KirupaVille - Thread #1 - PixelArt Town

[B3NKobe]

Well a few of us members have gotten together, with the permisson of Kirupa & are creating an online PixelArt town named 'KirupaVille'. Users would be able to submitt there own piece which would fit on a tile on the main map. It is being done in flash, therefor being easier with the animation.

A similar project is that of 'isocity (http://www.kennethfejer.dk/isocity/)'. Although ours will be much more advanced with animation and hopefully will oneday be a large community bringing Kirupians together, awww that sounded sweet http://www.kirupa.com/forum/images/smilies/love.gifhttp://www.kirupa.com/forum/images/smilies/love.gif.

Anyway thats all I have to say about the project now as its only in drawing board stages! Will post back with more info soon. The two founders of this project are: me (B3NKobe (http://www.kirupa.com/forum/member.php?u=17358)) & ubermensch_ver2 (http://www.kirupa.com/forum/member.php?find=lastposter&f=64). Although any Kirupa member may help out with anything, the more helpers the better!

http://www.kirupa.com/forum/images/smilies/dan.gif Ben...

[GreenLantern]

Killer.

I'll be watching this come together.

Meanwhile, I'll go sharpen my pixel art skills.

[lostinbeta]

Isocity is hot.

You ever hear of www.pixelacres.com ?

[RadioactveChimp]

oooooh cool! I am interested

[eilsoe]

http://www.kirupa.com/forum/showthread.php?t=11356&highlight=kirupaville


I tried once, fizzled out and died after a few weeks :(

[B3NKobe]

Isocity is hot.

You ever hear of www.pixelacres.com ?
Link didnt work??

Eilsoe, hmm well we shall try again! We'll try and rive KirupaVille!

[kirupa]

This sounds like a great idea. I may even attempt to draw my own pixel building to go on there :) I think we also have a lot more interested members for kirupaVille this time around.

[[uber]]

hey ya'll... we need some help to make this thing work... if you want a plot let us know... and we'll add you to the list.

if anyone with isometric animation skills wants to help... that would rock....

[kirupa]

Why don't you guys just create a huge "map" with numerous empty plots and have anybody who is interested simply submit a building? If that's not a good idea, that's OK :)

Sign me up for a plot though :beam:

[B3NKobe]

Why don't you guys just create a huge "map" with numerous empty plots and have anybody who is interested simply submit a building? If that's not a good idea, that's OK :)

Sign me up for a plot though :beam:
Thats what we are doing Kirupa, making a map with lots, anyone reconmend a size for the map? 800*600 to start or larger at 1024*768..?

Other idea's are welcomed on this project...

[ironikart]

hey wow, great idea. Sign me up for a plot!

[eilsoe]

I think we need a WAY bigger area for buildings guys, think 2000x3000 at least...

Oh, and sign me up for a lot also :beam: any size restrictions?


hm, let's make a ranking system for this, the higher postcount you have, the more exclusive lots you can "buy"... :P

*edit*

of course Kirupa will have first choice in lot placement, and will have the rank of town mayor... us mods will have second choice of placement, but mainly situated in the central city area around city hall, aka kirupas pad :P

[B3NKobe]

I think we need a WAY bigger area for buildings guys, think 2000x3000 at least...

Oh, and sign me up for a lot also :beam: any size restrictions?


hm, let's make a ranking system for this, the higher postcount you have, the more exclusive lots you can "buy"... :P

*edit*

of course Kirupa will have first choice in lot placement, and will have the rank of town mayor... us mods will have second choice of placement, but mainly situated in the central city area around city hall, aka kirupas pad :P
:D:D lol - Eilsoe would you like to help in this since you first tried to get this thing going? You had some great idea's about the post count ranks lol and 'Kirupa's Pad' lol :D

[eilsoe]

sure, AS-wise forget it :P but PS-wise I can help :)

[B3NKobe]

sure, AS-wise forget it :P but PS-wise I can help :)
Yeah im the same AS wise forget it! Well what would you like to do? I still havnt gotten around to drawing the tile image for the lots & roads for the map, you could do that if you like, or just leave it up to me, or if you have other idea's on what you could do to help, then thats fine, the more people that help with this project the easier and better it can be...

