the start, a polished and upscaled version of the original one. The letters width, shadowing, looks and spacing are just spot on. Would be awesome to see NCS effort continued and perhaps, offered as an alternative in the future to the current font. Great job NCS!

You have got to be kidding me.  It is jagged and it looks like it has a filter applied to it.  The one currently in use IS what the original uses (minus a slight chop they did), and it looks smooth and professional.

Anyway sl1982 has spoken.   As always, anyone is welcome to create their own.  8-)

Title: Re: GUI v2.0
Post by: BlitzNCS on 2010-11-09 18:05:04

Quote from: DLPB on 2010-11-09 16:54:05

You have got to be kidding me.  It is jagged and it looks like it has a filter applied to it.

Ouch D:
I actually put some effort into it as well xD

Title: Re: GUI v2.0
Post by: Roxas on 2010-11-09 19:47:23

Quote from: DLPB on 2010-11-09 16:54:05

You have got to be kidding me.  It is jagged and it looks like it has a filter applied to it.  The one currently in use IS what the original uses (minus a slight chop they did), and it looks smooth and professional.

Anyway sl1982 has spoken.   As always, anyone is welcome to create their own.  8-)

Really? I was under the impression that: (http://img100.imageshack.us/img100/231/ff72010110915421401.th.png) (http://img100.imageshack.us/img100/231/ff72010110915421401.png) was new....

Title: Re: GUI v2.0
Post by: Covarr on 2010-11-09 19:49:46

As I explained before, the PSX version of the game uses a slightly modified form of the font "Verdana". The PC version was made seemingly not knowing this, so they made an upscaled version of the PSX game's font.

The new font is Verdana, same as the PSX version, just clearer. While a font based on the PC version would be kickass, it makes perfect sense to use the same font that was originally used in the game to begin with.

Title: Re: GUI v2.0
Post by: sl1982 on 2010-11-09 19:51:46

Quote from: Roxas on 2010-11-09 19:47:23

Quote from: DLPB on 2010-11-09 16:54:05

You have got to be kidding me.  It is jagged and it looks like it has a filter applied to it.  The one currently in use IS what the original uses (minus a slight chop they did), and it looks smooth and professional.

Anyway sl1982 has spoken.   As always, anyone is welcome to create their own.  8-)

Really? I was under the impression that: screenshot was new....

That is a screenshot of v1.0 of the gui.

Title: Re: GUI v2.0
Post by: Roxas on 2010-11-09 20:38:34

Quote from: sl1982 on 2010-11-09 19:51:46

Quote from: Roxas on 2010-11-09 19:47:23

Quote from: DLPB on 2010-11-09 16:54:05

You have got to be kidding me.  It is jagged and it looks like it has a filter applied to it.  The one currently in use IS what the original uses (minus a slight chop they did), and it looks smooth and professional.

Anyway sl1982 has spoken.   As always, anyone is welcome to create their own.  8-)

Really? I was under the impression that: screenshot was new....

That is a screenshot of v1.0 of the gui.

It is? But I just took it after installing GUI v2.0.7. Or am I missing something here (it's been a long day).

Title: Re: GUI v2.0
Post by: BlitzNCS on 2010-11-09 20:45:59

Yeah, actually, I don't think my menu changed when I installed the latest GUI, I just didn't say anything because I thought I was going crazy.

Title: Re: GUI v2.0
Post by: sl1982 on 2010-11-09 21:31:46

Hmm. Well take a look at your config file and see if mod_path = avalanche is in there.

Title: Re: GUI v2.0
Post by: Mako on 2010-11-10 04:59:47

I do, there are many pages of redundant pic's and I appreciate all your efforts in making them look there best.

NCS fonts look amazing, a couple of letter spacing issues (I see some dots).

Title: Re: GUI v2.0
Post by: DLPB_ on 2010-11-10 06:52:43

Quote from: NCS on 2010-11-09 18:05:04

Quote from: DLPB on 2010-11-09 16:54:05

You have got to be kidding me.  It is jagged and it looks like it has a filter applied to it.

Ouch D:
I actually put some effort into it as well xD

No offence to you personally was intended.   :)

Title: Re: GUI v2.0
Post by: Red46 on 2010-11-10 12:45:27

Quote from: DLPB on 2010-11-09 16:54:05

Quote from: Red46 on 2010-11-09 10:47:53

I personally like a lot the two screen of the original font upscaled that NCS posted. It's way closer to the original than the font currently being used. I think it's what basically the font should have been since the start, a polished and upscaled version of the original one. The letters width, shadowing, looks and spacing are just spot on. Would be awesome to see NCS effort continued and perhaps, offered as an alternative in the future to the current font. Great job NCS!

