HighRes Widescreen & Standard 4:3 Graphic Update v1.3

[stassy]

Unfortunately for 4:3 screen resolution the white color for card name make it a bit too bright but the whole theme is itself is still awesome, it's like playing a new whole game

And do you plan something for the DeckEditor and Tournament mode?

[Althuna]

@ Althuna
If you'd like different CardFrames, grab the "OtherMods" archive in my MediaFire folder (look in .\Manalink 3.0\AddOns\). Incidently, I kept Sonic's "Modern" CardFrames for the Full MediaFire Download... grab that and check it out.

That looks perfect Thanks a lot!!

[Sarlack]

I was going to look into changing the font color to black like on the real cards, but I'm not sure where font colors are set in the game just yet. Might be in the code or something.
I don't like how far the shadow is located from the line of text and would turn it off for the card titles too if I could. This would make the font a lot easier to read.
Or i might change the top bar to be the color of the transformed side of Innistrad cards. They use a dark bar with white text.

@CirothUngol
Feel free to add the graphics to your Mediafire folder.

@ Stassy
I was thinking about updating the deck editor and Tournament graphics.
I had Magic (manalink) since it was released from Microprose and never played the tournament/sealed deck mode till the other night (got crushed ).
I mainly play "Duel Opponent" or just a regular duel against AI.
So it may be a bit before I start the graphic update for sealed, but the deck editor I was going to do next

[0rion79]

Hi Sarlack, I have really appreciated your job and that's why I would like to give you my humble opinion about it.
Since I'm a specialist about communication, there is something that may be improved even more, confirming that what you did is already very good.

First, some questions (sorry, maybe you have already answered them but I can't find the answers in so much text)
1 - replacing my CardArt folder with yours prevents my game to start
2 - once I replace all other folders, cards text is much different. Do I have to install "all magic fonts" too? And where? Main Magic directory?

Now, some advice:
1 - Ability icons for cards:
They are overall better than the previous ones but it is like if they don't merge very well with the cards in the game. If you look closer to the original ones, you'll see that the original coders used a small trick: they have surrounded each of them with a small gray circle, to soften the edges. In your ones, surrounded by black, it is missing and the effect is a bit sharper.
About single abilities, Protection from White shiled is, imho, too yellow (as well as the plainwalk sun): something more ivory would be more indicated.
Flying icon is a bit too complex for being an icon and, as trample icon, it is not very well centered in the cyrcle. In those cases, the most important thing is the concept that an image can send to the user and sometimes the simplest images are more effective than the ones too rich in details, because they also are harder to identify and appreciate. Also, the background for the icon of such abilities is not neutral but colored, and this may also be a good thing. Counter icons, intead, are a masterpiece.
2 - DuelArt: winbk_startduel is imho too heavy in details. Just remove all writings from it and it is perfect. We already know which game are playing, no need to add an information that is unnecessary for the duel! Also, the new columns for duel phases have a wrong color selection: I understand your idea of switching off the unactive phases, but the result is a too "dark" screen. The original game's choice with brighter color and a nearly black background that turns white is still the most functional solution.
3 - Manalink, default: Nothing to complain, much to appreciate. I have seen that the fam-q-du is very similar to the old one but not exactrly the same: is it possible to have a precise copy of the old one at truecolor?
4 - Shellart: here we have, imho, the bigger problem: the ideas of the planeswalkers is very good and I like the colors more than Mathusalem's previous screen, which had a veil of yellow all over it. The only wrong thing here is the red color used for text: I may guess that you have taken the same one used from the writing "magic the gathering", trying to harmonize all the colors and writings, but the result is a constant feeling of danger. Why don't you try with the same vanilla color used for the writing "the gathering"? Else, you may use as inspiration the writing used on the back of cards (the one with red border and blue body) and make a writing of the same color used for each button. As well, the red circle used to surround each mana symbol: a pale ivory would fit better, imho. Instead, in the files "winbk_shellsphereanimation16-X", it is ok if you want to remove the blinking effect (very irritating for me) but what creating a background illumination effect, with a light of each color that starts under each mana icon and makes a circle? That would be very cute.

About the decbuilder... each of us has his own tastes but it would be nice to ugrade each art using the "M" where the 8th edition is while restoring the Astral star for the lame astral set.

Hope that all this may be of help!

[Althuna]

Wow those cards you are working on look amazing!