[eilsoe]

I'll take a peek at a basic city map later tonight (at school atm)

I'm thinking a unit based structure with square blocks. IE a road section would be unit 1x1, a lot could be a unit 4x6 in any direction, that way a map can be built pretty easily, and modified easily too...

when the basic map is done, we can put various size lots on display for people to choose from. Then you have a selection of lot sizes based on your postcount, the higher the count, the bigger the lots.

Maybe we could make seperate maps too.. one for downtown, one for residential areas... maybe farm areas too... all the maps could be loaded into flash dynamically to ease updating, and all maps will be linked together through flash...

hmm...


gotta jot some of this down...

[B3NKobe]

I'll take a peek at a basic city map later tonight (at school atm)

I'm thinking a unit based structure with square blocks. IE a road section would be unit 1x1, a lot could be a unit 4x6 in any direction, that way a map can be built pretty easily, and modified easily too...

when the basic map is done, we can put various size lots on display for people to choose from. Then you have a selection of lot sizes based on your postcount, the higher the count, the bigger the lots.

Maybe we could make seperate maps too.. one for downtown, one for residential areas... maybe farm areas too... all the maps could be loaded into flash dynamically to ease updating, and all maps will be linked together through flash...

hmm...


gotta jot some of this down...
Eilsoe - your becomming very helpfull with idea's for this, im not good at designing maps, especially ones that need to be tiled easily, so if you want the map could be upto you to design? otherwise if not, ill have a go at it or maybe someone else would be interested?

Your other idea's suchas adding downtown, farm areas etc would be great add-ons once we get the main bit of the ground. Everything will link perfect if its done in flash like you said.

[Ben H]

Make a huge map, make an isometric scrolling engine in flash and then you will have what you need, you could make the kirupa.com main page like a city, and you have to walk to different buildings to get to the different pages...

Just an idea...

[B3NKobe]

Make a huge map, make an isometric scrolling engine in flash and then you will have what you need, you could make the kirupa.com main page like a city, and you have to walk to different buildings to get to the different pages...

Just an idea...
That is a good idea, although i think we'll stick to just creating the beta version and get that upand running before we get into the really hard work of making it a larg community...

[Angel_Ice]

Hi all, great idea, how to start doing my own lot? :-)

[B3NKobe]

Hi all, great idea, how to start doing my own lot? :-) Well we are still working on the grid, so the dimensions of the lots arnt yet known, will post back later with the dimensions for the lots.

So far these people have reserved lots in 'KirupaVille':
Kirupa, B3NKobe (me), ironikart, Eilsoe, Angel_Ice, glkngs, GreenLantern


If you want to reserve a lot, then please post and let us know. Ben :D

[glkngs]

i'll take a shot at it, sounds fun :)

[[uber]]

i've been up till 5am talking to b3nkobe and throwing out a grid for a square plot...so far.. i've been doing the pixeling... so eilsoe.. pm me or anyone else with ideas... i don't want to make all this and have to scrap it all. :nerd:

plus.. im me at "nathan strang" on aim, "iam_ubermensch" on yahoo, or "iam_ubermensch@yahoo.com" for msn... i use trillian so i am on all 3.... and i'm basically up 20/7 working on this....

[[uber]]

i guess this has to be scrapped... lol

this was the grid i worked on with b3nkobe... but... i guess i make it over with individual tiles so it will be customizable... but at least we have a guide to go by lol

[[uber]]

you do know that if we make it postcount based that people will spam to get a bigger lot.

[glkngs]

you do know that if we make it postcount based that people will spam to get a bigger lot.And i will have to live in a cardboard box http://www.kirupa.com/forum/images/smilies/cry2.gif

[B3NKobe]

i guess this has to be scrapped... lol

this was the grid i worked on with b3nkobe... but... i guess i make it over with individual tiles so it will be customizable... but at least we have a guide to go by lol
It sucks that you have to put more effort into it, im sure it will work out in the end though :D! Youv done great work though ubermensch_ver2!! I also think that if we have it 'post count' based that people will spam the forums just to get a bigger place & besides we would hate to put 'glkngs' in a cardboard box :D:D...

[GreenLantern]

I would like to reserve my plot.

