Sorry, just changing the subject line as it has taken a turn away from my
request (no problem, just so I dont throw stuff in now that isnt related to
pdf and xml and stuff)
My idea was this: Since Combat heroes is basically a graphical adventure, I
was going to reproduce it without the numbers used at the bottom of the page
at all (except hidden in the clockworks)
I was going to use the same program I made the action chart with to display
pages of the book. It works simply by having an object on the desktop that
displays whatever jpg or whatever I want it to.
I was then going to build up an array of all the page entries (the actual
text parts) and also using a bit of code parsing, load every page's data
into an array accessible by page number, so say 'page(178)' would refer to
the 'data' of page 178 in the book, and the string in the array slot would
be: 33|71|8|268|92|48|64|108|22|88 which if you were to go to page 178 you
would see are the 8 directions and corresponding pages, and the two yclue
index numbers on that page.
My program would simply: display page 178 as its scanned image, present you
with a graphical compass (for you to select your direction on) and create a
couple of hot spots on the image (which I can do with this software) where
the Yclues are on the page, and you simply click what you want to do! (no
need for numbers to show) and the program simply loads in the appropriate
text or image! walah combat heroes (2) in no time (well, ok theres a 'bit'
of work, but its actually quite simple)
I'd happily make this available as part of project Aons recreation of these
books (it'd be a bit mean if I didn't LOL)
So here comes my possible requirments:
1.YES, Simon, the original scan images would be great as well as any cleaned
sets (like cutting out numbers etc) if you've done them (just for having the
option of using them)
2. A team of people to perhaps make the strings (the number|number|number
thing I gave an example for above) for each page. So maybe like 10 people
could just type up that 10 numbered string for say 15 pages. Not much at all
if you think of it.
3. A way of getting the Ysections into editable text, which I was just going
to Optical character recognise, but hand typing is fine too, in which case a
similar team work on those as above would be good
Sorry if my 'program' description is a little technical sounding, but
basically I'm saying that with 1,2,and 3 above, I could probably whip up a
working version of Combat heroes 2 single player in a week or so.
As for the two player mode, I have ideas, my biggest problem being how to
get two computer communicating the required info without using a server in
between (unless project aon wanted to host some sort of method to enable
uploading up data and downloading again for people who are playing the two
player version)
so any volunteers? I'm happy to dish out directions.
Also, anyone who has already started something along these lines, give me an
email.