Balloon Messages

[Moonpearl 32]

While looking around for balloon messages sytemes, I noticed two things - first, the balloons are often ugly and second, they are often part of a broader custom messages system, which forces you to use that system. So I wondered if there was possible to make a balloon system that would be independant of any custom messages system, and how to make visually appealing graphics for balloons. And here's the result.

 

Purpose

Easily make dialogs using fully customizable balloons.

 

Main features

• Fully emulates RMXP's standard messaging functions, including color change and actor name substitution, and possibly those of other custom messages systems.
  
• Fully customizable font type and size - see the balloon adapt dynamically around your constraints.
  
• Fully interfaced with RMXP's eventing system - no script call or any funny stuff like that ever.
  
• Customizable, full-color graphics for balloons using a unique Balloonskin module - which works pretty much like Windowskins. Three Balloonskins (normal, thinking, angry) featured by default.
  
• Multiple balloons may be displayed simultaneously.
  
• Theoretically compatible with other custom messages systems.
  

Known issues

• Small latencies occur upon loading a Balloonskin for the first time, because they require prior processing before they can be used. To avoid this, all Balloonskins may be precompiled upon launching the game, thus making it longer to start (activated by default).
  
• Contrary to what one would think, this script should not clash with other custom messages systems because it does not rewrite the Window_Message class. It is not guaranteed that outsider functions will work absolutely properly, but at least they shouldn't make the game crash.
  

Screenshots

 

 

 

 

Download

See my blog entry.

Edited February 28, 2012 by Moonpearl

[Bigace360 38]

Now this is pretty sick next to your keyword system.

[Moonpearl 32]

Now this is pretty sick next to your keyword system.

Sorry?

[Bigace360 38]

It means I like your script keep up the good work.

Edited February 27, 2012 by bigace

[Kailia 0]

Love it! Can we see a shop next?

[Moonpearl 32]

It means I like your script keep up the good work.

Oh, okay. Thanks bigace, I'll make sure to get some more good stuff done.

[Kailia 0]

I found a rather bad bug in this script. If one uses this script, you will be unable to use parallel process events. Whenever I try making a common event or even just an event that is a parallel process this error pops up:

 

Script 'Game_Event' line 171: ArgumentError occurred.

 

wrong number of arguments(0 for 2)

 

I tested it in a testbed project of mine, with just the message script in there, and that is the cause of the problem.

[Moonpearl 32]

Thanks for reporting the bug. Nothing too bad actually, just a stupid mistake. Look for the following (normally in Interpreter entry, line 9):

def initialize(depth, main)

 

...and replace it with:

def initialize(depth = 0, main = false)

 

The upload was fixed as well.

[Kailia 0]

thanks, working beautifully now :)

[Moonpearl 32]

Updated the script with a new feature - face display beside balloons. The following screenshot was obtained using only a Show Picture event command - the frame and the picture's position are entirely managed by the script.

 

[Lordett 0]

I get an error message with this line when talking sometimes.

    down = @event.real_y / 4 - 32 - $game_map.display_y / 4

Error.bmp

[Moonpearl 32]

My best guess is that you've set the event ID variable to an invalid value (that is, the ID of an event that does not exist). Please check that the variable is set to a valid ID at the time you call the failing Show Message command, and if it is, a screenshot with the event commands involved would be appreciated to provide better help.

[Lordett 0]

When I get to this bit the message comes up.

I could always just get rid of that part, it's not really vital.

Snippit.bmp

[Moonpearl 32]

Right, but this bit doesn't show me how you set the event ID variable at all, so I really can't help with so little info.