You have got to be kidding me.  It is jagged and it looks like it has a filter applied to it.  The one currently in use IS what the original uses (minus a slight chop they did), and it looks smooth and professional.

Anyway sl1982 has spoken.   As always, anyone is welcome to create their own.  8-)

]

At all, as NCS himself pointed out the font is still glitchy and needs to be polished, right now there are evident issues in the alignment of the font. What I am saying is: that font DOES LOOK more faithful to the original FFVII font than the one currently used. With proper polishing and adjusting that font has a lot of potential, the current one as good as it is (and it couldn't be any else, seeing that a whole bunch of talented people works on it) looks to me like a whole different type of font, that as much as it does resemble the original FFVII one, it is NOT. NCS' however is way more accurate in reproducing the original FFVII font looks.

Title: Re: GUI v2.0
Post by: DLPB_ on 2010-11-10 13:11:24

It doesn't look more faithful to what was intended, which was the Verdana font.  That is what they would have used.  I prefer a font looking as good as it can to what was intended rather than trying to make it like the very thing we are trying to get away from with these overhauls.

Each to their own I guess!  :P

Title: Re: GUI v2.0
Post by: Timber on 2010-11-10 15:09:36

Personally I think the GUI v2 font is great, no change needed.
Well done to sl1982

Title: Re: GUI v2.0
Post by: BlitzNCS on 2010-11-10 17:19:50

While we're on the subject of complete accuracy, I might as well show off something else I did.

The Avatar for Cloud always seemed off in the TA patch, and that's because it was, slightly.

Original (Upscaled w/fractals):
http://i182.photobucket.com/albums/x74/beefpwnage/cloud_00f.png

TA Avatar:
http://i182.photobucket.com/albums/x74/beefpwnage/cloud_00x.png


So I did a little editing in photoshop to get it right. I know I'm nitpicking here, but why the hell not? :P
http://i182.photobucket.com/albums/x74/beefpwnage/cloud_00.png

I'm not sure if it's the case with the other characters, I haven't checked, because I haven't noticed.

Title: Re: GUI v2.0
Post by: Timber on 2010-11-11 01:41:59

Oh I never noticed that. I don't mind either one, as long as the characters are consistent.
Although, the blue eyes are definitely a must.

Title: Re: GUI v2.0
Post by: sl1982 on 2011-02-08 01:59:37

Version 2.0.8 is out. Includes fixes made by DLPB. Perhaps he can add a changelog?

Title: Re: GUI v2.0
Post by: DLPB_ on 2011-02-08 02:25:25

Changelog:

1.  Reduced size of grey battle text, looks cuter

2.  Letters are corrected to be more proportional than last time, most evident when comparing words LIMIT and LEVEL.

3.  All outside bars slightly smaller to correct the fact that the inside bars (like that of ATB, barrier and Limit) were actually 2 pixels too small for the outside graphic.

4.  Patch should not be picked up by as many virus scanners as last time.

That's all really, it was done for the main battle mod, but why not for this too?

.. PS, this original battle menu looks awful, I am surprised the developers got away with it.

Title: Re: GUI v2.0
Post by: Bosola on 2011-02-08 19:44:32

I have to say, though, I'm not convinced about the Verdana thing. Verdana wasn't drawn until late 1996, when FF7 would have already been *well* developed. To me, FF7's UI font looks far more like Frutiger.

Title: Re: GUI v2.0
Post by: sl1982 on 2011-02-08 21:03:44

That does look suspiciously like the ff7 font. There are some minor changes though.

Title: Re: GUI v2.0
Post by: Bosola on 2011-02-08 21:53:05

To be honest, I'd imagine the FF7 font was written for the game ground-up, as opposed to being another font adapted. It's certainly inspired by 'Humanist' sans-serifs, and it does resemble Verdana in a lot of ways - the form of its 'y's especially. It reminds me of Lucida Sans, too.

The biggest issue is that FF7 renders its font in monospace. A variable width font like Verdana looks strange. What would Consolas look like, I wonder?

Oh, something else to note: remember that fonts have their own licensing restrictions. Whilst most font licenses allow you to embed your fonts in another creative work (such as when you author a PDF), I don't know if what we're doing here - printing out a set of glyphs as texts is streamed - might actually breach the font license. I'm likely being paranoid, but can someone check this out?

Title: Re: GUI v2.0
Post by: DLPB_ on 2011-02-08 21:55:36

 8)  Well verdana or not, it is close enough for me :P

Title: Re: GUI v2.0
Post by: Kudistos Megistos on 2011-02-08 22:29:05

Quote from: Bosola on 2011-02-08 21:53:05

The biggest issue is that FF7 renders its font in monospace. A variable width font like Verdana looks strange. What would Consolas look like, I wonder?