How about you make the plot sizes dependant on your join date instead of post count? That way the center of town is the established old members, and as you get farther out you get to the less established members. Also, joined date does not change. What is going to happen when somebody's post count crosses the point to where they would get a bigger plot? Who is going to update their plot? See it could get complicated.

If you want to do something based on post count, how about the height of your structure is dependant on your post count?

I also think the streets should be more decorated. If you look at isoville, it's kind of plain. I say put up street lamps, signs, manhole covers, and maybe even some road kill.

I also think it would be cool to have functional buildings around, that don't belong to anyone. Have an arcade that links to the arcade, A funhouse that links to random, a library that links to the tutorials, ect.

Just throwing some bones out.

-GL

[[uber]]

kirupaville does not discriminate... we will assign plots according to who can tackle the size... if you want a small one or a big one... if there is too much of one... Mayor Kirupa will decide who gets who...(or his loyal assistants me... or b3nkobe) if we give out plots based on rank... or postcounts... trouble and hurt feelings will arise and ultimately cause the death of kirupavill eonce again and probably forever... and maybe even cause the banishment of some good fellows...i will very shortly start thread#2... which will have all the neccessary info needed to build the construct which will hold the city...

we have to have the land first... then we will give out plots once the basic layout is approved by the core group(the people creating the construct)... if you want to be a part of the core group.. pm me or im me... you must me able to maintain contact to be in the core group... and you must be responsible for your part...

Eilsoe... pm me please... as well as any others who wish to help get Kirupaland off its feet.

I am doing the initial pixeling... and b3nkobe is helping as well...


I'M SORRY IF THIS MAKES NO SENSE BUT I HAVE NOT SLEPT ALL NIGHT.....

[B3NKobe]

I would like to reserve my plot.

How about you make the plot sizes dependant on your join date instead of post count? That way the center of town is the established old members, and as you get farther out you get to the less established members. Also, joined date does not change. What is going to happen when somebody's post count crosses the point to where they would get a bigger plot? Who is going to update their plot? See it could get complicated.

If you want to do something based on post count, how about the height of your structure is dependant on your post count?

I also think the streets should be more decorated. If you look at isoville, it's kind of plain. I say put up street lamps, signs, manhole covers, and maybe even some road kill.

I also think it would be cool to have functional buildings around, that don't belong to anyone. Have an arcade that links to the arcade, A funhouse that links to random, a library that links to the tutorials, ect.

Just throwing some bones out.

-GL
Great idea's there GreenLantern, i think we'll use them too! Especially the one with the older members in the middle and the younger members spreading out on the outskirts, also we are having streetlamps,signs, etc ours will look more detailed than isocity! It should rock! thanks for the great idea's! :D:D:D

[B3NKobe]

kirupaville does not discriminate... we will assign plots according to who can tackle the size... if you want a small one or a big one... if there is too much of one... Mayor Kirupa will decide who gets who...(or his loyal assistants me... or b3nkobe) if we give out plots based on rank... or postcounts... trouble and hurt feelings will arise and ultimately cause the death of kirupavill eonce again and probably forever... and maybe even cause the banishment of some good fellows...i will very shortly start thread#2... which will have all the neccessary info needed to build the construct which will hold the city...

we have to have the land first... then we will give out plots once the basic layout is approved by the core group(the people creating the construct)... if you want to be a part of the core group.. pm me or im me... you must me able to maintain contact to be in the core group... and you must be responsible for your part...

Eilsoe... pm me please... as well as any others who wish to help get Kirupaland off its feet.

I am doing the initial pixeling... and b3nkobe is helping as well...


I'M SORRY IF THIS MAKES NO SENSE BUT I HAVE NOT SLEPT ALL NIGHT..... Good points there too! :D - Youv done a great job, man go and have a rest! youv done enough already! Im looking forward to seeing the map and getting the dimensions! A good days work though :D:D




Reservations for LOTS are now taking also! Just let us know...
So far the list is:

Kirupa - B3NKobe (me) - ubermensch_ver2 - ironikart - Eilsoe - Angel_Ice - glkngs - GreenLantern

[[uber]]

ok... finally i got the block done.. here are the individual tiles for the town
they will make any size block you want.

http://img139.exs.cx/img139/3973/kirupavillegrid3pm.png

if you don't like em.....tough.....lol

[B3NKobe]

ok... finally i got the block done.. here are the individual tiles for the town
they will make any size block you want.

http://img139.exs.cx/img139/3973/kirupavillegrid3pm.png

if you don't like em.....tough.....lol
There good tiles! they work perfect as well! I think that they are the right size and shape for what we need! ill start designing streetlamps, lights, etc....welldone though :D:D

[GreenLantern]

Sweet.

