---

+ Code Snippet

   global pixpitch
   global maskImage
   maskImage = 100
   global maskMemblock
   maskMemblock = 10

   dim maskStage(255)

   set display mode 800,600,32

   sync on
   SYNC RATE 100
   set text opaque

   loadMask("mask1.bmp",11)

   load image "Image1.jpg", 1, 1
   load image "Image2.jpg",2,1

   make memblock from image 1,1
   make memblock from image 2,2

   lock pixels
   pixpitch =  get pixels pitch()
   unlock pixels


   memblockWipe(1,11)
   delay()
   memblockWipe(2,11)
   delay()
   delay()
   delay()

function memblockWipe(newImage, mask)

      sh = screen height()
      sw = screen width()
      sd = screen depth()
      sb = sw * (sd / 8)

      pointer = 0

      for n = 0 to 255
         lock pixels
         for m = pointer to pointer + (maskStage(n) - 1)
            pixel = memblock dword(mask, m * 4)
            pixelline = pixel / sw
            pixelcolumn = pixel - (pixelline * sw)
            screenPosition = (pixelline * pixpitch) + (pixelcolumn * (sd / 8))
            newImagePosition = (pixelline * sb) + (pixelcolumn * (sd / 8))
            copy memory get pixels pointer() + screenposition, get memblock ptr(newImage) + newImagePosition + 12, sd / 8
         next m

         inc pointer, maskStage(n)
         unlock pixels
         text 5,5, str$(screen fps())
         sync
      next n
      `************************************************************

endfunction


function delay()

   time = timer()
   while timer() < time + 1000
      text 5,5, str$(screen fps())
      sync
   endwhile

endfunction

function LoadMask(image$, memblock)

   load image image$, maskImage, 1
   make memblock from image maskMemblock, maskImage
   delete image maskImage

   make memblock memblock, 480000 * 4

   sb = memblock dword(maskMemblock, 8) / 8
   print "Loading Mask Data (~5 seconds)..." : Sync : Sync

   nextByte = 0
   for n = 0 to 255
      pixelcount = 0
      for m = 0 to 479999
         if memblock byte(maskMemblock, (m*sb) + 14) = n
            write memblock dword memblock, nextByte, (m)
            inc nextByte, 4
            inc pixelCount, 1
         endif
      next m
      maskStage(n) = pixelCount
   next n

endfunction

This competition runs alongside the September Newsletter Tutorial on Memblocks. The closing date is midnight, Friday October 14th 2005.

The Game Creators have kindly donated two prizes for the winners.

The Competition details and prizes can be found in the attached download. In contrast to regular competitions, no coding is necessary, but it is still in the vein of game making. Confused? Download the details and all will be revealed.

*** Competition Instructions ***

* The download is a DB Pro application, illustrating what is required of entrants.

---

The download above is in rar format, 1.5 Megabytes. You can get it in zip format here, 2.5 Megabytes

*** Competition Details, Zip format ***

---

You can post your entries in this thread. To give you a head start, the mask used in the Competition Details program is attached. Take a look and you will very quickly understand how the effect works.

---

Suggest you fix your rar file. It contains a file but with wrong extension. Rename it from .gif to .exe and it works. You fool!

As newsletter has not arrived yet, is there any way your little exe will load a mask if in same directory, so we can test it, or do we just be patient and wait for newsletter!

---

Ho Hum...here's the fixed version! I changed it to email it past an exe-hungry spam catching mail server.

I'm afraid so! Otherwise, you wouldn't need to read the newsletter, or my tutorial

---

Whats the ETA of the newsletter?

---

lol, nice music

---

what is the rules besides of screen size?
can some media b included or something?
or its a work only wirh DBP commands?

---

That is up to Agent Davey


The aim is simply to make an 800 x 600 mask, using a graphics program. The tutorial will provide all of the source code you need.

The mask used in the program you downloaded looks like this:



Your mission is to make your own mask to create a different effect.

---

and how do i have to give it to u? exe or source code?

---

Does the code have to act exactly the same way, or can we do a few modifications? I'd like to add blending if I can get it to be fast enough.

---

Count me in Please can you tell me what the prize is dbc? gamespace?

---

FPSCreator or whatever enhancement pack (DBP plugin) made by TGC.

---

wow fpsc!!!

---

@Darkbasic MAD: why don`t you download the exe and run it?, like the man said, you need it anyway to enter, the program tells you what the prizes are when you run it.

