[NDS] AnimEDS: Animation Editor for DS

[PypeBros]

Presentation

Here is my entry to the 2012 compo !

Nickname: PypeBros
Project Name: AnimEDS
From: Belgium
Division: APP
Platform: NDS
Original Enter: YES
Support Motion: NO
In last NEO Compo this project have won in the top 10: NO

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AnimEDS and its companion SEDS (Sprite Editor on NDS) allows you to create and animate pixel art graphics on your beloved little handheld device. It features palette edition, pixel painting on 16x16 or 32x32 grids, storage and management into "sprite sheets" (64x192 pixels each) and "multi-limb animation" aka "modular animation" made popular by the original Rayman game.

Created graphics and animations are fully compatible with the open-source "GEDS" game engine, but can also be exported to png format or animation instruction list for e.g. use in Web games.

Alternate download on source forge

PS: more .SPR files will follow over the week for more fun. Make sure you copy SPRITEB.SPR and AUTOEXEC.SPR at the root of your media card, to have some bare graphics to start with. Loading that spriteset is achieved with [START]+[L]+(B). You can press [L+R] at any time to get online help.

L-touch means "touch with the stylus while holding the [L] shoulder button.

[10$man]

I really like this idea!
It makes me wish I had a flash cart for my DS 
(Why are so many awesome homebrew for DS??? Darn you smealum...)

I've got one question. You said it can export to PNG or Animation instruction for web. Where does it export to? Can DS export onto the memory stick of the flash cart or something?
(Sorry for this question , I haven't ever used homebrew on a DS)

[PypeBros]

It saves in its native .SPR format on the media card (typically SD) that you insert in your linker. Then, it's up to you to get it out of your DS, either
# un-mounting the linker, sticking the (micro-)SD card into your computer and copying the file
# using your favourite DS file transfer tool (lilou's combox or DSFTP)
# using my own 'runme' tool (although it's a bit crude) and the companion download/upload scripts.

But then all you've got is a binary file holding dumps of the DS video RAM that my game engine uses natively. "export" is the process of converting that into some other format, like PNG. That happens on your PC computer, or using a web service. It's all described in the ".spr format" section of this user guide.

Of course, anybody that wants to code a user-friendly converter running on any platform is welcome to do so. Converter tools are open-source as well (although PERLish and ulgy ^^")

[PypeBros]

Btw, I'd be happy if people who test it could also participate this little UI poll. For the following actions:
- open a .SPR file
- create a simple (one-component) animation
- pick an existing animation for edit
- review the existing animations in a file
- change the location of one of the components (limbs) on a frame
- change the sprite used by one of the components
- preview your modified animation
- change timing (speed up/down the anim)
- create your own character structure
- toggle animation looping

Rate the following accessibility points:
    A) you found which widget on screen was involved (5=immediately,..., 1=not at all, 0=you thought it was impossible)
    B) you managed to do what you wanted (5=immediately, 1=you stopped trying)
    C) after you succeeded to do it, the way the control work seemed (5=good idea, 3=you could learn it, 2=counter-intuitive, 1=didn't figured out how it worked)
    D) describe how you'd proceed to do it again
    E) describe how you'd rather have it working

There a google spreadsheet ready, waiting for your feedback.

[PypeBros]

And just for the fun, here's a small demo "game" using animations created with AnimEDS, so that you can judge the tool's potential

[PypeBros]

Oh, and if you push it far enough, you get a full game "Bilou: School Rush"



Hope you like the work on animation. Everything was done with AnimEDS and pixels were drawn on the Nintendo DS with SpriteEditorforDS. Level editor is of course on DS too.

What else could I say. Oh, of course. the engine is open-source. I have a thread on how to use it on a gbatemp thread.