I want to know the sizes of the plots, so I can get going on my pimpin' crib.

[[uber]]

the construct will look something like this... but better and done for real.. this is just a 2minute visualization... it will house the town and make for easy navigation.... if anyone wants to take a stab at it.. let us know....

the town you see is isocity (http://www.kennethfejer.dk/isocity/)

[GreenLantern]

Well I think it's going to have to be square, or you won't be able to navigate to things in the upper left or lower left corners.

I would be willing to take a stab at the coding, but I really think you would be better off with someone more experienced. So, if nobody else will do it I will.

[B3NKobe]

Well I think it's going to have to be square, or you won't be able to navigate to things in the upper left or lower left corners.

I would be willing to take a stab at the coding, but I really think you would be better off with someone more experienced. So, if nobody else will do it I will.
Thanks GreenLantern! that would help, im crap at AS in flash, so i wouldnt know where to start!

[GreenLantern]

Thanks GreenLantern! that would help, im crap at AS in flash, so i wouldnt know where to start!
I can get the navigation going, but if this is going to be a dynamic project where things are loaded from outside the swf, I won't be much help.

[fester8542]

Wow.... this sounds like fun.

I cant wait to make my house of horrors! yay :love:

[GreenLantern]

I am trying to choose between a castle and a space station.

[[uber]]

Well I think it's going to have to be square, or you won't be able to navigate to things in the upper left or lower left corners.

I would be willing to take a stab at the coding, but I really think you would be better off with someone more experienced. So, if nobody else will do it I will.


there is gonna be an "edge of town" to fix this..with a forest or lake...or mountains... that way the town has boundarys... and the construct can be smoother...

[[uber]]

right now we need pixelers.. a few more brainstorms on this thread and i'll start the construction thread.. this one will still be used to brainstorm.. the second one will be used to post town type questions and to assign plots and jobs and all that jazz...

here is the current grid selections... modders and kirupa get the first pick...or a custom grid... but all the others think of what size you want and start brainstorming... the assignments will be made on the second thread...

remember... your building has to stay inside template...

[paddy.]

I'd like a plot. It'd be nice to have a KirupaHouse.

Also how about when you hover over a plot, a little bubble appears and tells you who the owner is. And then if you click a plot you go to that user's member profile. That way it's more community-like. Your plot should also show up in your member profile. Kirupa?

[[uber]]

btw this is a sample of what the grids look like

[[uber]]

I'd like a plot. It'd be nice to have a KirupaHouse.

Also how about when you hover over a plot, a little bubble appears and tells you who the owner is. And then if you click a plot you go to that user's member profile. That way it's more community-like. Your plot should also show up in your member profile. Kirupa?

that is happening too...
you are in FlashGordon

[senocular]

http://www.kirupa.com/forum/showthread.php?t=11356&highlight=kirupaville


I tried once, fizzled out and died after a few weeks :(


hehe I know I was having deja vu :rabbit:


Im in if this ever gets going. So far the thread is too long for me to keep enough interest to read fully so I'll just watch out for the hilights :)

[GreenLantern]

uber sent me a message, here is my reply. I thought I would post it here to keep everyone in the know.


I was thinking I could handle the construct. I'm just not sure where to begin.

This is what I'm thinking so far:

The whole map should be put together in flash. From there each plot should have a container movie clip placed on it, and named accordingly (plot1, plot2, plot3, ect.) from there we can dynamically load each house into the conainer clip.

The only problem is going to be the dfferent sized plots. Each user will have to know exactly how big their plot is.

Also, where is this going to be stored at? And where are all the "houses" going to be stored at?

[[uber]]

and to answer his question too for all to hear... Kirupa will graciously host the town... and the houses will be uploaded to the server... i have made templates for each available plot... so you know where to draw and where not to... the map will be flash...

are we ready for the construction thread?

[GreenLantern]

are we ready for the construction thread?I believe that we are. In fact I think this project might even need it's own webpage.