---

cool it thought it was a program that told you what the prizes are and that's it =

---

You simply need to post your image file in this thread. The tutorial source code will allow everybody to see your transition mask in action. In fact, I'll create a slightly modified version after the newsletter that will make it easier to run any mask.

If you want to post source code or a full project that shows off your work in a better way, then that would be good. BUT it must use the same transition function, that cannot be altered. You must also post the code, not just an exe, to show it is using the transition function. And in the spirit of this competition, any source posted will be free to use by anyone.


The transition must be the same for the competition. But if you want to improve the code once you have downloaded it from the newsletter, it would be welcomed in this thread as an extra resource. The code can be improved, as you will see. Because of the speed it is capable of, there is plenty of room for additional effects and calculations every cycle

---

Meh. No way I want either of those, would much rather have one of the dbp plugins instead... but... I may try to enter anyways.

---

@Batvink - it looks like the transition is based on a threshold, like you start counting up and the mask is only drawn if the greyscale value is above the threshold counter at that moment.

Would it be possibel for this to be done more like some kind of multiplier of the alpha or something to make it a more smooth transition?

---

Absolutely. By my calculations, you could have 4 alpha "waves" with no performance degrade. But the approach would be different. Wait until the newsletter, and see what you can do with it.

---

wait wait, so i can make ANY transition animation i want, only with the dbp commands, do i get it right?
if so, then count me in.. i wanna try to win the "enhancement pack" (dont care about the FPS creator actualy.. )

---

I'm gonna wait for the newsletter

---

Cool idea to make the newsletter tutorials interactive! And prizes too - this is great! Just one question - how many entries are we allowed each - just the one ...... or hundreds?

---

I'm dead

---

Glad you like the idea, Ric. I thought graphical "gimmicks" would be your thing


Multiple entries allowed. I would try and make them different though, no mass-production of slightly different designs.

If there are several similar entries from different people, I guess it will have to be on a first-come, first-served basis.

---

App freezes here on the loading screen?

---

Including the music?

---

I found a way to test masks by modifying your exe...

So, here is my first compo entry in a rar file 325 Kb

Probably jumping the gun a bit, but what the hell!

---

Im in too. I want to try myself and to win something...

---

Rats, I can't run the EXE because I'm on the old WinME max 24-bit display machine... uggh.

It's helpful when people at least add support for 16-bit display, even if 32-bit is also supported.

And yes, modifying the EXE to use a diff image shouldn't be hard. Search in notepad (rename EXE to TXT) tfor one of the words the p-rogram shows you, then look around for an image filename .

-Xol

---

Here's some entries I've come up with:

Entry 1) This one is my best effect.

Entry 2) Second best.

Entry 3) Third best effect of mine.

Entry 4) A mask that is similar with spooky's but different and unique.

Entry 5) My least favorite of the five I've submitted, but it still has an interesting effect.

---

Those are NICE!!

Ric, just out of interest - why do we have to wait? Why cant you release an EXE for this now? Surely the longer we get, the more/better the entries will be?! Or is this Agent Davey's ruling?

---

Don't blame Agent Davey

The competition is based on the memblock tutorial in the newsletter. You'll get the code, the tutorial and a bucket full of inspiration.

Already having the code to test them myself, I can tell you that Spooky and Torrey have done a nice job! Have a look at their contributions, they work really well. In fact, my first reaction was... "Woooahhhhhh!"

---

I cant modify the EXE :-(

---

Use one of the_winch's tools for editing DBP .exe's.

http://winch.pinkbile.com/


Surprisingly, getting a decent effect isn't as easy as it looks. I went into this thinking I could create some really neat stuff very fast, but after testing the masks created it didn't always work out.

---

Make your own screen transition code then, like I did . I'm looking forward to seeing what techniques Batvink used in his, and how it compares to my first attempt . However, I'm crap at making the transition bitmaps.

---

Hehe, check out this...

---

Another fantastic one That one hurts my eyes

It's going to be hard to judge this compo, and it hasn't actually got started yet!

---

Why are these instructions compiled into an exe? Why are you the one who has them? Why aren't they posted on TGC's site?

---

Because it demonstrates what you need to do.

Because I devised the competition, and made the program

Because it's only a small competition, TGC very kindly donated the prizes because it's linked to the newsletter. You will see it mentioned in the Newsletter if you are concerned abiout the authenticity of the exe and the prizes.

If you don't want to download the program, here's a summary of what you need to do...