[Sarlack]

Thanks again everyone for you compliments and feedback:)

@Orion79
Take a look at the first comment in this thread, there is instructions and a screenshot of all needed graphic files for Magic.exe. The files highlighted in green are the files i completed and the rest of the files should be in the folder from whatever graphics you previous were using. If you use my Duel.dat file, you will have to install the fonts in the zip to your "c:\windows\fonts" folder, or it will either not load a font or load an incorrect one.

I am using a 60in HDTV a my monitor @ 1920x1080, so some of the details my be lost on a smaller monitor (like the wing for flying ability).
I will be making some updates and a new classic version with old school art. I will take in to consideration your advice on the graphics in the updates to make them more universal.
I work in printing and color is way different for paper (CMYK) than RGB for a monitor or tv (and all monitors give off different colors for the same file). However I have been doing 3d animation since the 90's so I have some experience in RGB too.
Most of the graphic work i have done with magic is print files. (printed some backup cards for my friends, so they don't have to play with their more expensive cards.) I did set the card frame colors to match real printed cards. The planeswalker theme was used in my first release because the internet if full of high res images for the newer card art. I may render some of my own custom art in later releases.

[0rion79]

@ Sarlack, I'm glad you have taken my advice in the right way Just one matter about "the wing".
I have a very good Philips 190CW screen, a good one too, and it is not a matter of resolution. It is just that icons have to be a slimmer representation of a real concept and this function must prevail on art details. Take as sample the icons from Windows XP: they were light years better than the ones from Windows Vista/7 even if less pretty (imho, not) because the ones from the latest OS are too rich in details and too "heavy" for the brain. Of course this effect is weak for your wing and, as long it is just one icon, there is not any big trouble: I was expressing my personal taste but also my professional opinion, being a good psychologist here in Italy, specialized about job processes, also to give an useful advice to you, since you have really made a very good job.

[ozks]

looks pretty cool, thanks...
a new image for the manalink!
and 4 both monitors, normal and widescreen.

[gmzombie]

this is pretty cool. now if we could just get the cards on the playfield to be just a bit smaller we would have more room. or the ability to bring the screen past 1024x768

[stassy]

Well, with porphyre trick it is possible to expand the playfield...if you use dual screen monitor or more

[gmzombie]

lol i have a 40 in comm. grade monitor dont think the wifey would let me have 2

[RanDomino]

Shiny. I'm going to steal what I like and toss what I don't. Thanks!

[CirothUngol]

Recently I've seperated Shandalar from Manalink and have been trying to exclude all unnecessary files from the Install Folder... just thought I'd mention what I've learned about the graphic files that you haven't changed...

cardsets
manastripes
manasymbols
cardsets.pic was used only in the original DeckBuilder and was shown on the BigCard while browsing. The need for it probably disappeared during the earliest revisions of DeckDLL.dll; it can be safely omitted. The second two files are self-explanatory.

face_black
face_blue
face_green
face_multi
face_red
face_white
These files are shown as the background to the PlayFace during Duels (right-click on Life then "Flip over to face"). They must be named with a .PIC extension, or the Duel interface will not show them.

gaun_options
gaun_results
gaun_startup
These files were only used by the original Microprose MtG ver1.0 and haven't been necessary since the introduction of the ShellArt folder in Spells of the Ancients. They are no longer used and can be safely removed.

winbk_ante
winbk_antelable
These files are used when viewing the ante cards during Duels (right-click on Graveyard then "View both antes").

winbk_attackrats
...you know what this is.

winbk_spellmushrooms
winbk_spellsnails
These are used just like AttackBones and AttackRats, only at the bottom of the window while casting spells.

winbk_foilpackscreen16
winbk_ladder16
These actually belong in the Exp1Art folder.

Thanx again for the great UI Mod, I hope any of this helps.

[Sarlack]

Version 1.2 is available on the first post.

[0rion79]

Great job, man!
It is even better than before.
Since I love traditions, I have kept some art from Mathusalem but just for my personal taste.
Still about tastes and not for any technical matter, I still prefer his vertical colum for duel phases: yours is really too dark but, damn, the game looks even cooler than before
Just to know, have you ever tried to update the art for the back of magic cards?
The one that is used for Library and for cart preview.

EDIT:
Oh, I have found what gives such a sharp effect to your ability icons: it is the double-edged circle that surrounds each of them. I have tried to replaced the forestwalk ability with a simple white-only circle and merges much better, don't you think?
Look at Mirri: it is your forest icon but with a simple white border. First Strike icon, instead, has your original one.