Spring RTS Engine

http://fontjazz.com/ aptly named; co-incidence?

never tried this, was googling a solution out of my own interest

of course, you can embed a custom font and a webpage in a flash file. trololo

There's the Google Fonts repository, just make sure you specify a suitable fallback.

As for reflections and pngs, send anyway, I have fireworks here, and I didn't mean a reflection! Look at the dark undershadow of the text, then look at how the square logo lacks it? Its kind of floating on the surface disconnected

Jazcash wrote:It's a shame custom fonts still aren't a possibility for web design.

I thought CSS supports custom fonts...? thats how google does it lol

TradeMark wrote:

Jazcash wrote:It's a shame custom fonts still aren't a possibility for web design.

I thought CSS supports custom fonts...? thats how google does it lol

I just found out about this: http://code.google.com/webfonts

But still, there's no fonts on there I'd want to use instead of Arial or Verdana or any of the other default fonts.

just copy their CSS code and put own files in the url('') field. Their "api" is like 2 lines of CSS

TradeMark wrote:just copy their CSS code and put own files in the url('') field. Their "api" is like 2 lines of CSS

I really don't think it's that simple. All the sites explaining it seem to say you can only use the fonts in Google's font directory. If it was as easy as two lines of code and uploading your own font I wouldn't have thought they'd be that much fuss about it.

Although, sample pages like this were pretty impressive: http://designshack.co.uk/tutorialexampl ... index.html

If I didn't highlight that, or had been told it was text, I would have thought it was an image.

I am surprised it works in IE.

The code: replace the url('') into own URL, upload your font to your website, and youre done. Though, that font file type is weird... ".eot" wtf...

dont see a reason why wouldnt it work with your own fonts... google isnt that magical yet.

--

Anyways, good webdesign shouldnt link to other sites at all for the content, or you may get these ARGH moments once in a while. I myself even avoid making CSS files, just because sometimes the CSS page loading fucks up and the website looks really fucked up. All these talks about "caching your CSS file saves bandwidth" is pretty much bullshit since most traffic comes from images anyways, and loading few kb of CSS isnt a big deal. Not to mention that loading multiple pages will make overall page loading slower.

the font jazz thing seems to support any font you want, but also processes the font on the users comp, rather than the page host

not sure how this effects page load time but it seems like it would be nice from the hosts perspective

Hmm, you are kinda right, the fonts must be converted to .oet format:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Embedded_OpenType

So for jazz; find the program that converts ttf -> eot and youre fine. (if you forget possible lawsuits)

Although, theres no need to use external font, if the image would actually take less bandwidth than loading the font file and rendering 2 words for logo... I would use own font if i actually use it in many places. Mostly you dont really need own fancy fonts though... its not that important IMO.

KaiserJ wrote:

Don't bother with Flash, in web design it often corresponds with the old slang definition, gaudy or ostentatious, and closely relates to Trash.

oh lawd. don't blame the tools, blame the worker. stuff can be shitty and overdone in ANY form of development, if something looks like shit, it's because it was made by an idiot, not because flash is bad

Flash has serious downsides, like non-indexable content. Use flash as little as possible and abuse css as much as possible.

Update: http://springnetwork.info/

This project has taken a slight turn. It's primary goal now is to link Spring projects together as much as possible. The game landing sites are still going ahead but won't be the sole primary focus of the Spring Network development.

I'll also be releasing some small link images shortly with some code to go with. They'll be relatively small with a Spring Network icon on that would link to the Spring Network homepage. Trade already gave me the thumbs up and that he'd chuck them on his sites.

I can make a few different versions, they should be discrete, not trying to ruin any page appearances here, just trying to link everything up a bit more.

Anyway, I've almost finished the CA site, need to speak to some CA devs about policy, copyright and the installer. Once that's done, I'll probably begin on the next site which was going to be KP or S44.

Still lookin' for feedback and if there's any game devs reading this, would be useful if you drop a post to say whether the project would or would not be interested in a site (no work on your part).

nice!

i could imagine that for some, it might be a tiny bit irritating that (nearly) all the menu links bring you to different sites. when looking at it the first time, i would assume it just opens different sub pages (like the menu does on springrts.com). do not know if this matters at all though.

could the small CA screenshot on the initial page possibly be a link to your games/ca/ page?

hoijui wrote:nice!

i could imagine that for some, it might be a tiny bit irritating that (nearly) all the menu links bring you to different sites. when looking at it the first time, i would assume it just opens different sub pages (like the menu does on springrts.com). do not know if this matters at all though.

could the small CA screenshot on the initial page possibly be a link to your games/ca/ page?

Yeah, still got a fair bit to work on. I don't know whether to have a small link image on the game sites back to the Spring Network homepage, or use a fixed 100% 35px height bar at the bottom of the screen with links to all the game sites and stuff. I'll make some mock-ups soon.

The images will link to the game sites, although, I want to use an even number of images so it doesn't ruin the appearance.

More to come.

Jazcash wrote:Edit: Spring Network (WIP)
Yes, these are in essence, marketing sites. These are the kind of sites you'd link your friends up to in order to get people interested. In order to make these viral, they'll need to be fully complete with download links to game installers for that particular game (I know S44 already has its own installer, other games will have to make some as well).

Yes, creating a installer for all the games which are available at this time would simplify the whole installing process. I think for new players it is very confusing to be confronted with games that are only .sd7 or .sdz - files. Having something to install makes people, especially new player, feeling better.

Jazcash wrote: Thoughts, comments suggestions?

Very nice idea. Hope you will keep this alive! Great :)

exciter wrote:I think for new players it is very confusing to be confronted with games that are only .sd7 or .sdz - files.

Many new players who are introduced to Spring by using the SpringDownloader multiplayer lobby do not have this issue. It downloads and installs games when they join battle rooms.

CarRepairer wrote:

exciter wrote:I think for new players it is very confusing to be confronted with games that are only .sd7 or .sdz - files.

Many new players who are introduced to Spring by using the SpringDownloader multiplayer lobby do not have this issue. It downloads and installs games when they join battle rooms.

How easy would it be to make specific game variants of Spring Downloader? For example, the installer would install Spring Downloader, The latest version of the Spring Engine, the game it's related with, auto join the game related channel in the lobby and download anything else specifically for that game (Add filters for that game only etc).

If somebody could just make a bunch of SD specific installers for each game that would be coolio. It would make the installation process more consistent. If the whole process was automated it would be extra epic. For example, when a dev updates his game, it updates on SD. If somebody downloads an old version of SD on the sites, it would update to the latest version.

SD plus springie makes for an extremely confusing combo. Everything happens so fast (Not in a good way). SD + Springie are good for those of us who know how stuff in the spring world works, but for newbies it's horribly confusing.

Forboding Angel wrote:SD plus springie makes for an extremely confusing combo. Everything happens so fast (Not in a good way). SD + Springie are good for those of us who know how stuff in the spring world works, but for newbies it's horribly confusing.

Command buttons can eventually replace the need to use the !commands.

CarRepairer wrote:

Forboding Angel wrote:SD plus springie makes for an extremely confusing combo. Everything happens so fast (Not in a good way). SD + Springie are good for those of us who know how stuff in the spring world works, but for newbies it's horribly confusing.

Command buttons can eventually replace the need to use the !commands.

Will it also hide the !command messages ? would be awesome.

omg Trademark is on the same page as me? What's next, tea party with Regret? Holding a civilized convo with Tribulex? UNIVERSE IMPLODE!