-GL

[T-O]

is pixel art coming back? It was hot for a while.. :P

[kirupa]

How about we have all of the houses be simple 2x2 squares for now? I think this project seems to be getting bogged down in details. If the houses are all 2x2, all of the participants can start building their houses, and the placement of them and such can be decided while we are all building our buildings.

For, from past experiences with these collab projects, the longer we all wait, the more people will lose interest and not submit a design. I am willing to host as many KirupaVilles on the server as people want, so we can have a more refined template with different plot sizes for KirupaVille II or KirupaVille III, etc.

I'm sure with one working KirupaVille, we will get a lot more members who are interested in this for KirupaVille II, even more members for KV3, and so on! :)

[idoik]

i am in i am starting on my plot

[GreenLantern]

How about we have all of the houses be simple 2x2 squares for now? I think this project seems to be getting bogged down in details. If the houses are all 2x2, all of the participants can start building their houses, and the placement of them and such can be decided while we are all building our buildings.

For, from past experiences with these collab projects, the longer we all wait, the more people will lose interest and not submit a design. I am willing to host as many KirupaVilles on the server as people want, so we can have a more refined template with different plot sizes for KirupaVille II or KirupaVille III, etc.

I'm sure with one working KirupaVille, we will get a lot more members who are interested in this for KirupaVille II, even more members for KV3, and so on! :)
I agree %100 percent. As soon as I get the tiles, or a tiled layout from uber I can start on the construct.

When you say 2X2 what do you mean? In other words, what is the definition of 2X2 inches, yards, miles?

[eilsoe]

well well, seems my expertise isn't needed afterall :P

I'll get started on my 2x2 lot in a jiff :love:

[senocular]

I was going to suggest the set size for lots. It's just a lot easier that way. 2x2 I assume being relational to road size? I think thats a good plan,

I also suggest having 2 versions of the house (or the option of the second) - one which would be seen in city view with roof in tact and one of a cutaway of the house/lot alone allowing to see the insides, this view accessible after selecting the house from the city view and probably zoomed in @ 200% for greater detail. This could also allow for some animation to be added since you wouldnt have to worry about the other houses in city view fighting over processor rights... of course if animation is an option, people would need to make their houses as swfs.

[idoik]

We should have a sign up sheet for plot openings as if we had to pay for the plot:) where you can choose your plot size and such.

[GreenLantern]

I think we should stick with Kirupa's KISS (Keep it simple stupid) plan.

The simpler it is the faster we can get this rocking. Future versions can have more bells and wistles.

[kirupa]

Yeah - sen, what you are proposing seems a bit more complicated haha. How about we just have one version for now, and then 2 versions for future KVilles? :)

GL - I used the 2x2 size Uber had on his attachments in the previous page: http://www.kirupa.com/forum/attachment.php?attachmentid=8227

I have a few tutorials to add up, but after that, I'm going to start on my building :evil:

[senocular]

no its simple, its just a click, load swf, thats it. Its an extension to whats being proposed that wouldnt be hard at all to implement once the foundation is place but allows the pixel freaks to go wild and have more fun with things.

[SeiferTim]

This looks awesome. Do I get to have a lot?

Edit:
Also, you may want to put up a Sticky Thread somewhere which lists all the rules, because trying to read through this thread, and find out what is a rule, and what was rejected is a bit, um, difficult.

[kirupa]

no its simple, its just a click, load swf, thats it. Its an extension to whats being proposed that wouldnt be hard at all to implement once the foundation is place but allows the pixel freaks to go wild and have more fun with things.Oh ok. Sounds good then :)

Seifer - as far as I know, you can create a building also. I figure uber/b3n will just add another plot to their pixel map.

[[uber]]

ok guys here's teh thread where we get to business
http://www.kirupa.com/forum/showthread.php?t=81895

[sedgemonkey]

I'm impressed you all have gotten this far. Pixel projects are wicked hard to put together.

I think placing the project in Flash would be unfortunate because it's nice to be able to save the images you like if you're browsing the site.

The tiles you have look great, but they require maintenance by the person putting the project together to make sure everything fits. Pixelmoon has a real nice feel to it. Less formal tiles. The transparent images just rest on top of a repeating pattern.