Consolas has great huge block serifs on the i, j and l; that would look weird.

But what do you mean by monospace? FFVII's letters certainly aren't the same width.

Quote from: DLPB on 2011-02-08 21:55:36

8)  Well verdana or not, it is close enough for me :P

You'll never please Bosola; he's even more of a font snob than me :P

Title: Re: GUI v2.0
Post by: Bosola on 2011-02-08 23:28:17

You're right, they aren't monospaced. Still, I do think that letter spacing is an issue.

Consider the following. On the left is a shot of the current UI. On the right, I've tightened up the lettering. I've also brought the stems of the 'r's up a little.

(http://img717.imageshack.us/img717/4149/spacing.png)

Quote

You'll never please Bosola; he's even more of a font snob than me

I'm not a snob. Well, I am, yes, but with good reason. Times New Roman is a thoroughly average font, and with so many gorgeous serif alternatives out there, there's really no need to be lumbered with it. Look:

(http://img209.imageshack.us/img209/289/fontcompare.png)

Now, I fully expect LKM to declare TNR the winner in the face of even this. But then again, he doesn't prefer FFVI to FFVII, so what would he know?

Title: Re: GUI v2.0
Post by: Kudistos Megistos on 2011-02-08 23:43:42

Quote from: Bosola on 2011-02-08 23:28:17

Quote

You'll never please Bosola; he's even more of a font snob than me

I'm not a snob. Well, I am, yes, but with good reason. Times New Roman is a thoroughly average font, and with so many gorgeous serif alternatives out there, there's really no need to be lumbered with it. Look:

http://img209.imageshack.us/img209/289/fontcompare.png

Now, I fully expect LKM to declare TNR the winner in the face of even this.

I prefer Garamond.

As a serif font, at any rate. I'm actually a huge Helveticafag.

Quote from: Bosola on 2011-02-08 23:28:17

But then again, he doesn't prefer FFVI to FFVII, so what would he know?

You is

Spoiler: show

trollin'

!

Title: Re: GUI v2.0
Post by: Bosola on 2011-02-08 23:51:19

(http://img98.imageshack.us/img98/3505/heilvetica.png)

Title: Re: GUI v2.0
Post by: Kudistos Megistos on 2011-02-08 23:52:40

Quote from: Bosola on 2011-02-08 23:51:19

http://img98.imageshack.us/img98/3505/heilvetica.png

I see what you did there >:(

Title: Re: GUI v2.0
Post by: DLPB_ on 2011-02-08 23:56:02

the spacing is a big issue, but I am not sure anything can be done about it in game by a simply font change?  or can it?

Title: Re: GUI v2.0
Post by: sl1982 on 2011-02-09 01:06:22

Not really, If i start arbitrarily changing the width of letters to make it look better it will look fine in some spots, ok in others, and down right horrible in the rest. Look at the spacing issues with v1 for examples. This would have to be something modified in the game executable.

Title: Re: GUI v2.0
Post by: DLPB_ on 2011-02-09 02:36:30

I guess Aali for that, or someone who understands assembly, because unfortunately me and Krans cant do it :(

Title: Re: GUI v2.0
Post by: Bosola on 2011-02-09 20:01:45

Quote

Othe spacing is a big issue, but I am not sure anything can be done about it in game by a simply font change?  or can it?

I would imagine so. As KM points out, FF7 doesn't print monospace.

You just need to find a nice-looking font that fills out its glyphs well. If you tell me how FF7 processes the glyphs, or provide a link, I might be able to dig up a font that works well for you.

Title: Re: GUI v2.0
Post by: Thad on 2011-04-29 06:50:29

Hi guys, thanks for all your great work and hope this is the right thread to post in.

I installed 2.0.8 and couldn't get it to work; I eventually realized that the installer had added a new "mod_path" line at the top of the file but hadn't removed the existing line, which created a conflict.  No biggie and an easy fix but figured I'd share in case anybody else runs across the same issue.

Also, the installer appears to change permissions on the ff7_opengl.cfg file so that only admins have read privileges.  Again, a minor thing but it might be worth looking at (or not, since the game doesn't really run without admin privileges in the first place).

(EDIT: Tried installing 2.0.8 on another computer and neither of these problems occurred.  Not sure why they happened on the first computer but the perms change, at least, happened with both 2.0.5 and 2.0.8 on that first one.  So I've been able to duplicate the problem on the same computer but not on a second one.)

Also, the sticky thread still links 2.0.5 and I didn't initially notice this thread had a newer version.

Thanks again for the mod and hope I've been some help to somebody.

Title: Re: GUI v2.0
Post by: sl1982 on 2011-04-29 15:58:16

Thanks for the info, i was not aware the sticky still linked 2.0.5.